RGeeProductions
08-19-2011, 09:17 AM
Preece Scores Sunoco Mod Win; O’Sullivan, Douton, Boss & Field Victorious
Mike Stefanik triumphed over the competition and Thompson International Speedway beat the weather for an action-packed night of racing action. With weather and Ryan Preece bearing down, Stefanik of Coventry, RI, was flawless to score the victory in the Tour-Type Modified Special. Stefanik had to hold off another Thompson winner to visit victory lane. Preece jumped out of his winning Sunoco Modified to run second to Stefanik in the event. The Sunoco Modified victory earlier in the evening was Preece’s third at Thompson in 2011.
In other racing action, Mike O’Sullivan of Springfield, MA, handily took the win in the Super Late Models. Chris Douton of Waterford, CT, extended his point lead with a Limited Sportsman victory. Glenn Boss of Danielson, CT, continued his hot-streak in the TIS Modifieds with a division-leading five victories. Another point leader, Danny Field, also tacked on points with his victory in the Mini Stocks.
Mike Stefanik of Coventry, RI, is riding the wave of good fortune straight to victory lane. On Thursday night, the veteran backed up his Whelen Modified Tour victory the previous Saturday with a Tour-Type Modified victory on the CT short track. Ryan Preece was strong on the initial start of the Tour-Type Modified event leading the first lap over pole-sitter Steven Reed. Exiting turn two on the first lap, Steven Massey made it three wide with Reed and Rich Pallai, Jr. Massey came out with second followed by Pallai. Reed quickly found himself in the fourth spot. Stefanik and Richard Savary relegated Reed to sixth.
Back up front, Preece had gained a five-car length advantage over a fierce battle for second between Massey and Pallai. Pallai was able to get the edge. Stefanik was coming on strong with only ten laps gone. He motored by Massey, took the second spot away from Pallai, and then immediately began to cut into Preece’s lead.
Pallai began to fade giving up positions to both Massey and Savary. As Pallai was fading, Stefanik was gaining. By lap 15, he had reeled in the leader Preece. Stefanik stayed glued to the back bumper of Preece while Savary was getting racy with Massey.
Slight contact between Savary and Massey sent both cars careening toward the wall. With nowhere to go, Pallai piled into the accident as well. Both Massey and Pallai sustained heavy damage in the incident. Stefanik got a run on Preece on the restart but had to settle back in line on the backstretch. Not content to run second, Stefanik got alongside Preece entering turn three. He gained the position just as the caution flew for a spin by Shelly Perry.
Preece was strong on the restart but could not hold back Stefanik for long. The two were wheel-to-wheel for the top spot for the duration of lap 21. Kenny Barry had the best seat in the house now running in third. Stefanik edged ahead of Preece for the lead at the stripe on lap 22. Barry ran within striking distance in third. Tom Bolles had worked his way into the fourth spot. Rookie Tommy Barrett ran in fifth.
The best battle on the speedway was for the sixth position between Steven Reed and Louie Mechalides. Renee Dupuis took chases in eighth.
With every lap, Stefanik continued to extend his lead over Preece. Barry could not shorten the distance on Preece. On lap 32, Tommy Barrett got out-of-shape giving up the fifth spot. Dennis Perry also spun to bring out the caution.
The outside groove paid dividends for Stefanik, who rocketed back into the lead on the restart with only eight laps remaining in the event. Preece continued to dog Stefanik with Barry running in third. Bolles took up his position in fourth. Reed headed a multi-car battle for the fifth that also included Mechalides and Rick Gentes.
Over the closing laps, Stefanik stretched his advantage over Preece as the top-four maintained their positions. Reed continued to hold back Mechalides. In the end, it was all Stefanik. Preece had a solid night finishing second. Barry, Bolles, and Reed completed the top five
Earlier in the evening, Ryan Preece of Berlin, CT, was victorious in a hotly-contested Sunoco Modified feature event. Joe Allegro, Jr. held the point at the start of the 30-lapper. Danny Cates got a run to take over the lead on lap one. Cates’ time at the head of the pack was short-lived as Woody Pitkat was the new leader on lap three. Pitkat quickly had his hands full with Keith Rocco. After two laps of side-by-side racing, Rocco was able to wrestle the lead away from Pitkat.
Cates, looking to make his way back to the front, made a bid at Pitkat. The #24 slid up the race track and ran Pitkat toward the wall exiting turn four. Pitkat lost his momentum and several spots; giving up positions to both Cates and Ryan Preece. Pitkat began to claw his way back; working over Preece. Up front, Cates began to cut into the lead the Rocco has amassed.
At halfway, Cates was a car-length behind Rocco and Pitkat was glued to the back bumper of Preece. Cates dove low on Rocco on lap 16 in an effort to get the lead. Cates lost the handle on his ride momentarily sliding up and almost into Rocco. He was able to gather it in. The bobble allowed Preece and Pitkat to catch the lead duo to make it a four-car battle for the lead.
Cates ran on the edge of control exiting turn two on the subsequent lap. This opened the door for Preece to get a run to the outside of Cates to take over second. Two corners later, Preece motored to the outside of Rocco. Coming off of four, Preece pressed for the lead. Rocco slid up the track to stifle Preece’s momentum. Preece continued to keep the pressure on. He made a run on Rocco entering turn one; making it three-wide with the lapped car of George Wilkinson. Rocco, on the outside, ran out of room and into the marbles to send his #57 spinning to bring out the caution.
On the restart on lap 22, Preece was the new leader. Cates had company in Pitkat. Rocco quickly made his way by several cars in what appeared to be his recovery. Almost as quickly, his car slowed on the backstretch on lap 24. Two laps later, Rocco was on pit road. He would not finish the event.
Preece began to stretch his lead while Pitkat and Cates continued to duke it out for second. With only a couple of laps remaining, Pitkat settled back in line in third. Preece cruised to the victory over Cates and Pitkat. Joe Allegro had a strong run to finish fourth. Shelly Perry rounded out the top-five.
A bold move early in the Super Late Model feature proved to be the winning one for Mike O’Sullivan of Springfield, MA. It was three-wide at the start of the race between George Bessette, Derek Ramstrom, and O’Sullivan. When things sorted out, it was O’Sullivan with the lead. After a heated battle, Ramstrom took over the second position from George Bessette. Almost immediately, Bessette fell into the clutches of Larry Gelinas. The action was slowed by an incident involving Scott Rotherforth.
On the ensuing restart at lap eight, O’Sullivan once again cruised out to the lead. Gelinas was able to get by Bessette for third. The running order at halfway found O’Sullivan leading Ramstrom, Gelinas, Bessette, and Jim Banfield inside the top five. O’Sullivan stretched his advantage to several car lengths while Gelinas lost the lead duo.
Over the closing laps, O’Sullivan was able to further extend his advantage over Ramstrom. In an uneventful run to the checkers, O’Sullivan cruised to his fourth Super Late Model victory of the season. Ramstrom finished second to extend his point lead. Gelinas, Bessette and Banfield rounded out the top five.
(continued)
Mike Stefanik triumphed over the competition and Thompson International Speedway beat the weather for an action-packed night of racing action. With weather and Ryan Preece bearing down, Stefanik of Coventry, RI, was flawless to score the victory in the Tour-Type Modified Special. Stefanik had to hold off another Thompson winner to visit victory lane. Preece jumped out of his winning Sunoco Modified to run second to Stefanik in the event. The Sunoco Modified victory earlier in the evening was Preece’s third at Thompson in 2011.
In other racing action, Mike O’Sullivan of Springfield, MA, handily took the win in the Super Late Models. Chris Douton of Waterford, CT, extended his point lead with a Limited Sportsman victory. Glenn Boss of Danielson, CT, continued his hot-streak in the TIS Modifieds with a division-leading five victories. Another point leader, Danny Field, also tacked on points with his victory in the Mini Stocks.
Mike Stefanik of Coventry, RI, is riding the wave of good fortune straight to victory lane. On Thursday night, the veteran backed up his Whelen Modified Tour victory the previous Saturday with a Tour-Type Modified victory on the CT short track. Ryan Preece was strong on the initial start of the Tour-Type Modified event leading the first lap over pole-sitter Steven Reed. Exiting turn two on the first lap, Steven Massey made it three wide with Reed and Rich Pallai, Jr. Massey came out with second followed by Pallai. Reed quickly found himself in the fourth spot. Stefanik and Richard Savary relegated Reed to sixth.
Back up front, Preece had gained a five-car length advantage over a fierce battle for second between Massey and Pallai. Pallai was able to get the edge. Stefanik was coming on strong with only ten laps gone. He motored by Massey, took the second spot away from Pallai, and then immediately began to cut into Preece’s lead.
Pallai began to fade giving up positions to both Massey and Savary. As Pallai was fading, Stefanik was gaining. By lap 15, he had reeled in the leader Preece. Stefanik stayed glued to the back bumper of Preece while Savary was getting racy with Massey.
Slight contact between Savary and Massey sent both cars careening toward the wall. With nowhere to go, Pallai piled into the accident as well. Both Massey and Pallai sustained heavy damage in the incident. Stefanik got a run on Preece on the restart but had to settle back in line on the backstretch. Not content to run second, Stefanik got alongside Preece entering turn three. He gained the position just as the caution flew for a spin by Shelly Perry.
Preece was strong on the restart but could not hold back Stefanik for long. The two were wheel-to-wheel for the top spot for the duration of lap 21. Kenny Barry had the best seat in the house now running in third. Stefanik edged ahead of Preece for the lead at the stripe on lap 22. Barry ran within striking distance in third. Tom Bolles had worked his way into the fourth spot. Rookie Tommy Barrett ran in fifth.
The best battle on the speedway was for the sixth position between Steven Reed and Louie Mechalides. Renee Dupuis took chases in eighth.
With every lap, Stefanik continued to extend his lead over Preece. Barry could not shorten the distance on Preece. On lap 32, Tommy Barrett got out-of-shape giving up the fifth spot. Dennis Perry also spun to bring out the caution.
The outside groove paid dividends for Stefanik, who rocketed back into the lead on the restart with only eight laps remaining in the event. Preece continued to dog Stefanik with Barry running in third. Bolles took up his position in fourth. Reed headed a multi-car battle for the fifth that also included Mechalides and Rick Gentes.
Over the closing laps, Stefanik stretched his advantage over Preece as the top-four maintained their positions. Reed continued to hold back Mechalides. In the end, it was all Stefanik. Preece had a solid night finishing second. Barry, Bolles, and Reed completed the top five
Earlier in the evening, Ryan Preece of Berlin, CT, was victorious in a hotly-contested Sunoco Modified feature event. Joe Allegro, Jr. held the point at the start of the 30-lapper. Danny Cates got a run to take over the lead on lap one. Cates’ time at the head of the pack was short-lived as Woody Pitkat was the new leader on lap three. Pitkat quickly had his hands full with Keith Rocco. After two laps of side-by-side racing, Rocco was able to wrestle the lead away from Pitkat.
Cates, looking to make his way back to the front, made a bid at Pitkat. The #24 slid up the race track and ran Pitkat toward the wall exiting turn four. Pitkat lost his momentum and several spots; giving up positions to both Cates and Ryan Preece. Pitkat began to claw his way back; working over Preece. Up front, Cates began to cut into the lead the Rocco has amassed.
At halfway, Cates was a car-length behind Rocco and Pitkat was glued to the back bumper of Preece. Cates dove low on Rocco on lap 16 in an effort to get the lead. Cates lost the handle on his ride momentarily sliding up and almost into Rocco. He was able to gather it in. The bobble allowed Preece and Pitkat to catch the lead duo to make it a four-car battle for the lead.
Cates ran on the edge of control exiting turn two on the subsequent lap. This opened the door for Preece to get a run to the outside of Cates to take over second. Two corners later, Preece motored to the outside of Rocco. Coming off of four, Preece pressed for the lead. Rocco slid up the track to stifle Preece’s momentum. Preece continued to keep the pressure on. He made a run on Rocco entering turn one; making it three-wide with the lapped car of George Wilkinson. Rocco, on the outside, ran out of room and into the marbles to send his #57 spinning to bring out the caution.
On the restart on lap 22, Preece was the new leader. Cates had company in Pitkat. Rocco quickly made his way by several cars in what appeared to be his recovery. Almost as quickly, his car slowed on the backstretch on lap 24. Two laps later, Rocco was on pit road. He would not finish the event.
Preece began to stretch his lead while Pitkat and Cates continued to duke it out for second. With only a couple of laps remaining, Pitkat settled back in line in third. Preece cruised to the victory over Cates and Pitkat. Joe Allegro had a strong run to finish fourth. Shelly Perry rounded out the top-five.
A bold move early in the Super Late Model feature proved to be the winning one for Mike O’Sullivan of Springfield, MA. It was three-wide at the start of the race between George Bessette, Derek Ramstrom, and O’Sullivan. When things sorted out, it was O’Sullivan with the lead. After a heated battle, Ramstrom took over the second position from George Bessette. Almost immediately, Bessette fell into the clutches of Larry Gelinas. The action was slowed by an incident involving Scott Rotherforth.
On the ensuing restart at lap eight, O’Sullivan once again cruised out to the lead. Gelinas was able to get by Bessette for third. The running order at halfway found O’Sullivan leading Ramstrom, Gelinas, Bessette, and Jim Banfield inside the top five. O’Sullivan stretched his advantage to several car lengths while Gelinas lost the lead duo.
Over the closing laps, O’Sullivan was able to further extend his advantage over Ramstrom. In an uneventful run to the checkers, O’Sullivan cruised to his fourth Super Late Model victory of the season. Ramstrom finished second to extend his point lead. Gelinas, Bessette and Banfield rounded out the top five.
(continued)