08/24/12 - August 24 racing at Stafford Motor Speedway

[RGeeProductions]

ROCCO, HUTCHINGS, KOPEC, CARDILE, CASAGRANDE, BERARDI, & GIBBS SCORE AUG. 24
FEATURE WINS AT STAFFORD MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Stafford Motor Speedway returned to racing on
Friday, August 24th with an SK Light / DARE Stock double feature night.

Taking wins in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series feature action was Keith
Rocco in the SK Modified® feature, Corey Hutchings in the Late Model
feature, Dylan Kopec and Frank Cardile in the twin 15-lap SK Light features,
Cory Casagrande in the 20-lap Ltd. Late Model feature, and Stephanie Berardi
and Monte Gibbs in the Double Duty DARE Stock features.

In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature event, Curt Brainard and Todd Owen were
side by side for a lap before Owen cleared Brainard to take over the lead on
lap-2. Brian Sullivan was following Owen’s tire tracks in the outside
groove and he was second ahead of Brainard when the caution came out for a
spin by Nichole Morgillo with 3 laps complete.

Owen and Sullivan were side by side for the lead on the restart with Owen
getting clear after 2 laps of side by side racing. Dan Avery was third and
he went by Sullivan for second on lap-7. Sean Foster was now fourth, just
in front of the side-by-side duo of Tom Bolles and Brainard.

The caution came back out with 9 laps complete for spins by Morgillo and
Frank Ruocco, who both spun on the frontstretch. Owen and Avery were
dueling side by side for the lead on the restart while Keith Rocco moved up
to third place. Rocco continued his charge, taking second from Avery on
lap-12 and was immediately looking to both the high and low grooves to try
to get by Owen. The caution came out with 13 laps complete for spins by
Glen Reen, Chris Matthews, and Kurt Lenahan in turn 2.

Rocco got a good run to the outside of Owen to take the lead by a nose on
the restart. Rocco cleared Owen on the next lap while Foster, Avery, and
the side-by-side cars of Sullivan and Matt Galko were lined up behind him.

Michael Bennett spun in turn 2 to bring the caution out with 19 laps
complete.

Rocco took the lead ahead of Owen on the restart while Avery got around
Foster to move into third. Foster and Galko were side by side for fourth
and Sullivan and Woody Pitkat were side by side for sixth. The cars of
Tommy Barrett, Brainard, and Morgillo spun in turn 1 to bring the caution
out with 24 laps complete.

Rocco shot to the lead on the restart with Owen holding onto second. Avery
and Galko were side by side for third with Pitkat and Foster side by side
behind them. Pitkat got clear of Foster to move into fourth and he made a
move to the inside of Avery on lap-28, but bobbled in the corner and couldn’
t make the pass. Pitkat was able to get by Avery on lap-29 to move into
third behind Rocco and Owen. The caution came out with 30 laps complete as
Tommy Membrino, Jr. came to a stop in turn 3, Joe Gada was a backwards at
the entrance to pit road, and Kyle Spencer was stopped against the
backstretch wall.

Rocco again took the lead on the restart while Pitkat was hounding Owen for
second. Pitkat made a pass on Owen to take over the spot, but just as he
made the move, the caution came out with 31 laps complete as Foster and Tom
Bolles got together against he turn 2 wall.

Rocco took the lead back under green with Pitkat making a quick move into
second. Ted Christopher moved around Owen for third, with Avery making up
the top-5. Pitkat was all over the back of Rocco, but Rocco was able to
keep Pitkat behind him. Rocco was too strong for Pitkat to make a move as
he picked up his fourth feature win of the season. Christopher finished
third behind Pitkat, with Owen and Danny Cates rounding out the top-5.

In the 30-lap Late Model feature event, Joe Rzeszutek led the field into
turn 1 at the green, but Kevin Gambacorta overtook him down the backstretch
and he led the first lap of the race. Jim Peterson spun through the grass
on the backstretch to bring the caution out with 1 lap on the scoreboard.

The restart saw Corey Hutchings power into the lead with Gambacorta falling
into line behind him. Rzeszutek was third, with Ed Ricard and Mike
Quintiliano making up the top-5 in the early laps.

Hutchings continued to lead with Gambacorta running in second. Rzeszutek
was third, with Quintiliano, Tom Fearn, Mark St. Hilaire, Woody Pitkat, and
Peterson lined up in a 7-car train behind him. The caution came out with 21
laps complete for debris on the track, which erased Hutchings’ large lead.

Hutchings took the lead back under green but going down the backstretch,
Quintiliano and Peterson touched and both cars spun to bring the caution
back out before a lap could be completed.

Hutchings took the lead back under green with Gambacorta and Fearn right
behind him. St. Hilaire moved up to fourth and woody Pitkat was now fifth
as Rzeszutek got out of shape in turn 3 and fell back several spots.

With 5 laps to go, Hutchings was still the leader with Gambacorta, Fearn,
St. Hilaire, and Pitkat behind him. Hutchings led the field to the
checkered flag as Gambacorta couldn’t mount a challenge for his third win of
the season. Fearn finished third, with St. Hilaire and Pitkat rounding out
the top-5.

In the first 15-lap SK Light Modified feature event, Rick Williams took the
lead at the green with Payton Henry glued to his back bumper. Harry Wheeler
was third, with Dylan Kopec fourth and Tony Membrino, Jr. fifth. The
caution came out with 2 laps complete for debris on the track.

On the restart, Nick Salva spun and collected the cars of Bo Gunning and
David Webb to bring the caution back out. Henry took the lead on the
restart, but his time at the front was short as Kopec shot into the lead on
lap-5. With 5 laps complete, the caution came back out for spins by Frank
Cardile, Dylan Campbell, and Salva in turn 3.

Back under green, Kopec took the lead with Henry right on his bumper.

Wheeler was third, with Rick Williams fourth and Membrino fifth. Zack
Aszklar went around Membrino for fifth on lap-8 while Kopec continued to
lead Henry. Aszklar made a move to the inside of Williams to move into
fourth on lap-10. Shawn Brule spun on the frontstretch to bring the caution
out with 10 laps complete.

Henry got a good run on the restart and he briefly took the lead in turn 1,
but Kopec came back strong and went into the lead. Aszklar went by Henry
and Wheeler to take over second and one lap later, Wheeler and Henry touched
wheels in turn 2 and they both spun to bring the caution out.

Back under green, Kopec charged into the lead with Aszklar and David Webb
lined up behind him. Joey Ferrigno was fourth and Jay Goff was fifth with 3
laps to go. Aszklar made contact with Kopec in turn 1 and both cars nearly
spun, but they stayed in the gas and raced down the backstretch. Aszklar
inched ahead of Kopec, but he spun in turn 3 to bring the caution out and
set up a green-white-checkered finish.

Kopec took the lead on the restart with Webb slotting into second. Bob
Charland and Goff were side by side for third, but it was all Kopec at the
front as he picked up his 7th victory of the 2012 season. Webb finished
second, with Goff, Charland, and Ferrigno rounding out the top-5.

In the second 15-lap SK Light Modified feature event, Nick Salva took the
lead at the drop of the green with Ronnie Williams, Bob Charland, Tony
Membrino, Jr., and Payton Henry behind him. Dylan Campbell brought the
yellow out with a spin in turn 4 with one lap complete.

Back under green, Salva and Williams were side by side for the lead with
neither driver giving an inch. Williams got clear of Salva on lap-3 to take
the lead. Frank Cardile made a strong run on the outside groove to move
into third. He took second from Salva on lap-4 and he took the lead from
Williams on lap-5. The caution came back out with 6 laps complete as Salva
spun and collected the car of Joey Ferrigno on the frontstretch. Dylan
Kopec, who earlier in the night won the first SK Light feature, came to pit
road with a flat left front tire and was finished for the night.

On the restart, there was a pileup in turn 1 that collected the majority of
the field behind Cardile and Tony Membrino, Jr. to bring the caution right
back out.

Cardile took the lead back under green with Membrino in second. Tyler Hines
was now in third, with Bo Gunning and Jay Goff right behind him. Cardile’s
car was on cruise control as he took the checkered flag for his second win
of the season. Membrino, Hines, Gunning, and Goff rounded out the top-5.

(continued)

[RGeeProductions]

In the first 20-lap Limited Late Model feature, Jesse Hinze took the lead
ahead of Duane Provost. Joe Nogiec slotted into third, with D.J. Burnham
fourth and Carla Botticello in fifth. Burnham got around Nogiec to move
into third while Provost was beginning to hound Hinze for the race lead.

Provost made a move to the inside of Hinze on lap-6, but he couldn’t make
the pass stick. Carla Botticello spun in turn 2 and collected the car of
Andrew Hayes with 6 laps complete to bring the caution out.

On the restart, Provost went around in turn 2 in front of the field, but no
one hit him and he was able to get going to keep the race under green.
Hinze was the race leader with Burnham now in second and Cory Casagrande in
third. Burnham took the lead from Hinze on lap-10 and Casagrande followed
him by. Hinze settled into line in third, with Josh Wood fourth and Dennis
Botticello in fifth.

Casagrande was all over the back of Burnham, but Burnham was able to keep
Casagrande behind him. Wood was now in third, with Hinze in fourth just in
front of Dennis Botticello. Coming to the white flag, Casagrande was able
to get to the inside of Burnham and take the lead. Burnham tried to make a
crossover move, but Casagrande was able to hold Burnham off and he powered
his way to his second consecutive Limited Late Model feature victory of the
season. Wood came home in third, with Hinze and Dennis Botticello rounding
out the top-5.

In the first 12-lap DARE Stock feature event, Stephanie Berardi took the
lead at the drop of the green from second on the grid and began to set the
pace at the front of the field. Jeremy Lavoie spun in turn 1, but he was
able to get his car going again and the race stayed green.

Andy Marchese and Austin Bessette were lined up nose to tail behind Berardi,
while last week’s winner Kris Fluckiger was fourth and Albert Saunders got
around Monte Gibbs to take over fifth place.

The order stayed the same until lap-6 when Bessette and Fluckiger both got
by Marchese to move into second and third. One lap later, Marchese lost a
spot to Albert Saunders to fall back to fifth after running in second for
the first half of the race.

Bessette was all over the back bumper of Berardi for the race lead with 2
laps to go. Bessette made a dive to the inside of Berardi in turn 1 on the
final lap, but he couldn’t make the pass stick. Berardi held Bessette off
through turns 3+4 and led him back to the line to pick up her first DARE
Stock feature victory of the season after driving from High Point University
in North Carolina to race. Bessette finished second, with Fluckiger, Albert
Saunders, and Marchese rounding out the top-5.

In the second 15-lap DARE Stock feature event, Johnny Walker shot into the
lead at the drop of the green with Andy Marchese slotting in behind him.

Marchese spun in turns 3+4 in front of the field to bring the caution out
before the field could complete the first lap.

Walker took the lead on the restart with Monte Gibbs slotting into second.
Albert Saunders was third with Austin Bessette and Jeremy Lavoie making up
the top-5. Albert Saunders looked to have a pass made on Gibbs for second
on lap-6, but Gibbs was able to hang strong in the outside groove and he
kept the position. The caution came out with 8 laps complete as Gary
Spinnato, Jr. and Trevor Berry spun on the backstretch.

On the restart, Gibbs made a strong move to the inside of Walker to move
into the race lead. Albert Saunders followed Gibbs by Walker to move into
second. Austin Bessette was fourth behind Walker with James Carroll making
up the top-5. The caution came back out with 9 laps complete for a spin by
Josh Parker.

Gibbs took the lead back under green with Albert Saunders fending off Walker
to remain in second. Bessette was fourth and Carroll was fifth. Bessette
got by Walker for third and Saunders was looking to the low side of Gibbs
for the lead. Gibbs was able to fend off Saunders’ challenges and he was
still the leader as the field took the white flag. Saunders tried to make
one final run and got out of shape on the backstretch, which allowed
Bessette to move into second. Gibbs led Bessette back to the checkered flag
to pick up his very first career victory. Albert Saunders finished third,
with Walker and Cliff Saunders rounding out the top-5.

For more information contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at
(860) 684-2783, or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.

SK MODIFIED® (40)
1) Keith Rocco, Meriden
2) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs
3) Ted Christopher, Plainville
4) Todd Owen, Somers
5) Danny Cates, Chaplin
6) Dan Avery, Somers
7) Michael Gervais, Jr., Southbury
8) Brian Sullivan, South Windsor
9) Nichole Morgillo, Wallingford
10) Matt Gallo, Kensington
11) Tommy Barrett, Jr., Millis, Ma
12) Matt Galko, Meriden
13) Frank Ruocco, Cheshire
14) Curt Brainard, Canton
15) Michael Bennett, Stafford Springs
16) Sean Foster, Willington
17) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Ma
18) Chris Matthews, Stafford
19) Raymond Grassetti, Monson, Ma
20) Heather DesRochers, Granby, Ma
21) Tom Bolles, Ellington
22) Joe Gada, Salem
23) Tommy Membrino, Jr., Prospect
24) Kyle Spencer, Montgomery, Ma
25) Kurt Lenahan, Roxbury
26) Ryan Preece, Berlin

LATE MODEL (30)
1) Corey Hutchings, Salem
2) Kevin Gambacorta, Ellington
3) Tom Fearn, East Longmeadow, Ma
4) Mark St. Hilaire, Berlin
5) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs
6) Rick Charette, Vernon
7) Joey Cipriano, III, Waterbury
8) Ed Ricard, Stafford Springs
9) Tony Lafo, Higganum
10) Joe Rzeszutek, South Hadley, Ma
11) Paul Varricchio, Jr., Berlin
12) Mike Quintiliano, Shelton
13) Patrick Townsend, Springifeld, Ma
14) Jim Peterson, Monson, Ma
15) J.J. Hill, Stafford Springs
16) Jim Mavlouganes, Bethany
17) Adam Gray, Belchertown, Ma

SK LIGHT MODIFIED #1 (15)
1) Dylan Kopec, Palmer, Ma
2) David Webb, New Milford
3) Jay Goff, Stafford Springs
4) Bob Charland, Stafford
5) Joey Ferrigno, East Hartford
6) Payton Henry, Willington
7) Tony Membrino, Jr., Plantsville
8) Zach Aszklar, Wallingford
9) Harry Wheeler, Stafford Springs
10) Ronnie Williams, Tolland
11) Rick Williams, Haddam
12) Scott Bouley, Thomaston
13) Rick Burwood, Enfield
14) Shawn Brule, West Thompson
15) Frank Cardile, Bolton
16) Dylan Campbell, Southborough, Ma
17) Nick Salva, Prospect
18) Bo Gunning, Southbury

SK LIGHT MODIFIED #2 (15)
1) Frank Cardile, Bolton
2) Tony Membrino, Jr., Plantsville
3) Tyler Hines, North Haven
4) Bo Gunning, Southbury
5) Jay Goff, Stafford Springs
6) Joey Ferrigno, East Hartford
7) Harry Wheeler, Stafford Springs
8) Nick Salva, Prospect
9) David Webb, New Milford
10) Rick Williams, Haddam
11) Rick Burwood, Enfield
12) Ronnie Williams, Tolland
13) Payton Henry, Willington
14) Zach Aszklar, Wallingford
15) Bob Charland, Stafford
16) Dylan Kopec, Palmer, Ma
17) Dylan Campbell, Southborough, Ma
18) Shawn Brule, West Thompson

LIMITED LATE MODEL (20)
1) Cory Casagrande, Stafford Springs
2) D.J. Burnham, East Hartford
3) Josh Wood, Palmer, Ma
4) Jesse Hinze, Farmington
5) Dennis Botticello, Suffield
6) Joe Nogiec, Bristol
7) Justin Bren, Monson, Ma
8) Michael Wray, Northford
9) Brian Clement, Wethersfield
10) Duane Provost, Indian Orchard, Ma
11) Glenn Bartkowski, Manchester
12) Carla Botticello, Manchester
13) Andrew Hayes, Charlton, Ma

DARE STOCK #1 (12)
1) Stephanie Berardi, Broad Brook
2) Austin Bessette, Stafford Springs
3) Kris Fluckiger, Enfield
4) Albert Saunders, Stafford
5) Andrew Marchese, Tolland
6) Kyle Casagrande, Stafford Springs
7) Cliff Saunders, Stafford
8) Monte Gibbs, Killingworth
9) James Carroll, West Hartford
10) Josh Parker, Exeter, Ri
11) Trevor Berry, New Preston
12) Jeremy Lavoie, Windsor Locks
13) Doug Phelps, New Salem, Ma
14) Gary Spinnato, Sr., Wallingford
15) Gus Coelho, Jr., Wilberham, Ma
16) Kelsey Rottino, Willimantic
17) Johnny Walker, Ludlow, Ma

DARE STOCK #2 (15)
1) Monte Gibbs, Killingworth
2) Austin Bessette, Stafford Springs
3) Albert Saunders, Stafford
4) Johnny Walker, Ludlow, Ma
5) Cliff Saunders, Stafford
6) James Carroll, West Hartford
7) Stephanie Berardi, Broad Brook
8) Jeremy Lavoie, Windsor Locks
9) Kelsey Rottino, Willimantic
10) Gus Coelho, Jr., Wilberham, Ma
11) Kris Fluckiger, Enfield
12) Josh Parker, Exeter, Ri
13) Trevor Berry, New Preston
14) Doug Phelps, New Salem, Ma
15) Gary Spinnato, Sr., Wallingford
16) Andrew Marchese, Tolland
17) Kyle Casagrande, Stafford Springs

Scott Running

[RGeeProductions]

PENALTY ANNOUNCED FROM AUGUST 24th NASCAR WHELEN ALL-AMERICAN SERIES PROGRAM
AT STAFFORD MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Stafford Motor Speedway has announced the following
penalty following the running of the August 24th NASCAR Whelen All-American
Series feature events.

Jay Goff, driver of the No. 07 SK Light Modified, has been penalized for a
rules violation committed this past Friday at Stafford Motor Speedway.

Goff has been penalized from his fifth place finish in the second 15-lap SK
Light Modified feature for violating rule 20E-5.10 Carburetor (Unapproved
carburetor parts) of the 2012 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model
rulebook.

The violation was discovered in post-race inspection following the second SK
Light Modified feature on Friday, August 24th.

For more information, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at
860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.

New Finishing Order from August 24 SK Light Feature #2 Event

SK LIGHT MODIFIED #2 (15)
1) Frank Cardile, Bolton
2) Tony Membrino, Jr., Plantsville
3) Tyler Hines, North Haven
4) Bo Gunning, Southbury
5) Joey Ferrigno, East Hartford
6) Harry Wheeler, Stafford Springs
7) Nick Salva, Prospect
8) David Webb, New Milford
9) Rick Williams, Haddam
10) Rick Burwood, Enfield
11) Ronnie Williams, Tolland
12) Payton Henry, Willington
13) Zach Aszklar, Wallingford
14) Bob Charland, Stafford
15) Dylan Kopec, Palmer, Ma
16) Dylan Campbell, Southborough, Ma
17) Shawn Brule, West Thompson

Scott Running

[Groundpounder]

Goff has been penalized from his fifth place finish in the second 15-lap SK
Light Modified feature for violating rule 20E-5.10 Carburetor (Unapproved
carburetor parts) of the 2012 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model
rulebook.


Wow, I'd have never guessed that an sk lite could be penalized for a violation of the late model rule book. I guess they really are trend setters over at Stafford.

[uticamike]

Wow, I'd have never guessed that an sk lite could be penalized for a violation of the late model rule book. I guess they really are trend setters over at Stafford.

Interesting. An SK and Stafford hater paying that much attention to such details. Hmmmm.