RGeeProductions
07-10-2014, 08:55 PM
With the 2014 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series season approaching the midway point at Stafford Motor Speedway, let’s take a division by division look at what has transpired at the Connecticut half-mile in what has been an exciting and at times unpredictable season.
SK Modified Division
The story of the 2014 SK Modified® season thus far has been Ryan Preece and the #2 J.G. Poulin Drywall / Sullivan and Sons team. Preece set a record for the SK Modified® division by winning each of the first three races of the 2014 season and he currently leads the championship chase.
Right on Preece’s tail is Ted Christopher, who picked up his first victory of the 2014 season in the #13 Freightliner of Long Island machine the last time the cars ran on June 27th. The victory was the 101st SK Modified® win of Christopher’s Stafford career and helped him to close to within 22 points of Preece in the championship chase.
Another driver who is quietly having a good year is Keith Rocco, who is currently third in the point standings. Although Rocco has yet to win a race this season, he has finished all five SK Modified® features in the top-5 and he and his #88 Wheeler’s Auto team is closing in on their first win of the season.
Defending SK Modified® track champion Woody Pitkat currently sits fourth in the standings after switching over to the #50 Flamingo Motorsports team. Pitkat has four top-8 finishes and he nearly got the #50 team their first win on June 20th, finishing second to SK Modified® rookie driver Chase Dowling.
Speaking of Dowling, he has to be considered one of the surprises this season. After winning 7 races as an SK Light rookie last season, Dowling has picked up right where he left off after making the move up the ladder into the SK Modified® division. He became the youngest SK Modified® feature winner in Stafford history when he took the checkered flag on June 20th in the #57 S+S Asphalt Paving Chevrolet. Dowling currently rounds out the top-5 in the points standings.
Late Model Division
The Late Model division has been a duel between veteran drivers over the first 5 races. After running a partial schedule last season, former track champion Jay Stuart has made a return to full-time racing this year and a victory in the season opening NAPA Spring Sizzler has propelled the driver of the #42 JMD Chassis Pontiac into the points lead. Stuart has not finished lower than fourth in the first five races and he leads defending track champion, Adam Gray, by 28 points.
After 17 consecutive podium finishes carried him to the championship last season, Adam Gray is back up front again with the #97 Meadows Motor Car / Leon’s Auto Repair Chevrolet. Although not as dominant as he was last season, Gray had a victory on May 2 and his consistency has him second in the standings.
Tom Fearn, the driver who Gray dueled with for much of the 2013 season in the chase for the championship, is also back to running up front in 2014. Fearn had one victory on June 6 after recovering from a disastrous NAPA Spring Sizzler finish of 16th to currently sit third in the championship standings.
Another veteran in the top-5 of the standings is Jim Peterson, driver of the #17 Flamingo Motorsports Chevrolet. Peterson took home his first Late Model checkered flag since the 2012 season on June 20 and he looks to be back to his consistent ways of finishing in the top-5.
The Late Model division has seen 5 different winners in the first 5 races of the 2014 season and there are plenty of hungry drivers who would like to continue that trend and join the list of Late Model feature winners this season.
SK Light Modified Division
Stafford’s SK Light division has been a proving ground in recent years for young drivers who have SK Modified® aspirations. Drivers like Joey Cipriano, Chase Dowling, Matt Galko, Tommy and Tony Membrino, Troy Talman, and Ronnie Williams have all made the move into the SK’s after experiencing success in the SK Lights. The 2014 season is no different.
Jeremy Sorel is currently leading the points standings as a rookie driver. Sorel is the most recent SK Light feature winner, taking the checkered flag on June 27 in the #77 Bill’s Repair Service Chevrolet. Sorel’s win made him the third first time winner in the SK Lights this season, with Nick Salva and Dylan Menditto being the other two.
Speaking of Salva, the driver of the #98 J.G. Poulin Drywall Chevrolet is currently second in the points in his first full-time season of SK Light competition. Right behind Salva in the standings is another rookie, D.J. Burnham. While most SK Light rookie drivers jump right into modified competition, Burnham joined the modified ranks after 3 seasons in Stafford’s Limited Late Model division. Burnham has made a smooth transition from full fendered to open wheel competition and he looks poised to become the fourth first time winner this season after posting three podium finishes in the first 6 races of the season.
Limited Late Model Division
With defending track champion Josh Wood moving up to the Late Model division this season, the door is wide open for a new champion. Taking the season by the horns thus far is Duane Provost, driver of the #88 Gus’ Auto Repair Chevrolet. Provost won the season opening NAPA Spring Sizzler feature and he is the only repeat winner in the first 6 races.
Right on Provost’s heels is Andrew Hayes, driver of the #9 Asnuntuck Community College Chevrolet. Hayes has finished each of the first 6 races in the top-5, including a victory on May 23. Hayes currently sits a miniscule 4 points behind Provost in the chase for the championship.
After taking a year off in 2013, Stafford veteran Norm Sears has returned strong to the Limited Late Model ranks with 4 podium finishes in the first 6 races. Sears is currently 12 points behind Provost and he sits third in the championship standings.
Behind Sears is David Arute, driver of the #28 Nichols College Ford. Arute has been agonizingly close to victory with 2 second place finishes and he has finished all but one of the 6 races in the top-7.
Rounding out the top-5 is Austin Bessette, driver of the #64 Brickenmore Chevrolet. Several weeks ago, Bessette had to race from his high school graduation to the track where he just made it in time to climb behind the wheel of his car and go racing. That night ended with Bessette sitting in NAPA victory lane and it helped him climb to fifth in the standings after some misfortune earlier in the season.
DARE Stock Division
Currently leading the way in Stafford’s DARE Stock division is Frank L’Etoile, Jr., driver of the #33 KOMA Unlimited Chevrolet. L’Etoile hasn’t won a race yet, but he has three second place finishes among his 6 top-5 finishes in the first 6 DARE Stock races.
Johnny Walker, who was last year’s DARE Stock championship runner-up, is right behind L’Etoile in the #01 Bourbeau Welding Chevrolet. Walker took back to back wins on June 6 and June 20 to help close the gap to L’Etoile at the front of the standings. Walker is currently 14 points behind.
David Comeau has continued his strong weekly efforts after winning R.A.D. Automachine Rookie of the Year honors last season. Comeau was able to win on May 2 but getting caught up in a wreck in the most recent DARE Stock feature dropped him to 32 points behind L’Etoile in the championship chase.
Fourth in the standings is Brandon Michael, driver of the #74 Gary’s CT Lawn Care / Tradesmen of New England Chevrolet. Michael has yet to win a race, but his lowest finish in 6 starts has been 8th. Rounding out the top-5 behind Michael is Jeff Jolly, who has shown little rust after having not raced in the DARE Stock division since the 2010 season. Jolly has already recorded a win in the #7 Casagrande Builders Chevrolet and if he can avoid misfortune, he should be among the contenders towards the end of the season.
The 2014 season at Stafford Motor Speedway has been both exciting and unpredictable and the excitement will continue each Friday night from now through September. Check www.staffordspeedway.com for upcoming races and be sure to come on out for a Friday night to be thrilled and entertained while watching the best drivers in New England do battle on the racetrack.
For more information, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.
Scott Running
SK Modified Division
The story of the 2014 SK Modified® season thus far has been Ryan Preece and the #2 J.G. Poulin Drywall / Sullivan and Sons team. Preece set a record for the SK Modified® division by winning each of the first three races of the 2014 season and he currently leads the championship chase.
Right on Preece’s tail is Ted Christopher, who picked up his first victory of the 2014 season in the #13 Freightliner of Long Island machine the last time the cars ran on June 27th. The victory was the 101st SK Modified® win of Christopher’s Stafford career and helped him to close to within 22 points of Preece in the championship chase.
Another driver who is quietly having a good year is Keith Rocco, who is currently third in the point standings. Although Rocco has yet to win a race this season, he has finished all five SK Modified® features in the top-5 and he and his #88 Wheeler’s Auto team is closing in on their first win of the season.
Defending SK Modified® track champion Woody Pitkat currently sits fourth in the standings after switching over to the #50 Flamingo Motorsports team. Pitkat has four top-8 finishes and he nearly got the #50 team their first win on June 20th, finishing second to SK Modified® rookie driver Chase Dowling.
Speaking of Dowling, he has to be considered one of the surprises this season. After winning 7 races as an SK Light rookie last season, Dowling has picked up right where he left off after making the move up the ladder into the SK Modified® division. He became the youngest SK Modified® feature winner in Stafford history when he took the checkered flag on June 20th in the #57 S+S Asphalt Paving Chevrolet. Dowling currently rounds out the top-5 in the points standings.
Late Model Division
The Late Model division has been a duel between veteran drivers over the first 5 races. After running a partial schedule last season, former track champion Jay Stuart has made a return to full-time racing this year and a victory in the season opening NAPA Spring Sizzler has propelled the driver of the #42 JMD Chassis Pontiac into the points lead. Stuart has not finished lower than fourth in the first five races and he leads defending track champion, Adam Gray, by 28 points.
After 17 consecutive podium finishes carried him to the championship last season, Adam Gray is back up front again with the #97 Meadows Motor Car / Leon’s Auto Repair Chevrolet. Although not as dominant as he was last season, Gray had a victory on May 2 and his consistency has him second in the standings.
Tom Fearn, the driver who Gray dueled with for much of the 2013 season in the chase for the championship, is also back to running up front in 2014. Fearn had one victory on June 6 after recovering from a disastrous NAPA Spring Sizzler finish of 16th to currently sit third in the championship standings.
Another veteran in the top-5 of the standings is Jim Peterson, driver of the #17 Flamingo Motorsports Chevrolet. Peterson took home his first Late Model checkered flag since the 2012 season on June 20 and he looks to be back to his consistent ways of finishing in the top-5.
The Late Model division has seen 5 different winners in the first 5 races of the 2014 season and there are plenty of hungry drivers who would like to continue that trend and join the list of Late Model feature winners this season.
SK Light Modified Division
Stafford’s SK Light division has been a proving ground in recent years for young drivers who have SK Modified® aspirations. Drivers like Joey Cipriano, Chase Dowling, Matt Galko, Tommy and Tony Membrino, Troy Talman, and Ronnie Williams have all made the move into the SK’s after experiencing success in the SK Lights. The 2014 season is no different.
Jeremy Sorel is currently leading the points standings as a rookie driver. Sorel is the most recent SK Light feature winner, taking the checkered flag on June 27 in the #77 Bill’s Repair Service Chevrolet. Sorel’s win made him the third first time winner in the SK Lights this season, with Nick Salva and Dylan Menditto being the other two.
Speaking of Salva, the driver of the #98 J.G. Poulin Drywall Chevrolet is currently second in the points in his first full-time season of SK Light competition. Right behind Salva in the standings is another rookie, D.J. Burnham. While most SK Light rookie drivers jump right into modified competition, Burnham joined the modified ranks after 3 seasons in Stafford’s Limited Late Model division. Burnham has made a smooth transition from full fendered to open wheel competition and he looks poised to become the fourth first time winner this season after posting three podium finishes in the first 6 races of the season.
Limited Late Model Division
With defending track champion Josh Wood moving up to the Late Model division this season, the door is wide open for a new champion. Taking the season by the horns thus far is Duane Provost, driver of the #88 Gus’ Auto Repair Chevrolet. Provost won the season opening NAPA Spring Sizzler feature and he is the only repeat winner in the first 6 races.
Right on Provost’s heels is Andrew Hayes, driver of the #9 Asnuntuck Community College Chevrolet. Hayes has finished each of the first 6 races in the top-5, including a victory on May 23. Hayes currently sits a miniscule 4 points behind Provost in the chase for the championship.
After taking a year off in 2013, Stafford veteran Norm Sears has returned strong to the Limited Late Model ranks with 4 podium finishes in the first 6 races. Sears is currently 12 points behind Provost and he sits third in the championship standings.
Behind Sears is David Arute, driver of the #28 Nichols College Ford. Arute has been agonizingly close to victory with 2 second place finishes and he has finished all but one of the 6 races in the top-7.
Rounding out the top-5 is Austin Bessette, driver of the #64 Brickenmore Chevrolet. Several weeks ago, Bessette had to race from his high school graduation to the track where he just made it in time to climb behind the wheel of his car and go racing. That night ended with Bessette sitting in NAPA victory lane and it helped him climb to fifth in the standings after some misfortune earlier in the season.
DARE Stock Division
Currently leading the way in Stafford’s DARE Stock division is Frank L’Etoile, Jr., driver of the #33 KOMA Unlimited Chevrolet. L’Etoile hasn’t won a race yet, but he has three second place finishes among his 6 top-5 finishes in the first 6 DARE Stock races.
Johnny Walker, who was last year’s DARE Stock championship runner-up, is right behind L’Etoile in the #01 Bourbeau Welding Chevrolet. Walker took back to back wins on June 6 and June 20 to help close the gap to L’Etoile at the front of the standings. Walker is currently 14 points behind.
David Comeau has continued his strong weekly efforts after winning R.A.D. Automachine Rookie of the Year honors last season. Comeau was able to win on May 2 but getting caught up in a wreck in the most recent DARE Stock feature dropped him to 32 points behind L’Etoile in the championship chase.
Fourth in the standings is Brandon Michael, driver of the #74 Gary’s CT Lawn Care / Tradesmen of New England Chevrolet. Michael has yet to win a race, but his lowest finish in 6 starts has been 8th. Rounding out the top-5 behind Michael is Jeff Jolly, who has shown little rust after having not raced in the DARE Stock division since the 2010 season. Jolly has already recorded a win in the #7 Casagrande Builders Chevrolet and if he can avoid misfortune, he should be among the contenders towards the end of the season.
The 2014 season at Stafford Motor Speedway has been both exciting and unpredictable and the excitement will continue each Friday night from now through September. Check www.staffordspeedway.com for upcoming races and be sure to come on out for a Friday night to be thrilled and entertained while watching the best drivers in New England do battle on the racetrack.
For more information, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.
Scott Running