RGeeProductions
07-11-2014, 11:34 PM
Mid-Season Stretch Feature Wins at Stafford Speedway
Stafford Speedway returned to NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing action with Girls Night Out / Mid-Season Stretch program with all 6 divisions of racing going an extra two laps in feature distance. Taking down feature victories were on the night were Ryan Preece in a wild and wacky finish in the SK Modified® feature, Adam Gray in the Late Model feature, Jeremy Sorel in the SK Light Modified feature, Albert Saunders in the Limited Late Model feature, Alexandra Fearn in the DARE Stock feature, and Brendon Bock in the Legend Cars feature.
In the 42-lap SK Modified® feature event, Tom Bolles took the early lead but he was quickly passed by Curt Brainard. Ronnie Williams was second behind Brainard and he made a move to the inside of Brainard in turn 3 on lap-5 to move to the lead. Sean Foster was third with Dan Avery fourth and Doug Coby in fifth.
Avery got around Foster to move into third on lap-8 and right behind them Keith Rocco got by Doug Coby to move into fifth. Rocco then got by Foster to move into fourth on lap-9 and he was quickly closing in on Avery for third. Rocco got around Avery for third on lap-12 and he made a move by Brainard for second on the next lap. Rocco was closing in on Brainard for the lead when the caution came out with 15 laps complete as Jessey Mueller and Tommy Membrino, Jr. came together in turn 2.
The race went back to green with Williams and Rocco waging a side by side duel for the lead. The drivers stayed side by side for two laps before the caution came back out with 17 laps complete for a multi-car incident in turn 3 that involved the cars of Matt Gallo, Zach Sylvester, Ted Christopher, Woody Pitkat, and several others.
The next restart saw Rocco get a massive run on the outside of Williams as Rocco streaked into the lead as the field rumbled through the first two corners. Williams was now side by side with Dan Avery for second with Coby back in fourth and Ryan Preece in fifth after making a pass on Brainard. Preece then went by Coby to move into fourth on lap-21 as Avery was beginning to apply heavy pressure to Rocco’s back bumper for the lead. Mueller spun to bring the caution back out with 22 laps complete.
Rocco took command back under green with Avery quickly slotting into second. Preece was trying to make a pass on Williams in the high groove but Williams was able to hold him off after several laps of side by side racing. Foster got by Coby to move up to fifth on lap-25 as Rocco continued to lead Avery and Williams. Coby moved back by Foster on lap-27 to move back into fifth place. The caution came back out with 29 laps complete as Troy Talman did a half spin in the middle of turns 1+2.
Rocco got a good restart and resumed the lead while Williams was able to pull alongside Avery for second. Coby and Preece were side by side for fourth behind Williams and Avery with Foster in sixth. Williams was able to get clear of Avery on lap-32 to move into second and Coby was able to hold off Preece to take fourth. The top-5 then ran unchanged until the caution flew with 41 laps complete for a spin by Brainard in the middle of turns 3+4 to set up a green white checkered finish.
Rocco again nailed the restart and powered his way into the lead but Matt Galko came to a stop backwards against the turn 3 wall to bring the caution back out.
Mayhem broke out on the next restart as Rocco and Williams touched with Rocco climbing up and over the rear of Williams’ car as they spun backwards into the turn 1 wall. Also collected in the melee was Todd Owen, Woody Pitkat, Mueller, and Troy Talman.
Coby got a good run on the outside of Avery and he had the lead by a nose at the line as the field took the white flag. As the cars raced into turn 1, Avery made contact with Coby and Coby spun in turn 1 with Avery coming to a stop behind Coby. This allowed Preece to move from third to the lead and he led Ted Christopher, Sean Foster, Woody Pitkat, and Tom Bolles to the checkered flag to pick up his fourth win of the 2014 season.
In the 32-lap Late Model feature event, Josh Wood streaked into the lead from the pole with Michael Bennett slotting into second. Kyle Casagrande was third, with Adam Gray and Scott Cook behind him. Michael Scorzelli got by Cook to move into fifth on lap-2 and Cook lost several more spots as he was in the outside groove.
Wood was looking like he was shot out of a cannon as he had a lead of a half straightaway by lap-5 over Bennett. Bennett came under fire from Gray on lap-6 and Gray took over the spot with a pass in turn 4. Kyle Casagrane was fourth and J.J. Hill was fifth with Tom Fearn moving into sixth as Scorzelli fell back to seventh place.
Wood was maintaining his gap over Gray while Casagrande got out of shape on the backstretch and fell to the rear of the pack after running in the top-5 for the first 12 laps. Gray was now beginning to close down the gap to Wood while Bennett continued to run third ahead of Tom Fearn and Jim Peterson.
By lap-17 Gray was right behind Wood for the lead while behind them, Fearn had moved up to third and Peterson had moved up to fourth as Bennett fell from third back to fifth. Bennett continued to slide backwards over the next several laps as Kevin Gambacorta, jay Stuart, Cory Casagrande, and J.J. Hill all got by Bennett, who fell from fifth back to ninth.
The lead changed hands on lap-22 as Gray made a move around Wood. Gray pulled out to a several car length lead, but with 7 laps to go the two leaders were starting to encounter lapped traffic. Gray and Wood made quick work of the lapped cars and as Mark Heim slowed to let the leaders go by, it looked like it took Kyle Casagrande by surprise and he had to jam on the brakes. As the cars navigated turns 1+2, Fearn got into the back of Casagrande’s car and Fearn did two 360 degree spins to bring the caution out with 27 laps complete.
On the restart, Gray took the lead with Peterson getting by Wood to move into second. Stuart was now on the inside of Wood on lap-29 and he took the spot as Wood fell back to fourth. Mark Heim and Peter Thickett spun in turns 3+4 to bring the caution out with 29 laps complete.
Gray got a slow restart but he was able to recover down the backstretch and pulled slightly ahead of Peterson. Gray had the lead at the line by a half car length and as the cars rumbled into turn 3 on lap-31 Stuart made a dive to the inside of Peterson to move into second. Fearn spun in turn 4 to bring the caution out with 31 laps complete and set up a green white checkered finish.
Gray took the lead on the restart while Stuart was struggling with his car. Peterson moved into second with Stuart holding off Wood for third. Gray led the field back to the checkered flag for his second win of the 2014 season. Peterson finished second, with Stuart, Wood, and Hill rounding out the top-5.
In the 22-lap SK Light Modified feature event, Rich Hammann took the lead from the pole with Paul French quickly moving into second. Tyler Hines moved into third, with Glenn Griswold and Geoff Boisjolie making up the top-5. The caution slowed the field with 3 laps complete for a spin by Wesley Prucker.
On the restart Hammann and Griswold were putting on a side by side show with Hammann taking the lead after several laps of side by side racing. Joey Ferrigno moved into third, with his teammate Paul French in fourth. The caution came back out with 8 laps complete for Carlos Gray, who spun coming out of turn 4.
The restart saw Hammann resume his command of the race with Griswold, Ferrigno, and French lined up behind him. Ferrigno quickly got around Griswold to move into second and he made a move in turn 3 to pass Hammann for the lead on lap-11. Jeremy Sorel was now third behind Ferrigno and Hammann with Stephen Kopcik in fourth and Griswold was in a side by side battle with Nick Salva for fifth place.
Ferrigno was beginning to stretch out his lead at the front while Sorel was closing in on Hammann’s bumper for second. Sorel was hounding Hammann’s back bumper and he was able to make a pass and take over second on lap-18. Salva was now in fourth with Dylan Menditto in fifth as Kopcik had fallen back to sixth place.
As Ferrigno completed lap-20, his car let out an audible double pop and he slowed and had to limp his way back to pit road. Ferrigno’s misfortune handed the race lead over to Sorel, who led Salva back to the checkered flag to pick up his second consecutive victory of the 2014 season. Menditto finished third, with Kopcik and Hammann rounding out the top-5.
(continued)
Stafford Speedway returned to NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing action with Girls Night Out / Mid-Season Stretch program with all 6 divisions of racing going an extra two laps in feature distance. Taking down feature victories were on the night were Ryan Preece in a wild and wacky finish in the SK Modified® feature, Adam Gray in the Late Model feature, Jeremy Sorel in the SK Light Modified feature, Albert Saunders in the Limited Late Model feature, Alexandra Fearn in the DARE Stock feature, and Brendon Bock in the Legend Cars feature.
In the 42-lap SK Modified® feature event, Tom Bolles took the early lead but he was quickly passed by Curt Brainard. Ronnie Williams was second behind Brainard and he made a move to the inside of Brainard in turn 3 on lap-5 to move to the lead. Sean Foster was third with Dan Avery fourth and Doug Coby in fifth.
Avery got around Foster to move into third on lap-8 and right behind them Keith Rocco got by Doug Coby to move into fifth. Rocco then got by Foster to move into fourth on lap-9 and he was quickly closing in on Avery for third. Rocco got around Avery for third on lap-12 and he made a move by Brainard for second on the next lap. Rocco was closing in on Brainard for the lead when the caution came out with 15 laps complete as Jessey Mueller and Tommy Membrino, Jr. came together in turn 2.
The race went back to green with Williams and Rocco waging a side by side duel for the lead. The drivers stayed side by side for two laps before the caution came back out with 17 laps complete for a multi-car incident in turn 3 that involved the cars of Matt Gallo, Zach Sylvester, Ted Christopher, Woody Pitkat, and several others.
The next restart saw Rocco get a massive run on the outside of Williams as Rocco streaked into the lead as the field rumbled through the first two corners. Williams was now side by side with Dan Avery for second with Coby back in fourth and Ryan Preece in fifth after making a pass on Brainard. Preece then went by Coby to move into fourth on lap-21 as Avery was beginning to apply heavy pressure to Rocco’s back bumper for the lead. Mueller spun to bring the caution back out with 22 laps complete.
Rocco took command back under green with Avery quickly slotting into second. Preece was trying to make a pass on Williams in the high groove but Williams was able to hold him off after several laps of side by side racing. Foster got by Coby to move up to fifth on lap-25 as Rocco continued to lead Avery and Williams. Coby moved back by Foster on lap-27 to move back into fifth place. The caution came back out with 29 laps complete as Troy Talman did a half spin in the middle of turns 1+2.
Rocco got a good restart and resumed the lead while Williams was able to pull alongside Avery for second. Coby and Preece were side by side for fourth behind Williams and Avery with Foster in sixth. Williams was able to get clear of Avery on lap-32 to move into second and Coby was able to hold off Preece to take fourth. The top-5 then ran unchanged until the caution flew with 41 laps complete for a spin by Brainard in the middle of turns 3+4 to set up a green white checkered finish.
Rocco again nailed the restart and powered his way into the lead but Matt Galko came to a stop backwards against the turn 3 wall to bring the caution back out.
Mayhem broke out on the next restart as Rocco and Williams touched with Rocco climbing up and over the rear of Williams’ car as they spun backwards into the turn 1 wall. Also collected in the melee was Todd Owen, Woody Pitkat, Mueller, and Troy Talman.
Coby got a good run on the outside of Avery and he had the lead by a nose at the line as the field took the white flag. As the cars raced into turn 1, Avery made contact with Coby and Coby spun in turn 1 with Avery coming to a stop behind Coby. This allowed Preece to move from third to the lead and he led Ted Christopher, Sean Foster, Woody Pitkat, and Tom Bolles to the checkered flag to pick up his fourth win of the 2014 season.
In the 32-lap Late Model feature event, Josh Wood streaked into the lead from the pole with Michael Bennett slotting into second. Kyle Casagrande was third, with Adam Gray and Scott Cook behind him. Michael Scorzelli got by Cook to move into fifth on lap-2 and Cook lost several more spots as he was in the outside groove.
Wood was looking like he was shot out of a cannon as he had a lead of a half straightaway by lap-5 over Bennett. Bennett came under fire from Gray on lap-6 and Gray took over the spot with a pass in turn 4. Kyle Casagrane was fourth and J.J. Hill was fifth with Tom Fearn moving into sixth as Scorzelli fell back to seventh place.
Wood was maintaining his gap over Gray while Casagrande got out of shape on the backstretch and fell to the rear of the pack after running in the top-5 for the first 12 laps. Gray was now beginning to close down the gap to Wood while Bennett continued to run third ahead of Tom Fearn and Jim Peterson.
By lap-17 Gray was right behind Wood for the lead while behind them, Fearn had moved up to third and Peterson had moved up to fourth as Bennett fell from third back to fifth. Bennett continued to slide backwards over the next several laps as Kevin Gambacorta, jay Stuart, Cory Casagrande, and J.J. Hill all got by Bennett, who fell from fifth back to ninth.
The lead changed hands on lap-22 as Gray made a move around Wood. Gray pulled out to a several car length lead, but with 7 laps to go the two leaders were starting to encounter lapped traffic. Gray and Wood made quick work of the lapped cars and as Mark Heim slowed to let the leaders go by, it looked like it took Kyle Casagrande by surprise and he had to jam on the brakes. As the cars navigated turns 1+2, Fearn got into the back of Casagrande’s car and Fearn did two 360 degree spins to bring the caution out with 27 laps complete.
On the restart, Gray took the lead with Peterson getting by Wood to move into second. Stuart was now on the inside of Wood on lap-29 and he took the spot as Wood fell back to fourth. Mark Heim and Peter Thickett spun in turns 3+4 to bring the caution out with 29 laps complete.
Gray got a slow restart but he was able to recover down the backstretch and pulled slightly ahead of Peterson. Gray had the lead at the line by a half car length and as the cars rumbled into turn 3 on lap-31 Stuart made a dive to the inside of Peterson to move into second. Fearn spun in turn 4 to bring the caution out with 31 laps complete and set up a green white checkered finish.
Gray took the lead on the restart while Stuart was struggling with his car. Peterson moved into second with Stuart holding off Wood for third. Gray led the field back to the checkered flag for his second win of the 2014 season. Peterson finished second, with Stuart, Wood, and Hill rounding out the top-5.
In the 22-lap SK Light Modified feature event, Rich Hammann took the lead from the pole with Paul French quickly moving into second. Tyler Hines moved into third, with Glenn Griswold and Geoff Boisjolie making up the top-5. The caution slowed the field with 3 laps complete for a spin by Wesley Prucker.
On the restart Hammann and Griswold were putting on a side by side show with Hammann taking the lead after several laps of side by side racing. Joey Ferrigno moved into third, with his teammate Paul French in fourth. The caution came back out with 8 laps complete for Carlos Gray, who spun coming out of turn 4.
The restart saw Hammann resume his command of the race with Griswold, Ferrigno, and French lined up behind him. Ferrigno quickly got around Griswold to move into second and he made a move in turn 3 to pass Hammann for the lead on lap-11. Jeremy Sorel was now third behind Ferrigno and Hammann with Stephen Kopcik in fourth and Griswold was in a side by side battle with Nick Salva for fifth place.
Ferrigno was beginning to stretch out his lead at the front while Sorel was closing in on Hammann’s bumper for second. Sorel was hounding Hammann’s back bumper and he was able to make a pass and take over second on lap-18. Salva was now in fourth with Dylan Menditto in fifth as Kopcik had fallen back to sixth place.
As Ferrigno completed lap-20, his car let out an audible double pop and he slowed and had to limp his way back to pit road. Ferrigno’s misfortune handed the race lead over to Sorel, who led Salva back to the checkered flag to pick up his second consecutive victory of the 2014 season. Menditto finished third, with Kopcik and Hammann rounding out the top-5.
(continued)