RGeeProductions
10-20-2015, 08:13 PM
Berndt & Bennett Score NAPA Fall Final Wins At Stafford;
Rowan Pennink Clinches Record SK Modified® Track Championship
Stafford Motor Speedway concluded its 2014 NASCAR racing season with feature events for the SK Modified® and Late Model divisions as part of its NAPA Auto Parts Fall Final Weekend. Eric Berndt scored his second consecutive feature victory of the 2015 season in the SK Modified® feature while Rowan Pennink locked up the track championship with a fourth place finish. Michael Bennett put the perfect cap on his championship season as he took down his seventh Late Model feature win of the year.
In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature, Bob Charland looped his car at the start to avoid an incident in front of him but he was able to keep going and the race stayed green with Matt Galko setting the early pace ahead of Mike Christopher, Jr., and Tom Bolles. With 1 lap complete, Ronnie Williams came to a stop in turn 3 with smoke pouring from his car and Michael Gervais, Jr. was also stopped against the wall to bring the caution out. SK Modified® championship contender Ryan Preece had to take to the grass to avoid the incident and he rejoined the pack in 9th place.
Galko took the lead back under green with Bolles and Christopher, Jr. side by side for second. Rowan Pennink was up to fourth and Ted Christopher was fifth. Christopher got clear of Bolles on lap-5 and he moved into second. Ryan Preece was charging his way to the front and he moved into fifth just behind Pennink on lap-6. Preece continued his charge, getting by Bolles for third on lap-7 and he took second from Christopher, Jr. on lap-9.
Galko had built up a comfortable lead but Preece had closed that gap down to several car lengths by lap-15. Eric Berndt was up to third with Christopher, Jr. in fourth and Ted Christopher fifth. The caution came out with 16 laps complete for a spin in turn 2 by Tommy Membrino, Jr.
Galko took the lead back under green and Preece was just beginning to make a serious challenge for the lead when the caution came out with 18 laps complete for a spin in turn 2 by Cam McDermott.
Preece was able to keep pace with Galko on the restart and he took the lead at the line. Preece got clear of Galko on lap-20 but Galko came back to Preece’s inside at the line. Berndt and Christopher, Jr. were side by side behind the two leaders for third with Pennink running in fifth. Galko took the lead at the line on lap-21 and he cleared Preece down the backstretch but Preece made a crossover move to retake the lead on lap-22. The caution came out with 22 laps complete for John Catania and Jay Sundeen, who came together at the exit of turn 4.
On the restart, Jeremy Sorel and Membrino got together going into turn 1 and Catania also spun to bring the caution right back out.
Preece took the lead on the restart with Galko slotting into second. Berndt took third with Christopher, Jr. fourth and Ted Christopher fifth. Preece made a move to the inside of Galko in turn 3 on lap-25 to move back to the front. Galko hung tough on the outside of Preece but Berndt was able to follow Preece by on the following lap to move up to second and drop Galko back to third. Berndt then pulled alongside Preece on lap-27 and he took the lead from Preece down the backstretch on lap-28. While Berndt was charging to the front, Ted Christopher worked his way into third with Galko falling back to fourth and Pennink was back up to fifth with 10 laps to go.
The top-3 remained in line while Pennink was able to move around Galko to take over fourth place on lap-35. The three leaders were slicing and dicing on track, but no one was able to make a pass stick. Christopher was able to make a pass stick in turns 3+4 on lap-37 to move into second and drop Preece back to third. Berndt led Christopher back to the checkered flag to pick up his second consecutive victory of the 2015 season. Preece finished third, with Pennink and Christopher, Jr. rounding out the top-5. Pennink’s fourth place finish was good enough to make him the 2015 SK Modified® track champion.
In the 30-lap Late Model feature, Rich Hammann took the lead at the green with Ed Ricard, Scott Cook, Josh Wood, and Michael Bennett behind him. The caution came out with 1 lap complete for a spin by Kevin Gambacorta off turn 2 that also involved Andy Marchese and Stu Fearn.
Hammann took the lead on the restart with Bennett streaking his way up to second. Wood was making a move on Ricard for third with Tom Butler and Wayne Coury, Jr. lined up behind him. Bennett took the lead from Hammann at the end of lap-4 while behind them, Wood took second with Butler, Coury, and Tom Fearn all getting by Ricard. Stu Fearn looped his car in turn 3 to bring the caution back out with 6 laps complete.
Bennett took the lead on the restart with Wood right on his back bumper. Tom Fearn was now up to third, with Coury and Butler making up the top-5. Gambacorta was coming back to the front after his lap-1 spin as he worked his way past Jim Mavlouganes to move into sixth on lap-10. Marchese spun in turn 2 to bring the caution back out with 10 laps complete.
Bennett took the lead back under green while Fearn streaked by Wood to move into second. Fearn’s move allowed Butler to follow him through and drop Wood from second back to fourth with Coury running in fifth. Marchese and Skip Breunig spun in turn 3 to bring the caution back out with 13 laps complete.
Bennett again took the lead on the restart with the cars quickly settling into a single file line with Fearn, Butler, Wood, and Scott Cook making up the top-5. Bennett went unchallenged to the checkered flag as he picked up his 7th win of the 2015 season. Fearn finished second with Butler, Wood, and Coury 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) Eric Berndt, Cromwell
2) Ted Christopher, Plainville
3) Ryan Preece, Berlin
4) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa
5) Mike Christopher, Jr., Wolcott
6) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs
7) Matt Galko, Meriden
8) Dan Avery, Somers
9) Joey Cipriano, Iii, Waterbury
10) Justin Bonsignore, West Islip, Ny
11) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Ma
12) Brian Sullivan, South Windsor
13) Cam McDermott, Scituate, Ri
14) Tom Bolles, Ellington
15) Adam Norton, Brookfield, Ma
16) Keith Rocco, Berlin
17) Bob Charland, Stafford
18) Tommy Membrino, Jr., Prospect
19) Jay Sundeen, Douglas, Ma
20) Tyler Hines, North Haven
21) Jeff Baral, Plantsville
22) Jeremy Sorel, Westfield, Ma
23) John Catania, Agawam, Ma
24) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield
25) Todd Owen, Somers
26) Ronnie Williams, Tolland
27) Michael Gervais, Jr., Southbury
LATE MODEL (30)
1) Michael Bennett, Willington
2) Tom Fearn, East Longmeadow, Ma
3) Tom Butler, Stafford Springs
4) Josh Wood, Palmer, Ma
5) Wayne Coury, Jr., Shelton
6) Kevin Gambacorta, Ellington
7) Chase Cook, Oakdale
8) Jim Mavlouganes, Bethany
9) Skip Breunig, Milford
10) Dave Wray, Durham
11) Ed Ricard, Stafford Springs
12) Joel Monahan, Whately, Ma
13) Rich Hammann, Tolland
14) Paul Varricchio, Jr., Berlin
15) Rick Lanagan, Iii, Broad Brook
16) Andy Marchese, Tolland
17) Scott Cook, Oakdale
18) Michael Scorzelli, Feura Bush, Ny
19) Stu Fearn, East Longmeadow, Ma
20) Mike Quintiliano, Shelton
Scott Running
Rowan Pennink Clinches Record SK Modified® Track Championship
Stafford Motor Speedway concluded its 2014 NASCAR racing season with feature events for the SK Modified® and Late Model divisions as part of its NAPA Auto Parts Fall Final Weekend. Eric Berndt scored his second consecutive feature victory of the 2015 season in the SK Modified® feature while Rowan Pennink locked up the track championship with a fourth place finish. Michael Bennett put the perfect cap on his championship season as he took down his seventh Late Model feature win of the year.
In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature, Bob Charland looped his car at the start to avoid an incident in front of him but he was able to keep going and the race stayed green with Matt Galko setting the early pace ahead of Mike Christopher, Jr., and Tom Bolles. With 1 lap complete, Ronnie Williams came to a stop in turn 3 with smoke pouring from his car and Michael Gervais, Jr. was also stopped against the wall to bring the caution out. SK Modified® championship contender Ryan Preece had to take to the grass to avoid the incident and he rejoined the pack in 9th place.
Galko took the lead back under green with Bolles and Christopher, Jr. side by side for second. Rowan Pennink was up to fourth and Ted Christopher was fifth. Christopher got clear of Bolles on lap-5 and he moved into second. Ryan Preece was charging his way to the front and he moved into fifth just behind Pennink on lap-6. Preece continued his charge, getting by Bolles for third on lap-7 and he took second from Christopher, Jr. on lap-9.
Galko had built up a comfortable lead but Preece had closed that gap down to several car lengths by lap-15. Eric Berndt was up to third with Christopher, Jr. in fourth and Ted Christopher fifth. The caution came out with 16 laps complete for a spin in turn 2 by Tommy Membrino, Jr.
Galko took the lead back under green and Preece was just beginning to make a serious challenge for the lead when the caution came out with 18 laps complete for a spin in turn 2 by Cam McDermott.
Preece was able to keep pace with Galko on the restart and he took the lead at the line. Preece got clear of Galko on lap-20 but Galko came back to Preece’s inside at the line. Berndt and Christopher, Jr. were side by side behind the two leaders for third with Pennink running in fifth. Galko took the lead at the line on lap-21 and he cleared Preece down the backstretch but Preece made a crossover move to retake the lead on lap-22. The caution came out with 22 laps complete for John Catania and Jay Sundeen, who came together at the exit of turn 4.
On the restart, Jeremy Sorel and Membrino got together going into turn 1 and Catania also spun to bring the caution right back out.
Preece took the lead on the restart with Galko slotting into second. Berndt took third with Christopher, Jr. fourth and Ted Christopher fifth. Preece made a move to the inside of Galko in turn 3 on lap-25 to move back to the front. Galko hung tough on the outside of Preece but Berndt was able to follow Preece by on the following lap to move up to second and drop Galko back to third. Berndt then pulled alongside Preece on lap-27 and he took the lead from Preece down the backstretch on lap-28. While Berndt was charging to the front, Ted Christopher worked his way into third with Galko falling back to fourth and Pennink was back up to fifth with 10 laps to go.
The top-3 remained in line while Pennink was able to move around Galko to take over fourth place on lap-35. The three leaders were slicing and dicing on track, but no one was able to make a pass stick. Christopher was able to make a pass stick in turns 3+4 on lap-37 to move into second and drop Preece back to third. Berndt led Christopher back to the checkered flag to pick up his second consecutive victory of the 2015 season. Preece finished third, with Pennink and Christopher, Jr. rounding out the top-5. Pennink’s fourth place finish was good enough to make him the 2015 SK Modified® track champion.
In the 30-lap Late Model feature, Rich Hammann took the lead at the green with Ed Ricard, Scott Cook, Josh Wood, and Michael Bennett behind him. The caution came out with 1 lap complete for a spin by Kevin Gambacorta off turn 2 that also involved Andy Marchese and Stu Fearn.
Hammann took the lead on the restart with Bennett streaking his way up to second. Wood was making a move on Ricard for third with Tom Butler and Wayne Coury, Jr. lined up behind him. Bennett took the lead from Hammann at the end of lap-4 while behind them, Wood took second with Butler, Coury, and Tom Fearn all getting by Ricard. Stu Fearn looped his car in turn 3 to bring the caution back out with 6 laps complete.
Bennett took the lead on the restart with Wood right on his back bumper. Tom Fearn was now up to third, with Coury and Butler making up the top-5. Gambacorta was coming back to the front after his lap-1 spin as he worked his way past Jim Mavlouganes to move into sixth on lap-10. Marchese spun in turn 2 to bring the caution back out with 10 laps complete.
Bennett took the lead back under green while Fearn streaked by Wood to move into second. Fearn’s move allowed Butler to follow him through and drop Wood from second back to fourth with Coury running in fifth. Marchese and Skip Breunig spun in turn 3 to bring the caution back out with 13 laps complete.
Bennett again took the lead on the restart with the cars quickly settling into a single file line with Fearn, Butler, Wood, and Scott Cook making up the top-5. Bennett went unchallenged to the checkered flag as he picked up his 7th win of the 2015 season. Fearn finished second with Butler, Wood, and Coury 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) Eric Berndt, Cromwell
2) Ted Christopher, Plainville
3) Ryan Preece, Berlin
4) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa
5) Mike Christopher, Jr., Wolcott
6) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs
7) Matt Galko, Meriden
8) Dan Avery, Somers
9) Joey Cipriano, Iii, Waterbury
10) Justin Bonsignore, West Islip, Ny
11) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Ma
12) Brian Sullivan, South Windsor
13) Cam McDermott, Scituate, Ri
14) Tom Bolles, Ellington
15) Adam Norton, Brookfield, Ma
16) Keith Rocco, Berlin
17) Bob Charland, Stafford
18) Tommy Membrino, Jr., Prospect
19) Jay Sundeen, Douglas, Ma
20) Tyler Hines, North Haven
21) Jeff Baral, Plantsville
22) Jeremy Sorel, Westfield, Ma
23) John Catania, Agawam, Ma
24) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield
25) Todd Owen, Somers
26) Ronnie Williams, Tolland
27) Michael Gervais, Jr., Southbury
LATE MODEL (30)
1) Michael Bennett, Willington
2) Tom Fearn, East Longmeadow, Ma
3) Tom Butler, Stafford Springs
4) Josh Wood, Palmer, Ma
5) Wayne Coury, Jr., Shelton
6) Kevin Gambacorta, Ellington
7) Chase Cook, Oakdale
8) Jim Mavlouganes, Bethany
9) Skip Breunig, Milford
10) Dave Wray, Durham
11) Ed Ricard, Stafford Springs
12) Joel Monahan, Whately, Ma
13) Rich Hammann, Tolland
14) Paul Varricchio, Jr., Berlin
15) Rick Lanagan, Iii, Broad Brook
16) Andy Marchese, Tolland
17) Scott Cook, Oakdale
18) Michael Scorzelli, Feura Bush, Ny
19) Stu Fearn, East Longmeadow, Ma
20) Mike Quintiliano, Shelton
Scott Running