Well another week is in the books for Stafford Speedway as only 3 points races remain. The Dare Stocks started off
the night with their 15 lapper, or what should have been a 15 lapper. Norm Sears led from green to checker in a
race that was marred by multiple cautions on lap 9. No major incidents occurred but they had surpassed their time
limit giving the win to Sears, for his first of the year. Sears has a rather unique sponsorship plan put in place as he
only collects sponsor money if he finishes in the top 3. Not a bad deal for the sponsors and a good incentive to
keep his nose clean as well. As for the rest of the field, Carla Botticello, David Gambacorta, Tom Stirk, and Vince
Gambacorta rounded out the top 5.
The SK Lights were up next and they had a decent showing. Chris Matthews and Brit Anderson were once the class
of the field as they have been most of the year. But contact between the two ended Anderson’s night as his car
suffered too much damage to continue. Its too bad they aren’t able to work on their cars during caution (no pit
crews allowed on pit road and no pitting is allowed in this division) as I’m sure Anderson could of at least went on
and finished the race. Once back to green Matthews hunted down leader Kyler Cafro and led the final 4 laps
unchallenged. Cafro was 2nd with Matt Gallo, Wade Mattesen, and Glen Reen rounding out the top 5.
The ever popular Late Models were next to tackle the ½ mile. Rookie Mike Bennett led the field to the green and
held that spot for the first 14 laps until Tom Butler took command. Todd Owen would get by Butler with 3 to go, but
a caution would also come out to slow the field. Then it started to get ugly. During the restart, contact between Tom
Fearn and Ryan Possocco would bring the caution back out and Possocco’s true colors would also come out.
Possocco took exception to the contact and retaliated under caution running into Fearn’s left rear. Fearn would
able to continue as Possocco was done for the night, rightfully so. During that caution, Todd Owen would head
behind the wall as well handing the lead back to Butler. On this restart Fearn would muscle by Butler and hold on
for the win. Butler would hold on for 2nd with Woody Pitkat, Jim Peterson and Mike Quintiliano rounding out the top
5.
The Limited Late Models set sail next and Paul Conte would nail down his first win of the year in impressive fashion.
He took the lead on lap 10 and never looked back. George Nocera took 2nd with early leader Mike Nadeau 3rd.
Sean Foster and Corky Hinze rounded out the top 5.
The SK Mods rounded out the night with their 40 lapper. With the points nearing the end, every position and race
means that much more. Well all the top point getters suffered some sort of problem as Woody Pitkat, Todd Owen
and Frank Ruocco all suffered various problems and would finish way back. But it was Willie Hardie who survived it
all and took down the win. Behind him would be Lloyd Agor, Jeff Baral, Chris Jones and Eric Berndt all earning well
deserved top 5’s.
Seekonk Speedway would get another round of racing in on Saturday night under beautiful skies. The Street
Stocks started the feature rotation this week with their 20 lapper. John Geremia led the field to the green and the
rookie set the pace for the 1st half of the event. Ron Barboza would muscle his way to the front and take the lead
and sit there until a lap 15 caution slowed the field. From there Dick Cavallaro would get the jump on the restart and
go on for the win. Mike Taschereau and Greg Perry would also get by Barboza for 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Barboza would settle for 4th with Mike Lema earning 5th.
The Late Models were up next and put on a whale of a show, I knew they could do it without tearing each other up!
Kyle Casper led the early going holding off Ryan Vanasse every way he could. Eventually Vanasse would get by
and set the pace. Behind him the battles were fast and furious with the likes of Glen Lawton, Gerry DeGasparre,
Matt Hudon, Casper and others all running under close quarters side by side and sometimes 3 wide. DeGasparre
would fight through it all and challenge Vanasse for the lead on the outside, but didn’t have the muscle to finish it
off. Vanasse held on for the win with DeGasparre 2nd, Bruce Rego was third, Matt Hudon and Glen Lawton
rounding out the top 5. This is all unofficial pending further tech, as Vanasse had his ACT legal car there. I will say
this though, if the tech officials deem the car legal before the feature, then they shouldn’t be trying to go back on
their word now. This has been done before to Vanasse and I can’t blame him for not running here weekly anymore.
The Pro Stocks were up next for a special 50 lapper. Only three cautions slowed the event, which was a minor
surprise, but a welcomed one. Tom Scully Sr. would take down the win and the extra money for his 2nd win of the
season. He held off Todd Annarummo over the final few circuits with Charlie Rose third, Vinny Annarummo fourth
and Mike Brightman fifth. Point leader Dave Darling would come back from an early race spin and settle for ninth,
losing a few points in the title chase.
The Sport Trucks would end the night….on a sour note, as seven cautions in the first six laps would slow the field.
Single file restarts from there on out would help a little bit as they finally managed to end this 20 lap marathon.
Adam Murphy worked his way through the field taking the lead at halfway and would battle Mike Cavallaro for the
lead heading into the final laps. With about 5 laps to go, Murphy would slow and forced pitside with mechanical
woes ending his night and allowing Cavallaro to cruise to the checkers. Matt Breault would claim second with John
Paiva third. Brian Clarke would finish 3rd on the track but lost his cool and ran into another competitor, resulting in
a DQ and losing the points lead as well. This moved Hugh Bowser up to fourth and David Haywood fifth.
the night with their 15 lapper, or what should have been a 15 lapper. Norm Sears led from green to checker in a
race that was marred by multiple cautions on lap 9. No major incidents occurred but they had surpassed their time
limit giving the win to Sears, for his first of the year. Sears has a rather unique sponsorship plan put in place as he
only collects sponsor money if he finishes in the top 3. Not a bad deal for the sponsors and a good incentive to
keep his nose clean as well. As for the rest of the field, Carla Botticello, David Gambacorta, Tom Stirk, and Vince
Gambacorta rounded out the top 5.
The SK Lights were up next and they had a decent showing. Chris Matthews and Brit Anderson were once the class
of the field as they have been most of the year. But contact between the two ended Anderson’s night as his car
suffered too much damage to continue. Its too bad they aren’t able to work on their cars during caution (no pit
crews allowed on pit road and no pitting is allowed in this division) as I’m sure Anderson could of at least went on
and finished the race. Once back to green Matthews hunted down leader Kyler Cafro and led the final 4 laps
unchallenged. Cafro was 2nd with Matt Gallo, Wade Mattesen, and Glen Reen rounding out the top 5.
The ever popular Late Models were next to tackle the ½ mile. Rookie Mike Bennett led the field to the green and
held that spot for the first 14 laps until Tom Butler took command. Todd Owen would get by Butler with 3 to go, but
a caution would also come out to slow the field. Then it started to get ugly. During the restart, contact between Tom
Fearn and Ryan Possocco would bring the caution back out and Possocco’s true colors would also come out.
Possocco took exception to the contact and retaliated under caution running into Fearn’s left rear. Fearn would
able to continue as Possocco was done for the night, rightfully so. During that caution, Todd Owen would head
behind the wall as well handing the lead back to Butler. On this restart Fearn would muscle by Butler and hold on
for the win. Butler would hold on for 2nd with Woody Pitkat, Jim Peterson and Mike Quintiliano rounding out the top
5.
The Limited Late Models set sail next and Paul Conte would nail down his first win of the year in impressive fashion.
He took the lead on lap 10 and never looked back. George Nocera took 2nd with early leader Mike Nadeau 3rd.
Sean Foster and Corky Hinze rounded out the top 5.
The SK Mods rounded out the night with their 40 lapper. With the points nearing the end, every position and race
means that much more. Well all the top point getters suffered some sort of problem as Woody Pitkat, Todd Owen
and Frank Ruocco all suffered various problems and would finish way back. But it was Willie Hardie who survived it
all and took down the win. Behind him would be Lloyd Agor, Jeff Baral, Chris Jones and Eric Berndt all earning well
deserved top 5’s.
Seekonk Speedway would get another round of racing in on Saturday night under beautiful skies. The Street
Stocks started the feature rotation this week with their 20 lapper. John Geremia led the field to the green and the
rookie set the pace for the 1st half of the event. Ron Barboza would muscle his way to the front and take the lead
and sit there until a lap 15 caution slowed the field. From there Dick Cavallaro would get the jump on the restart and
go on for the win. Mike Taschereau and Greg Perry would also get by Barboza for 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Barboza would settle for 4th with Mike Lema earning 5th.
The Late Models were up next and put on a whale of a show, I knew they could do it without tearing each other up!
Kyle Casper led the early going holding off Ryan Vanasse every way he could. Eventually Vanasse would get by
and set the pace. Behind him the battles were fast and furious with the likes of Glen Lawton, Gerry DeGasparre,
Matt Hudon, Casper and others all running under close quarters side by side and sometimes 3 wide. DeGasparre
would fight through it all and challenge Vanasse for the lead on the outside, but didn’t have the muscle to finish it
off. Vanasse held on for the win with DeGasparre 2nd, Bruce Rego was third, Matt Hudon and Glen Lawton
rounding out the top 5. This is all unofficial pending further tech, as Vanasse had his ACT legal car there. I will say
this though, if the tech officials deem the car legal before the feature, then they shouldn’t be trying to go back on
their word now. This has been done before to Vanasse and I can’t blame him for not running here weekly anymore.
The Pro Stocks were up next for a special 50 lapper. Only three cautions slowed the event, which was a minor
surprise, but a welcomed one. Tom Scully Sr. would take down the win and the extra money for his 2nd win of the
season. He held off Todd Annarummo over the final few circuits with Charlie Rose third, Vinny Annarummo fourth
and Mike Brightman fifth. Point leader Dave Darling would come back from an early race spin and settle for ninth,
losing a few points in the title chase.
The Sport Trucks would end the night….on a sour note, as seven cautions in the first six laps would slow the field.
Single file restarts from there on out would help a little bit as they finally managed to end this 20 lap marathon.
Adam Murphy worked his way through the field taking the lead at halfway and would battle Mike Cavallaro for the
lead heading into the final laps. With about 5 laps to go, Murphy would slow and forced pitside with mechanical
woes ending his night and allowing Cavallaro to cruise to the checkers. Matt Breault would claim second with John
Paiva third. Brian Clarke would finish 3rd on the track but lost his cool and ran into another competitor, resulting in
a DQ and losing the points lead as well. This moved Hugh Bowser up to fourth and David Haywood fifth.