Stafford Speedway SK Duel Michael Gervais Jr. is Last Driver Standing on June 12,2015

 Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Photo/Stafford Speedway/Driscoll
Motorsports Photography

In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature event, Ted Christopher took the lead at the green with Tyler Hines and Dan Avery dueling side by side for second.  Sean Foster and Michael Gervais, Jr. were side by side for fourth behind Avery and Hines as Christopher continued to lead.  A multicar melee erupted in turn 2 with 4 laps complete to bring the caution out.  The cars of Ed Flemke, Keith Rocco, Tyler Hines, Glen Reen, Sean Foster, Frank Ruocco, Justin Bonsignore, Rowan Pennink, and Eric Berndt were all involved along with several others as nearly half the field came to a stop.

Back under green, Gervais took a look to the inside of Christopher in turn 2 while Avery powered by Christopher in the outside groove to take over the lead.  Ryan Preece also got by Christopher at the restart and one lap later he went by Avery to take over the race lead.  Christopher was third with Jeremy Sorel in fourth and Justin Bonsignore was up to fifth. 

Avery briefly retook the lead from Preece but Preece was able to power his way back to the lead on lap-8.  Christopher was glued to Avery’s bumper with Woody Pitkat moving into fourth and Rocco was fifth with 12 laps complete.

Photo Stafford Speedway/ Driscoll Motorsports
Photography

Preece continued to lead the race with Christopher in second.  Rocco was up to third but he was shown the black flag on lap-17 and he reported to pit road, moving Avery into third, Pitkat to fourth and Foster to fifth.  Both Pitkat and Foster got by Avery to move into third and fourth on lap-20 as Preece continued to lead Christopher.  Flemke spun to bring the caution out with 26 laps complete and erase the 1 second margin that Preece enjoyed over Christopher in the fight for the lead.

Preece got clear to the lead on the restart while Pitkat briefly pulled alongside Christopher for second before falling into line in third.  Foster was fourth and Gervais was fifth, with Sorel right on Gervais’ bumper in sixth.  Foster got a good run to the outside of Pitkat on lap-30 and at the line they were even for third as Christopher was beginning to work Preece over for the lead. 

Christopher made a move to the inside of Preece on lap-31 in turn 4 and his car got loose and shot up the track into Preece before spinning back to the inside of the track, which collected the car of Sorel.  Sorel’s car hopped over Christopher’s car and he limped to pit road and the race stayed under green flag conditions as Pitkat was now in the lead but Preece was right on his bumper.

Pitkat and Preece raced side by side for the lead on lap-35 with neither driver giving an inch.  Pitkat was able to edge Preece at the line for the lead on lap-36 and they remained side by side on lap-37 with Pitkat again leading by a nose at the line.  That scenario repeated itself on lap-38 but as they raced out of turn 2 on lap-39, they touched wheels and both cars spun with Preece climbing over Pitkat’s front tire to bring the caution out and set up a green white checkered finish.  This put Rowan Pennink into the lead with Gervais on his outside and Eric Berndt was now third with Hines on his outside in fourth.  Pitkat was done for the evening, while Preece was able to keep going and he restarted in seventh place.

Gervais got a great restart and he powered his way past Pennink and into the lead but Pennink came back strong and was right on Gervais’ bumper as they took the white flag.  Pennink made on last effort in turn 4 on the final lap but Gervais was able to hold him off and record his first win of the 2015 season.  Hines finished third, with Avery and Berndt rounding out the top-5.

SK MODIFIED® (40)

1) Michael Gervais, Jr., Southbury

2) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa

3) Tyler Hines, North Haven

4) Dan Avery, Somers

5) Eric Berndt, Cromwell

6) Ryan Preece, Berlin

7) Todd Owen, Somers

8) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs

9) Justin Bonsignore, West Islip, Ny

10) Sean Foster, Willington

11) Keith Rocco, Berlin

12) Ted Christopher, Plainville

13) Jeremy Sorel, Westfield, Ma

14) Matt Galko, Meriden

15) Ed Flemke, Jr., Southington

16) Ronnie Williams, Tolland

17) Joey Cipriano, Iii, Waterbury

18) Frank Ruocco, Cheshire

19) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Ma

20) Mike Christopher, Jr., Wolcott

Source Scott Running Stafford Speedway Media Press Release & Credit You-Tube Vidio Robert Bagot