Very good 15 car field to start the 2016 racing season. In the 30-lap Late Model feature, Tom Fearn streaked into the lead at the drop of the green flag with Chase Cook, Thompson winner, Josh Wood, and Jim Mavlouganes giving chase. Wood made a move to the inside of Cook on lap-4 to move into second and he brought Mavlouganes with him by Cook. Andy Marchese spun on the backstretch to bring the caution out with 3 laps complete.
Top division winner in 2015, Fearn resumed his lead back under green with Wood and Bennett locked in a side by side duel for second. Bennett took the spot from Wood on lap-6 and Michael Wray tried to follow him by, but he settled into line in fourth behind Wood. Glen Reen was up to fifth with Tom Butler right on his bumper in sixth. Scott Cook spun in turn 2 with 8 laps complete to bring the caution back out.
Butler spun on the restart in turn 2 to bring the caution right back out. The next restart saw Fearn power into the lead with Bennett slotting immediately into second right behind him. Michael Wray made a move around Glen Reen to take third and on lap-10 Fearn spun in turn 1+2 with a flat left rear tire as the action at the front was three-wide between Fearn, Bennett, and Reen to bring the caution out.
Bennett and Wray ran side by side for a full lap after the restart before Bennett got clear into the lead. Mavlouganes was third with Kevin Gambacorta up to fourth and Wood was fifth. Fearn was quickly charging his way back towards the front of the pack as in only five laps he was already back up to sixth place. He took fifth from Butler on lap-18 as Bennett continued to lead Wray, Mavlouganes, and Wood.
Wray was staying glued to the back bumper of Bennett, but he couldn’t make a pass. As the two cars came to the line for two laps to go, Wray nearly spun coming out of turn 4 he was trying so hard to get around Bennett. Wray’s slip gave Bennett all the margin he needed as he took the checkered flag. Mavlouganes finished third with Fearn and Wood rounding out the top-5.
Michael Bennett may not race the entire season at Stafford and may run the shorter grueling late model schedule at Thompson on Wednesday's. Great race team and driver ! Bennett is also a very good interview and is always welcome on the Race Chatter radio program.
LATE MODEL (30)
1) Michael Bennett, Willington
2) Michael Wray, Northford
3) Jim Mavlouganes, Bethany
4) Tom Fearn, East Longmeadow, Ma
5) Josh Wood, Palmer, Ma
6) Tom Butler, Stafford Springs
7) Kevin Gambacorta, Ellington
8) Rich Hammann, Tolland
9) Joel Monahan, Whately, Ma
10) Scott Cook, Oakdale
11) Tyler Leary, Hatfield, Ma
12) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Ma
13) Bobby Stirk, III, Naugatuck
14) Andy Marchese, Tolland
15) Chase Cook, Oakdale
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