(Stafford Springs, CT)---Stafford Speedway returned to NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing action with the 3rd Annual NAPA Auto Parts SK 5k, which paid the winner $5,000 out of a purse of over $27,000. With the Dunleavy’s Truck and Trailer Sales Gambler’s Challenge bonus of $5,600 and a total heat race bonus of $2,000 from Wheelers Auto of Hamden, the total posted awards were over $33,000. The Gambler’s Challenge was voted on by the fans on how it would be paid out and the top-3 choices were put into a hat in victory lane with Doug Dunleavy pulling a chip with the winning formula on it. Dunleavy pulled the winner takes all chip, giving Christopher a final payday of $11,175. Very good car count with 17 entries tonight.
In the 100-lap NAPA SK 5k feature event, Brian Sullivan took the lead with Shawn Thibeault slotting into second. Stephen Kopcik’s car was off the pace on lap-2 and he brought the caution out as he limped back to pit road.
Sullivan took the lead on the restart with Jeff Baral moving into second. Thibeault fell back to third with Eric Berndt up to fourth and Mike Christopher, Jr. was fifth.
Baral was applying heavy pressure to Sullivan for the lead and he made a move to take over the lead in turn 3 on lap-6. Berndt followed him by as Sullivan fell back to third in line with Thibeault fourth and Christopher, Jr. was still fifth. Rowan Pennink and Ted Christopher were charging their way to the front as they moved into sixth and seventh on lap-8.
Berndt was now the race leader with Baral right behind him in second. Sulllivan continued to run in third with Thibeault, Christopher, Jr., Pennink, and Christopher all single file behind him. Baral was working hard to find a way around Berndt to retake the lead but Berndt was able to fend off his challenges.
Christopher, Jr. took over third from Sullivan on lap-16 as Baral was continuing to apply the pressure to the back bumper of Berndt for the race lead. Pennink and Christopher also got by Sullivan to drop him back to sixth in line. Ronnie Williams was working his way towards the front as he moved into sixth place on lap-21. Christopher had gotten around Pennink to move into fourth and he was now pressuring his nephew Christopher, Jr. for the third position as Berndt continued to lead Baral.
The caution came out with 30 laps complete as a melee broke out off of turn 4 with Todd Owen, Tyuler Hines, Tom Bolles, Cam McDermott, Nick Salva, Shawn Thibeault, D.J. Burnham, and Joey Muccicciaro all coming together and blocking the racetrack coming out of turn 4.
Berndt took the lead on the restart with Christopher getting around Baral to move into second. Christopher, Jr. was side by side with Thibeault for fourth place with Ronnie Williams in sixth. Christopher rode behind Berndt until lap-36 when he made a move for the lead in turns 3+4. Baral was third behind the lead duo with Williams now fourth and Pennink fifth. Christopher, Jr. was back to sixth, just in front of Keith Rocco.
As the race hit the halfway point, Christopher was still out in front with Berndt staying glued to his back bumper. Williams had worked his way up to third with Pennink fourth and Woody Pitkat was another car on the charge, cracking into the top-5 for the first time on lap-48.
With 30 laps to go, Christopher was still out front and he had started to build up some distance between himself and Pennink, who was now in second. Berndt was third with Williams and Pitkat making up the top-5.
As Christopher began to navigate lapped traffic, Pennink was able to close down the gap and with 15 laps to go, Pennink was right on Christopher’s back bumper. Berndt was still running in third with Williams in fourth and Pitkat in fifth.
Pennink again closed right on Christopher’s bumper as they worked their way around the lapped car of Frank Ruocco with 10-laps to go. Pennink took a look to the outside of Christopher, but Christopher shut the door on that move and he maintained the lead. Danny Cates spun on the frontstretch to bring the caution out with 94 laps complete and set up a 6-lap sprint to the finish.
Christopher took the lead on the restart with Pennink and Berndt quickly lining up behind him. Williams was fourth and Christopher, Jr. moved up to fifth with a strong run in the outside groove. Pennink looked to be stronger than Christopher in turns 3+4 but Christopher looked to have the advantage in turns 1+2. Pennink made one final effort at the win but Christopher was able to keep the lead and he took down his second consecutive SK Modified® feature win. Berndt finished third with Williams and Christopher, Jr. rounding out the top-5.
(Stafford Springs, CT)---Stafford Speedway returned to NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing action with the 3rd Annual NAPA Auto Parts SK 5k, which paid the winner $5,000 out of a purse of over $27,000. With the Dunleavy’s Truck and Trailer Sales Gambler’s Challenge bonus of $5,600 and a total heat race bonus of $2,000 from Wheelers Auto of Hamden, the total posted awards were over $33,000. The Gambler’s Challenge was voted on by the fans on how it would be paid out and the top-3 choices were put into a hat in victory lane with Doug Dunleavy pulling a chip with the winning formula on it. Dunleavy pulled the winner takes all chip, giving Christopher a final payday of $11,175. In other feature action, Michael Wray won the Late Model feature, Joey Ferrigno won the SK Light feature, Duane Provost won the Limited Late Model feature, and Trace Beyer was the winner of the DARE Stock feature for the second week in a row.
In the 100-lap NAPA SK 5k feature event, Brian Sullivan took the lead with Shawn Thibeault slotting into second. Stephen Kopcik’s car was off the pace on lap-2 and he brought the caution out as he limped back to pit road.
Sullivan took the lead on the restart with Jeff Baral moving into second. Thibeault fell back to third with Eric Berndt up to fourth and Mike Christopher, Jr. was fifth.
Baral was applying heavy pressure to Sullivan for the lead and he made a move to take over the lead in turn 3 on lap-6. Berndt followed him by as Sullivan fell back to third in line with Thibeault fourth and Christopher, Jr. was still fifth. Rowan Pennink and Ted Christopher were charging their way to the front as they moved into sixth and seventh on lap-8.
Berndt was now the race leader with Baral right behind him in second. Sulllivan continued to run in third with Thibeault, Christopher, Jr., Pennink, and Christopher all single file behind him. Baral was working hard to find a way around Berndt to retake the lead but Berndt was able to fend off his challenges.
Christopher, Jr. took over third from Sullivan on lap-16 as Baral was continuing to apply the pressure to the back bumper of Berndt for the race lead. Pennink and Christopher also got by Sullivan to drop him back to sixth in line. Ronnie Williams was working his way towards the front as he moved into sixth place on lap-21. Christopher had gotten around Pennink to move into fourth and he was now pressuring his nephew Christopher, Jr. for the third position as Berndt continued to lead Baral.
The caution came out with 30 laps complete as a melee broke out off of turn 4 with Todd Owen, Tyuler Hines, Tom Bolles, Cam McDermott, Nick Salva, Shawn Thibeault, D.J. Burnham, and Joey Muccicciaro all coming together and blocking the racetrack coming out of turn 4.
Berndt took the lead on the restart with Christopher getting around Baral to move into second. Christopher, Jr. was side by side with Thibeault for fourth place with Ronnie Williams in sixth. Christopher rode behind Berndt until lap-36 when he made a move for the lead in turns 3+4. Baral was third behind the lead duo with Williams now fourth and Pennink fifth. Christopher, Jr. was back to sixth, just in front of Keith Rocco.
As the race hit the halfway point, Christopher was still out in front with Berndt staying glued to his back bumper. Williams had worked his way up to third with Pennink fourth and Woody Pitkat was another car on the charge, cracking into the top-5 for the first time on lap-48.
With 30 laps to go, Christopher was still out front and he had started to build up some distance between himself and Pennink, who was now in second. Berndt was third with Williams and Pitkat making up the top-5.
As Christopher began to navigate lapped traffic, Pennink was able to close down the gap and with 15 laps to go, Pennink was right on Christopher’s back bumper. Berndt was still running in third with Williams in fourth and Pitkat in fifth.
Pennink again closed right on Christopher’s bumper as they worked their way around the lapped car of Frank Ruocco with 10-laps to go. Pennink took a look to the outside of Christopher, but Christopher shut the door on that move and he maintained the lead. Danny Cates spun on the frontstretch to bring the caution out with 94 laps complete and set up a 6-lap sprint to the finish.
Christopher took the lead on the restart with Pennink and Berndt quickly lining up behind him. Williams was fourth and Christopher, Jr. moved up to fifth with a strong run in the outside groove. Pennink looked to be stronger than Christopher in turns 3+4 but Christopher looked to have the advantage in turns 1+2. Pennink made one final effort at the win but Christopher was able to keep the lead and he took down his second consecutive SK Modified® feature win. Berndt finished third with Williams and Christopher, Jr. rounding out the top-5.
SK MODIFIED® (100)
1) Ted Christopher, Plainville
2) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa
3) Eric Berndt, Cromwell
4) Ronnie Williams, Tolland
5) Michael Christopher, Jr., Wolcott
6) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs
7) Keith Rocco, Berlin
8) Michael Gervais, Jr., Southbury
9) Shawn Thibeault, Plainville
10) Jeff Baral, Southington
11) Dan Avery, Somers
12) Frank Ruocco, Cheshire
13) Matt Galko, Meriden
14) Ed Spiers, Beacon Falls
15) Bo Gunning, Southbury
16) Justin Gaydosh, Newtown
17) Danny Cates, Chaplin
18) Brian Sullivan, South Windsor
19) Tommy Membrino, Jr., Prospect
20) Stephen Kopcik, Newtown
21) Tyler Hines, North Haven
22) Todd Owen, Somers
23) Cam McDermott, Canterbury
24) D.J. Burnham, East Hartford
25) Nick Salva, Prospect
26) Tom Bolles, Ellington
27) Joey Mucciacciaro, Wolcott
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