Saturday, June 24, 2017

Ted Christopher makes a Statement at Stafford Speedway 6-23-17

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature event, Tom Abele, Jr. and Michael Gervais, Jr. ran wheel to wheel for the first lap before Abele got clear to take the early race lead.  Mike Christopher, Jr. was third in the early running with Stephen Kopcik in fourth and Dylan Izzo in fifth.  Ronnie Williams nearly got into the turn 4 wall on lap-9 but he avoided the wall and got back into line in 18th place as Abele continued to lead the race.  Dylan Izzo came to a stop in turn 4 to bring the caution out with 9 laps complete.
Todd Owen, Dan Avery, Tom Bolles, Josh Wood, and Matt Galko were all involved in a pileup in turn 4 before the field could complete a lap and brought the caution back out.
Gervais took the lead on the restart with Abele behind him in second.  Christopher, Jr. was third with Cam McDermott up to fourth and Ted Christopher was up to fifth.  Kopcik was sliding backwards as Christopher continued his charge towards the front as he took fourth from McDermott on lap-14.  McDermott now had Keith Rocco to deal with as Rocco was applying heavy pressure.  Christopher got around Christopher, Jr. to take over third on lap-15 and he was working the outside lane against Abele in a bid for second on lap-17.  Abele was able to maintain the spot and Christopher settled back into line in third. 
Gervais drifted high in turn 4 on lap-18, which allowed Abele to pull alongside and then take over the lead.  Abele’s move opened the door for Christopher and Christopher, Jr. to both get by Gervais to drop him back to fourth.  Christopher took  the lead from Abele on lap-21 with a pass in turn 4.  Owen hit the wall in turn 1 to bring the caution out with 21 laps complete.
Christopher took the lead back under green with Abele, Christopher, Jr., McDermott, and Chase Dowling lined up behind him.  Kopcik spun in turn 2 to bring the caution back out with 24 laps complete.  Rowan Pennink was sent to the rear of the field for overaggressive driving under the caution.
Christopher took the lead back under green with Christopher, Jr. making a strong move in turn 3 to overtake Abele for second.  Abele came right back on the next lap to move back into second while Dowling was able to move into third and Rocco took fourth as Christopher, Jr. fell back to fifth.  Ed Spiers spun in turn 3 to bring the caution out with 28 laps complete.
Christopher took the lead on the restart with Dowling and Rocco in chase but he lost the lead to Dowling on lap-33.  Christopher came back in turn 3 on lap-34 and gave Dowling a shot to the bumper, but that actually slowed Christopher and allowed Rocco to move into second.  Christopher got back around Rocco on lap-36 and he took the lead from Dowling at the line on lap-37.  Dowling got to the inside of Christopher in turn 3 on lap-38 to move back into the lead and Christopher made the very same move on lap-39 and he had the lead coming to the white flag.  Rocco pulled alongside Dowling on the final lap in a duel for second and that allowed Christopher to maintain his gap to the two cars and he took his second win of the 2017 season.  Dowling nipped Rocco at the line for second with Abele and Christopher, Jr. rounding out the top-5.

SK MODIFIED® (40)

1) Ted Christopher, Plainville (2) 105 th SK Career Win
2) Chase Dowling, Roxbury (2)
3) Keith Rocco, Berlin
4) Tom Abele, Jr., Norwich
5) Michael Christopher, Jr., Wolcott
6) D.J. Burnham, East Hartford
7) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa
8) Todd Owen, Somers
9) Cam McDermott, Canterbury
10) Brendon Bock, Franklin Square, Ny
11) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Ma
12) Tom Bolles, Ellington
13) Tony Membrino, Jr., Berlin
14) Stephen Kopcik, Newtown
15) Michael Gervais, Jr., Southbury
16) Dan Avery, Somers
17) Ronnie Williams, Tolland (1)
18) Ed Spiers, Beacon Falls
19) Robert Goulet, Plainville
20) Tommy Membrino, Jr., Prospect
21) Tyler Hines, North Haven
22) Josh Wood, Palmer, Ma
23) Matt Galko, Meriden (1)
24) Dylan Izzo, Monroe

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