Posted by Wayne G. Barber
(Stafford Springs, CT)---Stafford Speedway returned to NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing action with the Late Model Xtra Mart Xtra D 50 program on Friday, May 8th. Xtra Mart Convenience Stores put up a $1,000 bonus that was split evenly among the top-5 finishers in the extra distance Late Model feature event. Michael Bennett recorded his second feature victory of the 2015 season with a thrilling late race pass that saw him beat Adam Gray to the checkered flag by the length of the nose on his car. Other feature winners included Keith Rocco holding off spirited challenges from Justin Bonsignore and Rowan Pennink in the 40-lap SK Modified® feature, Tony Membrino, Jr. won the SK Light feature, Austin Bessette won the Limited Late Model feature, Tyler Trott was a first time career winner in the DARE Stock feature, and Dana DiMatteo took his second consecutive win in the Legend Cars feature.
In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature event, Todd Owen took the lead with Tom Bolles on his outside. The caution came out with 2 laps complete as Michael Gervais spun in the middle of turns 3+4.
Back under green, Bolles got a good run on the outside of Owen to move to the lead but Owen came back on lap-4 to move back by Bolles. Bolles was now side by side with Eric Berndt for second with Justin Bonsignore and Ryan Preece side by side for fourth and Ted Christopher side by side with Keith Rocco for sixth. Owen was beginning to stretch out his lead while the three rows of cars remained side by side.
The side by side was finally broken up on lap-9 as Berndt moved to second, Preece to third, Rocco to fourth, and Ted Christopher to fifth. The action was slowed by the caution with 9 laps complete for a spin by Mike Christopher, Jr. in turn 2.
Berndt and Owen were side by side for the lead back under green. Berndt was able to keep pace with Owen for a lap before the caution came back out for Tom Bolles, who spun through the infield grass. Anthony Ryan and Tyler Hines spun in turn 1 on the restart to bring the yellow right back out.
Berndt took the lead back under green with Preece moving up to second. Rocco was third, with Christopher, Bonsignore, and Owen behind him. Preece got around Berndt to take over the lead on lap-13 and Rocco got by Berndt to move into second on lap-14. Christopher was still fourth with Bonsignore and Owen lined up in single file behind him. Adam Norton took a hard spin into the turn 2 wall to bring the caution out with 15 laps complete.
Berndt got a good run in the outside groove to retake the lead on the restart. Rocco and Bonsignore were sidey by side for second for a moment, but Rocco took the spot. Christopher and Glen Reen were side by side for fourth as Rocco went back to the lead on lap-19. Bonsignore followed Rocco by Berndt to move up to second and drop Berndt back to third. Christopher and Berndt were dueling for third coming out of turn 4 on lap-20 when Christopher got sideways and fell to the back of the pack as the race stayed under green flag conditions.
Bonsignore was now hounding Rocco for the race lead and Bonsignore was able to take the lead by a nose at the line on lap-22. Bonsignore got clear of Rocco the next lap while Berndt continued to run third, just in front of the side by side duel between Reen and Dan Avery.
Rocco retook the lead with a power move going into turn 3 on lap-27. Bonsignore came right back and took a look to Rocco’s inside on lap-28, but Rocco was able to maintain the lead. Reen was now third, with Berndt fourth, Joey Cipirano fifth, and Rowan Pennink sixth.
Pennink got around Cipriano for fifth on lap-31 as Bonsignore was sticking right with Rocco in the fight for the lead. The caution came out with 35 laps complete for Matt Galko, who spun in the middle of turns 1+2.
Rocco took the lead on the restart with Bonsignore able to slot himself in front of a sliding Glen Reen. Pennink moved into third, with Reen fourth and Cipriano fifth. The caution came back out with 37 laps complete for a spin by Mike Christopher, Jr. in almost the same spot in turn 2 that he spun in earlier.
Rocco and Bonsignore were side by side with Pennink glued to Rocco’s bumper on the restart. As they took the white flag, Rocco was clear in the lead with Pennink side by side with Bonsignore. Rocco kept the lead back to the checkered flag for his first win of the 2015 season. Bonsignore took second by a nose over Pennink, with Reen and Ronnie Williams rounding the top five. Source P/R Dept Stafford
SK MODIFIED® (40)
1) Keith Rocco, Berlin
2) Justin Bonsignore, West Islip, Ny
3) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa
4) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Ma
5) Ronnie Williams, Tolland
6) Joey Cipriano, III, Waterbury
7) Todd Owen, Somers
8) Ted Christopher, Plainville
9) Eric Berndt, Cromwell
10) Ryan Preece, Berlin
11) Dan Avery, Somers
12) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs
13) Matt Galko, Meriden
14) Tom Bolles, Ellington
15) Tyler Hines, North Haven
16) Mike Christopher, Jr., Wolcott
17) Ed Spiers, Beacon Falls
18) Jeremy Sorel, Westfield, Ma
19) Jeff Baral, Plantsville
20) Sean Foster, Willington
21) Adam Norton, Brookfield, Ma
22) Michael Gervais, Jr., Southbury
23) Anthony Ryan, Jr., Ridgefield
24) Tommy Membrino, Jr., Prospect
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