Posted by Wayne G. Barber
(Stafford Springs, CT)---Stafford Speedway returned to NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing action with the DARE Stock Xtra Mart Xtra D 50 program on Friday, May 15th on what was also Whelen Event Night with three Ingersoll Rand contingency bonuses going to the winners of the SK Modified®, Late Model, and SK Light features. Xtra Mart Convenience Stores put up a $250 bonus that was split evenly among the top-5 finishers in the extra distance DARE Stock feature event. Dan Dembek was the big winner, taking his second feature win of the 2015 season in the 20-lap DARE Stock feature. Ronnie Williams became the first repeat winner in the SK Modified® ranks, outdueling Eric Berndt and Ryan Preece in the process. Adam Gray picked up his first win of the season after three second place finishes, Tony Membrino, Jr. won his second consecutive feature in the SK Lights, Cliff Saunders got his second win of the season in the Limited Late Model feature, and Dana DiMatteo won his third consecutive Legend Cars feature.
In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature event, Michael Gervais, Jr. went around Tom Bolles at the start to take the early race lead. Todd Owen and Ted Christopher followed suit in the outside groove to get around Bolles on lap-2. Eric Berndt and Ryan Preece were lined up on the outside of Bolles on lap-3 and they were both able to get by as Bolles was now dueling with Glen Reen for sixth on lap-4. A multicar accident in turn 2 collected Ronnie Silk, Jeremy Sorel, Adam Norton, Sean Foster, and Adam Norton and brought the caution out with 4 laps complete.
Gervais took the lead on the restart while Owen was side by side with Berndt for second and Berndt quickly took that spot. Mike Christopher, Jr. spun to bring the caution out with 6 laps complete.
Berndt got around Gervais to take the lead on the restart but the field could only complete 2 more laps before the caution came back out for a spin by Ted Christopher in turn 4. Behind Christopher Keith Rocco and Rowan Pennink were hooked together and they came to a stop next to Christopher. Rocco rejoined the field while Pennink was stuck on pit road with a damaged right front.
Berndt took the lead back under green with Gervais, Dan Avery, Justin Bonsignore, and Ryan Preece behind him. The caution came back out with 10 laps complete as Tom Bolles spun through the infield grass.
The restart saw a major pileup in the outside groove that collected 7 or 8 cars, including Ronnie Silk, Jeff Baral, Woody Pitkat, Mike Christopher, Jr., Tyler Hines, Branden Dion, Andrew Charron, and Tommy Membrino, Jr.
Berndt took the lead back under green with Gervais, Dan Avery, Justin Bonsignore, and Ryan Preece behind him. The caution came back out with 10 laps complete as Tom Bolles spun through the infield grass.
The restart saw a major pileup in the outside groove that collected 7 or 8 cars, including Ronnie Silk, Jeff Baral, Woody Pitkat, Mike Christopher, Jr., Tyler Hines, Branden Dion, Andrew Charron, and Tommy Membrino, Jr.
Gervais took the lead from Berndt on the restart with Avery, Preece, and Reen making up the top-5. Adam Norton came to a stop at the pit road entrance to bring the caution back out with 12 laps complete.
Berndt went back to the front on the restart with Preece working his way up to second. Ronnie Williams was up to third with Keith Rocco in fourth after his earlier misfortune, and Gervais fell back to fifth. Preece was trying the outside groove on Berndt while Williams was simultaneously trying the inside line against Preece. Preece was able to keep Williams behind him and he made a move to take over the lead on lap-18. Williams pulled alongside Berndt on lap-19 but Berndt was able to keep the spot. Rocco was fourth with Avery in fifth and Christopher was now back up to sixth after his earlier spin.
The action at the front of the field was intense as Berndt was searching for a way to get back by Preece while Williams was looking high and low for a way around Berndt. Berndt pulled alongside Preece on lap-25 and cleared Preece on lap-26 to retake the lead. Williams was now on the inside of Preece for second while Rocco was right on their bumpers in fourth and Avery was still right there in fifth. Chrisotpher and Gervais were closing in on the top-5 cars to make it a 7-car train at the front of the field with 11 laps to go.
Williams and Preece continued to run side by side behind Berndt and Williams was finally able to make a pass stick on lap-31 as he moved into second place. Glen Reen spun in turn 4 to bring the caution out with 35 laps complete and set up a 5-lap dash to the finish.
Berndt took the lead on the restart and Williams was briefly back to third but he took second from Preece in turns 3+4. Rocco and Avery were still fourth and fifth as Williams made a bid for the lead on lap-37. Williams and Berndt ran side by side until Williams got clear to the lead on lap-39. Williams led the field back to the checkered flag to pick up his second win of the 2015 season and become the first repeat SK Modified® feature winner. Berndt finished second, with Preece, Rocco, and Avery rounding out the top 5. Source Stafford Speedway P/R Media
SK MODIFIED® (40)
1) Ronnie Williams, Tolland
2) Eric Berndt, Cromwell
3) Ryan Preece, Berlin
4) Keith Rocco, Berlin
5) Dan Avery, Somers
6) Michael Gervais, Jr., Southbury
7) Todd Owen, Somers
8) Ted Christopher, Plainville
9) Matt Galko, Meriden
10) Joey Cipriano, Iii, Waterbury
11) Justin Bonsignore, West Islip, Ny
12) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs
13) Tom Bolles, Ellington
14) Sean Foster, Willington
15) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa
16) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Ma
17) Adam Norton, Brookfield, Ma
18) Ronnie Silk, Norwalk
19) Tommy Membrino, Jr., Prospect
20) Tyler Hines, North Haven
21) Jeff Baral, Plantsville
22) Branden Dion, Taunton, Ma
23) Mike Christopher, Jr., Wolcott
24) Andrew Charron, East Greenwich, Ri
25) Jeremy Sorel, Westfield, Ma
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