Posted by Wayne G. Barber
In the 100-lap NAPA SK 5k feature event, Matt Galko streaked into the lead at the drop of the green with Frank Ruocco, Jeff Malave, Justin Bonsignore, and Ronnie Williams making up the top-5 cars. The cars settled into a single file line until the caution came out with 10 laps complete as his car was losing fluid and he dropped off the pace.
A melee broke out on the restart with Tyler Hines spinning and collecting the cars of John Catania, Tommy Membrino, Jr., and Tom Bolles that brought the caution right back out.
Ruocco took the lead from Galko back under green and the next lap after the restart saw Galko drift high in turn 1 and he lost several spots as he fell back to sixth. Bonsignore was now second behind Ruocco with Williams third, Malave fourth, and Eric Berndt fifth. Berndt got out of shape and nearly spun on lap-16 but he was able to gather his car up and continue as he fell back to nearly the rear of the field.
The action was beginning to pick up at the front as Bonsignore was hounding Ruocco for the lead, but the caution came out with 25 laps complete as Ryan Preece had a radiator hose come loose and had fluid pouring from his engine going into turn 1 and he spun along with the cars of Dan Avery and Mike Christopher, Jr. Preece was able to get his car repaired under the yellow and he rejoined the field at the rear.
Bonsignore was side by side with Ruocco on the restart and he took the lead at the line by a nose. As the 2 leaders remained side by side, Galko slotted into third with Williams and Rowan Pennink behind him but the caution came back out with 27 laps complete for Joey Cipriano, who came to a stop in turn 2.
Ruocco was third with Williams to his outside and Pennink in fifth. Galko made a move to take over the lead in turn 4 on lap-29. The field was lined up 2 by 2 behind Galko before Ruocco got clear into second. Bonsignore and Williams were side by side for third with Pennink in fifth. Things began to settle back into single file with Galko leading Ruocco, Bonsignore, Pennink, and Williams at lap-35.
Ruocco retook the lead from Galko with a power move in turn 4 on lap-42. Bonsignore was still third, with Pennink and Williams right behind him. Keith Rocco and Preece were on the move, closing in on the top-5 cars when the caution came out with 55 laps complete for Andrew Charron, who spun in turn 4.
Ruocco took the lead with Galko on his back bumper. Williams got a good run in the outside groove and moved up to second on lap-57. Bonsignore was third in line with Galko falling back to a side by side battle with Preece for fourth place. Bonsignore was now alongside Williams for second on lap-60 with Preece in fourth and Galko in fifth with Rocco lurking in sixth.
Bonsignore got second from Williams on lap-62 and Preece followed him by as Williams fell back to fourth as Ruocco continued to lead the race. Bonsignore was tapping the back bumper of Ruocco on lap-66 and Preece was on his outside, but they settled back into line with Ruocco leading Bonsignore, Preece, Williams, and Rocco. The caution came out with 67 laps complete as Kyle James spun in turn 4.
Ruocco again took the lead back under green with Preece and Bonsignore side by side for second. Williams was looking for a way to get past and he made a move around Bonsignore for third on lap-69 as Preece moved into second behind Ruocco.
Williams made a bid for second on the inside of Preece but the caution came out with 73 laps complete for John Catania, who spun in turn 4.
Ruocco and Preece were side by side for the lead back under green with Williams and Bonsignore side by side for third and Galko and Rocco side by side for fifth. Ruocco got clear of Preece on lap-76 and Williams and Preece were now side by side for second. Bonsignore was fourth and Galko was fifth.
Williams pulled alongside Ruocco for the lead on lap-79 and they were side by side at the line. As the two leaders continued to run side by side lap after lap, Preece and Bonsignore were closing in. Williams took several more shots on the outside groove but he made a crossover move to take the lead from Ruocco on lap-86. The two leaders touched and spun to bring the caution out with 86 laps complete. This put Preece and Bonsignore on the front row for the restart with Galko and Rocco in the second row.
Shawn Thibeault spun from fifth place as the green came out to bring the caution right back out. The next restart saw Galko get by Preece to move into the lead. Bonsignore was third with Rocco fourth and Todd Owen was up to fifth. Preece retook the lead from Galko on lap-91 with a pass in turn 4. Bonsignore also got around Galko to drop him back to third, just in front of Rocco and Owen.
Bonsignore was now all over Preece for the lead and he pulled alongside Preece in the outside groove on lap-95 but settled back into line in second. Bonsignore gave Preece a tap and Preece nearly got sideways but he maintained the lead on lap-96. The caution came out with 97 laps complete as Galko and Owen spun into the turn 3+4 wall.
Preece took the lead back under green with Rocco and Bonsignore side by side for second. Preece held off a strong final challenge from Bonsignore to pick up his first win of the 2015 season after it looked like his race was over only a quarter of the way in. Bonsignore finished second with Rocco, Williams, and Malave rounding out the top-5
SK MODIFIED® (100)
1) Ryan Preece, Berlin
2) Justin Bonsignore, West Islip, Ny
3) Keith Rocco, Berlin
4) Ronnie Williams, Tolland
5) Jeff Malave, Manchester
6) Ted Christopher, Plainville
7) Frank Ruocco, Cheshire
8) Jeremy Sorel, Westfield, Ma
9) Eric Berndt, Cromwell
10) Joey Cipriano, III, Waterbury
11) Chase Dowling, Roxbury
12) Kyle James, Ashaway, Ri
13) Matt Galko, Meriden
14) Tyler Hines, North Haven
15) Andrew Charron, East Greenwich, Ri
16) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa
17) Todd Owen, Somers
18) Shawn Thibeault, Plainville
19) John Catania, Agawam, Ma
20) Tommy Membrino, Jr., Prospect
21) Michael Gervais, Jr., Southbury
22) Tom Bolles, Ellington
23) Anthony Ryan, Jr., Ridgefield
24) Dan Avery, Somers
25) Michael Christopher, Jr., Wolcott
26) Zach Sylvester, Lebanon
Source: Scott Running Stafford Speedway Media Press Release & Photos
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ReplyDeleteGreat play by play analysis. Thanx Wayne.