Rowan Pennink Sets the bar at Stafford Speedway with repeat Victories !

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Nice 26 race car field again at Stafford Springs Speedway on a beautiful spring night in the Green Valley. In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature event, Keith Rocco powered his way into the lead at the drop of the green but his lead was short lived as Matt Galko made a power move on the outside of Rocco and powered his way into the lead.  The caution came out with 2 laps complete as Tom Bolles got turned into the front stretch wall and collected the cars of D.J. Burnham and Ronnie Williams.

Eric Berndt powered his way around Galko to take the lead on the restart with Tyler Hines in third and Rocco was side by side with Dan Avery for fourth.  Rocco got clear of Avery on lap-5 and he continued his charge back towards the lead as he took third from Hines on lap-6.  Hines continued to slide backwards as Brian Sullivan took fourth and Glen Reen took fifth as Bendt continued to lead Galko and Rocco.  The caution came back out with 10 laps complete as there was a multicar incident in turn 2 that involved the cars of Woody Pitkat, Jeremy Sorel, Jeff Baral, and Tommy Membrino, Jr.

Back under green it was a high speed pace lap as Berndt and Galko were side by side for the lead and Rocco and Sullivan were side by side for third.  Berndt got clear of Galko for the lead and Rocco got clear of Sullivan for third after two laps of side by side racing.  The caution came back out with 13 laps complete for a spin in turn 2 by Hines.

I think Galko will visit Victory lane in 2016

Berndt and Galko resumed the side by side duel for the lead on the restart with Reen nearly sticking his nose under them both in turn 4 in what would have been a 3-wide move.  Reen backed out and the top-3 settled into line with Berndt leading Galko and Reen.  Rowan Pennink was up to fourth and applying pressure to Reen for third with Ted Christopher in fifth.  Ryan Preece was now sixth after starting at the rear of the field and Rocco was back to seventh before the caution came out with 18 laps complete for a spin in turn 1 by Todd Owen.

Berndt and Galko spent one lap side by side before Berndt got clear to the lead.  Pennink was working to the inside of Galko and he took over second with Galko falling back to third in line.  Preece was up to fourth and Williams was back up to fifth after being involved in the lap-3 incident on the front stretch.  The caution came back out with 23 laps complete as Reen spun in turn 4.

Pennink took the lead back under green with Berndt able to slot into second right behind him.  Galko and Preece were side by side for third with Christopher and Williams side by side for fifth.  Preece took the spot from Galko and he moved into second on lap-26.  Reen got out of shape on the backstretch but kept going and the race stayed green.  Preece was closing in on Pennink’s back bumper and with 11 laps to go, he was right on his bumper at the stripe.  Preece looked low on Pennink in turn 4 on lap-30 but Pennink was able to keep him at bay.  Berndt was third with Christopher hounding him for the spot and Williams was running in fifth.

Preece was able to make the inside move stick in turns 3+4 to take over the lead on lap-32 and now it was Pennink who was all over the back bumper of the race leader.  Pennink returned the favor to Preece as he made the same inside move in the same spot on the track in turns 3+4 to move back to the lead on lap-34.  Berndt, Christopher, and Williams continued to make up the top-5.

Preece backed off for a lap and then he was right back on Pennink’s bumper applying heavy pressure for the race lead.  Pennink held Preece off to the checkered flag to pick up his second consecutive SK Modified® feature victory of the 2016 season.  Berndt, Christopher, and Williams rounded out the top-5.

SK MODIFIED® (40)

1) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa

2) Ryan Preece, Berlin

3) Eric Berndt, Cromwell

4) Ted Christopher, Plainville

5) Ronnie Williams, Tolland

6) Stephen Kopcik, Newtown

7) Matt Galko, Meriden

8) Keith Rocco, Berlin

9) Mike Christopher, Jr., Wolcott

10) Jeff Baral, Southington

11) Brian Sullivan, South Windsor

12) Tyler Hines, North Haven

13) Joey Mucciacciaro, Wolcott

14) Nick Salva, Prospect

15) Michael Gervais, Jr., Southbury

16) Cam McDermott, Canterbury

17) Bob Charland, Stafford

18) Todd Owen, Somers

19) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Ma

20) Dan Avery, Somers

21) Frank Ruocco, Cheshire

22) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs

23) Tommy Membrino, Jr., Prospect

24) Tom Bolles, Ellington

25) Jeremy Sorel, Westfield, Ma

26) D.J. Burnham, East Hartford