Stafford Springs, CT)---Stafford Speedway returned to NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing action with the Late Models taking center stage with the Call Before You Dig 811 50-lap extra distance feature event. Michael Bennett was the big winner, leading all 50 laps to take home the $1,811 winner’s check. CBYD 811 Late Model 50 feature event took the green with Michael Bennett streaking into the led with Skip Breunig in second. The field could only complete one lap before the caution came out as Rich Hammann spun through the frontstretch grass.
Bennett again took the lead back under green with Wayne Coury, Jr. getting around Breunig for second. Tom Butler was in fourth behind Breunig with Tyler Leary rounding out the top-5. With 10 laps complete, Bennett was all by himself out front with a several car length lead over Coury with Butler a similar distance behind in third. Breunig and Leary were waging a hard battle for fourth place when the caution came out with 14 laps complete for Jim Mavlouganes, who came to a stop in the infield on the frontstretch.
Bennett resumed his place at the front of the field with Coury and Butler side by side for second before Butler took the spot. Breunig was still in fourth with Leary right on his back bumper in fifth. Breunig fell back several spots on lap-19 as Josh Wood and Kevin Gambacorta both got past t
o drop him from fifth back to seventh. Breunig continued to fall back as Paul Arute, Mike Quintiliano, Tom Fearn, and Michael Wray all got by. Bennett was still in command of the race with Butler now in second and Coury in third as they hit the halfway point of the race.
o drop him from fifth back to seventh. Breunig continued to fall back as Paul Arute, Mike Quintiliano, Tom Fearn, and Michael Wray all got by. Bennett was still in command of the race with Butler now in second and Coury in third as they hit the halfway point of the race.
Butler and Coury were beginning to close down the gap to Bennett and as they completed lap 30 all three cars were lined up within a car length of each other. Bennett then stretched his lead back out by several car lengths as Coury’s car looked like it was starting to get loose in the corners.
By lap-37, Coury had closed back in on the bumper of Bennett with Butler right behind Coury. Leary was still running in fourth with Gambacorta in fifth. Leary’s good run came to an end as he spun with Quintiliano to bring the caution back out with 39 laps complete. Under the caution, Butler came to pit road from his third position to check his car to see if it was leaking fluid on the track.
Bennett powered his way to the lead on the restart with Gambacorta moving into second. Coury was third but he lost that spot to Wray on lap-41. Fearn was fifth with Wood in sixth and Arute up to seventh. With three laps to go, Gambacorta was hounding Bennett for the lead and he nearly made a pass for the lead in turn 4. Bennett was able to fend off Gambacorta’s challenges to the checkered flag to pick up his first win of the season. Coury finished third with Wray and Wood rounding out the top-5.Source: Scott Running Press Release Stafford Speedway
LATE MODEL (50)
1) Michael Bennett, Willington 16 Career L/M Wins
2) Kevin Gambacorta, Ellington 2 Career L/M Wins
3) Wayne Coury, Jr., Shelton
4) Michael Wray, Northford
5) Josh Wood, Palmer, Ma 6 Career L/M Wins
6) Tom Fearn, East Longmeadow, Ma 33 Career L/M Wins
7) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Ma
8) Paul Arute, Tolland
9) Mike Quintiliano, Shelton
10) Rich Hammann, Tolland
11) Joel Monahan, Whately, Ma
12) Mike Mordino, Southington
13) Paul Varricchio, Jr., Berlin
14) Skip Breunig, Milford
15) Tom Butler, Stafford Springs
16) Tyler Leary, Hatfield, Ma
17) Jim Mavlouganes, Bethany
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