Tyler wins Late/Model race, Reen wins Championship at Stafford Springs

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

In the 30-lap Late Model feature, Tom Butler took the lead at the green flag with Tyler Leary pulling alongside Matt Vassar for second.  Leary took second on lap-2 with Darrell Keane in fourth and Tom Fearn was up to fifth.  Butler’s car got loose and Leary took the lead on lap-5 with Vassar, Keane Fearn, and Mike Quintiliano all moving into second through fifth as Butler slid back to ninth. 

Fearn went by Keane to take over third on lap-8 as Leary continued to lead Vassar with Keane, Quintiliano, Kevin Gambacorta, and Glen Reen lined up behind Fearn.  Chase Cook spun in turn 3 to bring the caution out with 16 laps complete and erase the large lead that Leary had built up. 

Leary took the lead on the restart with Fearn moving into second.  Vassar was third with Quintiliano and Gambacorta right behind him in fourth and fifth.  Quintiliano took third from Vassar on lap-25 as Leary was pulling away from Fearn.  Leary led Fearn to the checkered flag to pick up his second win of the 2017 season.  Quintiliano finished third with Vassar and Gambacorta rounding out the top-5.  Following the race, Quintiliano refused technical inspection and he was disqualified from his third place finish, moving Vassar to third, Gambacorta to fourth, and Reen to fifth.  With the 5^th place finish, Reen clinched the 2017 Late Model track championship.

LATE MODEL (30)

1) Tyler Leary, Hatfield, Ma

2) Tom Fearn, East Longmeadow, Ma

3) Matt Vassar, Plantsville

4) Kevin Gambacorta, Ellington

5) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Ma

6) Darrell Keane, Enfield

7) Paul Arute, Tolland

8) Michael Wray, Northford

9) Tom Butler, Stafford Springs

10) Eric Finkbein, Jr., Manchester

11) Mike Mordino, Southington

12) Chase Cook, Oakdale

13) Rich Hammann, Tolland

14) Peter Thickett, Bethlehem

15) Andy Marchese, Tolland

16) Paul Varricchio, Jr., Berlin

17) Wayne Coury, Sr., Shelton

DQ) Mike Quintiliano, Shelton