The 5th Annual NAPA Auto Parts SK 5k, which paid the winner $5,000 out of a purse of over $27,000. With the Dunleavy’s Truck and Trailer Sales Gambler’s Challenge bonus of $5,000 and a total heat race bonus of $2,000 from Wheelers Auto of Hamden, the total posted awards were over $34,000. Ronnie Williams won the NAPA SK 5K and in victory lane he pulled the winner take all chip for the Dunleavy’s Gambler’s Challenge to give himself a pay day of $10,675 with purse and contingencies added together.
In the 100-lap NAPA SK 5k feature event, Eric Berndt shot into the lead at the start with Keith Rocco quickly working his way up to second. Michel Gervais, Jr. was third with polesitter Tyler Hines back to fourth and Glen Reen in fifth. 
Rocco got around Berndt for the lead on lap-10 but Berndt came right back and he moved back into the lead on lap-11. The lead swap between Berndt and Rocco continued with Rocco going back out front on lap-13. Gervais was still third with Hines and Reen continuing to make up the top-5.
Hines worked his way past Gervais to move into third on lap-18 with Ronnie Williams following him into fourth to drop Gervais back to fifth. Berndt got alongside Rocco for the lead but couldn’t make the pass stick on lap-19. Berndt then fell back to third as Williams moved into second and nearly took the lead from Rocco on lap-21 before settling back into line. Williams made a move for the lead on lap-23 with a pass coming out of turn 2. Stephen Kopcik spun into the turn 3 wall after losing his engine to bring the caution out with 25 laps complete.
Williams and Rocco were side by side for the lead with Berndt, Gervais, and Joey Cipriano making up the top-5. Three laps later and Williams and Rocco were still side by side with neither driver giving an inch. Williams was able to finally get clear from Rocco on lap-30. The two drivers then swapped the lead twice in one lap as Rocco went to the front entering turn 3 but Williams made a nice crossover move to come out of turn 4 with the lead once again. The lead duo then resumed their side by side battle for the lead with Berndt, Gervais, and Cipriano behind them. Dan Wesson spun in turn 4 to bring the caution out with 34 laps complete.
Rocco took the lead back under green with Berndt and Williams side by side for second. Berndt took second on lap-35 with Cipriano now side by side with Williams for third. Williams held Cipriano off for third with Hines still in fifth. Berndt made a move to the inside of Rocco to take the lead on lap-38 but Rocco came right back on lap-39 and retook the lead. Chase Dowling was closing in on the top-5 cars after starting deep in the field. Tom Bolles spin in turn 4 to bring the caution out with 44 laps complete.
Rocco took the lead on the restart with Williams moving into second. Berndt slotted into third with Dowling fourth and a side by side battle between Cipriano and Gervais for fifth. With 48 laps complete the caution and red flags came back out as Hines and Cipriano came together in turn 4 with Hines’ car briefly catching fire.
Rocco took the lead with Berndt and Williams side by side for second. Berndt took second on lap-49 and he took the lead from Rocco on lap-51 with a pass in turn 1. Williams was now side by side with Rocco for second with Dowling in fourth and Gervais fifth.
Rocco ran in line behind Berndt until lap-58 when he made a pass in turn 3 to go back into the lead. Williams was still third with Dowling and Gervais making up the top-5. Todd Owen was up to sixth after having to start deep in the field due to a heat race crash earlier in the evening, with Matt Galko, Dan Avery, Wesson, and Troy Talman making up the top-10.
Berndt was again applying heavy pressure to Rocco for the lead with the two cars side by side for the lead on lap-65. Berndt dropped back into line behind Rocco on lap-66 with Williams closing in on Berndt’s back bumper. Dan Wesson dropped off the pace on lap-68 with heavy smoke from underneath his car and then the caution came out for Dan Avery, whose car went up in flames coming out of turn 4 as he steered off the track and on to pit road.
Rocco took the lead with Williams able to get in front of Berndt for second on the restart. Gervais and Dowling were side by side for fourth with Doug Meservey, Jr. and Michael Christopher, Jr. side by side for sixth. Williams pulled alongside Rocco for the lead on lap-70 and he was able to get clear to the lead on lap-72 but Rocco came right back on lap-73 to the inside of Williams and they were even at the line. The caution came back out with 73 laps complete for a spin in turns 3+4 by John Studley.
Williams took the lead back under green with Rocco in second. Berndt was side by side with Dowling for third with Christopher in fifth. Rocco was applying heavy pressure to Williams while Berndt was able to finally get clear into third on lap-77. Rocco got to the inside of Williams and he had the lead by a nose at the line on lap-78. Rocco got clear into the lead on lap-79 but Williams came right back on lap-80 and he took the lead with a pass in turn 3. Dowling was now third behind Williams and Rocco with Berndt and Christopher making up the top-5 with 20 laps to go.
With 10 laps to go, it was still Williams followed by Rocco and Dowling. Berndt was fourth with Christopher still fifth. Williams led Rocco to the checkered flag to pick up his second win of the 2018 season. Dowling finished third with Berndt and Christopher rounding out the top-5.Source: Stafford Speedway Media Press Release Scott Running
NAPA SK 5K (100)
1) Ronnie Williams, Tolland
2) Keith Rocco, Berlin
3) Chase Dowling, Woodbury
4) Eric Berndt, Cromwell
5) Michael Christopher, Jr., Wolcott
6) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Ma
7) Matt Galko, Meriden
8) Troy Talman, Oxford, Ma
9) Nick Salva, Cheshire
10) Todd Owen, Somers
11) Matt Vassar, Plantsville
12) John Studley, Framingham, Ma
13) Tony Membrino, Jr., Berlin
14) Michael Gervais, Jr., Southbury
15) Tommy Membrino, Jr., Prospect
16) David Arute, Stafford Springs
17) Doug Meservey, Jr., Chatham, Ma
18) Tom Bolles, Ellington
19) Dan Avery, Somers
20) Dan Wesson, Monson, Ma
21) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa
22) Joey Cipriano, III, Waterbury
23) Tyler Hines, North Haven
24) Stephen Kopcik, Newtown
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