Stafford Springs Speedway SK Results 7-26-19

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature, Michael Christopher, Jr. took the early lead from the pole but Cory DiMatteo pulled to his inside and went to the lead on lap-4.  Joey Cipriano came up to second with Christopher third and Keith Rocco in fourth.  Rocco’s car shot up the track and into the turn 2 wall to bring the caution out with 9 laps complete.

Cipriano took the lead on the restart but Andrew Molleur was on his inside and the two cars came back to the line side by side.  DiMatteo spun in turn 2 to bring the caution back out with 10 laps complete.

Cipriano again took the lead on the restart while Todd Owen took to the outside lane to take second from Molleur.  Troy Talman was fourth with Marcello Rufrano and Glen Reen right behind him.  Owen was applying heavy pressure to Cipriano for the lead and Owen took the lead by a nose at the line to complete lap-14.  Talman and Reen touched wheels with both cars spinning in turn 2 and collecting the cars of Tony Membrino, Jr., Eric Berndt, Kyle James, Tyler Jones, DiMatteo, Tyler Leary, John Catania, David Arute, and Matt Galko to bring the caution out with 14 laps complete.

Owen took the lead on the restart but Cipriano was hanging right with Owen in the outside lane.  Molleur nearly made a 3-wide bid for the lead before backing off and settling into a side by side duel with Marcello Rufrano for third.  Ronnie Williams was fifth in line with Reen behind him in sixth.  At the halfway point of the race, things had settled down into a single file line with Cipriano leading Owen, Molleur, Rufrano, Reen, and Williams.  Molleur was looking to the inside of Owen for second but wasn’t able to make a pass stick.  Berndt spun in turn 2 to bring the caution back out with 22 laps complete.

Cipriano resumed his place at the front of the field back under green with Owen giving chase from second  Molleur was third while Rufrano and Reen were side by side for fourth with Williams in sixth.  Owen took the lead by a nose at the line on lap-28 and he cleared Cipriano for the lead on lap-29.  Molleur followed him by Cipriano to move into second but Cipriano made a dive bomb move back into turn 3 to try to retake the spot.  He touched wheels with Molleur which sent Molleur sideways and he collected Rufrano with both cars heading into the turn 4 wall to bring the caution back out with 29 laps complete.  Cipriano was sent to the rear of the field under the caution period, making the order for the restart Owen and Reen on the front row, Williams and DiMatteo in the second row and Michael Gervais, Jr. and Dan Wesson in the third row.

Owen took the lead on the restart with Williams and Reen side by side for second.  DiMatteo was fourth with Wesson in fifth.  Williams was able to get clear of Reen for second on lap-36 and the fight was now for fourth with Wesson and DiMatteo fighting side by side.  Wesson took the spot on lap-39 but out front it was all Owen, who locked down his third win of the 2019 season.  Williams finished second with Reen, DiMatteo, and Wesson rounding out the top-5    .Source: Scott Running Stafford Speedway Media Press Release

SK MODIFIED® (40)

1) Todd Owen, Somers  3rd win in 2019

2) Ronnie Williams, Tolland

3) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, MA

4) Cory DiMatteo, Farmington

5) Dan Wesson, Monson, MA

6) Michael Christopher, Jr., Wolcott

7) Michael Gervais, Jr., Wolcott

8) Eric Berndt, Cromwell

9) Kyle James, Ashaway, RI

10) Stephen Kopcik, Newtown

11) Joey Cipriano, Waterbury

12) Tyler Leary, Hatfield, MA

13) Ed Spiers, Beacon Falls

14) Tyler Jones, New Milford

15) Tyler Hines, North Haven

16) David Arute, Stafford Springs

17) Matt Galko, Meriden

18) Andrew Molleur, Shelton

19) Marcello Rufrano, North Haven

20) Troy Talman, Oxford, MA

21) Tony Membrino, Jr., Berlin

22) John Catania, Agawam, MA

23) Keith Rocco, Berlin

3rd Annual Ladies Challenge For Charities Returns To Stafford

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

3^rd Annual Ladies Challenge For Charities Returns To Stafford

(Stafford Springs, CT)---The 3^rd Annual Ladies Challenge race joins the action packed NAPA Fall Final Weekend, scheduled for September 28-29.  The 2018 edition of the Ladies Challenge paired 12 women associated with Stafford race teams with a car from Stafford’s Street Stock ranks.  Thirteen different charities reaped the benefits put forth as over $35,000 was donated.

The starting lineup for the Ladies Challenge is determined by how much money each woman raises for their selected charity.  The person raising the most money will be pole sitter for the feature event.  The drivers entered at this time and their associated cars are listed below.

Driver	Associated Street Stock Team	Charity Link for Online Donations
Debbie DeSanctis	#01 – Johnny Walker	Honor and Remember
Cassie Rocco	#2 – Meghan Fuller	National Pediatric Cancer Foundation
Nicole LaRose	#11 – Travis Hydar	T-B-A
Elizabeth Vassar	#16 – Nicole Chambrello	T-B-A
Tiffany Spinnato	#22 – Rent A Racecar	Disabled American Veterans
Mary Ann Gambacorta	#23 – Vince Gambacorta	T-B-A
Ashley Bubna	T-B-A	Catherine V. Hubbard Animal Sanctuary
Dana Jannetty	T-B-A	Muscular Dystrophy Association

 

Race fans will be able to donate to the charity and driver combination of their choosing by visiting the 2019 Ladies Challenge page found at www.staffordspeedway.com.  Check back to the page for updates.

“We’re looking forward to hosting our 3^rd annual Ladies Challenge race,” said Stafford Speedway Vice President, Lisa Arute.  “Last year’s event was a tremendous success thanks to the racing community as well as our Street Stock teams who were willing to lend their cars to this event.  Our women drivers were able to raise over $35,000 for a wide variety of different charities and our goal this season is to surpass that $35,000 donation total.  The race should be a lot of fun to watch and we’re all anxious to see who will come away with bragging rights as the winner of the Ladies Challenge.”

The Ladies Challenge began in 2017 with Cassie Rocco, wife of SK Modified® driver Keith Rocco challenging Maina Rufrano, car owner and proud mom of SK Modified® driver Marcello Rufrano, to a fund raising duel.  The pair accumulated nearly $6,000 in donations from the racing community for the American Cancer Society driving in the Street Stock Feature event in Rent A Racecar prepared cars.

In the 2018 running, Maina Rufrano led the field to the green raising $5,350 for the American Cancer.  Rufrano finished third in the 8-lap race with Debbie DeSanctis, driving Johnny Walker’s #01 car, taking the win after starting fourth by raising $4,169 for Honor and Remember.

The Ladies Challenge for Charities will take the green flag on Saturday September 28 as part of the NAPA Fall Final Weekend.  Tickets for NAPA Fall Final Weekend are priced at $40.00 for adult general admission, $5.00 for children ages 6-14, and children ages 5 and under are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult.  Reserved seat tickets are $45.00 for all ages.  All ticket prices include 10% CT Admission Tax. Stafford Motor Speedway offers plenty of free parking along with overnight parking available for self contained Recreational Vehicles.  Discount tickets are available through participating NAPA stores. 

For more information, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.

Seth Carlson Etches Name in History Books as First Time Winner at New Hampshire Motor Speedway Dirt Track

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Loudon, NH: Seth Carlson of Stafford, CT, became the first winner of a USAC dirt midget race at the new dirt track on the grounds of New Hampshire Motor Speedway. This is Carlson’s third win of the season driving the #2 Seals-it sponsored, Skip Matczak owned dirt midget. Carlson scored the win in front of a packed house of race fans who did not let the extreme heat keep them away from enjoying a full night of racing.

 

Heat race one (8 laps) started with the 5 of Steve Medford from Ellington, CT on pole and the 17 of Justin Sheridan from Suffield, CT outside row one. With the green flag waiving heat race one was underway with Medford’s 5 taking the point and Sheridan’s 17 close behind. Caution came out on lap two for the 91 of Wayne Koehler flipping in turn one. The track was made ready again and back to racing with Medford and Sheridan keeping spots one and two in front of the field with the 26 driven by TJ Foster of West Topsham, VT in third. With the remaining laps going caution free, the top three would finish battling to the first checker flag of the night. Steve Medford in the Seals-it sponsored number 5 would claim the heat race victory followed by Justin Sheridan’s Ray Miller Racing 17 for second and TJ Foster, Mikes Custom Milling number 26 for third.

Heat race 1 finishing order: Steve Medford (5), Justin Sheridan (17), TJ Foster (26), Owen Carbee (50), Bobby White (68), Tim West (23), Wayne Koehler (91). 

Lap leaders: laps 1-8 Steve Medford (5).

Time of race: 10 minutes 6 second (slowed by 1 caution)

Fast lap: Steve Medford (5) 18.02 seconds

Margin of victory: 1.50 seconds

 

Heat race two (8 laps) had Jeff Horn of Ashland, MA in the A1 starting pole with the 18C of Mike Chaffee from Corinth, VT starting beside Horn. The flagman waived the green and off into turn one with Chaffee quickly taking the point position in the 18C now followed by the A1 of Horn. On lap three the 37 of Tyler Rivard would spin in turn three which brought out the caution flag. Back to green flag action with Chaffee’s 18C still in command of the race with the 7X of Dan Douville from Bridgewater, NH now second after getting around the A1 of Horn. The race would conclude with Mike Chaffee piloting the 18C Miller Racing USAC DMA midget to the win with second place going to the 7X of Dan Douville sponsored by Big Enterprises and rounding out the top three was Jeff Horn in the A-1 Automotive number A1.

Heat race 2 finishing order: Mike Chaffee (18C), Dan Douville (7X), Jeff Horn (A1), David Moniz (9M), Tyler Rivard (37), Jack Arute (10), Alex Rose (11).

Lap leaders: laps 1-8 Mike Chaffee (18C)

Time of race: 4 minute 41 seconds (slowed by 1 caution)

Fast lap: Dan Douville (7X) 18.03 seconds

Margin of victory: 0.372 seconds 

Carlson in the 2 and Hull in the 3 would maintain the top two positions with Carlson’s lead stretching out three car lengths over Hull. Lap twenty one had the caution displayed for the last time of the evening as the 18C with Mike Chaffee and the 16 of Justin Philips would bang wheels coming out of turn four causing the18C of Chaffee to spin and ending his night. At the same time Jeff Horn’s A1 would spin in turn one to avoid contact with a slowing racecar. Lap twenty two was back to green and it was Carlson in the 2 and Hull in his number 3 battling lap after lap as both wanted to win this special event. Meantime the 1B of Joe Krawiec of Granby, CT would make his way up to the third position moving the 77 of Champagne back to fourth. As the race started to wind down and closing in on lap thirty, the top three knew it was time to make their move and become the first driver to win this event. Under the checker flag it would be Seth Carlson from Stafford, CT in his yellow number 5 Seals-it sponsored USAC Dirt Midget Association racecar scoring the win followed by teammate Will Hull in the 3 from Plainfield, VT also sponsored by Seals-it and rounding out the top three was Joe Krawiec from Granby, CT in the Miller Racing number 1B.

 

FEATURE RACE:  Finishing order: Seth Carlson (2), Will Hull (3), Joe Krawiec (1B), Jeff Champagne (77), Manny Dias (42), Dan Douville (7X), Justin Phillips (16), Adam Whitney (12), Tyler Rivard (37), Justin Sheridan (17), TJ Foster (26), Tim West (23), Jack Arute (10), Mike Netishen (55), Jeff Horn (A1), Mike Chaffee (18C), Owen Carbee (50), David Moniz (9M), Steve Medford (5), Mark Cole (6X), Bobby White (68), Alex Rose (11)-DNS, Wade Koehler (91)-DNS.

Lap leaders: laps 1-9 Steve Medford (5), laps 10-30 Seth Carlson (2)

Time of race: 25 minutes 31 seconds (slowed by 3 cautions)

Fast lap: Seth Carlson (2) 17.6 seconds

Margin of victory: 0.489 seconds

 

The series will be back in action on Saturday night July 27th at Bear Ridge Speedway in Bradford, VT.

 

To learn more about the USAC Dirt Midget Association, please visit the series website at www.usacdma.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DirtMidgetAssociation

 

For additional information regarding this press release please contact Mark J. Hann, USAC DMA Series Director, at usacdma@usacdma.com

Hudson’s Own Joey “Pole” goes to GSPSS Victory Lane At Hudson Speedway

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Home town hot shoe Joey Polewarcyk lead the majority of the 2019 Gate City Classic to take down the win. Cory Casagrande returned to the series and established the track record and the point leader continued his string of consistency in 2019.

   It was a picture perfect day for racing as the Granite State Pro Stock Series took to the family fun track for an awesome night of racing. Ben Bosowski and his team had the facility fixed up and ready to go with a brand new back stretch wall, new track lighting and a newly paved pit area. On track just before the feature Bosowski was thanked for his efforts and responded “I always love it when the Granite State Pro Stock series comes here. The racing is always great and the fans love it.” After a little prodding Bosowski added “I’d love to have the series here again this year… maybe we can make that happen”.

   The night kicked off with the Crazy Horse Racing race for the pole and It was Cory Casagrande establishing the track record with a time of 13.267 seconds. Being that electronic scoring was just added this spring there was no record to beat so Casagrande is the “Original” track record holder in the pro stock division. After time trials Casagrande was asked about the lap. “I didn’t think that was a pole lap” said the driver if the Chalew Performance number seven. “It felt good but not that good. Now we just need to stay up there all night long”.

   Heat races where up next and they became the Joey and Joey show. Heat one went to Joey Doiron in a battle that was hotly contested to the end, while Joey “Pole” won the second heat with relative ease.

   After the GSPSS redraw Joey Doiron would find himself on the pole with a shot at the NHSTRA back of the pack challenge. Doiron, Who had earned the extra $1000 for starting at the back at Claremont Motorsports Park earlier in the year, chose to keep his pole position. When asked about the decision during driver intros Doiron said “no way… not at this track. We’re going to stay right here”.

   As the 100 lap main event went green it was a tale of two races for the eventual race winner. The redraw saw Polewarcyk on the outside of row four with some work to do if he was to go three for three with the GSPSS. For the first forty laps the Hudson Hero slowly, methodically and patiently worked his way to the front, finally taking the lead on a restart and from there he would never look back. “Pole” never got to more than an eight or ten car length lead but also was never seriously challenged. “The car was really really good all day” said “Pole” in victory lane “My guys busted their butts all day to give me the feel I needed and it paid off.”

   Devin O’Connell fought hard for everything he got on the track but in the end the defending series champion could only muster enough for second. “I really wanted to go back to back” said the driver of the 43 car in victory lane. “It’s an honor to race against someone like Joey and second is nothing to be bummed about but I really wanted to beat him”.

   Joe Doiron fought hard to stay within sight of the leaders all day and when asked what he needed to beat them he said “my other car”. He went on to say “I didn’t expect such a clean race so I brought my older car and it just isn’t as good”.

   Jimmy Renfrew JR fought hard for a fourth place finish at one of his home race tracks while Mike O’Sullivan came back from missing a race due to a concussion to complete the top five.

   Cory Casagrande came back from an early pit stop to finish sixth ahead of Jacob Dore in seventh, Mike Mitchell in eighth, Todd Stone in ninth and Angelo Belsito who rounded out the top ten.

   Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond GSPSS control, the event scheduled for August third at The New London - Waterford Speedbowl has had to be removed from the schedule. The next event for the series will be the JBH 150 at Monadnock Speedway on Sat. Aug. 17^th. This will be the first time the series has gone 150 laps at the high banked quarter mile bull ring and should be a wild affair that honors one of the series founders, John “Boy” Hoyt.

   For more information on the Granite State Pro Stock Series go to www.gspss.net of check them out on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Granite State Pro Stock Series contingency awards:

AR Bodies Hard Luck Award $100 : 93 Ray Christian

O’Reilly Auto Parts last car on the lead lap $75: 17 Kevin Folan

O’Reilly Auto Parts 7^th place finisher $75: 05 Jacob Dore

American Racer N.E Hard Charger One free tire: 97 Joey Polewarczyk

Sunoco Heat Race Winners 5 Gallons fuel: #1 73Joey Doiron, #2 97 Joey Polewarczyk

VDL 5th Place $100: 08 Mike O’Sullivan

Crazy Horse Racing Fast Time$125: 7 Cory Casagrande, 2^nd 27 Wayne Helliwell $75.00 3^rd 73 Joey Doiron $50.00

Gate City Classic Official Finish

  

1- 97 Joey Polewarczyk

2- 43 Devin O’Connell

3- 73 Joey Doiron

4- Jimmy Renfrew JR

5- 08 Mike O’Sullivan

6- 7 Cory Casagrande

7- 05 Jacob Dore

8- 40 Mike Mitchell

9- 1x Todd Stone

10- 8 Angelo Belsito

11- 27 Wayne Helliwell

12- 16 Tommy Rosati

13- 12 Bobby Pelland

14- 17 Kevin Folan

15- 21 Josh King

16- 14 Matt Frahm

17- 93 Ray Christian III