Win number 7 in the Late/ Models at Stafford Speedway for Fearn.

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

In the 30-lap Late Model feature, Paul Arute streaked into the lead at the drop of the green with Kevin Gambacorta, Tyler Leary, and Tom Fearn lined up behind him.  Fearn took third on lap-2 behind Arute and Gambacorta with Michael Wray moving into fourth on lap-3.  Paul Varricchio, Jr. got around Tyler Leary to move into fifth.

Gambacorta was applying heavy pressure to Arute for the race lead and he was finally able to get alongside Arute on lap-5 and he took the lead on lap-6.  Gambacorta’s move opened the door for Fearn to move into second, Varricchio to third, Wray to fourth, and Leary to fifth as Arute slid back to sixth.  Fearn took the lead from Gambacorta on lap-7 with Varricchio, Wray, and Leary still lined up behind him.

With 10 laps to go, Fearn was still out front with Gambacorta giving chase from second.  Varricchio was still third with Wray and Leary at the bottom end of the top-5.  Wray got around Varricchio for third on lap-25 while Glen Reen was applying heavy pressure to Leary for fifth.  Reen was able to make a pass on lap-26 and he went by both Leary and Varricchio to move into fourth with Leary taking fifth as Varricchio falling back to sixth.  Trace Beyer got into the turn 2 wall to bring the caution out with 28 laps complete and set up a green white checkered finish.

Gambacorta’s car didn’t come up to speed on the restart and he got turned around with Wray also spinning to bring the caution right back out.  Neither car hit anything with Wray coming to pit road with a flat tire before rejoining the action.

Fearn took the lead with Reen right on his bumper.  Fearn led Reen to the checkered flag to pick up his seventh win of the 2018 season.  Leary finished third with Chase Cook and Beyer rounding out the top-5. Source: Scott Running Stafford Speedway Media Press Release.

LATE MODEL (30)

1) Tom Fearn, East Longmeadow, Ma (7)

2) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Ma (1)

3) Tyler Leary, Hatfield, Ma

4) Chase Cook, Oakdale

5) Trace Beyer, Stratton, Vt

6) Michael Wray, Northford (1)

7) Al Saunders, Stafford (1)

8) Paul Arute, Tolland

9) Paul Varricchio, Jr., Berlin

10) Kevin Gambacorta, Ellington

Ron Silk $10,000 Richer after Seekonk Shootout !

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

SILK SCORES 10K IN SEEKONK TTOMS VICTORY

Seekonk, MA: (June 27, 2018): The traditional Open Wheel Wednesday, unofficially turned Tri-Track Tuesday, saw Ron Silk of Norwalk, CT, claim the victory in Tri-Track Open Modified (TTOMS) Series competition and a cool $10,000 on the eve of Independence Day. The event, which began on Wednesday June 27, was halted after only 22 laps due to rain. Less than a week later, Silk was the class of the field scoring a popular victory aboard the Bob Horn owned #50. Matt Hirschman of Northampton, PA, came home second. Chase Dowling of Roxbury, CT, in relief of Rowan Pennink, who could not return for the conclusion of the race, finished third.

Russ Hersey of Swanzey, NH, recovered from a three-lap deficit to finish fourth. Home track favorite, Todd Annarummo, from Swansea, MA, completed the top five.   
After two races of the four-race Tri-Track Series schedule, defending Series champion Matt Hirschman leads the point standings by a mere two points over Silk. The next race for the TTOMS is Saturday, July 28 at Star Speedway in Epping, NH.

Richard Savary led every lap of a caution-filled start to Open Wheel Wednesday before a persistent rain claimed the race at 9:25pm. With a dismal weather forecast for the original rain date of Thursday, track officials set July 3 for the resumption of the race. While nearly a week later when racing resumed, it was much of the same in the early going for Savary.

With the rain delay and the event tire rule, teams could pit during pace laps before the race officially went green. Hirschman, who would have lined up second for the restart, was among those to head pitside.  

When the event officially went green again, Savary took the point with Rocco and Silk duking it out for second. Silk was able to take the spot away on lap 23. He immediately went to work on Savary for the lead. Dowling was making moves early; coming from scratch in the field.

The first caution of the night flew on lap 31 for a stalled Ricky Collins. Hersey received the free pass. Hirschman, who was making little progress from deep in the field, pitted once again under the caution. Dowling also headed to the pits.

Silk got alongside Savary on the outside groove on the ensuing restart. The two went wheel-to-wheel for several laps before Silk settled back in line in second. After a single lap, he dove low behind Savary and was able to steal the lead way on lap 35.  Silk was the new leader over Savary, Rocco, Woody Pitkat and Tommy Barrett in the top five.

During the green flag run, Silk was able to get a bit of breathing room over Savary. Annarummo and Sammy Rameau were making headway taking positions away from Barrett.

Silk had nearly a straightaway advantage over Savary as the halfway point of the event approached. Rocco ran in third followed by Pitkat, Annarummo, Rameau, Jon McKennedy, Barrett, Matt Galko and Dan Meservey, Jr. inside the top ten at crossed flags.

The event’s ninth (second of the night) caution flew on lap 57 for a single-car spin by Dana DiMatteo. A number of contenders pitted during the caution period including Silk and Savary. Hersey once again received the free pass to join the remainder of the lead laps car for the ensuing restart.

Pitkat, who had earlier taken a position from Rocco, inherited the lead for the restart. Rocco had his hands full with Annarummo and McKennedy. Annarummo took advantage of the bottom groove to battle his way into second. He immediately put pressure on Pitkat for the lead and was able to take over the top spot on lap 63.

Rocco ran a few cars-lengths back as McKennedy struggled in the outside grove. After quick pit work and a fast race car, Silk was already back in the top-five by lap 65.

Dowling continued his march to the front; taking second from Pitkat, who continued to backslide falling to fourth. Rocco faded to seventh. Early leader Savary would spend much of the second half of the race in an out of the pits.

The third caution of the night came out for a spin by Meservey. For the lap 70 restart, Annarummo was lined up against Dowling. Silk was third beside McKennedy. Derek Ramstrom, Barrett, Hirschman, Colbey Fournier, Rameau and DiMatteo made up the remainder of the top -ten running order when the race went back to green.

Annarummo was able to retain his lead with Silk taking second from Dowling on lap 71. By lap 72, Silk once again was the leader; relegating Annarummo back to second. With Silk at the point, Dowling and Annarummo ran nose to tail. A torrid battle for fourth position involved Ramstrom, McKennedy and Hirschman.

On lap 78, Hirschman got the better of the battle to move into fourth. His charge forward was stalled for a spin by Galko. Fournier was also involved. Silk got a strong restart at lap 79, handily taking back the lead. Hirschman got underneath Annarummo and into third on lap 80.

Silk could not shake Dowling. Hersey, with a strong recovery, was on the outside grove chipping away at the top ten. McKennedy got underneath Ramstrom; taking Hershey along for the ride. Hersey quickly got by McKennedy to join the top-five.

With 10 to go, Silk had a several car-lengths lead over Dowling, who held a similar lead over Hirschman. A distance back was Annarummo. Hersey was able to take fourth from Annarummo on lap 94.

Hirschman was getting racy with Dowling with five laps to go. He tried the low groove to no avail, then the high-side in his effort to get by Dowling for second. This enabled Silk to stretch his advantage. Hersey was also running down the battle for second. Hirschman able to get by Dowling in the closing laps.

Out front it was all Silk who cruised under the checkered flag for the win; becoming the tenth different driver to win the 10K payday of Open Wheel Wednesday. Hirschman settled for second over Dowling, Hersey, and Annarummo inside the top five. Rameau, McKennedy, Pitkat, Savary and DiMatteo made up the top ten.

Several cars withdrew from the event and did not return for the resumption of the race including Jon Kievman, Steve Masse, Anthony Nocella, Les Hinckley and Mike Holdridge, several of which had misfortune on the original night of racing action. Ryan Preece, who had a previous commitment with Joe Gibbs Racing to run the Nationwide Series event in Daytona, was unable to return.

During qualifying on Wednesday, heat race victories went to Rocco, Mike Willis, Jr., Hirschman and Pennink. Preece and Carl Medeiros took down consolation event wins. A total of 39 cars attempted to qualify.

Next up for the Tri-Track Open Modified Series in the SBM 125 at Star Speedway in Epping, NH on Saturday, July 28. For more information visit tritrackmods.com or starspeedwaynh.com.

Tri-Track Open Modified Series, Seekonk Speedway, Open Wheel Wednesday, June 27/July 3 Official Finishing Order: 1. Ron Silk, Norwalk, CT; 2. Matt Hirschman, Northampton, PA; 3. Chase Dowling, Roxbury, CT; 4. Russ Hersey, N Swanzey, NH; 5.Todd Annarummo, Swansea, MA; 6. Sammy Rameau, Westminster, MA; 7. Jon McKennedy, Chelmsford, MA; 8. Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs, CT; 9. Richard Savary, Canton, MA; 10. Dana DiMatteo, Farmington, CT; 11. Keith Rocco, Berlin, CT; 12. Matt Galko, Meriden, CT; 13. Tommy Barrett, Millis, MA; 14. Ron Frees, Brick Township, NJ; 15. Mike Willis, Jr., Grantham, NH; 16. Colbey Fournier, Berkley, MA; 17. Derek Ramstrom, Worcester, MA; 18. Dan Meservey, Jr., West Chatham, MA; 19.  Rob Murphy, Rochester, MA; 20. Carl Medeiros, Westport, MA; 21. Ricky Collins, Williams Grove, PA; 22. Ryan Preece, Berlin, CT; 23. Jon Kievman, Deerfield Beach, FL; 24. Steve Masse Bellingham, MA;25. Anthony Nocella, Woburn, MA; 26. Les Hinckley, Windsor Locks, CT; 27. Mike Holdridge, Madison, CT.

Source: Dale Wolbrink Media Press Release

MARCEL RUFRANO FINDING EARLY SUCCESS IN SUNOCO MODIFIEDS

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

MARCEL RUFRANO FINDING EARLY SUCCESS IN SUNOCO MODIFIEDS 

THOMPSON, Conn. – With only seven races on the oval track schedule for the 2018 season, consistency matters if you want to be part of the championship discussion.

For Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park Sunoco Modified driver Marcello Rufrano, the start to this season has put him in striking distance of the top in the title chase.

Rufrano, a native of North Haven, Connecticut, finished 13^th in the Icebreaker, but since then, has two consecutive runs up front. He finished fourth in the feature on June 7, and in the 30-lap feature as part of the Thompson 125 -- Rufrano finished sixth.

“We’ve been doing pretty good the last couple of races, we started to hit on some different things with the setup,” Rufrano said. “We just built a whole new car over the winter – we started fresh with a whole new setup, a whole new everything. We came out at the Icebreaker and we were really fast and I’ve had a lot of confidence in it. We started this season with a whole new mindset.”

This season, he has watched one of his closest teammates – defending Thompson Sunoco Modified champion Keith Rocco – win the first three races in the competitive class. However, the guidance from Rocco off the track has helped Rufrano craft himself into a better driver.

“Just watching him on the track is all I would need, but between him giving me some advice and having him to lean on, it’s great to be able to work with someone like him,” Rufrano said. “I help him with his cars, I even did that when I was a kid.”

In the most recent 30-lap feature as part of the Thompson 125, Rufrano found himself chasing Ryan Preece for the lead in the early laps. The opportunity to race with Rocco, a former NASCAR Whelen All-American Series National Champion – and Preece – a two-time winner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series – has also helped Rufrano grow as a driver behind the wheel.

“I think it’s pretty cool, it must make them feel pretty old since I was watching them battle when I was young up in the stands,” Rufrano said of racing the two veterans. “I idolized them when I was a kid.”

Right now, Rufrano sits fifth in the championship standings, 43 points off the top with four races remaining. What is the goal for the rest of the year? Consistency.

Finish the feature events as close to the front as possible, in one piece, and hopefully sneak his first win in the middle.

Without sponsors like Wheelers Auto Service, Dunleavy’s Truck and Trailer Repair, Liguari Plumbing and many, many more supporters, Rufrano wouldn’t be able to hit the 0.625-mile oval.

“The more consistent we are the better off we will be. It would be cool to get that win, there is nothing more I look forward to having. Once you get the first, I hear the rest come a lot easier. We just need to keep the consistency going.”

Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park returns to the high-banked oval for racing on Saturday, July 14 with the NASCAR K&N Pro Series Throwback 100. The Sunoco Modifieds will run another 30-lap feature on that night, along with the Late Models, Limited Sportsman and Mini Stocks as part of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.
Source: Kyle Souza for Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park Media Press Release

Ronnie Williams Wins 5th Annual NAPA Auto Parts SK 5k at Stafford Speedway

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

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