By Lou Modestino
Eighteen-year old Tommy Barrett Jr, of Millis, Mass, notched his first win of the season Friday night winning the Valenti Modified Racing Series 80-lap feature race at Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford, CT. The win, Barrett’s fourth series victory, makes him the first driver to repeat at Stafford.
Barrett started outside front row in a 26-car lineup and gradually dropped back to fourth in the early stages of the race. Pole-sitter Keith Rocco, of Meriden, CT, led the first six laps, Berlin, CT’s Ryan Preece led for a dozen circuits until sidelined with mechanical problems, Dave Etheridge, of Portland, CT, was the driver to beat laps 23 through 59, when Barrett took the top position on a lap 59 restart.
From that point on, Barrett was in cruise control leading the final 20-laps for the win.
“ It feels good to be back here in victory lane at Stafford. Usually we come in and pit we save tires but tonight I was running up front. Before those couple of cautions I thought it might have gone green the whole race. Concentrated on catching the 34 (Etheridge) the car started coming in,” said Barrett in victory lane.
Barrett becomes the fourth different driver to win in 2013.
Steven Masse, of Bellingham, MA, made a late race charge to finish second, with Etheridge finishing an impressive third. Eric Goodale, of Wading River, NY was fourth, and Richard Savary checkered fifth.
Dan Meservey Jr, Eddy Spiers, Woody Pitkat, Norm Wrenn, and Louie Mechalides, rounded out the top ten.
Five caution flags, one for debris, slowed the race that was completed 40 minutes.
The 10th anniversary season continues Friday night, June 28, at Lee USA Speedway, Lee, NH. with the running of the “Laticrete Port City 100.”
Race No. 4- Stafford Speedway
Entrants: 33 (26 starters)
Distance: 80 laps
Time of Race: 40:11:266
Margin of Victory: 0.4.91
Best Lap Time: 18.704 (Preese)
Lead Changes: 4 (among 3 drivers)
Lap Leaders: K.Rocco (1-6) Etheridge (7-10) Preece (11-22)
Etheridge (34-59) Barrett (60-80)
Cautions: 5 cautions, on laps- 0, 20, 59, 71, 73
Heat Winners: K. Rocco, J.Rocco, Preese
Consi Winner: Christopher
Unofficial Order of Finish
(1) Barrett (2) Masse (3) Etheridge (4) Goodale (5) Savary
(6) Meservey (7) Spiers (8) Pitkat (9) Wrenn (10) Mechalides
(11) Pennink (12) Owen (13) Mead (14) Kopec (15) Bakaj (16) Nocella
(17) Cates (18) Zachem (19) Smith (20) J Rocco (21) K. Rocco (22) Bolles
(23) Preece (24) VanHouten (25) Christopher (26) Jordan
Stafford Speedway returned to NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing action with the Valenti Modified Racing Series in the house for the Inaugural VMRS 80. Taking down weekly feature wins on the night were Ted Christopher in the 40-lap SK Modified® feature, Adam Gray in the 30-lap Late Model feature, Joey Ferrigno in the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature, Jesse Hinze in the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature, and 14-year old rookie Ryan Fearn in the 15-lap DARE Stock feature. Both Hinze and Fearn were first-time winners at Stafford.
Waterford Speedbowl was back on track with another round of Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday action. Scoring victories on a quick paced night of motorsports action at the shoreline speed plant included two first-ever winners, Mitch Bombard of Willimantic and Stephen Kopcik of Newtown. They won the night’s X-Car and INEX Legend Cars feature races, respectively. The Super X-Car race was won by Ed Reed Jr. of Groton and Ken Morin Jr. of Old Saybrook won his second INEX Bandolero feature of the year. In a special event on the night, Charlie Wilcox turned back the clock and put a familiar car in Victory Lane during a Vintage Outlaw Modified race, featuring cars from decades ago racing again
on the track.
New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame member Billy Greco will host a picnic and car show on Sunday, Aug 11th at the Polish American Club located at 194 W. Spring Street in West Haven, CT.
The event serves as a fundraiser for the NEAR mobile museum. To be held under the pavilion on the grounds of the Polish American Club, the event is a rain or shine affair which runs from noon to 6 p.m. Tickets are economically-priced at $20.00 for adults, and $10.00 for those 12 to 16 years of age. Purchase includes food, and a chance to win one of many door prizes which will be offered throughout the day.
A display of vintage race cars adds to the festivities. Also expected to be in attendance are many of the drivers that contributed to the rich history of the sport in New England. It’s the perfect opportunity to do a little “bench-racing” and perhaps get an autograph from your favorite driver.
The ever-popular Greco, who in the past has hosted other successful NEAR fundraisers, was inducted into the New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1998 following a stellar career highlighted by multiple track championships at both the Riverside Park Speedway in Massachusetts and Connecticut’s West Haven Speedway.
Tickets are on-sale now with a purchase deadline of July 30th.
For more information and to purchase tickets, contact Billy directly at 203-378-7945. You may also buy tickets by sending payment to NEAR Vice President Bill Henry at 2 Commerce Street, Unit 2, Derby, CT. 06418. All checks are to be made-out to NEAR.
The New England Antique Racers club is a non-profit organization that supports the history of New England auto racing. NEAR has been in existence since 1981 and has a growing membership of approx. 350-400 members and 80 antique race cars. Members live throughout New England and are available, on a no charge basis, for exhibition events at local race tracks in New England and several tracks in the New York area, with both original and historical replica race cars.
Since 1998, NEAR has inducted 166 individuals into the New England Auto Racers Hall Of Fame, which is administered by the New England Antique Racers. Some very notable inductees include Richie Evans, Ron Bouchard, Bugs Stevens, Rene Charland, Pete Hamilton, Fred DeSarro, Ed Flemke, Sr. and Billy Greco.
Ryan Preece saved his best for last. The 21-year-old from Berlin, Conn., notched his second victory of the season in NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour action on Saturday night, winning the Mr. Rooter 161 at Waterford Speedbowl.
Preece, third quickest in qualifying, ran near the front of the pack all evening, never quite being able to find his way around the race leaders. That changed late, however, as a spin out by polesitter Todd Szegedy on the 159th lap brought out a caution and a chance for a green-white-checkered finish. Preece took advantage of the late restart, passing Doug Coby en route to his second consecutive win and first at Waterford.
It marks the second time in his Modified Tour career that Preece has won back-to-back races. He first accomplished the feat in 2009, winning at Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway and Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway. The victory is also the 10th consecutive top-10 finish for the young driver.
Coby, last year’s Waterford winner, settled for second with Donny Lia in third followed by Justin Bonsignore and Bobby Santos.III of Franklin Szegedy, Eric Goodale, Rowan Pennink, Ron Silk and Bryon Chew rounded out the top five.
With the victory, Preece extended his season points lead to 17 over Pennink with reigning champ Coby up to third, 21 behind. Ted Christopher in the Boehler entry out of Freetown, MA had an off night and finished 23rd. Fairing much better was Eric Berndt at the wheel of Bob Katon’s Berkley Racing entry who placed 14th at the finish.
The Waterford stop was the fourth event on the 14-race tour schedule. Up next is Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway on June 29.
NASCAR WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR-Mr. Rooter 161
Unofficial Results
Saturday
At Waterford Speedbowl
Waterford, Conn.
Lap length: 0.375 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (3) Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn., Ford, 166 laps, 73.187 mph.
2. (2) Doug Coby, Milford, Conn., Chevrolet, 166.
3. (15) Donny Lia, Jericho, N.Y., Dodge, 166.
4. (5) Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 166.
5. (4) Bobby Santos, Franklin, Mass., Chevrolet, 166.
6. (1) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn., Ford, 166.
7. (9) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 166.
8. (11) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., Chevrolet, 166.
9. (10) Ron Silk, Norwalk, Conn., Chevrolet, 166.
10. (8) Bryon Chew, Mattituck, N.Y., Chevrolet, 166.
11. (20) Mike Stefanik, Coventry, R.I., Chevrolet, 166.
12. (21) Jimmy Blewett, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 166.
13. (6) Cole Powell, Mt Brydges, Ont., Canada, Chevrolet, 166.
14. (18) Eric Berndt, Cromwell, Conn., Chevrolet, 166.
15. (14) Ron Yuhas, Jr., Groton, Conn., Chevrolet, 166.
16. (7) Shawn Solomito, Islip, N.Y., Chevrolet, 166.
17. (16) Patrick Emerling, Orchard Park, N.Y., Chevrolet, 166.
18. (25) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y., Chevrolet, 166.
19. (26) Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., Pontiac, 165.
20. (22) Wade Cole, Riverton, Conn., Chevrolet, 163.
21. (24) Ed Flemke, Jr., Southington, Conn, Chevrolet, 159, suspension.
22. (13) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Pontiac, 153, transmission.
23. (17) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 145.
24. (27) Brian Schofield, Monson, Mass., Chevrolet, 131, transmission.
25. (23) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 60, rear end.
26. (12) Richie Pallai,, Jr., Yorktown Heights, N.Y., Chevrolet, 50, accident.
27. (19) Rob Summers, Manchester, Conn., Chevrolet, 50, accident.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 0 hours 51 minutes 2 seconds
Margin of Victory: 0.110 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: T.Szegedy (97.593 mph, 13.833 seconds)
Caution Flags: 9 for 47 laps.
Lead Changes: 2 among 3 drivers.
Lap Leaders: T. Szegedy 1-101; D. Coby 102-164; R. Preece 165-166.
Standings: 1. R. Preece, 177; 2. R. Pennink, 160; 3. D. Coby, 156; 4. J. Bonsignore, 155; 5. B. Santos, 152; 6. M. Stefanik, 151; 7. R. Silk, 146; 8. J. Blewett, 141; 9. D. Lia, 136; 10. T. Christopher, 131.
P.J. Stergios “kind of got lazy” but rallied in plenty of time to win the NEMA Lites feature at the Northeastern Midget Association’s Iron Mike Scrivani Memorial Saturday night at Monadnock Speedway. It was his third win of the season and the fourth for the car.
Starting eighth, Stergios, in the family 11, needed 12 laps to assume command. Andy Barrows continued his run of podium finishes with a second followed by Kenny Johnson (Johnson 46), Danny Cugini (Cugini 51) and Kevin Hutchins (Hutchins 27).
A Stergios-Barrows duel was the highlight, the latter coming from the ninth starting spot to second just before the third yellow flew on lap 22. Barrows, coming off a victory at Star Speedway actually took the lead as the two battled before caution flew again with seven laps left.
“I was a little nervous,” said Stergios. “He was outside on the restart and I wanted to give him enough room and I think I slowed myself down.” It was, however, an inside move into three that put Barrows in the lead. He was still there when the final caution showed.
“I had him,” offered Barrows, claiming the final caution “messed up my rhythm. I stepped up my game and he stepped up his game.”
Stergios dispatched Barrows through one and two – “that’s where the car was best all day,” he said – and went to an almost three second edge at the checkered. The fastest lap of the race – a 12.570 by Stergios – came shortly after he took the lead back.
Barrows was left to thwart the challenge of Kenny Johnson, the latter rallying at the end.
Paul Bigelow, Hutchins and Logan Rayvals all led before Stergios took command.
The point leader going in Carl Medeiros Jr. lost his steering and crashed in his heat. He drove the Scrivani 21 in the feature.
Rayvals and Paul Bigelow were heat winners.
RESULTS: 1, PJ Stergios, 2. Andy Barrows, 3. Kenny Johnson, 4. Danny Cugini, 5. Kevin Hutchins, 6. Richie Morrocco, 7. Paul Bigelow, 8. Logan Rayvals, 9. Scott Bigelow, 10. Kevin Park, 11. Megan Cugini, 12. Carl Mederios, 13. Avery Stoehr, 14. Steve Powers.
The Wachusett Valley Riders Club at 783 Spring Street ,Winchendon,MA reopens on Sunday 6/30/2013. There will be Open Practice Day For Flat Track Motorcycles of all classes. It’s $25 for bikes $20 for mini’s.
Rehoboth’s Dave Darling used a lap 42 caution to catapult his way to the lead in the 75 lap Phil’s Propane Triple Crown event. Once out front, the three-time champion never looked back, picking up his third win of the young season.
Ryan Vanasse jumped out from his pole position start and set the early pace, opening up a 4 car cushion over Kyle Casper. It wasn’t long until the lapped traffic started to make things difficult, and when Vanasse moved up to go around the back markers, Casper snuck in underneath and took over the lead. Fred Astle followed him, dropping Vanasse back to third. Ryan was able to move back by Astle into second, but it took some time for him to hunt down Casper. By the half-way point, Darling had already moved into third, with Astle and Dick Houlihan rounding out the top five. Vanasse was finally able to sneak underneath Casper and wrestle the lead back at lap 41, just in time for the second and final caution to come out for a spin. Darling had just moved past for second before the yellow dropped. On the restart, Darling used the momentum of the outside lane, and moved past Vanasse to pick up the win. Vanasse, Casper, Houlihan and Mike Brightman rounded out the top five.
1) Dave Darling 2) Ryan Vanasse 3) Kyle Casper 4) Dick Houlihan 5) Mike Brightman 6) Kevin Casper 7) Ken Spencer 8) Craig Weinstein 9) Fred Astle Jr 10) Tom Scully Jr 11) Elmer Wing III 12) Kevin Folan 13) Mike Mitchell 14) Bobby Pelland III 15) Dick Benoit 16) Tom Scully Sr 17) Dave Silvia 18) Bob Hussey 19) Paul Reichert 20) Billy Joerres 21) Darryl Stampfl 22) Jake Vanada 23) Sam Parazzo 24) Greg Nanigian
After taking a week off to watch his father wheel his car to a second place finish, Dave Hutchins Jr had to one up his pop, and did just that, picking up his first career Late Model win. Somerset’s Tyler Thompson got the jump, and took off at the top of the leader board in the 30 lap feature. Mark Hudson hung on for second until Hutch got by on the fifth circuit. Through a handful of restarts, Thompson was able to hold onto his position, but on the final caution about lap 20 saw the move that changed the outcome.
Thompson brought the pack down, but this time Hutchins was able to stay with him, as the pair of second generation racers ran wheel to wheel for several laps. Thompson did everything he could to try and slow up Jr’s momentum, but the former S.Y.R.A. Champion was up to the task, and held his line on the outside for over 4 laps, edging ahead on lap 23, and finally closing the deal on lap 25. Once out front, it was clean sailing for Dave. While he pulled away, Thompson had his hands full with Gerry DeGasparre, who could not find a way by, and had to settle for third. Dylan Estrella and Jeramee Lillie rounded out the top five.
1) Dave Hutchins Jr 2) Tyler Thompson 3) Gerry DeGasparre Jr 4) Dylan Estrella 5) Jeramee Lillie 6) Bill Bernard 7) Bobby Pelland III 8) Mark Hudson 9) Greg Cotter 10) Ryan Lineham 11) Mike Marfeo 12) Joe Kohler 13) Jariah Roderick
Crystal Serydynski of Johnson, RI picked up her first win of the season, moving past Gerard Berthelette with six laps remaining in the 25 lap Street Stock feature. Berthelette jumped out front on the opening lap, and held off Jimmy Belmont at the top of the leader board.
The only caution came out on lap sixteen for a spin, and gave Belmont another chance at the lead. Chris DeMoura, who had been running third, was forced to pit under this caution for the right rear quarter panel rubbing into his tire. Berthelette held on at the top after the restart, but Scott Serydynski moved into second, with Belmont holding Crystal off for a couple more laps. Scott was trying to work the outside lane, and Crystal moved underneath for second on lap 19. By lap 20, she had moved under, and past Berthelette, and cruised to victory. Berthelette got caught on the outside for the final few laps, which allowed John Hanafin up to second and Scott Serydynski into third. Berthelette held on to fourth, with Belmont fifth.
1) Crystal Serydynski 2) John Hanafin 3) Scott Serydynski 4) Gerard Berthelette 5) Jimmy Belmont 6) Manny Dias 7) Craig Pianka 8) Rey Lovelace 9) Scott Bruneau 10) Ray Negley 11) Charles Beal 12) Paul Lallier 13) Chris Rioux 14) Chris DeMoura 15) Randy Moretti 16) Austin Blais 17) Joe Melberg
Fall River’s John Paiva became the third Sport Truck driver to win his second race of the season. John started fifth, but made quick work on his way to the front in the non-stop 25 lap main. Darryl Church brought the field down from his pole position, and set the pace for the first few laps before Paiva took over. Rick Martin followed Paiva through the pack, and sat himself on the rear bumper of the black and green #21.
As the laps wound down, Martin tried every trick in the book to try to move past, and into the lead, but to no avail. Paiva, Martin, Rob Murphy, Scott Dion and Church rounded out the top five.
1)John Paiva 2) Rick Martin 3) Rob Murphy 4) Scott Dion 5) Darryl Church 6) Nick Uhrig 7) Dave Haywood 8) Branden Dion 9) Anna Gregoire 10) Dane Saritelli 11) Bill Schoeler 12) Mike Duarte 13) Billy Clarke 14) Chase Belcher 15) Jim Hawkins 16) Bob Rainville 17) John Letourneau 18) Lenny Guy 19
Voluntown, CT’s Nick Ladyga continues his winning streak at Seekonk with his third consecutive Nick’s Pit Stop Legends event. The win gives him a guaranteed starting position in the INEX Nationals, and a leg up in the Phil’s Propane Triple Crown Series. Chris Robbins was the early leader before Nick Lascoula moved past and into the lead. Ladyga wasn’t far behind, after starting eighth in the field, taking second from Robbins on the fourth lap. He chased down Lascoula, and the pair raced bumper to bumper until the caution came out on lap 8.
Over the next few laps, the pair raced side by side, swapping the lead back and forth until Ladyga moved past and closed the door. While they were battling, Dana DeMatteo moved into the fight, and moved past Lascoula for a couple of laps. Nick was able to regain the runner up position, but not easily, as Dana kept the pressure on until the checkered. Joey Parker and Brendon Bock rounded out the top five.
*in post-race tech, DeMatteo’s car did not pass, moving Brandon Martinez into fifth.
1) Nick Ladyga 2) Nick Lascoula 3) Joey Parker 4) Brendon Bock 5) Brandon Martinez 6) Raven Schrantz 7) Carl Blandina 8) Andy Carpenter 9) Matt Carpenter 10) Joe Putnam 11) John Bellucci 12) Al Wisialko 13) Chris Robbins DQ) Dana DeMatteo
Bill Doyle of Bourne broke through and picked up his first career Pure Stock feature. Tom Blackwell jumped out to the early lead, and set the pace with a lot of pressure from behind. John Robidoux pressured Blackwell for the first several laps before Doyle moved in. While Doyle played follow the leader, waiting for an opening, defending Pure Stock champion Jesse Melberg was making his own way up on the outside. Melberg moved past Doyle for second and set his sights on the lead, just shy of the halfway point.
As the leaders headed into turn one, Blackwell slid up a little, opening the bottom groove for Doyle to make it a three wide race for the lead. When they came off the second turn, Blackwell’s car got loose, and when he corrected, he made contact with Melberg, forcing the caution to come out and both to the rear. This handed the lead over to the previous winless Doyle.
On the restart, Chris Lima made things difficult, edging him out for the lead for the next couple of laps, as they raced side by side. With just over 5 laps remaining, Lima settled behind, and tried another technique to move past, but to no avail, as he was forced to settle for second. Earl Curtin, Robidoux and Melberg rounded out the top five.
1) Bill Doyle 2) Chris Lima 3) Earl Curtin III 4) John Robidoux 5) Jesse Melberg 6) Dan Massa Jr 7) Ed Flanagan Jr 8) Amy Arsenault 9) Mark Boisvert 10) Ed Gould 11) Dan Johnson 12) Missy Charette 13) Keri-Lyn Manfredo 14) Tim Demarderosian 15) Dave Westgate 16) Tom Blackwell 17) Dave Desrosiers
Jeff Dombrowski of Oakdale CT picked up his first career win in the Sport4 division. Michael Glad had set the pace just shy of the halfway point, and set the pace as Len Sousa, who started ninth, was making his way toward the front. As they reached the 13 lap mark, Sousa was putting pressure on the leader, with Henry Lavallee right behind.
Sousa took the lead briefly on lap fifteen, but contact in the first corner sent the top three cars spinning, with Lavallee being done for the night. Dombrowski took over at the top, but rookie Shawn DeMello worked the outside, moving past at the white flag lap. As the pair came off the fourth corner, Dombrowski slid up the race track, making contact with DeMello, forcing him to lose momentum, and second to Devin Miranda. Tyler Boudreau and Glenn Leduc rounded out the top five.
1) Jeff Dombrowski 2) Devin Miranda 3) Shawn DeMello 4) Tyler Boudreau 5) Glenn Leduc 6) David Gargado Jr 7) Jason Enos 8) Frank Shepard 9) Eric Pelletier 10) Tylar Nailor 11) Chris Bissell 12) Len Sousa 13) Bob Henry 14) Chris Testa 15) Nick Mattera 16) Mike Glad 17) Chuck McDonald 18) Henry Lavallee
Kaitlyn Donovan of Waterford, CT held off serious challenges for the SYRA 750 win. She took off from her pole position start, with her younger sister Shelby on the outside. The pair raced wheel to wheel for the first twelve laps, with Shelby leading a pair of laps in that battle.
Opening night winner Curtis Rolando was looking to repeat, and over the final five laps gave the young lady all she could handle, even leading two of the final four laps. But Kaitlyn was not to be denied, and picked up the popular win. Rolando held on for a close second with Dave Lougee third, Shelby and Ashley Kuhn rounding out the top five.
1) Kaitlyn Donovan 2) Curtis Rolando 3) David Lougee 4) Shelby Donovan 5) Ashley Kuhn 6) Christine Cavallaro 7) Taylor Bowser
Seekonk’s Tom Morsehead Jr took over the lead after a flurry of early restarts, and picked up his first career win in the SYRA 600 class 20 lap feature. Jessica O’Leary and Matt Barboza were credited with leading the opening laps, but several restarts caused the field to bunch up a few times, taking out a couple of contenders.
The final fifteen laps were completed without interruption, with Morsehead leading David White to the checkered. Barboza came back from an early penalty back to third, with Shea Kulpa and Cassie Meservey fourth and fifth.
1)TJ Morsehead Jr 2) David White 3) Matt Barboza 4) Shea Kulpa 5) Cassie Meservey 6) Jessica O’Leary 7) Joey Lembo 8) Madison Birchall 9) Doug Meservey 10) Eric LeBrun 11) Brandon Lillie 12) Scott Serydynski Jr 13) Sarah DeMello 14) Evan Taylor.