CHRISTOPHER, PITKAT, BARRETT, THIBEAULT, & CASAGRANDE SCORE WHELEN EVENT NIGHT FEATURE VICTORIES AT STAFFORD SPEEDWAY<\/p>\n
(Stafford Springs, CT)—Stafford Speedway was back on track with a
\n5-division NASCAR Whelen All-American Series event as part of Whelen Event
\nNight on Friday, May 20th. Ted Christopher picked up his second consecutive
\nwin of the 2011 season in the 40-lap SK Modified\u00ae feature event, Woody
\nPitkat picked up his first win of 2011 in the 30-lap Late Model feature,
\nTommy Barrett, Jr. was the winner of the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature
\nfor the second consecutive week, Shawn Thibeault won his first race of the
\nyear in the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature, and Kyle Casagrande picked up
\nhis second feature victory of the year in the 15-lap DARE Stock feature.
\nIn the 40-lap SK Modified\u00ae feature event, Curt Brainard took the early race
\nlead with Eric Berndt, Mark Bakaj, Todd Owen, and Dan Avery behind him.
\nWith 5 laps complete, Brad Hietala spun in the middle of turns 3+4 and Brian
\nSullivan climbed up and over Hietala\u2019s car to bring the caution out.
\nBerndt took the lead on the restart as Brainard fell back to fourth with
\nOwen and Christopher also getting by on the restart. Owen moved to the lead
\non lap-7 with Christopher following him by Berndt. Frank Ruocco was now up
\nto fourth behind Berndt with Avery continuing to run in fifth place.<\/p>\n
Owen held the lead until lap-14 when Christopher moved to the front of the
\nfield. Ruocco was also past Berndt for third with Avery coming under fire
\nfrom Woody Pitkat for the fifth position. Christopher was slowly pulling
\naway from Owen in second, but his lead was erased when Adam Skowyra spun in
\nturn 3 to bring the caution out with 20 laps complete.<\/p>\n
Owen took the lead from Christopher on the restart, but Christopher went
\nback to the front on the next lap. Ruocco was in third behind Christopher
\nand Owen, with Berndt in fourth and Brainard in fifth. Mark Bakaj spun on
\nthe backstretch, but was able to get going again and the race stayed green.
\nPitkat got around Brainard to take over fifth place and Christopher was
\nstill leading Owen with 10 laps to go.<\/p>\n
Christopher was slowly pulling away from Owen and on lap-38 Owen and Ruocco
\nmade contact with both cars getting out of shape, which only added to
\nChristopher\u2019s margin. Ruocco moved by Owen for second, and rounding out the
\ntop-5 behind them was Pitkat and Berndt.<\/p>\n
In the 30-lap Late Model feature event, Mark St. Hilaire jumped the start
\nand was put to the rear of the field. Scott Cook took the early lead with
\nTom Butler moving past Woody Pitkat for second. Corey Hutchings held fourth
\nplace with Jim Mavlouganes rounding out the top-5. The caution came out
\nwith 1 lap complete for fluid on the racetrack from J.J. Hill\u2019s car.
\nCook took the lead back under green with Pitkat moving into second.
\nMavlouganes took third and quickly went by Pitkat for second one lap after
\nthe restart. Adam Gray was up to fourth and Butler was fifth. Hutchings
\nand John Kasper spun through the backstretch grass to bring the caution back
\nout with 4 laps complete.<\/p>\n
Cook again took the lead on the restart with Pitakt getting under
\nMavlouganes for second. Jim Peterson was now up to fourth and Dillon Moltz
\nmoved into fifth place. Pitkat took the lead from Cook on lap-6 and that
\nmove opened the door for Mavlouganes, Peterson, Moltz, and Ryan Posocco to
\nall get by Cook as Cook fell from the lead back to sixth place.<\/p>\n
The top-5 ran in line until the caution came out with 15 laps complete for
\nDillon Moltz, who was throwing sparks from beneath his car and he came to a
\nstop in turn 2.
\nPitkat took the lead back under green with Peterson taking second. Posocco
\nmoved into third, with Gray fourth and Tom Fearn fifth as Mavlouganes fell
\nfrom second all the way back to sixth. Cook spun in turn 4 to bring the
\ncaution back out with 18 laps complete.<\/p>\n
Pitkat took the lead with Peterson moving by Posocco for second on the
\nrestart. Fearn was running fourth with Mavlouganes right behind him in
\nfifth as Gray lost several spots. Posocco was able to get back by Peterson
\nfor second on lap-21 as Pitkat continued to lead.<\/p>\n
Posocco\u2019s position swap with Peterson allowed Pitkat to pull away slightly,
\nbut Posocco was beginning to reel Pitkat back in as the race headed towards
\nthe checkered flag. With three laps to go, Posocco was about a car length
\nbehind Pitkat and looking to make a pass for the lead and the win. Posocco
\nwasn\u2019t able to get any close to Pitkat than a car length and Pitkat scored
\nhis first feature win of the season. Rounding out the top-5 behind Pitkat
\nand Posocco was Peterson, Mavlouganes, and Fearn.<\/p>\n
In the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature event, Zach Aszklar spun in turn 1
\nbut was able to get going again and the race stayed under green flag
\nconditions. Kyle Spencer was the early race leader with Cody Gneiting,
\nDylan Kopec behind him. Jay Goff and Frank Cardile were side by side for
\nfourth place with Goff taking the spot.<\/p>\n
Gneiting was hounding Spencer for the lead at the front of the pack and Goff
\nwent by Kopec to take over third place on lap-6. Spencer pulled out several
\ncar lengths on Gneiting, but the caution came out with 10 laps complete for
\na spin by Steve Greer to erase Spencer\u2019s lead.<\/p>\n
Spencer and Gneiting dueled side by side for several laps after the restart
\nbefore Gneiting was able to take the lead on lap-13. Spencer was in second
\nwith Goff and Tommy Barrett side by side for third. With 13 laps complete,
\nthere was a spin in turn 4 involving the cars of Kopec, Earl Pelletier,
\nJesse Ruocco, and several others to bring the caution out.<\/p>\n
Gneiting took the lead on the restart with Barrett moving to the inside of
\nSpencer for second. Barrett made a strong move to the inside of Gneiting on
\nlap-14 and he was able to clear Gneiting for the lead on lap-15. Barrett\u2019s
\nmove allowed Spencer to pull alongside Gneiting in second with Matt Galko
\nand Goff side by side behind them.<\/p>\n
With Spencer and Gneiting side by side, Barrett pulled out to a lead of
\nseveral car lengths. Barrett went unchallenged to his second consecutive
\nvictory while Spencer, Galko, Goff, and xxx rounding out the top-5.
\nIn the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature event, Carla Botticello took the
\nlead at the green going around Cory Casagrande, who settled into second.
\nJesse Hinze and D.J. Burnham were side by side for third place with Hinze
\ntaking the spot on lap-4. George Nocera, Jr. was on the early charge and he
\nwent by Burnham for fourth place on lap-5.<\/p>\n
Botticello built up a lead of several car lengths, but Casagrande began to
\nreel Botticello back in, while Hinze was all by himself in third place.
\nNocera continued to run in fourth and Shawn Thibeault took fifth place from
\nBurnham on lap-7.
\nCasagrande had closed to within a car length of Botticello at the midway
\npoint of the race, and after taking several looks, he was not able to make a
\npass for the lead. Meanwhile, Nocera and Thibeault were closing in on the
\nlead duo and Kevin Gambacorta had moved into the fifth position.
\nWith 2 laps to go, Botticello was still leading Casagrande, Nocera, and
\nThibeault, but Nocera and Thibeault both got by Casagrande for second on
\nlap-19. Chris Cook spun in turn 4 with 19 laps complete to bring the
\ncaution out and set up a green white checkered finish.<\/p>\n
On the restart, Nocera made contact with Botticello and Botticello went
\naround in turn 2 to bring the caution back out. Nocera was sent to the rear
\nof the field by NASCAR Officials for the contact. This put Thibeault and
\nGambacorta on the front row for the next restart with Duane Provost and Dan
\nFlannery in the second row.<\/p>\n
Thibeault pulled away from the field on the restart and he took his first
\nfeature victory of the season. Bill Davis came through the field to take
\nsecond, with Gambacorta, Provost, and Burnham rounding out the top-5.
\nIn the 15-lap DARE Stock feature event, the field completed one lap with
\nNick Salva in the lead, but Austin Bessette spun in turn 1 and several other
\ncars spun, including Paul Arute and James Carroll, and the caution came out.
\nSalva took the lead on the restart with Kyle Casagrande making a strong move
\ninto second place. Casagrande quickly moved by Salva to take over the lead
\non lap-3. Don Wood and Cliff Saunders followed Casagrande by Salva, and
\nSaunders would get by Salva for fourth place on lap-4.<\/p>\n
Casagrande had a comfortable lead out front, while Wood, Saunders, and Hayes
\nwere nose to tail behind him. Casagrande went unchallenged to the checkered
\nflag and he took down his second feature victory of the 2011 season. Wood
\nfinished second, with Saunders, Hayes, and Salva rounding out the top-5.
\nFor more information contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at
\n(860) 684-2783, or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.
\n###<\/p>\n
SK MODIFIED\u00ae (40)
\n1) Ted Christopher, Plainville
\n2) Frank Ruocco, Cheshire
\n3) Todd Owen, Somers
\n4) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs
\n5) Eric Berndt, Cromwell
\n6) Ryan Preece, Berlin
\n7) Michael Gervais, Jr., Southbury
\n8) Keith Rocco, Meriden
\n9) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Ma
\n10) Jeff Malave, Manchester
\n11) Dan Avery, Somers
\n12) Curt Brainard, Canton
\n13) Chris Matthews, Stafford
\n14) Nichole Morgillo, Wallingford
\n15) Tom Bolles, Ellington
\n16) John Montesanto, North Branford
\n17) Heather DesRochers, Granby, Ma
\n18) Mark Bakaj, Lebanon
\n19) Adam Skowyra, Brimfield, Ma
\n20) Sean Foster, Willington
\n21) Brad Hietala, Ellington
\n22) Brian Sullivan, South Windsor
\n23) Joe Allegro, Jr., Vernon<\/p>\n
LATE MODEL (30)
\n1) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs
\n2) Ryan Posocco, Stafford Springs
\n3) Jim Peterson, Monson, Ma
\n4) Jim Mavlouganes, Bethany
\n5) Tom Fearn, East Longmeadow, Ma
\n6) Mark St. Hilaire, Berlin
\n7) Patrick Townsend, Springifeld, Ma
\n8) Keith Rocco, Meriden
\n9) Tom Butler, Stafford Springs
\n10) Adam Gray, Belchertown, Ma
\n11) Corey Hutchings, Salem
\n12) Scott Cook, Uncasville
\n13) Dillon Moltz, Waterford
\n14) John Kasper, Wilbraham, Ma
\n15) J.J. Hill, Stafford Springs<\/p>\n
SK LIGHT MODIFIED (20)
\n1) Tommy Barrett, Jr., Millis, Ma
\n2) Kyle Spencer, Montgomery, Ma
\n3) Matt Galko, Meriden
\n4) Jay Goff, Stafford Springs
\n5) Tommy Membrino, Jr., Prospect
\n6) Zach Aszklar, Wallingford
\n7) Cody Gneiting, Broad Brook
\n8) Harry Wheeler, Stafford Springs
\n9) Frank Cardile, Bolton
\n10) Stephen Greer, Harwinton
\n11) Tony Membrino, Jr., Plantsville
\n12) Tony Santangelo, Middlefield
\n13) Rick Williams, Haddam
\n14) Bob Charland, Stafford
\n15) Dylan Kopec, Palmer, Ma
\n16) Earl Pelletier, Wolcott
\n17) Joey Cipriano, III, Waterbury
\n18) Shayne Prucker, Stafford Springs
\n19) Jesse Ruocco, Cheshire
\n20) Victoria Bergenty, Plainville<\/p>\n
LIMITED LATE MODEL (20)
\n1) Shawn Thibeault, Plainville
\n2) Bill Davis, Monson, Ma
\n3) Kevin Gambacorta, Ellington
\n4) Duane Provost, Indian Orchard, Ma
\n5) David Burnham, East Hartford
\n6) George Nocera, Jr., Plainville
\n7) Dan Flannery, Ellington
\n8) Chris Cook, Pepperell, Ma
\n9) Marshall Usher, Monson, Ma
\n10) Norm Sears, Andover
\n11) Carla Botticello, Manchester
\n12) Cory Casagrande, Stafford Springs
\n13) Jesse Hinze, Farmington
\n14) Joe Nogiec, Bristol
\n15) John Lelas, III, Guilford<\/p>\n
DARE STOCK (15)
\n1) Kyle Casagrande, Stafford Springs
\n2) Don Wood, Palmer, Ma
\n3) Cliff Saunders, Stafford
\n4) Andrew Hayes, Charlton, Ma
\n5) Nick Salva, Prospect
\n6) Albert Saunders, Stafford
\n7) Josh Wood, Palmer, Ma
\n8) Kris Fluckiger, Enfield
\n9) Johnny Walker, Ludlow, Ma
\n10) Austin Bessette, Stafford Springs
\n11) Kaitlyn Brice, Manchester
\n12) David Macha, Columbia
\n13) Doug Phelps, Jr., New Salem, Ma
\n14) Paul Arute, Tolland
\n15) James Carroll, West Hartford<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
CHRISTOPHER, PITKAT, BARRETT, THIBEAULT, & CASAGRANDE SCORE WHELEN EVENT NIGHT FEATURE VICTORIES AT STAFFORD SPEEDWAY (Stafford Springs, CT)—Stafford Speedway was back on track with a 5-division NASCAR Whelen All-American Series event as part of Whelen Event Night on Friday, May 20th. Ted Christopher picked up his second consecutive win of the 2011 season in the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[196,197],"tags":[72],"class_list":["post-5273","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-connecticut","category-stafford-connecticut","tag-stafford"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5273","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5273"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5273\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5273"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5273"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5273"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}