Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – The Stafford Motor Speedway opened the weekend of racing as they hosted the Senator’s Cup 50-lap SK Modified® event with Stafford’s Late Model, SK Light, Limited Late Model, and Street Stock divisions also in feature action.
Speedway mentor Jack Arute had to be extremely proud as his grandson, David Arute was the big winner of the night, picking up his third win of the 2022 season in the extra distance Senator’s Cup feature event.
Also scoring feature wins on the night were Kevin Gambacorta in the Late Model feature, Joey Ferrigno was a winner for the first time in 4 years in the SK Light feature, Gary Patnode won the Limited Late Model feature, and Travis Hydar took down the Street Stock feature.
Ron Williams was starting to apply heavy pressure to Bryan Narducci for the lead on lap-20 while Arute was all over the back bumper of Marcello Rufrano looking to move into fourth place. Arute made the move to get by Rufrano on lap-22 while Williams was still trying to make a pass on Narducci. Williams was able to finally complete a pass to move into the lead on lap-23 but Narducci came right back on lap-24 to retake the lead. The shuffling didn’t end there as Williams made a move back to the inside of Narducci on lap-25 and he took the lead by a nose at the line on lap-26. The caution came back out with 26 laps complete for Dan Wesson, who spun in turn 4.
Williams took the lead back under green with Christopher, Narducci, Arute, and Rufrano lined up behind him. The caution came back out with 29 laps complete for spins in turn 1 by Nick Halkowicz and Brian Sullivan. Mike Christopher took the lead on the restart with Arute moving up to second. Williams fell back to third with Narducci in fourth and Todd Owen now in fifth.
Arute was working Christopher over, looking to take over the lead and he was able to get to the inside of Christopher on lap-34 and he took the lead on lap-35. Williams was still in third with Narducci fourth and Owen in fifth. With 10 laps to go, Arute was still in command followed by Christopher, Williams, Narducci, and Owen. Anthony Flannery was sixth followed by Rufrano, Tyler Hines, Molleur, and Anthony Bello.
Arute led Williams to the checkered flag to pick up his third win of the season. Christopher finished third with Narducci and Owen rounding out the top-5.
Keith Rocco continues to have bad luck. Starting seventh, he was having a good run and was headed for a top finish when he took a hard hit into the first turn concrete on lap six. Rocco emerged unhurt but his car had severe front end damage.
All told, there were 59 Modifieds at Stafford, 31 SKs and 28 lights at Stafford on Friday night.
At the New London-Waterford Speedbowl on Saturday night Todd Owen was declared the winner of the SK Modified race after a post race technical inspection of the car of Dana Dimatteo which was disqualified for a ride height violation,, Anthony Flannery finished second with Andrew Molleur, third. Rob Janovic Jr and Eric Berndt rounded out the top five. Ryan Morgan was making it look easy in the Late Models, until a last lap caution bunched up the field for a green white checkered restart. He got the jump and was able to hold off the competition to win. Jason Palmer finished second.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Series headed for the New Hampshire Int Speedway last weekend with a somewhat light field of cars as only 25 attempted to qualify. Justin Bonsignore set top time as he toured the one mile oval in 29.125 seconds (130.774mph). Jon McKennedy was second fastest with Kyle Bonsignore, third. Rounding out the top five were Doug Coby and Anthony Noscella..
When the field came off Turn 4 to take the checkered flag in the Whelen Manufactured in America 100 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Anthony Nocella found himself running in the fourth position. Rather than settle for a Top 5, Nocella instead celebrated his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory after race leaders Patrick Emerling and Eric Goodale crashed on the frontstretch while battling for the win.
Following a late race spin by Donnie Lia, Nocella watched as Emerling sailed his car around Goodale in Turn 3 on the final lap to take the lead. Goodale attempted to cross Emerling who was blocking but ended up turning him around, allowing Nocella to slip under both of them to narrowly claim the win ahead of Kyle Bonsignore. Emerling and Goodale slid across the finish line to finish third and fourth. Jon McKennedy finished fifth. Rounding out the top-10 were Ryan Preece, Coby, Donny Lia, Corey LaJoie and Craig Lutz.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour takes a week off before returning to action on Friday, July 29 for the Clash at Claremont 150 at New Hampshire’s Claremont Motorsports Park.
Down in the southland at the Bowman Gray Stadium Chris Fleming led from flag to flag in the first of two 25 lap events for the Modifieds for his third win of the season before a packed house on Saturday night. Fleming held off Burt Myers for the win. In the second Modified race, Jeremy Gerstner started on the front row and led all the way in the 25-lapper. It was Gerstner’s first win of the season.
At the conclusion of the 1969 season the Norwood Arena Speedway management announced that they were dropping the modifieds off their racing program. Stafford announced that in 1970 the speedway would switch to Saturday nights.
Read all about it in the all-new book, The Modified Years At Stafford, by the Grace of God and 600 hp, which is gaining interest and has become a must have in race fans and competitors library. The book documents Modified Racing at the Stafford Motor Speedway from 1967 to 1986. Race by Race, Year by Year, it’s all there. Read all about it! Books are now available on Amazon.com and Coastal 181 (877-907-8181 toll free) and are available thru Stafford’s web site or at the track in their store. Order yours now. Makes a great gift!