Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – The regular Friday night racing series at the Stafford Motor Speedway almost didn’t happen as showers dotted the Stafford oval during the late afternoon. The skies cleared and the entire program went off as planned.
Eric Goodale, a former regular on the Whelen Modified Tour Series, backed off on his schedule to spend more time with his family. Goodale wasn’t at the recent WMT event at Seekonk as he was at the Riverhead Raceway on Long Island cheering on his son Mason who recorded his first win in the Bandolero division.
Goodale started seventh in the 23-car field. Goodale took the lead following a lap 39 restart. Glen Reen powered his way into the lead on lap-42 but Goodale came back to the inside of Reen on lap-44 and he retook the lead. Ron Williams was third in line with Max Zachem fourth and Craig Lutz in fifth. Zachem spun in turn 2 to bring the caution back out with 46 laps complete.
On the restart, Goodale took the lead with Teddy Hodgdon coming up to second. Reen was third in line followed by Williams and Matt Galko before the caution came back out with 49 laps complete for a spin through the frontstretch grass by Todd Owen. Following the restart Goodale and Hodgdon went wheel to wheel for a lap before Goodale got clear into the lead on lap-50. Reen got by Hodgdon to take second with Galko fourth and Anthony Bello up to fifth. Lutz was sixth with George Bessette, Lutz, Williams, and Joey Mucciacciaro making up the top-10.
With 10 laps to go, Goodale was still in the lead with Reen giving chase from second place. Hodgdon and Bello were third and fourth with Galko in fifth. Bessette was sixth with Pasteryak, Williams, Mucciaciaro, and Tyler Barry making up the top-10. Bello made a move to the inside of Hodgdon on lap-78 in a bid for third place and he completed the pass on lap-79. It was all Goodale at the front as Reen couldn’t get close enough to make a move with Goodale winning the Casella Waste Open 80. Bello finished third with Hodgdon and Galko rounding out the top-5 behind Goodale and Reen.
In other Friday night action at Stafford, Stephen Kopcik scored his first win of the 2023 season in the SK Modified® feature, Tom Butler returned to NAPA Victory Lane for the first time in nearly 7 years in the Late Model feature, Tyler Chapman dominated the SK Light feature, leading all 20 laps for his first win of the season, Kevin Cormier took down his second win of the season in the Limited Late Model feature, and Ryan Waterman continued his white hot streak to start the 2023 season with his fourth win in five races in the Street Stock division.
In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature event, Stephen Kopcik spun from midpack triggering a wreck that trashed Dylan Kopec and Keith Rocco who both ended up in the frontstretch wall before they got to the start/finish line to bring the caution out. SK Modified® points leader Jimmy Blewett was also collected and had to come to pit road for a new tire and suspension damage. Tyler Hines also had damage and came to pit road under the caution. Blewett missed the restart but was able to rejoin the field in the closing laps which allowed him to gain two spots in the finishing order.
David Arute took the lead on the restart but Mikey Flynn moved to the lead on lap-2. Tyler Leary was looking to follow Flynn by Arute but he couldn’t make the pass and settled into third. Noah Korner was up to fourth with Todd Owen and RJ Marcotte wheel to wheel for fifth place. Owen took fifth with Kopcik taking sixth to drop Marcotte back to seventh. Arute made a bid for the lead on lap-10 but Flynn was able to fend off that challenge. Kopcik was now wheel to wheel with Leary for third place and he took third on lap-12. Owen followed him by to take fourth and drop Leary back to fifth, just in front of Korner.
Kopcik made a move to the inside of Arute on lap-15 to take over second place and he took the lead from Flynn on lap-16. Owen got by Arute to take third with Arute fourth, just in front of Korner. Michael Christopher, Jr. was up to sixth with Marcello Rufrano seventh, Leary eighth, Cory DiMatteo ninth, and Jon Puleo tenth. With 25 laps complete the order was still Kopcik, Flynn, Owen, Arute, and Korner. Christopher and Rufrano were just behind Korner in fifth to make a 7-car train at the front of the field. Leary developed a flat right front tire and got into the turn 1 wall to bring the caution out for the first time with 32 laps complete.
Kopcik powered into the lead back under green with Owen taking second. Flynn slotted into third with Korner and Arute going wheel to wheel for fourth place. Korner took fourth on lap-35 and Rufrano got by Arute to take fifth and drop Arute back to sixth place. Kopcik led the field to the checkered flag to pick up his first win of the 2023 season. Owen finished second with Flynn, Korner, and Rufrano rounding out the top-5.
The SK Lights were 30 strong in their 20 lap feature. Tyler Chapman won by a country mile but it was Megan Fuller and Tyler Barry who put on the show for second and third. Fuller, daughter of Rick Fuller has come into her own and has become highly competitive. The same goes for Barry, a third generation racer.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour rolls next to Riverhead Raceway in New York on this coming Saturday night, June 24 for the Mike Ewanitsko 200. Ron Silk currently holds a four point edge over Justin Bonsignore. Austin Beers sits third, 21 points back. Doug Coby and Jon McKennedy round out the top five.
The eastern Long Island speed arena honored three of the all-time greats last Saturday night with the Tom Baldwin-Charlie Jarzombek-Richie Evans 77. Kyle Elwood took the win over John Beatty, Chris Young and Timmy Solomito.
Down on the Connecticut shoreline at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl heavy rain put a damper on the racing activity.
The Bowman Gray Stadium in North Carolina played host to close to 10,000 who were treated to another full slate of races in the 75th season at the track. With the new asphalt on the ¼ mile oval getting wore in. Tim Brown, who vaulted past Brandon Ward on lap 34 on a restart, showed everybody why the track is getting faster. On the double-file restart. Brown took the outside finding the lane to his liking and worked his way past Ward. Ward wound up second and did a nice job of navigating three restarts on the caution-filled race, but when Brown went to the outside in the closing laps Ward couldn’t keep up. Points leader Burt Myers went out on lap 34 of the first 50-lap race as he had to go to the pits. He didn’t return. In race number two Burt Myers came from 15th starting position to pick up the big win to cap off the night. Junior Snow finished second and Jonathan Brown driving for Tommy Neal rounding out the top three.
The Thompson Speedway returns to oval track racing this coming Wednesday, June 21. They have a full night planned, promoted by the ACT Tour & PASS, with the Thompson Outlaw Open Modified Series set for 50 laps & $5,000 to win! Also on the racing card are The New England Supermodifieds, Thompson Late Models, SK Lite Modifieds, Limited Sportsman and Mini Stocks. Post-time is 6PM.
With the cooperation of the Arute family a book has been published with pictures and biographies of the 50 Greatest Drivers at Stafford.
The Stafford Motor Speedway had become the epicenter of NASCAR Modified racing in the northeast by the late 1980’s. From its dirt beginnings to its lightning-fast asphalt, Stafford had become the toughest and most gratifying track to score a victory. The Arute family which has owned and guided the destiny of the facility commissioned their thousands of loyal fans to name their favorite drivers. In alphabetical order so as not to offend anyone:
Tom Baldwin, Gene Bergin, Brett Bodine, Geoff Bodine, Ken Bouchard, Ron Bouchard, Mario “Fats” Caruso, Rene Charland, Ted Christopher, Leo Cleary, Tim Connolly, Jerry Cook, Corky Cookman, Pete Corey, Fred DeSarro, Richie Evans, Mike Ewanitsko, Ed Flemke, Sr., Jeff Fuller, Rick Fuller, Ernie Gahan, Bill Greco, Bo Gunning, Ray Hendrick, George “Moose” Hewitt, Tony Hirschman, George Janoski, Charlie Jarzombek, George Kent, Buddy Krebs, Randy LaJoie, Jan Leaty, Jerry Marquis, Mike McLaughlin, Ray Miller, Steve Park, Bob Polverari, Bob Potter, Brian Ross, John “Reggie” Ruggiero, Greg Sacks, Ollie Silva, “Wild” Bill Slater, Jimmy Spencer, Mike Stefanik, Carl “Bugsy” Stevens, George Summers, Jamie “The Jet” Tomaino, Maynard Troyer and Satch Worley.
Books are priced at $17.95 each and be purchased at the track at the Novelty Booth or at the Stafford Motor Speedway on line store. Books are also available at Amazon.com and at Coastal181 (877-907-8181).
