RPW Exclusive: The Champ Trail: Champ Night At Stafford, NASCAR Mod Tour At Thompson & More…

Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – The New England weather finally relented, at least on Friday, as mother nature allowed the Stafford Motor Speedway to get their Friday night season in the books and declare its division champions.

Taking down feature wins on the night were Michael Christopher in the SK Modified® feature, Keith Rocco in the TC 13 Shootout SK Modified® feature, Chris Meyer in the Late Model feature, Tyler Chapman in the SK Light feature, Jeremy Lavoie in the Limited Late Model feature, and Travis Hydar in the Street Stock feature.

With NAPA Championship Night serving as the final Friday night race of the 2023 season, track championships were clinched by Todd Owen in the SK Modified® division, George Bessette, Jr. in the SK Light division, Jeremy Lavoie in the Limited Late Model feature, and Ryan Waterman in the Street Stock feature. Kevin Gambacorta had already clinched the Late Model track championship back on Sept. 22nd. As part of the Ted Christopher Safety Initiative undertaken by Christopher’s widow Quinn, 5 drivers were awarded new Leaf Racewear firesuits with each feature winner drawing a chip in NAPA Victory Lane to determine the winners. The 5 lucky winners were Michael Christopher, Jr. in the SK Modified® division, Chris Meyer in the Late Model division, Meghan Fuller in the SK Light division, Jeremy Lavoie in the Limited Late Model division, and Travis Hydar in the Street Stock division.

In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature, Mikey Flynn, who started on the pole, took the early lead at the drop of the green flag with Troy Talman in second. Dylan Kopec was third with Michael Christopher, Jr. taking fourth. The first caution came out with 2 laps complete as Tyler Barry hit the backstretch wall after an accidental bump from Todd Owen and came to a stop just before the entrance to turn 3. Owen took responsibility and apologized for the incident during s post-race interview.

Flynn took the lead on the restart with Christopher taking second from Talman on lap-5. Christopher went around Flynn to take the lead on lap-8 but Flynn came right back to the inside of Christopher and the two cars were racing wheel to wheel for the lead with Christopher holding the lead by a nose at the line.

Flynn led lap-12 but Christopher put his car in front of Flynn on lap-13 to retake the lead. Talman was third in line with Gervais in fourth and Flannery in fifth. Flynn wasn’t going away quietly as he was all over Christopher’s back bumper looking to retake the lead. With 25 laps complete, the order was Christopher, Flynn, Gervais, Rocco, Flannery, Korner, Arute, Rufrano, Cory DiMatteo, and Todd Owen.

Christopher led the field to the checkered flag with Gervais, Rocco, Flannery, and Flynn rounding out the top-5. Owen’s 10th place finish was good enough to make him the 2023 SK Modified® champion. Owen’s championship is his third consecutive at Stafford, which makes him the first SK Modified® driver to win the championship in three consecutive years.

In the TC 13 Shootout Keith Rocco took the lead from pole position after the top-3 from the top-13 finishers of the 40-lap SK Modified® feature finish were inverted. Gervais was second in line behind Rocco with Christopher third, Flynn fourth, and RJ Marcotte fifth. Gervais made a move to the inside of Rocco on lap-6 to take the lead by a nose at the line. Gervais cleared Rocco on lap-7 but Rocco came right back to the inside of Gervais in turn 3 to retake the lead before lap-7 was completed. Christopher was third in line with Flynn fourth and Marcotte fifth. With 2 laps to go, Rocco was in command with Christopher now in second. Marcotte and Flynn touched dueling for fourth with Flynn spinning into the turn 3 wall to bring the caution out and set up a green-white checkered finish. Rocco took the lead with Gervais right behind him and Christopher in third. Gervais tried to make a last lap pass but came up just short as Rocco won the TC 13 Shootout and the $1,313 purse that goes along with it. Christopher finished third with Marcotte and Owen rounding out the top-5.

Rocco dedicated his win to Ted Christopher as well as Jean Guy Poulin. Christopher took Rocco into his crew and gave him an education that would make him a championship racer and Poulin was the owner who took a chance and gave Rocco his first SK Modified ride.

Going into the night’s SK Light 20 lapper George Bessette and Brian Sullivan were tied for the point lead. Sullivan started seventh and Bessette started 11th. In a determined run, Bessette ended up second as Sullivan, who was in second at the time faded to fourth at the finish while Tyler Chapman took the win and Meg Fuller finished a strong third.

Stafford will now be quiet, race wise, until October 28 when the Tri-Track Series Fall Final will round out the season. Next Sunday, Oct 15 Stafford will host the 49th Annual Ty-Rods Fall Auto Swap Meet and on Sunday, Oct 22, the track will host a Motorcycle Swap Meet.

In a surprise announcement internet racing news site RaceDayCt announced that The most successful pairing of team owner and driver over the last decade in the Late Model division at Stafford Speedway is no more. Stu Fearn, owner of the Fearn Motorsports team, has released driver Tom Fearn.

“Tom Fearn has been released for off-track actions unrelated to any on-track activity at all,” Stu Fearn told RaceDayCT. “I sold the car. All his stuff is cleaned out of the shop.” Stu Fearn and Tom Fearn are cousins. Stu Fearn will continue to field a Late Model at Stafford for his daughter, Alexandra Fearn. Stu Fearn began fielding a Late Model for Tom Fearn for the 2012 season at Stafford. The team won Late Model championships at Stafford in 2016, 2018 and 2019. Tom Fearn is the winningest Late Model driver in Stafford history with 65 victories in the division, with 57 of those victories coming while driving a Stu Fearn owned car.

The Thompson Speedway began its three day World Series on Friday night. The Modified Racing Series’ 50-lap feature saw a dramatic finish and a championship battle that went down to the wire. The battle for the win went to Ronnie Williams, who took the lead on lap 32 after contact with Jake Johnson and held off Teddy Hodgdon in a late-race shootout for the victory. Williams got the Bronx Cheer in victory lane took blame for the incident with Johnson in victory lane while some fans in attendance shared their displeasure, but added the win was a big one to start the weekend with two more Tour Modified races on the docket. said Williams. “100 percent my fault on Jake Johnson, I know they’re going to have some words for me, but 100 percent my fault. No excuse for it, just made a mistake. It happens.”

Hodgdon tried one more last-gasp effort on the final lap, driving hard into turn three, but could not get close enough to challenge Williams for the win. While that battle raged on, Kirk Alexander’s last-lap pass of Anthony Bello for the 11th position was enough to edge out Matt Swanson in the fight for the Modified Racing Series title. Woody Pitkat, Austin Beers and Eric Goodale rounded out the top five.

In other Friday night action at Thompson Jon Pule0 won a six car Sunoco Modified SK type 30 lapper over Troy Talman. Talman had raced at Stafford and following the conclusion of the Stafford event made a hasty retreat to Thompson. Jake Johnson won a 14-car Late Model event and Cody Leblanc won a 14-car Mini Stock event.

Saturday was a complete wash-out.

Sunday was an extremely long day. Early Sunday morning word spread through the pit area that the oval at Thompson would live to race another year. Chris Michaud and Tom Maybury who have leased the oval in recent years will re-up for 2024. Details will be released in the not to distant future. It is hoped that the Hoenig family will spruce up the facility a bit as the facility is taking on a shabby appearance.

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Series was the highlight of the Sunday events. The 25 cars that entered were lined up according to points because qualifying was rained out. Justin Bonsignore and Ron Silk led the field to the green. Silk faded a bit allowing Austin Beers to move along side of Bonsignore. Beers took the lead on lap 2 as the field settled in on what was to be a long run. On lap 35, Jake Johnson who was at the controls of the mighty No. 3 Ole Blu passed Silk, moving into the runner-up spot. On lap 44 Bonsignore passed Silk for third spot. At the 50 lap mark Beers continued to lead and was followed by Johnson, Bonsignore, Silk, Craig Lutz, Kyle Bonsignore and Eric Berndt who had come all the way from a scratch starting position.

By lap 52 Johnson had closed in on Beers and was applying pressure. As the pair were closing in on lapped cars on lap 66 Beers was blocked by a lapped car and Johnson had shot into the lead. There were 12 cars on the lead lap at that time. On lap 74 Bonsignore slipped by Beers for the second spot. At the half way mark, lap 75, Johnson continued to lead followed by Beers, Lutz, Eric Goodale, Kyle Bonsignore, Eric Berndt and Ron Silk who had faded to eighth, close to a half lap behind. The first caution flew on lap83 for Anthony Sesley who spun on the front chute. All the front runners pitted for tires and adjustments. The field went back to green on lap 91with Bonsignore in the lead followed by Goodale, Silk, Beers and Lutz. Johnson had a slow stop and rejoined the field in the 11th spot. On lap 93 Silk went by Goodale for second spot.

The second caution flew on lap 95 when Beers and Berndt spun in turn four. Berndt ended up in the wall with his right front tire sheared off. The field went back to green on lap 100 with Bonsignore leading over Silk, Goodale, Lutz, Johnson and Kyle Bonsignore. Between laps 107 and 109 Bonsignore swapped the lead. The third caution flew on lap 120 when Kyle Bonsignore spun.

The field went back to green on lap 125 with Silk in the lead followed by Bonsignore, Johnson, Lutz and Eric Goodale. By lap 126 Lutz had gotten by Johnson and Bonsignore for the second spot. Bonsignore took it back one lap later. The fourth caution flew on lap 128 when Matt Swanson and Sam Rameau tangled on the front chute. Also collected was Andrew Krause. The green was displayed on lap 136. As the field entered turn one Tyler Rypkems found himself in the wall bringing out the yellow again. Rypkema was able to drive away.

The field went back to green onlap 138. Kyle Bonsignore who was running second mis-handled his shifter and missed a gear, slowing greatly. Finally getting it in gear, the damage was done! Silk ran the remaining laps with Johnson and Goodale on his tail. Bonsignore was able to salvage a 13th place finish. Kyle Bonsignore finished fourth with Bobby Santos, fifth. Sixth thru tenth included Anthony Noscella, Andrew Krause, Lutz, Woody Pitkat and Austin Beers.

Other Sunday winners included Kieth Rocco who won the Open Modified event for a $10,000 pay off and the Sunday Sunoco Modified 30 lapper. The win also took Rocco to a career overall total of 302 wins which include 154 victories at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl, 73 at Thompson and 80 at Stafford Speedway.

Meghan Fuller was the SK Light winner, Dan Bowes won in the SuperModifieds,Randy Cabral won in the NEMA Lites, Chris Buffone won in the Street Stocks, Craig Fanning in the Limited Sportsman and Jared Roy in the Mini Stocks.

The SMART Modified Tour was at the Tri-County Speedway in North Carolina for the Cardinal 99 on Saturday night. Bobby Labonte in a borrowed car won the hard fought event over Bobby Measmer. Jason Myers had been the pole sitter but missed the set-up snd quickly faded after the start. Brian Loftin finished third with Jake Crum and Burt Myers rounding out the top five. Jason Myers ended up eighth. The New London Waterford Speedbowl rained out..

The all new book, The Modified Years At Stafford, by the Grace of God and 600 hp, is gaining interest and has become a must have in race fans and competitors library. 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 in their store. Order yours now. Makes a great gift!

With the cooperation of the Arute family another 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).