RPW Exclusive: The Champ Trail; Last Week, & This Week, At Stafford, RoC At Evans Mills & More…

Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – Friday night racing continued this week, July 12 before the much-anticipated midweek racing was set to return to Stafford Speedway on Wednesday, July 17th with the GAF Roofing Modified Masters presented by Riverhead Building Supply.
The new event will feature a 100-lap, $12,000 to win Open Modified feature and will be accompanied by a 40-lap SK Light Modified event dubbed the King of the Crate.
Prize money for the new mid-summer event will total an impressive $68,000 across the 28 starting positions including $12,000 to win and $1,600 to start and is expected to attract the top Modified drivers in the region. “Riverhead Building Supply and GAF are excited for this new GAF Modified Masters event,” explained Eric Goodale, Riverhead Building Supply Executive Vice President. “We believe this event will be one to build off for the future and become a marquee event on the Modified racing calendar. Looking forward to seeing all the race fans this July.”
Getting back to Friday night at Stafford a big shout out to the competitors, fans and officials who endured the intense heat that descended upon central Connecticut. When the gates opened at 3:00pm the feels like temperature was 97 degrees with super high humidity.
Stafford Speedway’s Limited Late Model division took center stage on Friday with their lone extra distance feature event of the 2024 season, the Riley Generators 30. Rich Hammann was the big winner of the night, taking advantage of a late race restart to win the Riley 30. Hammann becomes the first repeat Limited Late Model feature winner after there were 9 different winners in the first 9 races.
The heat and humidity didn’t faze Mike Christopher Jr. as he stormed to his second win of the season. While many teams use professionally built engines Mike Sr builds the engines for his sons mount. Coming from a 12th starting spot, Christopher picked his way thru the highly competitive field and by lap 20 was in third behind Marcello Rufrano and Anthony Flannery. Christopher took the lead on lap 29 and was never headed after that. Rufrano held on for second with Flannery, third. Keith Rocco and Michael Gervais,Jr.,rounded out the top five. Sixth thru tenth included Andrew Molleur, Cory DiMatteo, Jon Puleo, Steven Chapman and Jack Baldwin.
Alexander Pearl ended and almost two year dry spell as he won the 20 lap SK Light feature that started 33 cars. Pearl took the lead on the lap seven restart while Tyler chapman didn’t come up to speed as he had a flat right rear tire. Meghan Fuller took second with Ron Midford, Jr. third, Alkas fourth, and Stephen Kalogiannis fifth. Nick Anglace spun in turn 4 on lap-10 but he was able to keep going and the race stayed green. As the field hit the halfway point, the action behind Pearl was heating up as Midford nearly made a pass for second but Fuller was able to hold him off. Pearl led the field to the checkered flag to pick up his first win of the season. Fuller finished second.
Other feature winners included Adam Gray in the Late Model feature and Travis Hydar in the Street Stock feature.
Close to 30 tour type Modifieds are entered for the Wednesday night event. The 100 lapper will pay $12,000 to win. Preliminaries will consist.of Time Trials, Heat Races and a Pole Dash. Joining the Modifieds will be the SK Lights who will go 40 laps for the $2,100 King of the Crate title.
Weekly racing at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl Raceway was cancelled due to rain. It marks the second consecutive week that the Saturday racing card at the track has been rained out. The Saturday card featured a 100-lap SK Modified event. A makeup date for that event will be announced at a later time.
“Big Money” Matt Hirschman charged from the tenth starting position to win the Race of Champions Modified Series “Summer Sizzler 80” at the Evans Mills Raceway Park in upstate New York. Andy Jankowiak finished second with RoC point leader Zane Zeiner completing the podium. It was Hirschman’s 252st career win. BrianSherwood and southern invader Carson Loftin rounded out the top five.
Down in the southland at the Bowman Gray stadium Brandon Ward took on all comers as he won the 100 lap double point feature. Chris Fleming finished second and Danny Bohn, third. John Holleman and Tim Brown rounded out the top five. Point leader Burt Myers spun out in the early going but rallied in the closing moments to finish sixth.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour was off. Next event is at Monadnock Speedway on Saturday, July 20. Ron Silk with 265 points continues to lead the point standings after six events. Silk leads Justin Bonsignore by seven points. Third, with 236 points is Jake Johnson. Johnson is 29 points out of the lead. Austin Beers with 222 points and Patrick Emerling with 215 points round out the top five. Sixth thru tenth include Craig Lutz, Kyle Bonsignore, Trevor Catalano, Matt Hirschman, Tommy Catalano and Anthony Sesely.
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).