Story By: SCOTT RUNNING / STAFFORD MOTOR SPEEDWAY – STAFFORD SPRINGS, CT – Stafford Speedway hosted Maybury Back to SKool Kids night with twin SK Light feature events on Friday, Aug. 30th.
The big winners of the night were Nickolas Hovey and Chris Matthews, who split the SK Light features between themselves with Hovey notching his third win of the season and Matthews his second.
Other feature winners were Michael Christopher, Jr. in the SK Modified® feature, Adam Gray in the Late Model feature, Matt Winter, II, and Travis Hydar. As part of Maybury Kids Night, there were two kids big wheel races and they were won by 6 year old Bentley Walmsley of Franklin and 5 year old Cole Frazier of Agawam, MA.
In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature, Dylan Kopec took the early lead while behind him Andrew Molleur moved into second, Marcello Rufrano third, Tyler Hines fourth, and Jon Puleo fifth. Steven Chapman got out of shape but gathered his car up and rejoined at the rear of the field as the race stayed green.
Molleur took the lead from Kopec on lap-6 while Rufrano took second from Kopec on lap-7. Kopec began to slide backwards to seventh place as Hines took third, Puleo fourth, Michael Christopher, Jr. fifth, and Todd Owen sixth. The caution flag came out with 7 laps complete for Wesley Prucker, who spun in turn 4.
A multi-car melee erupted in turn 3 on the restart involving the cars of Cory DiMatteo, Curt Brainard, George Bessette, Jr., Austin Beers, David Arute, Paul Kusheba, IV, and several others to bring the yellow flag right back out.
Christopher took the lead back under green with Molleur staying glued to his back bumper in second. Puleo was third in line with Keith Rocco up to fourth and Todd Owen up to fifth. Rocco took third from Puleo on lap-18 while Christopher was still leading Molleur at the front of the pack. David Arute came to a stop in turn 4 to bring the caution flag out with 20 laps complete.
Christopher took the lead back under green with Rocco and Molleur going wheel to wheel for second. Puleo was fourth with Owen and Troy Talman wheel to wheel for fifth. Rocco cleared Molleur for second on lap-23 while Talman and Owen were still side by side for fifth. With 11 laps to go the order was Christopher, Rocco, Molleur, Puleo, Talman, DiMatteo, Owen, Kopec, Mikey Flynn, and Rufrano.
Christopher led Rocco and the field to the checkered flag to pick up his third win of the 2024 season. Molleur finished third with Puleo and Talman rounding out the top-5.
In the first 30-lap Late Model feature, Chris Buffone took the early lead from pole position with Chris Meyer in second. Adam Gray took third on lap-4 as Tom Fearn drifted up the track in turn 3 and fell back to fourth, just in front of Tom Butler. Gray went by Meyer on lap-6 to move into second behind Buffone while Butler went by Tom Fearn to move into fourth.
Gray made a move to the inside of Buffone in turn 2 to move into the lead on lap-8 and that move allowed Meyer to take second and drop Buffone back to third. The caution and red flags came out with 8 laps complete as Kevin Gambacorta spun coming out of turn 4 and collected the cars of Paul Varricchio, Jr., Bobby Stirk, and Wayne Coury, Jr. with a flash fire coming from under the hood of Stirk’s car that was quickly extinguished. Varricchio was sent to the rear of the field for making contact with Gambacorta.
Gray took the lead on the restart with Meyer, Buffone, Alexandra Fearn, and Andrew Durand lined up behind him. Durand took fourth from Fearn on lap-13 while Gray was slowly stretching out his advantage over Meyer. With 10 laps to go, it was still Gray and Meyer out front with Durand in third, Buffone fourth, and Darrell Keane fifth. Varricchio was back up to sixth after his penalty with Butler, Alexandra Fearn, Tom Fearn, and Coury making up the top-10.
Just as Gray was stretching out his lead, Meyer was now starting to reel Gray back in. Meyer was able to close to within several car lengths of Gray, but couldn’t get any close as Gray scored his third win of the 2024 season. Meyer finished second with Durand, Keane, and Varricchio rounding out the top-5.
In the first 20-lap SK Light feature, Sami Anderson led the field to green but several cars, including Paul Arute, Tyler Chapman, and several others, spun in turn 1 with Arute hitting the turn 1 wall on the start to bring the caution flag out.
Anderson took the lead on the restart with Ron Midford, Jr. right behind her in second. Casey Vogt was third followed by Nickolas Hovey, Robert Bloxsom, III, and Matt Brewer. Midford made a move to the inside of Anderson and he took the lead by a nose at the line on lap-2. Midford and Anderson were still racing wheel to wheel with Anderson going back into the lead on the outside of Midford on lap-4. Hovey moved into second to drop Midford back to third with Brewer in fourth and Alexander Pearl now in fifth.
Pearl took fourth on lap-8 with Meghan fuller taking fifth from Brewer while Anderson continued to hold the lead with Hovey and Midford behind her. Pearl’s charge to the front continued as he took third from Midford on lap-11 while Hovey was applying heavy pressure to Anderson for the lead. Fuller moved into fourth to drop Midford from third back to fifth while Hovey was finally able to make a pass and took the lead from Anderson on lap-13.
Pearl took second from Anderson on lap-15 and was now right behind Hovey. Fuller was fourth with Midford fifth, just in front of Nick Anglace in sixth. Mark Massirio spun in turn 2 to bring the caution flag out with 17 laps complete and just as Pearl was poised to take the lead from Hovey.
The restart saw Tyler Alkas get into the frontstretch wall while Mike Parolo and Stephen Kalogiannis spin into the frontstretch grass to bring the caution right back out.
The next restart saw Steve Midford and Brewer spun with Brewer pulling away and Hovey taking the lead. The caution came back out with 18 laps complete for Midford, who was black flagged by Stafford officials for intentionally bringing the caution out.
Hovey and Pearl went back side by side on the restart with Hovey holding off Pearl at the line as they took the white flag. Pearl couldn’t make a move on the final lap as Hovey took the checkered flag for his third win of the 2024 season. Pearl finished second with Fuller, Anderson, and Anglace rounding out the top-5.
In the second 20-lap SK Light feature, Matt Brewer took the early lead with Casey Vogt, Ron Midford, Jr., Chris Viens, and Chris Matthews giving chase. Matthews worked his way up to third behind Brewer and Vogt with Midford fourth and Viens fifth at the halfway point of the race. Matthews was all over Vogt for second and he was finally able to make a move to take the position on lap-13.
Matthews streaked his way past Brewer on lap-15 to take over the race lead. Once into the lead, Matthews pulled away from Brewer to take his second win of the 2024 season. Brewer finished second with Vogt, Tyler Chapman, and Viens rounding out the top-5.
In the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature, Connor Jencik led the field to the green and he took the early lead with Matt Clement going door to door with Kyle Theriault for second. Matthew Winter, II was fourth in line with Rich Hammann in fifth. Clement got clear of Theriault and took the lead on lap-2. RJ Surdell got into the turn 3 wall to bring the caution out with 3 laps complete.
Clement took the lead back under green with Winter taking second. Connor Jencik fell back to third with Hammann fourth and Kevin Cormier up to fifth. Devon Jencik took over fifth place from Cormier on lap-9 while Winter was hounding Clement for the race lead. Cormier spun in turn 3 to bring the caution flag back out with 11 laps complete.
Clement took the lead back under green with Winter again right behind him in second. Devon Jencik moved into third with Hammann fourth and Adrien Paradis, III up to fifth as Connor Jencik slid back to seventh place behind Jeremy Lavoie. Several cars spun in turn 2, including Samantha Dell, Trinity Provost, Shelby Swan, and Gary Patnode, to bring the caution back out with 13 laps complete.
Clement took the lead on the restart with Winter in second. Devon Jencik was third with Paradis and Hammann making up the top-5. Devon Jencik went around in turn 2 to bring the caution flag back out with 17 laps complete.
Winter took the lead from Clement on the restart with Hammann taking third from Lavoie on lap-19. Clement couldn’t get close enough to make a move as Winter took down his second win of the 2024 season. Hammann finished third with Lavoie and Theriault rounding out the top-5.
In the 20-lap Street Stock feature, Marvin Minkler led the field to the green flag and set the early pace in front of Sean Petlock, Brandon Warren, Jason Raymond, and Bert Ouellette. Warren moved into second on lap-3 with Raymond taking third, Ouellette fourth, and Tyler Trott fifth as Petlock slid back to sixth place. The caution flew with 4 laps complete for a spin in turn 4 by Travis Hydar.
Raymond took the lead back under green with Trott taking second. Warren was third in line with Minkler sliding back to fourth, just in front of Ouellette in fifth. The caution came back out with 7 laps complete as Jeff Asselin and Jason Lafayette spun in turn 2.
Raymond took the lead back under green with Trott in second. Ouellette was third with Warren and Travis Downey lined up behind him. Hydar was on the move after his earlier spin as he took fifth on lap-12 and then took fourth on lap-13. Raymond was still in the lead with Trott and Ouellette second and third and Downey fifth behind Hydar.
Trott took the lead on lap-16 and that move opened the door for Ouellette to take second and Hydar third as Raymond slid back to fourth. Hydar took second on lap-17 just before the caution flew for Raymond, who went around in turn 4. Downey was sent to the rear of the field by Stafford officials for making contact with Raymond.
Hydar streaked into the lead on the restart with Trott taking second. Ouellette was third in line with Warren fourth and Johnny Walker up to fifth. Hydar led the field to the checkered flag to pick up his 9th win of the 2024 season. Trott finished second with Ouellette, Warren, and Walker rounding out the top-5.
SK MODIFIED® (40)
1) Michael Christopher, Jr., Wolcott
2) Keith Rocco, Berlin
3) Andrew Molleur, Shelton
4) Jon Puleo, Branford
5) Troy Talman, Oxford, MA
6) Cory DiMatteo, Farmington
7) Todd Owen, Somers
8) Dylan Kopec, Meriden
9) Mikey Flynn, Hampden, MA
10) Marcello Rufrano, North Haven
11) Michael Gervais, Jr., Wolcott
12) George Bessette, Jr., Danbury
13) Paul Kusheba, IV, Monroe
14) Tyler Hines, North Haven
15) Anthony Flannery, East Hampton
16) David Arute, Tolland
17) Wesley Prucker, Stafford Springs
18) Austin Beers, Northampton, PA
19) Art Caruso, Windsor
20) David Flammia, Jr., Waterbury
21) Curt Brainard, Canton
22) John Sandberg, South Windsor
23) Steven Chapman, Ellington
LATE MODEL (30)
1) Adam Gray, Granby, MA
2) Chris Meyer, Franklin
3) Andrew Durand, Chicopee, MA
4) Darrell Keane, Enfield
5) Paul Varricchio, Jr., Berlin
6) Chris Buffone, Belchertown, MA
7) Tom Butler, Stafford Springs
8) Alexandra Fearn, Hampden, MA
9) Tom Fearn, East Longmeadow, MA
10) Wayne Coury, Jr., Fairfield
11) P.J. Zarrella, Morris
12) Kevin Gambacorta, Ellington
13) Bobby Stirk, III, Naugatuck
14) Adon Burrell, Barkhamsted
SK LIGHT RACE #1 (20)
1) Nickolas Hovey, Chaplin
2) Alexander Pearl, Salem
3) Meghan Fuller, Auburn, MA
4) Sami Anderson, Wolcott
5) Nick Anglace, Seymour
6) Ron Midford, Jr., Ellington
7) Brian Sullivan, Tolland
8) Josh Morrison, Ashford
9) Chris Matthews, Stafford
10) Casey Vogt, Windsor Locks
11) Amanda West, Colchester
12) Robert Bloxsom, III, Milford
13) Tyler Chapman, Ellington
14) Wade Gagner, East Longmeadow, MA
15) Bob Charland, Stafford Springs
16) Chris Viens, Putnam
17) Paul Arcari, Somers
18) Carsten Cole, Westbrook
19) Cassandra Cole, Westbrook
20) Aiden D’Agata, Willington
21) Matt Brewer, Norwich
22) Mark Massirio, Berlin
23) Glenn Bartkowski, Manchester
24) Frank L’Etoile, Jr., Wethersfield
25) Austin Goff, Stafford Springs
26) Anthony Forino, Waterbury
27) Peter Bennett, Windsor
28) Steve Midford, Ellington
29) Stephen Kalogiannis, New Hartford
30) Tyler Alkas, Berlin
31) Mike Parolo, West Springfield
32) Joey Ferrigno, East Hartford
33) Paul Arute, Tolland
SK LIGHT RACE #2 (30)
1) Chris Matthews, Stafford
2) Matt Brewer, Norwich
3) Casey Vogt, Windsor Locks
4) Tyler Chapman, Ellington
5) Chris Viens, Putnam
6) Ron Midford, Jr., Ellington
7) Brian Sullivan, Tolland
8) Sami Anderson, Wolcott
9) Meghan Fuller, Auburn, MA
10) Amanda West, Colchester
11) Nickolas Hovey, Chaplin
12) Nick Anglace, Seymour
13) Alexander Pearl, Salem
14) Josh Morrison, Ashford
15) Bob Charland, Stafford Springs
16) Paul Arute, Tolland
17) Robert Bloxsom, III, Milford
18) Carsten Cole, Westbrook
19) Cassandra Cole, Westbrook
20) Paul Arcari, Somers
21) Wade Gagner, East Longmeadow, MA
22) Frank L’Etoile, Jr., Wethersfield
23) Austin Goff, Stafford Springs
24) Aiden D’Agata, Willington
25) Steve Midford, Ellington
26) Glenn Bartkowski, Manchester
27) Peter Bennett, Windsor
28) Mark Massirio, Berlin
29) Anthony Forino, Waterbury
30) Brady Parolo, West Springfield
31) Stephen Kalogiannis, New Hartford
32) Mike Parolo, West Springfield
33) Joey Ferrigno, East Hartford
LIMITED LATE MODEL (20)
1) Matthew Winter, II, Springfield, VT
2) Matt Clement, Wethersfield
3) Rich Hammann, Tolland
4) Jeremy Lavoie, Windsor Locks
5) Kyle Theriault, Three Rivers, MA
6) Kevin Cormier, Agawam, MA
7) Darryl Vertefeuille, Willington
8) Gary Patnode, Barkhamsted
9) Devon Jencik, Canton
10) Adrien Paradis, III, Plainville
11) Dana Wray, Northford
12) Connor Jencik, Canton
13) Scott Clement, Wethersfield
14) Trinity Provost, Holland, MA
15) Samantha Dell, Pascoag, RI
16) Shelby Swan, Durham
17) RJ Surdell, Willington
STREET STOCK (20)
1) Travis Hydar, Woodbury
2) Tyler Trott, East Hartford
3) Bert Ouellette, Ellington
4) Brandon Warren, Chicopee, MA
5) Johnny Walker, Agawam, MA
6) Sean Petlock, Ware, MA
7) Marvin Minkler, Stamford
8) Bill Cote, Belchertown, MA
9) Jason Raymond, Somers
10) Sean Riley, Wolcott
11) Matt Martel, Stafford Springs
12) Travis Downey, Barkhamsted
13) Alex Spinnato, Wallingford
14) Andras Bogi, Macungie, PA
15) Dan Janus, Cheshire
16) Adam Huff, Philadelphia, PA
17) Kevin Vincent, Shrewsbury, MA
18) Ashton Young, Griswold
19) Jason Lafayette, Somers
20) Jeff Asselin, Granby, MA
21) Chris Danielczuk, Goshen
22) Garrett Pease, Enfield
