Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – The Stafford Motor Speedway was a very busy place over the weekend.
It started on Friday night with a regular program.
Taking down feature wins on the night were Jon Puleo in the SK Modified® feature, Adam Gray in the Late Model feature, Tyler Chapman in the SK Light feature, Rich Hammann in the Limited Late Model feature, and Travis Hydar in the Street Stock feature. Chapman’s SK Light victory, his ninth of the season, enabled him to clinch the 2024 SK Light track championship.
Jon Puleo led the field to the checkered flag to pick up his first win of the 2024 season. Troy Talman finished second with Marcello Rufrano, Cory DiMatteo, and Michael Christopher, Jr. rounding out the top-5.
The weekend action at Stafford continued on Saturday with the annual running of the Fall Final which included the Monaco Ford Tri-Track Modified Series 100 plus the SK Modifieds and the SK Lights. The Tri-Track event had 30 pre-entries with 28 showing on race day. Fresh off a win in the Race of Champions event a week ago, Matt Hirschman scored a repeat victory in the race as he won the NAPA Fall Final last season and he took home the $15k winner’s check.
The NAPA Fall Final started off with a bang at the front of the pack as Mikey Flynn didn’t quite come up to speed that saw Ron Silk end his race in the turn 1 wall before a lap could be completed. The next restart saw the same thing with polesitter Flynn not coming up to speed and he spun to bring the caution flag out before a lap could be put on the board. The third restart attempt saw the car of Keith Rocco not come up to speed on the start and several cars including Marcello Rufrano, Will Lambros, Jacob Perry, and Anthony Bello were all collected to bring the caution flag out before a lap could be completed.
The fourth start attempt saw Kyle Bonsignore emerge with the early lead with Joey Cipriano taking second. Anthony Nocella was third in line with Cory DiMatteo fourth and Matt Hirschman fifth. The caution came back out with 3 laps complete as Teddy Hodgdon spun in turn 2 and collected the car of Doug Coby.
Anthony Nocella took the lead on the next restart with Bonsignore second, Cipriano third, Hirschman fourth, and DiMatteo in fifth. Nocella was still out front as the field hit the lap-30 mark with Bonsignore, Cipriano and Hirschman. Ten laps later at the half way mark Nocella was still at the front of the field with Bonsignore behind him. Hirschman was now up to third.
The caution came out with 61 laps complete as Tyler Hines spun in turn 1 after he and David Arute touched wheels. All the lead lap cars headed to pit road during the caution period for 1 new tire and adjustments. Nocella won the race off pit road followed by Hirschman, Cipriano, Bonsignore, Williams, Pitkat, Newman, Eric Goodale, Christopher, Swanson, Rufrano, Brett Meservey, Salva, and DiMatteo.
Hirschman took the lead from Nocella on the restart with Bonsignore, Cipriano, Williams, and Newman lined up behind him. Nocella worked his way back to the inside of Hirschman on lap-63 to retake the lead. Williams took fourth from Cipriano on lap-66 and the caution came back out with 67 laps complete for spins in turn 1 by Goodale and Meservey. Nocella resumed his place at the front of the pack with Hirschman taking second. Ryan Newman made a 3-wide move on lap-70 to move into third. Williams was right behind Newman in fourth with DiMatteo up to fifth and Bonsignore falling back to sixth. Williams went back by Newman to take third on lap-72 and now DiMatteo and Bonsignore were both looking to get by Newman. Meservey and Charette spun and ended up against the turn 3 wall to bring the caution back out with 75 laps complete and set up a 5 lap dash to the finish. Under the caution, Newman’s car developed a mechanical issue, a broken axle and he retired from the race.
On the restart, Chris Pasteryak spun into the turn 1 wall with Christopher also going around in turn 1 to bring the caution back out before a lap could be completed. Nocella took the lead back under green with Hirschman falling into line in second. The caution came back out with 77 laps complete as Cipriano spun in turn 1 and collected the car of Rufrano.
The restart saw Nocella go around in front of the field to bring the caution flag right back out. In a post race interview Hirschman stated that Nocella attempted to block and to put it plain and simple, he hit him. Hirschman took the lead ahead of DiMatteo, Williams, Bonsignore and Pitkat on the restart. Hirschman led the field to the checkered flag to win the NAPA Fall Final for the second consecutive year. Williams finished second with DiMatteo, Bonsignore, and Pitkat rounding out the top-5. Sixth thru tenth included Michael Christopher, Jr., David Arute, Joey Cipriano, Nick Salva and Buddy Charette. Anthony Nocella ended up 11th.
In other Saturday action at Stafford, SK Modified® and extra distance 40-lap King of the Crate SK Light feature events were run. Andrew Molleur helped extend his SK Modified® points lead heading into the Oct. 4 NAPA Champions Night event at Stafford while Tyler Chapman cemented his 2024 SK Light championship with his 10th win of the 2024 season, which brought with it a $2,100 payday from the over $12,000 King of the Crate purse.
All in all it was a great weekend at Stafford. Anthony Nocella should have won the Fall Final. Trying to block Matt Hirschman cost him the race. Jacob Perry bad mouthing Kieth Rocco was a big mistake. Rocco builds race cars to rent. He is not responsible for starts or restarts. Perry felt that he had a potential top finisher and was frustrated.
Stafford wraps up their season this Friday with Champion’s Night.
At the Riverhead Raceway on Long Island it was all quiet. Due to an impending bad weather forecast races were postponed.
The NASCAR Whalen Modified Tour series heads for the North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina this coming Saturday. Ron Silk continues to lead the point standings as he holds an 11 point edge over Justin Bonsignore. Patrick Emerling sits in third spot. Rounding out the top five is Austin Beers and Craig Lutz.
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).
