CHRISTOPHER, PITKAT, BARRETT, YARDLEY, & CASAGRANDE SCORE AUG. 27th NASCAR
WHELEN ALL-AMERICAN SERIES VICTORIES AT STAFFORD

(Stafford Springs, CT)—Stafford Speedway was back in action with a NASCAR
Whelen All-American Series program on Friday night, August 27th. Ted
Christopher scored his first victory of the 2010 season in the 40-lap SK
Modified® feature, Woody Pitkat took advantage of a green white checkered
restart to nail down his sixth victory of 2010 in the 30-lap Late Model
feature, Tommy Barrett, Jr. scored his eighth win of 2010 in the 20-lap SK
Light Modified feature, Dave Yardley won his second feature of 2010 in the
20-lap Limited Late Model feature, and Cory Casagrande matched his brother
Kyle as a three-time winner in the 15-lap DARE Stock feature.
In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature event, Jeff Malave took the lead at the
green and set the early pace ahead of Sean Foster, Curt Brainard, Dan Avery,
and Jeff Baral. Christopher Jones found the turn 3 wall to bring the
caution out with 4 laps complete.
Malave took the lead back under green with Foster in second. Brainard was
third, but he washed up the track on lap-7 and lost a host of positions.
Baral was now third with Ted Christopher and Ryan Preece behind him.
Christopher moved into third on lap-8 and he brought Preece with him by
Baral to drop him back to fifth place. Christopher continued his march to
the front by taking second place from Foster on lap-13.
The order shuffled again on lap-17 as Keith Rocco moved by Baral for fifth
place and Christopher made a move to the inside of Malave for the lead on
lap-18. Preece took third away from Foster on lap-19 and Woody Pitkat and
Avery moved by Baral.
Preece quickly closed in on Christopher and Malave at the front of the field
and the top-3 cars were running nose to tail on lap-22. Rocco was slowly
running down Foster for the fourth position and Rocco was able to take the
spot on lap-28. Meanwhile, Malave and Preece were locked in a side by side
duel for second place while Christopher continued to lead the race.
Christopher pulled several car lengths on the second place battle before
Preece settled into line behind Malave. Rocco had closed the gap to Preece
and it was now a four car train at the front of the pack.
Christopher led the field around to the checkered flag to take down his
first victory of the 2010 season. Malave was second, with Preece, Rocco,
and Pitkat rounding out the top-5.
In the 30-lap Late Model feature event, Corey Hutchings lost a right front
tire and spun to the infield and Ryan Posocco lost a left rear tire and
ended up in the turn 3 wall to bring the caution out. Posocco was able to
come to pit road and change the tire while Hutchings was finished for the
race.
Scott Cook powered by Dave Wray on the restart to take the lead. Wray
settled into second with Dillon Moltz moving into third with Jim Peterson
and Keith Rocco behind him. Moltz quickly moved by Wray as did Rocco,
Michael Bennett, and Woody Pitkat. Wray was stuck in the outside groove and
he fell back to 17th place in the running order.
At the lap-10 marker, Moltz had caught up to Cook and Rocco was right behind
Moltz in a three-car train for the lead. Pitkat was fourth with Tom Fearn
moving into fifth as Bennett fell back to sixth place. Moltz was all over
the back of Cook but Cook was able to keep himself at the front of the field
as they clicked off the halfway point of lap-15.
With 10 laps to go, it was still Cook holding the lead, but the 3-car train
was now a 7-car train with Moltz, Rocco, Pitkat, Fearn, Bennett, and
Peterson lined up behind Cook. On lap-23, Moltz made a run to the inside of
Cook, but he got sideways in turn 1 which allowed Pitkat to make a
three-wide move on Moltz and Rocco to move from fourth into second. Rocco
was third behind Pitkat with Fearn, Bennett, Peterson, and Moltz making up
the running order. The move allowed Cook to build up a cushion over Pitkat
in second.
Cook was half a lap away from heading to victory on the white flag lap, but
John Blake hit the wall on the backstretch to bring the caution out and set
up a green white checkered finish.
Cook appeared to spin his tires on the restart, which gave Pitkat the
advantage he needed to take over the lead. Pitkat led the final two laps to
score his sixth win of the 2010 season with Cook finishing second. Bennett
finished third, with Moltz and Peterson rounding out the top-5.
In the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature event, Harry Wheeler took the early
lead, but he drifted up the track in turn 3 which allowed Zach Aszklar to
move into the race lead. Steve Greer spun in turn 3 to bring the caution
out with one lap complete.
Aszklar took the lead back under green but Erica Santos and Earl Pelletier
were side by side for second behind Aszklar. Aszklar and Santos got out of
shape on lap-2 and Santos nearly hit the wall but was able to get the car
stopped in time. Santos was not able to get restarted and the caution came
out with 2 laps complete.
Aszklar was the leader back under green, but Pelletier was hanging tough to
his outside. Pelletier made the outside groove work in his favor and he
moved ahead of Aszklar to take over the lead on lap-7. Tommy Barrett, Jr.
was third behind Pelletier and Aszklar with Joey Cipriano fourth and Tommy
Membrino, Jr. fifth. Cipriano and Aszklar made contact in turn 4 with
Aszklar spinning around to bring the caution out with 8 laps complete.
Cipriano was sent to the rear for overaggressive driving.
Barrett went around Pelletier on the restart to take over the lead with Matt
Galko also getting by Pelletier to move into second. Pelletier settled into
line in third with Membrino in fourth and David Webb in fifth. Galko moved
to the inside of Barrett and took over the race lead, but the caution came
out for a spin by Heather DesRochers in turn 3, which put the restart lineup
back to the previous lap and negated Galko’s pass for the lead.
On the restart, Galko hit the turn 1 wall and Cipriano ended up climbing
over the right rear of another car to bring the caution out. Back under
green, Barrett took the lead, but he and Pelletier drifted up the track in
turn 4 which allowed Aszklar to dive to the bottom groove and move from
third to the lead. Barrett settled into second behind Aszklar with
Pelletier third, Membrino fourth, and Jay Goff fifth. Ted Cain spun in turn
2 to bring the yellow out with 14 laps complete.
Aszklar took the lead on the restart with Pelletier moving into second.
Barrett fell back to third with Goff fourth and Membrino fifth. Pelletier
moved by Aszklar for the lead on lap-16 and he brought Barrett with him to
drop Aszklar back to third. Barrett then took the lead from Pelletier on
lap-17. Pelletier made a strong move to the inside of Barrett on lap-18,
but he couldn’t make the pass stick. From there, Barrett pulled away and he
nailed down his eighth win of the 2010 season. Membrino made a strong run
to come home in second with Aszklar, Pelletier, and Goff rounding out the
top-5.
In the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature event, Dan Flannery charged into
the lead with Dave Yardley and Jesse Hinze behind him. Carla Botticello was
fourth with George Nocera, Jr. taking fifth. Shawn Thibeault’s car was
smoking heavily from the start of the race and he pulled off the track to
take an early exit from the feature. On lap-5, Limited Late Model points
leader Andrew Durand got out of shape in turn 4 and fell to the rear of the
field as the race stayed under green flag conditions.
Yardley got by Flannery to take over the lead on lap-4 with Hinze, Nocera,
Kevin Gambacorta, and Botticello running nose to tail behind him.
Gambacorta got out of shape and lost several spots before the caution came
out with 9 laps complete for a spin by Rob Farrington, Jr.
As the race went back to green, Yardley took the lead with Nocera moving
into second. Flannery settled into line in third place with Hinze in fourth
and Botticello was running fifth. Chris Cook and Farrington spun in turn 3
to bring the yellow back out with 13 laps complete.
Yardley again took the lead with Nocera and Flannery behind him on the
restart. Botticello spun sideways but was able to keep going and the race
stayed green. Andrew Durand was given a consultation for over aggressive
driving. Hinze was fourth and Rob Dow was now into fifth place with Durand’
s penalty.
Nocera was working Yardley over for the lead and he was able to get to the
inside of Yardley as they came to the white flag, but Farrington spun in
turn 2 to bring the yellow out and set up a green white checkered finish.
Yardley powered into the lead on the restart with Nocera diving to his
inside. Yardley was able to hold him off as they headed down the
backstretch. Nocera made one final run to the inside of Yardley as they
came around turn 4 heading to the checkered flag, but he came up just short
as Yardley scored his second win of the 2010 season. Flannery finished
third, with Rob Dow and Hinze rounding out the top-5.
In the 15-lap DARE Stock feature event, Albert Saunders charged into the
lead from the outside pole and set the early pace with Josh Wood right on
his bumper. Donald Cook was third, but he was overtaken by Cory Casagrande
and Andrew Hayes on lap-3 to drop him back to fifth in the running order.
Wood went by Saunders for the race lead on lap-4 and he brought Cory
Casagrande with him by Saunders to drop him back to third with Hayes in
fourth and Cook in fifth.
Wood held the lead until lap-8 when Casagrande made a move in turn 3 to take
over the top spot. Saunders was still third with Hayes right behind him in
fourth. Vince Gambacorta was now in the fifth position, but he was a half
straightaway behind the top-4 cars. Casagrande was beginning to stretch his
lead out and he cruised to his third victory of the season, matching the
feat that his brother Kyle accomplished a week ago. Wood came home in
second with Hayes, Saunders, and Kyle Casagrande rounding out the top-5.
For more information contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at
(860) 684-2783, or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.
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SK MODIFIED® (40)
1) Ted Christopher, Plainville
2) Jeff Malave, Manchester
3) Ryan Preece, Berlin
4) Keith Rocco, Meriden
5) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs
6) Sean Foster, Ellington
7) Dan Avery, Somers
Jeff Baral, Enfield
9) Zach Sylvester, Lebanon
10) Josh Sylvester, Lebanon
11) Frank Ruocco, Cheshire
12) Todd Owen, Somers
13) Curt Brainard, Canton
14) Nichole Morgillo, Wallingford
15) Chris Matthews, Stafford
16) Chris Jones, New Milford
17) John Montesanto, North Branford
18) Michael Gervais, Jr., Southbury
19) Kurt Lenahan, Roxbury
20) Adam Skowyra, Brimfield, Ma
21) Raymond Grassetti, Monson, Ma
22) Christopher Jones, New Milford

LATE MODEL (30)
1) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs
2) Scott Cook, Uncasville
3) Michael Bennett, Stafford Springs
4) Dillon Moltz, Waterford
5) Jim Peterson, Monson, Ma
6) Tom Butler, Stafford Springs
7) J.J. Hill, Stafford Springs
Ryan Posocco, Stafford Springs
9) Tom Fearn, East Longmeadow, Ma
10) Jim Mavlouganes, Bethany
11) Adam Gray, Belchertown, Ma
12) Keith Rocco, Meriden
13) Wayne Coury, Jr., Milford
14) Ryan Preece, Berlin
15) Dave Wray, Meriden
16) Mark St. Hilaire, Berlin
17) Patrick Townsend, Springifeld, Ma
18) Tony Lafo, Higganum
19) Tim Fogg, Stafford Springs
20) Sylvia Crunden, West Hartford
21) John Blake, North Haven
22) Corey Hutchings, Salem

SK LIGHT MODIFIED (20)
1) Tommy Barrett, Jr., Millis, Ma
2) Tommy Membrino, Jr., Prospect
3) Zach Aszklar, Wallingford
4) Earl Pelletier, Wolcott
5) Jay Goff, Stafford Springs
6) David Webb, New Milford
7) Kyle Spencer, Montgomery, Ma
Chad Trombley, Bethany
9) Victoria Bergenty, Plainville
10) Heather DesRochers, Granby, Ma
11) Mike Parolo, Feeding Hills, Ma
12) Ted Cain, Plymouth
13) Rick Williams, Haddam
14) Todd Clark, Bristol
15) Matt Galko, Meriden
16) Tony Santangelo, Middlefield
17) Joey Cipriano, III, Waterbury
18) Harry Wheeler, Stafford Springs
19) Erica Santos, Franklin, Ma
20) Stephen Greer, Harwinton
21) Dylan Liseo, East Hartford

LIMITED LATE MODEL (20)
1) Dave Yardley, III, Meriden
2) George Nocera, Jr., Plainville
3) Dan Flannery, Ellington
4) Rob Dow, Stafford Springs
5) Jesse Hinze, Farmington
6) Norm Sears, Andover
7) Kevin Gambacorta, Ellington
Jeff Hubbell, Naugatuck
9) Brian Clement, Wethersfield
10) Carla Botticello, Manchester
11) Rob Farrington, Jr, Belchertown, Ma
12) Duane Provost, Indian Orchard, Ma
13) Chris Cook, Pepperell, Ma
14) Pete Cayer, Bristol
15) Andrew Durand, Chicopee, Ma
16) Dwayne Dorr, Ledyard
17) Shawn Thibeault, Plainville

DARE STOCK (15)
1) Cory Casagrande, Stafford Springs
2) Josh Wood, Palmer, Ma
3) Andrew Hayes, Charlton, Ma
4) Albert Saunders, Stafford
5) Kyle Casagrande, Stafford Springs
6) Tony Membrino, Jr., Plantsville
7) Vince Gambacorta, Ellington
Cliff Saunders, Stafford
9) Stephen Daddio, Seymour
10) Jeff Jolly, Wallingford
11) David Arute, Tolland
12) Donald Cook, Agawam, Ma
13) James Carroll, West Hartford
14) Joe Mcallister, New Britian
15) Kaitlyn Brice, Manchester
16) Paul Jensen, East Hampton
17) Kelsey Rottino, Willimantic
18) David Macha, Columbia
19) Stephanie Berardi, Broad Brook