ROCCO,
MOLTZ, MATTHEWS, DURAND, & FLANNERY SCORE
SEPTEMBER 7 NASCAR WHELEN ALL-AMERICAN SERIES FEATURE
WINS AT SMS
For
Immediate Release
Contact: Scott Running
September 7, 2007
(Stafford
Springs, CT)---Stafford Motor Speedway returned to
Friday night NASCAR racing with the kick-off event
to its 2007 September Series, a three-week stretch
during September that will lead up to the season ending
CARQUEST Fall Final Weekend and determine Stafford's
track champions. Keith Rocco took the SK Modified®
feature win, Dillon Moltz won the Late Model feature,
Chris Matthews won the SK Light feature, Andrew Durand
won the Limited Late Model feature, and Dan Flannery
won the DARE Stock feature.
The
40-lap SK Modified® feature took the green with Wade
Mattesen charging past Richie Pallai, Jr. to take
the early lead. Pallai would battle back by Mattesen
on lap-5 to reclaim the lead. Keith Rocco followed
Pallai past Mattesen, and Pallai and Rocco ran nose
to tail for the lead over the next several laps. Rocco
moved by Pallai on a lap-11 restart, and from that
point on, he would not be headed at the front of the
field as he scored his third SK Modified® feature
win of the 2007 season. Kerry Malone finished a distant
second to Rocco, with Ted Christopher, Curt Brainard,
and Todd Owen rounding out the top-5. NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series National Championship hopeful
Woody Pitkat, who saw his five race winning streak
come to an end last Friday night, suffered through
several spins but came back to finish 9th.
The
30-lap Late Model feature saw 16-year old Dillon Moltz
take down his first career victory with a wire to
wire performance. Moltz charged from his starting
position of third to the lead on the opening lap and
he led the rest of the way in dominating fashion to
score his first career victory. A caution on the white
flag lap set up a green white checkered finish with
Late Model points leaders Corey Hutchings and Jim
Peterson hot on his heels. Peterson moved by Hutchings
on the restart to take second, but was unable to make
a move on Moltz over the final two laps and Moltz
took the checkered flag to cap off his dominating
run. Rounding out the top-5 behind Moltz and Peterson
was Hutchings, Woody Pitkat, and Scott Cook.
The
20-lap SK Light feature saw Chris Matthews drive to
his fourth victory of the 2007 season. Aaron Goff
took the early race lead and he led the first 12 laps
of the race before surrendering the lead to Matthews
on lap-13. Several late caution periods kept Goff
in close contact with Matthews, but Goff's night ended
prematurely with a spin on lap-18. The SK Lights had
eclipsed their 20-minute feature time limit and the
decision was made to red/checker the race, making
Matthews the winner. Josh Sylvester finished second,
with Brit Andersen, Raymond Grassetti, and Alan Provost
rounding out the top-5.
The
20-lap Limited Late Model feature with Charlie Newman
taking the early lead. Newman held the lead until
lap-5 when Andrew Durand moved to the front. Newman
kept in close contact with Durand while Bill Davis
ran third. Davis would get by Newman for second and
the top-3 ran in line until the caution flew with
18 laps complete, setting up a green white checkered
situation. On the restart, the cars of Newman and
Davis made contact with Davis spinning in turn 3 to
bring the yellow back out. On the next restart, Sean
Foster moved by Newman for second but was unable to
run Durand down as he scored his fifth feature victory
of the 2007 season. Foster finished second, with Kevin
Gambacorta, Rick Lanagan, and Newman rounding out
the top-5.
The
15-lap DARE Stock feature came down to a four-lap
duel between Dan Flannery and Vince Gambacorta for
the race win. Gambacorta took the early race lead
and he held the lead until a lap-6 restart that saw
Don Wood take over the top spot. Wood held the lead
temporarily before Gambacorta went back out front.
Gambacorta then held the lead until caution came out
with 11 laps complete. On the restart Flannery powered
past Gambacorta on the outside groove to take over
the lead. Gambacorta fought tough and stayed glued
to Flannery's bumper, but was unable to get back by
as Flannery took his second feature win of the 2007
season. Rounding out the top-5 behind Flannery and
Gambacorta was Wood, Carla Botticello, and Megan Bienkowski.
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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