(Stafford Springs, CT)—Stafford Speedway hosted the Cleetus McFarland New England 900 on Friday, July 19 with a 90-lap feature event featuring nitrous infused Crown Victorias, a Van Prix feature event with minivans, and a 25-lap Street Stock feature.
In the 90-lap Cleetus McFarland Crown Victoria feature event, Kevin Smith KSR took the early lead with Dr. Parker Teeth & Turbos taking second on lap-3 to drop Roman Atwood to third. Jim York was on the move in the early laps taking third on lap-5 just before the first caution flag came out for a spin in turn 4 by Kyle Boostedboiz.
Dr. Parker nearly took the lead from Smith on the restart but Smith maintained the lead. York made a move to the inside of Dr. Parker on lap-11 to move into second and drop Dr. Parker back to third. Dr. Parker would lose third place on lap-12 to Tommy FYeah with Cleetus McFarland up to fifth. The caution came back out on lap-20 for Kyle Boostedboiz, whose engine let go with a plume of heavy smoke.
The lap-24 restart saw Kevin KSR back out front with McFarland moving into second. York was third in line with Tommy FYeah in fourth and Dr. Parker in fifth. Tommy FYeah took third from York on lap-26 and York would lose another position on lap-27 as Dr. Parker took fourth. Travis Pastrana followed Dr. Parker by York to take fifth and drop York back to sixth. Greg Biffle, who was a substitute driver for Brad Deberti, started at the rear of the field and he was up to seventh behind York with 30 laps complete. York spun in turn 1 on lap-34 right in front of Biffle and Dr. Parker to bring the caution flag back out.
Kevin KSR held the lead back under green until lap-39 when McFarland went into the lead. Pastrana moved into second behind McFarland with Kevin KSR slotting into third. Tommy FYeah was fourth with Biffle in fifth. Pastrana took the lead from McFarland on lap-41 with McFarland coming right back to the inside of Pastrana on lap-42 to retake the lead. JH Diesel’s car let go a plume of smoke to bring the caution flag out with 44 laps complete.
Pastrana took the lead from McFarland on the lap-46 restart with Kevin KSR in third, Tommy FYeahin foruth, and Biffle in fifth. Tommy FYeah and Biffle came together on the backstretch with both cars getting into the wall to bring the caution out with 46 laps complete.
The lap-47 restart saw Pastrana take the lead ahead of McFarland. Kevin KSR was third in line with Atwood going 3-wide with Dr. Parker and Tye Braun to move into fourth. Kevin KSR took second from McFarland on lap-49 with Atwood in fourth and Braun fifth while Pastrana continued to lead with Kevin KSR giving chase from second.
Kevin KSR took the lead from Pastrana on lap-55 with McFarland in third behind the two leaders. Atwood was fourth and Braun was fifth with Brent PFI, Dr. Parker, Jackstand Jimmy, Derek Vice Grip Garage, and Biffle making up the top-10. Debris on the track brought the caution flag out with 60 laps complete.
Kevin KSR took the lead on the lap-61 restart with McFarland getting around Pastrana to take second. Braun was fourth in line with Atwood in fifth. The car of Tommy FYeah came to a stop in turn 1 to bring the caution out on lap-62.
The lap-63 restart saw McFarland get into the back of Kevin KSR that sent KSR around and brought the caution flag back out. McFarland brought his car to pit road for a new right front tire while Kevin KSR was able to keep his first place position for the restart.
Kevin KSR took the lead with BrentPFI taking second, Braun third, Jackstand Jimmy fourth, and Biffle fifth. Zach Walker spun coming out of turn 4 to bring the caution flag out with 63 laps complete.
Kevin KSR took the lead back under green with Brent PFI in second. Braun was third in line with Biffle up to fourth and Jackstand Jimmy up to fifth. York and Robby Layton both spun in turn 2 on lap-67 but both cars kept going and the race stayed green. Pastrana did a 360 spin in turn 4 and kept going to keep the race under green flag conditions. The caution came out with 80 laps complete for debris on the track.
Kevin KSR maintained the lead on the restart with Brent PFI, Biffle, Braun, and McFarland behind him. The caution came back out with 81 laps complete for a spin in turn 2 by Jackstand Jimmy. Biffle had a flat left front tire under the caution and he had to come to pit road for a new tire.
Kevin KSR took the lead back under green while Brent PFI dropped off the pace with a flat tire. McFarland was now second with Braun, L.S. George, and Atwood making up the top-5. The caution came back out with 82 laps complete for Brent PFI whose car came to a stop at the exit of turn 4.
Kevin KSR took the lead on the restart but he spun with 83 laps complete as McFarland made contact with him while trying to take the lead in turn 2. McFarland was sent to the rear of the field for making contact with Kevin KSR.
The next restart saw Biffle bounce off of the turn 1 wall but the race stayed green as Biffle brought his car back to pit road. Kevin KSR was the leader again with Pastrana, L.S. George, Zach Walker, and McFarland fifth. The caution came back out with 85 laps complete.
Kevin KSR again took the lead with Pastrana in second. Pastrana drifted up the track in turn 2 on lap-87, allowing L.S. George to take over second and drop Pastrana back to third. Walker was fourth with McFarland in fifth. Kevin KSR led the field to the checkered flag to win the New England 900. Pastrana finished second with L.S. George, Walker, and Jackstand Jimmy rounding out the top-5.
New England 900 Crown Vic Feature Results
In the Cleetus McFarland Van Prix feature event was a 10 lap race around the Stafford Mini-Mile featuring minivans racing with a jump on the backstretch that drivers had to go over once and a chicane made from tires on the frontstretch. Banks in the #169 van was the winner in a race that featured plenty of parts flying off of the vans from hitting the jump on the backstretch and the vans leaning on each other as they circulated the track.
New England 900 Van Prix Feature Results
In the 25-lap Street Stock feature, Travis Hydar and Johnny Walker led the field to the green flag with Hydar setting the early pace with Walker, Bert Ouellette, Tyler Trott, Shawn Monahan, Mike Caprio, Sean Petlock, Bobby Stirk, III, Walt Hovey, and David Macha, Sr. making up the top-10. Mike Caprio and Monahan made contact in turn 3 with Monahan going around and collecting the car of Petlock to bring the caution flag out. Caprio was sent to the rear of the field for making contact with Monahan.
Hydar took the lead back under green with Walker and Ouellette behind him. Stirk moved up to fourth place with Trott in fifth. Hovey was sixth with Monahan back up to seventh with Caprio, Macha, Sr., and Ashton Young making up the top-10. Jason Haribans and Young spun onto the frontstretch grass to bring the caution flag back out with 8 laps complete.
Hydar again took the lead while Stirk moved into second with a great restart. Walker settled into third with Trott fourth and Caprio and Monahan door to door for fifth place. Caprio took the spot with Monahan falling back to seventh place behind Hovey as Hydar continued to lead with Stirk and Walker right behind him. Hovey spun coming out of turn 4 on lap-13 and he pulled behind the wall as the race stayed green.
Stirk was looking high and low for a way to take the lead from Hydar but wasn’t able to get close enough to make a move. Trott spun in turn 4 to bring the caution flag back out with 17 laps complete.
Hydar and Stirk leaned on each other coming to the green with Hydar taking the lead and Stirk falling into line right behind him. Young spun coming of turn 4 to bring the caution out with 19 laps complete.
Hydar took the lead back under green with Walker taking second and Monahan third as Stirk slid back to seventh place before the caution came back out one lap after the restart for a spin by Young on the backstretch.
Hydar took the lead on the restart with Monahan taking second from Walker. Ouellette went by Walker on lap-22 to move into third with Trott taking fourth as Walker fell back to fifth and he ended up getting back in line on lap-23 in seventh place as Caprio took fifth and Stir sixth.
Hydar led the field to the checkered flag to take home the $1,000 winner’s purse. Monahan finished second with Ouellette, Trott, and Caprio 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.