By Scott Running


Stafford Springs, CT -June 20, 2008- Stafford Motor Speedway ushered in the summer season with fireworks in the air and on the track with the 8th annual Summer Blast-Off Presented by Town Fair Tire NASCAR Whelen All-American Series program. The big winners of the evening were Keith Rocco in the 40-lap SK Modified® feature, Dillon Moltz in the 30-lap Late Model feature, Chris Matthews in the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature, Bill Davis in the Limited Late Model feature, and Scott Roy in the 15-lap DARE Stock feature.

The 40-lap SK Modified® saw Keith Rocco outduel Ted Christopher to pick up his first feature win of the 2008 season. Doug Coby took the lead at the green and held the lead until he spun on lap-7, which gave the lead to Woody Pitkat. Pitkat held the race lead until lap-19 when Rocco outpowered Pitkat on a restart. Rocco stayed out front until lap-25 when Ted Christopher moved to the front. Christopher held the lead until contact from Jeff Malave sent him spinning on lap-28. Malave was black flagged, which put Rocco back out front. Christopher charged his way back through the pack, but couldn't find a way around Rocco. Rounding out the top-5 behind Rocco and Christopher was Jimmy Blewett, Tom Bolles, and Curt Brainard.

In the 30-lap Late Model feature, Dillon Moltz drove to his second consecutive feature win of the 2008 season. Scott Cook took the lead at the green and led the first several laps before Corey Hutchings moved to the front. Hutchings led to lap-13 when Michael Bennett took a turn leading the pack. Moltz was on the charge in the second half of the race and took the lead from Bennett with 10-laps to go. Moltz went unchallenged to the checkered flag for his second consecutive feature victory. Bennett finished second, with Mordino, Posocco, and Wayne Coury, Jr. rounding out the top-5.

In the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature, Chris Matthews continued his winning ways by taking his fourth checkered flag of the 2008 season. Harry Wheeler took the early race lead and was pulling away from the field, building a half straightaway lead. David Webb moved his way to second and slowly began to reel Wheeler back in lap by lap. Following close behind Webb was Matthews, who got by Webb on lap-15 and then took the lead from Wheeler on lap-16. Matthews held serve at the front of the field through two late restarts to take his fourth win of the season. Last week's winner Alan Provost came home second, with Wheeler, Raymond Grassetti, and Mark Bakaj rounding out the top-5.

In the Limited Late Model feature, Bill Davis drove to his second win of the 2008 season in a caution shortened feature of 13 laps. Darin Havanec held the early race lead with Ed Charette, Jr. moving to the lead on lap-5. Charette stayed out front unitl a restart on lap-9 that saw Davis power into the lead. A plethora of cautions pushed the race past its 20-minute time limit and the race was given the red/checker with 13 laps complete, making Davis a winner for the second time this year. Charlie Newman finished second, with Havanec, Charette, and David Capriati rounding out the top-5.

The 15-lap DARE Stock feature event saw Scott Roy drive to his first career victory. Vince Gambacorta took the lead at the green and set the pace out front until lap-5 when Matt Chiarizio took over the top spot. Chiarizio held the race lead to lap-8 when Roy moved to the point and took command of the race. Roy held strong over several restart situations over the final 7 laps of the race to drive to his first career victory. Dan Flannery finished second, with Chiarizio, Norm Sears, and Jeff Jolly 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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