By Scott Running

Stafford Springs, CT -August 1, 2008- Stafford Motor Speedway returned to racing action on Friday, August 1st with a Friday Night NASCAR Whelen All-American Series feature event with five divisions of racing. Ted Christopher nailed down his third win of the season in the 40-lap SK Modified® feature event and career win number 101 at Stafford, Ryan Posocco picked up his fifth feature win of 2008 in the 30-lap Late Model feature, Earl Pelletier was a first time career winner in the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature, Rob Dow scored his second feature win of 2008 in the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature, and Kyle Casagrande came up a first time career winner in the 15-lap DARE Stock feature event.

In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature event, Jimmy Blewett took the early race lead from the pole position and began to pull away from the field. Blewett's lead was erased by caution on lap-19. Blewett continued to lead on the restart with Keith Rocco, Woody Pitkat, Doug Coby, and Ted Christoper behind him. Christopher was the car on the charge, methodically picking his way through traffic to move into second place behind Blewett on lap-31. Christopher stalked Blewett until lap-35 when he made his move in turns 3+4 to come out with the lead. Blewett gave chase to Christopher over the final laps but was not able to get close enough to make a move as Christopher took his third feature win of the season. Rounding out the top-5 behind Christopher and Blewett was Rocco, Jeff Malave, and Frank Ruocco.

The 30-lap Late Model feature, Scott Cook led the first lap before spinning on lap-2 to bring out the caution flag. Tom Butler assumed the race lead, but he was passed on lap-5 by Ryan Posocco, who charged to the front of the field in quick fashion. Mike Quintiliano moved into second and stayed with Posocco as the top-2 cars began to pull away from the field on a long green flag run. A late race caution erased that lead and allowed Dillon Moltz to move past Quintiliano for second place. Quintiliano would get back by Moltz but couldn't catch Posocco over several green white checkered restart situations. Rounding out the top-5 behind Posocco and Quintiliano was Moltz, Michael Bennett, and Woody Pitkat.

The 20-lap SK Light Modified feature saw Earl Pelletier take down his first career victory in a wild finish. Kyle Spencer took the early lead and he held the race lead until a caution came out with 17 laps complete. Tony Santangelo surged ahead of Spencer on the restart to take the lead but the caution came out one lap later for a two car spin. Santangelo kept the lead on the restart with Mark Bakaj moving into second ahead of Spencer. Another multi-car spin brought the caution back out. Spencer went around on the next restart and the final restart saw Santangelo and Bakaj get together in turn 4 and spin to bring the caution back out. The race was yellow/checkered with Earl Pelletier taking his first career victory. Joe Allegro, Jr. finished second, with John Walmsley, Raymond Grassetti, and Adam Skowyra rounding out the top-5.

In the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature event Michael Nadeau took the early race lead and was holding steady out front with Shawn Thibeault and Rob Dow behind him. Thibeault stayed in close contact with Nadeau throughout the first 8 laps ofhte race but Dow went into second on lap-9. Dow stayed in close contact with Nadeau and he made a move to take over the race lead on lap-12. Once Dow was out front, he was never headed as he took his second feature win of the 2008 season. Sean Foster finished second, with Corky Hinze, Joey Ferrigno, and David Capriati rounding out the top-5.

The 15-lap DARE Stock feature took the green flag with Matt Chiarizio taking the early lead ahead of Kyle Casagrande and Jesse hinze. Chiarizio held the lead until the caution came out with 6 laps complete. On the restart, Casagrande powered past Chiarizio to take over the race lead. Once he was into the lead, Casagrande drove like a seasoned veteran on a mission as he cruised to his first career victory. Dan Flannery finished second with Norm Sears, Robert Thompson, and Scott Roy 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.


Have an opinion on this story? E-MAIL KARNAC to send a letter to the editor!