STAFFORD SPRINGS, Conn. — Stafford Speedway hosted the Senator’s Cup 50-lap SK Modified event with Stafford’s Late Model, SK Light, Limited Late Model, and Street Stock divisions also in feature action on Friday.
Michael Christopher Jr. was the big winner of the night, taking down his first SK Modified win of the season in the 50-lap Senator’s Cup feature event.
Christopher led the field to the green and he took the early lead. Steven Chapman was second in line followed by Tyler Leary, Dylan Kopec, and Michael Gervais, Jr.
Kopec quickly went by Leary to take over third on lap two while David Arute was applying pressure to Gervais for fifth. Kopec took second place from Chapman on lap six and began to set his sights on Christopher in the lead.
Gervais worked his way to the inside of Leary on lap seven and he took fourth on lap eight. Gervais’ move opened the door for Arute to move up to fifth and drop Leary back to a wheel-to-wheel duel with Keith Rocco for sixth.
Leary spun in turn four to bring the caution flag out with 10 laps complete.
Christopher charged back into the lead on the restart with Kopec and Chapman right behind him. Rocco was up to fourth with Arute holding off Marcello Rufrano for fifth.
The caution came back out with 13 laps complete for Leary, who came to a stop in turn four with a flat left front tire.
Back under green it was again Christopher in the lead with Kopec, Rocco, Chapman, and Jimmy Blewett behind him. Arute and Rufrano touched and got out of shape but both cars were able to continue on after dropping several spots.
The caution came back out with 20 laps complete for a spin in turn three by R.J. Marcotte.
The field completed one lap before the caution came back out as Jon Puleo spun on the frontstretch and Cory DiMatteo spun in turn one.
Christopher took the lead back under green with Kopec slotting into second just in front of Rocco in third. Blewett made a power move one lap after the restart to move into fourth with Chapman in fitfth. Rufrano and Talman hit the backstretch wall to bring the yellow and red flags out as there was a flash fire from Rufrano’s car.
The caution came right back out on the restart before a lap could be completed as both Stephen Kopcik and Tyler Hines got into the turn two wall. Christopher resumed his place at the front of the field on the restart with Kopec still right on his back bumper in second.
Blewett was third with Rocco fourth and Todd Owen fifth before the caution came back out with 26 laps complete for a spin in turn two by Marcotte.
Christopher took the lead back under green while Blewett streaked his way into second. Kopec was third with Owen fourth and Anthony Bello fifth.
Blewett stalked Christopher for the lead until lap 39 when he was able to get to the inside of Christopher and take over the lead in turns three and four.
Bello was now third behind the two leaders with Owen fourth, Arute fifth, Kopec sixth, and Rocco seventh. Christopher was able to get back by Blewett in turn four on lap 45 to retake the lead with Bello, Owen, and Arute still making up the top five with five laps to go.
Blewett made one last charge on the final lap but couldn’t get close enough to Christopher to make a move as Christopher took down his first win of the season. Bello finished third with Owen and Arute rounding out the top five.
Kevin Gambacorta was a first-time 2023 winner in the Late Model feature, Chris Matthews was a first time 2023 winner in the SK Light feature, Kevin Cormier notched his third win of the 2023 season in the Limited Late Model feature, and Travis Hydar scored his second win of the season in the Street Stock feature.
Feature Finish (50 Laps)
1) Michael Christopher, Jr., Wolcott, 2) Jimmy Blewett, Howell, NJ, 3) Anthony Bello, Newtown, 4) Todd Owen, Somers, 5) David Arute, Stafford Springs, 6) Dylan Kopec, East Longmeadow, MA, 7) Keith Rocco, Berlin, 8) Jon Puleo, Branford, 9) Noah Korner, Avon, 10) Mikey Flynn, Hampden, MA, 11) Steven Chapman, Ellington, 12) Cory DiMatteo, Farmington, 13) Tyler Leary, Hatfield, MA, 14) Tyler Hines, North Haven, 15) RJ Marcotte, Millville, MA, 16) Wesley Prucker, Stafford Springs, 17) Troy Talman, Oxford, MA, 18) Jack Baldwin, Mooresville, NC, 19) John Sandberg, South Windsor, 20) Rich Gatreau, Orange, CA, 21) Stephen Kopcik, Newtown, 22) Michael Gervais, Jr., Wolcott, 23) Curt Brainard, Canton, 24) Marcello Rufrano, North Haven