10 06 23 Vlsk
Michael Christopher won the SK Modified feature at Stafford Speedway. (Stafford photo)

Christopher Tops SK Modifieds At Stafford

STAFFORD SPRINGS, Conn. — Stafford Speedway hosted its final Friday night race program of the season with NAPA Auto Parts Championship Night on Oct. 6. 

The final event of the season will be the NAPA Fall Final on October 28. 

Taking down feature wins on the night were Michael Christopher in the SK Modified feature, Keith Rocco in the TC 13 Shootout SK Modified feature, Chris Meyer in the late model feature, Tyler Chapman in the SK Light feature, Jeremy Lavoie in the Limited Late Model feature and Travis Hydar in the Street Stock feature. 

With NAPA Championship Night serving as the final Friday night race of the season, track championships were clinched by Todd Owen in the SK Modified division, George Bessette, Jr. in the SK Light division, Jeremy Lavoie in Limited Late Models and Ryan Waterman in Street Stocks. 

Kevin Gambacorta had already clinched the late model track championship on Sept. 22. 

SK Modified Race Recap

In the 40-lap SK Modified feature, Mikey Flynn took the early lead at the drop of the green flag with Troy Talman in second. Dylan Kopec was third with Michael Christopher, Jr. taking fourth and Noah Korner fifth. The caution came out with two laps complete as Tyler Barry hit the backstretch wall and came to a stop just before the entrance to turn three.

Flynn took the lead on the restart with Christopher taking second from Talman on lap five. 

Kopec and Michael Gervais, Jr. were wheel to wheel for fourth place with Gervais taking fourth on lap six. Anthony Flannery went to the outside line to get by Kopec for fifth place and David Arute followed him through in the high lane to take sixth and drop Kopec back to seventh on lap seven. 

Korner would take seventh from Kopec on lap eight while Christopher went around Flynn to take the lead on lap eight, but Flynn came right back to the inside of Christopher and the two cars were racing wheel to wheel for the lead with Christopher holding the lead by a nose at the line.

Flynn led lap 12, but Christopher put his car in front of Flynn on lap 13 to retake the lead. Talman was third in line with Gervais in fourth and Flannery in fifth. Arute was sixth followed by Korner, Keith Rocco, Marcello Rufrano and Todd Owen. 

Flynn wasn’t going away quietly as he was all over Christopher’s back bumper looking to retake the lead. With 25 laps complete, the order was Christopher, Flynn, Gervais, Rocco, Flannery, Korner, Arute, Rufrano, Cory DiMatteo and Owen.

With 10 laps to go, Christopher was still leading Flynn with Gervais, Rocco, and Flannery making up the top five. D.J. Burnham spun coming out of turn two to bring the caution flag out with 32 laps complete.

Christopher took the lead on the restart with Gervais taking second. Flynn was third with Rocco fourth and Flannery fifth. Arute was sixth followed by Korner, Owen, DiMatteo and RJ Marcotte. Christopher led the field to the checkered flag with Gervais, Rocco, Flannery and Flynn rounding out the top five. 

Owen’s 10th place finish was good enough to make him the SK Modified champion. Owen’s championship is his third consecutive at Stafford, which makes him the first SK Modified driver to win the championship in three consecutive years.

SK MODIFIED Results (40 Laps)

1) Michael Christopher, Jr., Wolcott

2) Michael Gervais, Jr., Wolcott

3) Keith Rocco, Berlin

4) Anthony Flannery, East Hampton

5) Mikey Flynn, Hampden, MA

6) David Arute, Stafford Springs

7) RJ Marcotte, Millville, MA

8) Noah Korner, Avon

9) Cory DiMatteo, Farmington

10) Todd Owen, Somers

11) Marcello Rufrano, North Haven

12) Steven Chapman, Ellington

13) Dylan Kopec, East Longmeadow, MA

14) Eric Berndt, Cromwell

15) Troy Talman, Oxford, MA

16) Curt Brainard, Canton

17) John Sandberg, South Windsor

18) D.J. Burnham, East Hartford

19) David Flammia, Jr., Waterbury

20) Art Caruso, Windsor

21) Tyler Barry, Griswold

TC 13 SHOOTOUT Results (13 Laps)

1) Keith Rocco, Berlin

2) Michael Gervais, Jr., Wolcott

3) Michael Christopher, Jr., Wolcott

4) RJ Marcotte, Millville, MA

5) Todd Owen, Somers

6) Cory DiMatteo, Farmington

7) Noah Korner, Avon

8) Marcello Rufrano, North Haven

9) Dylan Kopec, East Longmeadow, MA

10) Steven Chapman, Ellington

11) Anthony Flannery, East Hampton

12) David Arute, Stafford Springs

13) Mikey Flynn, Hampden, MA

LATE MODEL Results (30 Laps)

1) Chris Meyer, Franklin

2) Wayne Coury, Jr., Fairfield

3) Paul Varricchio, Jr., Berlin

4) Adam Gray, Granby, MA

5) Kevin Gambacorta, Ellington

6) Bobby Stirk, III, Naugatuck

7) Alexandra Fearn, Hampden, MA

8) Zack Robinson, Putnam

9) Andrew Durand, Chicopee, MA

10) PJ Zarrella, Morris

11) Tom Fearn, East Longmeadow, MA

12) Duane Noll, Monroe

SK LIGHT MODIFIED Results (20 Laps)

1) Tyler Chapman, Ellington

2) George Bessette, Jr., Danbury

3) Meghan Fuller, Auburn, MA

4) Brian Sullivan, Tolland

5) Jason Chapman, Ellington

6) Alexander Pearl, Salem

7) Chris Matthews, Stafford

8) Amanda West, Colchester

9) Ron Midford, Jr., Ellington 

10) Norm Sears, Coventry

11) Cassandra Cole, Westbrook

12) Tyler Barry, Griswold

13) Bob Charland, Stafford Springs

14) Joey Ferrigno, East Hartford

15) Nickolas Hovey, Chaplin

16) Casey Vogt, Windsor Locks

17) Paul Arcari, Somers

18) Stephen Kalogiannis, New Hartford

19) Steve Midford, Ellington

20) Austin Goff, Stafford Springs

21) Wade Gagner, East Longmeadow, MA

22) Anthony Forino, Waterbury

23) Chris Bagnall, Winsted

24) Sami Anderson, Wolcott

25) Daltin McCarthy, Oxford, MA

26) Josh Morrison, Ashford

27) Ed Chicoski, New Hartford

28) Zach Aszklar, Newtown

29) Brandon Michael, Granville, MA

30) Matt Brewer, Norwich

LIMITED LATE MODEL Results (20 Laps)

1) Jeremy Lavoie, Windsor Locks

2) Kevin Cormier, Agawam, MA

3) Matt Clement, Wethersfield

4) Adrien Paradis, III, Plainville

5) Damian Palardy, Willington

6) Devon Jencik, Canton

7) Rich Hammann, Tolland

8) Matthew Winter, II, Springfield, VT

9) Connor Jencik, Canton

10) Samantha Dell, Pascoag, RI

11) Christopher Phelps, New Salem, MA

12) Gary Patnode, Barkhamsted

13) R.J. Surdell, Willington

14) Kyle Theriault, Three Rivers, MA

15) Kevin Crosby, Coventry

16) Cindy Stirk, Naugatuck

17) Dana Wray, Durham

18) Scott Clement, Wethersfield

STREET STOCK Results (20 Laps)

1) Travis Hydar, Woodbury

2) Ryan Waterman, Danielson

3) Travis Downey, Barkhamsted

4) Tyler Trott, East Hartford

5) Brandon Warren, Chicopee, MA

6) Brent Gleason, Griswold

7) Johnny Walker, Agawam, MA

8) Walt Hovey, Chaplin

9) Jeff Asselin, Granby, MA

10) Kyle Johnson, Manchester

11) Marvin Minkler, Stamford

12) David Macha, Sr., Columbia

13) Rob Sears, Stafford Springs

14) Matt Martel, Stafford Springs

15) Andras Bogi, Macungie, PA

16) Chris Danielczuk, Goshen

17) Bert Ouellette, Ellington

18) Bobby Wilson, Agawam, MA

19) Jason Raymond, Somers

20) Sean Petlock, Ware, MA

21) Pete Cayer, Bristol

22) Bill Cote, Belchertown, MA

23) Kevin Forts, Shrewsbury, MA