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(Stafford Springs, CT)—Open Modified cars returned to Stafford Motor Speedway on Friday, July 26th for the $12,000 to win, 100-lap GAF Roofing Modified Masters feature event that was originally scheduled for Wednesday, July 17th. Ronnie Silk took the checkered flag and the $12,000 winner’s purse in addition to a wool jacket supplied by Stafford Springs’ own America Woolen Company that went along with the victory.
The race took the green flag with Ronnie Silk taking the early lead after Jacob Perry nearly took the lead from Silk before settling in behind Silk. Woody Pitkat was third with Chris Pasteryak in fourth and Teddy Hodgdon in fifth. Ronnie Williams took fifth from Hodgdon on lap-6 with Eric Goodale right behind Hodgdon in seventh place.
With 15 laps complete, the order was still Silk in command followed by Perry, Pitkat, Pasteryak, Williams, Hodgdon, Goodale, Stephen Kopcik, Noah Korner, and Keith Rocco.
With 40 laps complete, Silk was still in the lead with Perry hanging right on his back bumper in second. Pitkat was third with Pasteryak fourth and Hodgdon fifth. Williams was sixth followed by Korner, Austin Beers, Michael Christopher, Jr., and Goodale.
Williams’ car puffed smoke on lap-44 and he dropped off the pace and brought his car to pit road while the first caution flag of the race came out to check the track for debris and fluid. Under the caution, 10 cars came to pit road for 2 tires and adjustments. Goodale won the race off pit road followed by Christopher, Marcello Rufrano, Matt Swanson, Anthony Flannery, Stephen Kopcik, Max Zachem, Tyler Barry, and Keith Rocco, who came to pit road twice during the caution period. Goodale restarted the race from the 11th position as the first car off of pit road.
Silk took the lead on the lap-45 restart with Pitkat getting by Perry and looking to take the lead from Silk. Hodgdon was fourth in line with Korner and Austin Beers wheel to wheel for fifth with Swanson in seventh place. Rufrano spun in turn 4 to bring the caution flag back out with 60 laps complete. All but 6 cars came to pit road under the caution with Silk winning the race off pit road followed by Christopher, Hodgdon, Goodale, Pasteryak, Perry, Cory DiMatteo, Pitkat, George Bessette, Jr., Blake Barney, Beers, and Nick Anglace. Swanson was now in the lead for the restart with Zachem joining him on the front row with Rocco and Tyler Barry making up the second row. Silk would restart from the seventh position after his pit stop.
Swanson took the lead on the restart with Zachem holding second. Rocco was third behind the two leaders with Kopcik fourth and Barry fifth. Christopher made a move to take fifth from Barry on lap-62 with Silk taking sixth from Barry on the very next lap. Silk took fourth from Christopher on lap-70 and he got around Kopcik for third on lap-71. Silk continued his charge back to the front by taking second from Zachem on lap-73. With 25 laps to go the order was Swanson, Silk, Zachem, Christopher, Perry, Kopcik, Hodgdon, Bessette, Rocco, and Goodale. Silk completed his charge back to the front by taking the lead on lap-79.
With 10 laps to go, it was still Silk comfortably leading Swanson, Zachem, Christopher, Perry, Bessette, Hodgdon, Kopcik, Rocco, and Pasteryak. Silk couldn’t be caught as he cruised to victory and a $12,000 payday to go along with a special GAF Modified Masters wool jacket furnished by hometown company American Woolen. Swanson finished second with Zachem, Christopher, and Bessette 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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GAF ROOFING MODIFIED MASTERS (100)
1) Ronnie Silk, Norwalk
2) Matt Swanson, Harvard, MA
3) Max Zachem, Preston
4) Michael Christopher, Jr., Wolcott
5) George Bessette, Jr., Danbury
6) Jacob Perry, Kannapolis, NC
7) Teddy Hodgdon, Danbury
8) Stephen Kopcik, Newtown
9) Chris Pasteryak, Lisbon
10) Keith Rocco, Berlin
11) Woody Pitkat, Bellingham, MA
12) Noah Korner, Canton
13) Nick Salva, Old Saybrook
14) Austin Beers, Northampton, PA
15) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, NY
16) Marcello Rufrano, North Haven
17) Cory DiMatteo, Farmington
18) Tyler Barry, Griswold
19) Blake Barney, Howell, NJ
20) Anthony Flannery, East Hampton
21) Buddy Charette, Dracut, MA
22) Tommy Barrett, Jr., Millis, MA
23) Nick Anglace, Cheshire
24) Ronnie Williams, Tolland
25) Dana DiMatteo, Farmington
26) David Arute, Stafford Springs
