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(Stafford Springs, CT)—The Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series came to Stafford Motor Speedway on Wednesday, July 16th for the 80-lap GAF Roofing Modified Masters feature event. Jake Johnson took control of the race just past the halfway point of the race and he led the final 40 laps of the race to the checkered flag to win the GAF Roofing Modified Masters.
The race took the green flag with Ryan Preece setting the early pace ahead of Jake Johnson, Eric Goodale, Jon McKennedy, and Stephen Kopcik. McKennedy made a power move going into turn 3 on lap-5 to take third place from Goodale while Johnson was hounding Preece for the lead. Marcello Rufrano moved into fifth before the caution flag flew with 7 laps complete as Preece and Johnson made contact while racing for the lead while behind them, Steven Chapman and his brother Tyler Chapman spun on the frontstretch.
Preece took the lead back under green with Johnson, Goodale, McKennedy, and Kopcik lined up behind him. Chase Dowling was up to sixth followed by Rufrano, Max Zachem, Matt Hirschman, and Woody Pitkat. With 20 laps complete, Preece was still out front with Johnson, Goodale, McKennedy, and Kopcik behind him. Dowling was still sixth in line with Zachem, Pitkat, Ronnie Williams, and Mikey Flynn making up the top-10.
With 35 laps complete Preece was still leading Johnson, Goodale, and McKennedy. Williams was now up to fifth with Kopcik, Dowling, Zachem, Pitkat, and Jacob Perry making up the top-10. The caution flag flew with 39 laps complete for Teddy Hodgdon and Joey Cipriano, who both came to a stop in turn 4. The caution period brought the leaders to pit road for a tire and adjustments with Williams winning the race off pit road followed by Goodale, Johnson, McKennedy, Preece, Ron Silk, Kopcik, Hirschman, Rufrano, and Dowling.
Michael Christopher, Jr. had pitted earlier in the race and he led the field back to green with Williams next to him on the front row. Williams took the lead back under green while Johnson pulled alongside Williams on lap-40 and then took the lead on lap-41. Goodale and Williams were now side by side behind Johnson fighting for second place with Silk up to fourth and Dowling fifth. Preece was sixth followed by McKennedy, Kopcik, Perry, and Hirschman. The caution flag came back out with 55 laps complete for David Arute and Noah Korner, who both ended up in the turn 1 wall.
Johnson took the lead on the restart with Williams right behind him in second. The field didn’t complete a lap before the caution came back out for a multi-car incident coming out of turn 4 with Andy Jankowiak spinning and collecting the cars of Flynn, Dylan Izzo, Rufrano, and Tyler Chapman.
Johnson powered into the lead with Goodale taking second behind him. Williams was third in line with Dowling fourth and Preece fifth. Williams charged his way past Goodale on lap-63 to move into second behind Johnson. Dowling took third on lap-64 to drop Goodale back to fourth, just in front of Preece. Preece took fourth from Goodale on lap-67 while Johnson was starting to stretch out his advantage over Williams in second.
Williams couldn’t get close enough to Johnson to make a bid for the lead as Johnson took the checkered flag to win the GAF Roofing Modified Masters 80. Williams finished second with Dowling, Preece, and Hirschman 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 (80)
1) Jake Johnson, Rehoboth, MA
2) Ronnie Williams, Lebanon
3) Chase Dowling, Bethlehem
4) Ryan Preece, Kannapolis, NC
5) Matt Hirschman, Northampton, PA
6) Max Zachem, Preston
7) Jon McKennedy, Chelmsford, MA
8) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, NY
9) Ron Silk, Norwalk
10) Stephen Kopcik, Newtown
11) Woody Pitkat, Bellingham, MA
12) Michael Christopher, Jr., Wolcott
13) Mikey Flynn, Hampden, MA
14) Dylan Izzo, Monroe
15) Keith Rocco, Berlin
16) Brett Meservey, Brewster, MA
17) Austin Beers, Northampton, PA
18) Kyle Scisco, Toms River, NJ
19) Tyler Chapman, Ellington
20) Anthony Flannery, East Hampton
21) Dana DiMatteo, Canton
22) Andy Jankowiak, Tonawanda, NY
23) Marcello Rufrano, North Haven
24) David Arute, Stafford Springs
25) Chris Pasteryak, Moosup
26) Marcello Rufrano, Southington
27) Joey Cipriano, Plymouth
28) Teddy Hodgdon, Danbury
29) Jon Puleo, Branford
30) Matt Gallo, Berlin
31) Steven Chapman, Ellington
