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(Stafford Springs, CT)—Stafford Speedway hosted the Cleetus McFarland New England 900 on Friday, July 18 with a 90-lap feature event featuring nitrous infused Crown Victorias and a Van Prix feature event with minivans. NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Preece was the big winner of the night after outdueling former NASCAR Cup Series driver Greg Biffle over the final 13 laps after a late race restart.
In the 90-lap Cleetus McFarland Crown Victoria feature event, Robby Layton took the lead at the start but he would only lead the first lap before Jimmy Oakes went to the lead on lap-2. Layton settled into second with Kyle Boostedboiz holding third, Dr. Parker Mitchell fourth, and LS George fifth. Oakes spun in turn 2 to bring the caution flag out on lap-7. This put Kyle Boostedboiz and Robby Layton on the front row for the restart. Ryan Preece had moved from the back of the pack up to seventh place before the caution flag flew.
Brent PFI Speed went 3-wide on the lap-13 restart to move into the lead. LS George was second with Preece going from seventh up to third place and then he took second from LS George on lap-14. Brad Deberti was fourth behind LS George with Derek Vice Grip Garage up to fifth. Preece took the lead from Brent PFI Speed on lap-17 and Deberti followed suit to move into second on lap-18 and drop Brent PFI Speed back to third. Derek Vice Grip Garage was now up to fourth with Clutch Pack Zach in fifth.
Brad Deberti pulled alongside Preece on lap-20 and he took the lead by a nose at the line. Lap-21 saw Deberti, Preece, and Derek VGG briefly go 3-wide with Deberti emerging in the lead, Brent PFI Speed second, and Derek VGG third as Preece fell back to fourth. Cleetus McFarland spun in turn 1 to bring the caution out on lap-22.
The race went back to green with Deberti taking the lead but the caution came back out on lap-27 for a three-car incident in turn 1 involving the cars of Jim York, Kevin Smith KSR, and Dr. Parker Mitchell. The red flag was displayed with 30 laps complete.
The race restarted on lap-33 with Preece taking the lead before Deberti took the lead. Preece took the lead back frorm Deberti on lap-34 with Derek VGG in third, Brent PFI Speed fourth and Greg Biffle up to fifth. The caution came back out on lap 35 for a spin in turn 2 by Clutch Pad Zach.
Preece took the lead on the lap-38 restart with Derek VGG, Deberti, Brent PFI Speed, and Biffle lined up behind him. Brent PFI Speed was pressuring Deberti for third and he took the position on lap-42 while Preece continued to lead with Derek VGG still giving chase from second place. Cleetus McFarland spun in turn 3 to bring the caution back out on lap-49.
Preece took the lead back under green with Derek VGG, Deberti, Biffle, and Mig Welder Tye up to fifth. The caution came back out on lap-59 for LS George, who spun in turn 4.
Preece again took the lead on the next restart with Derek VGG behind him. Biffle quickly worked his way into third place with Deberti holding fourth and JH Diesel up to fifth. Biffle made a move to the inside of Derek VGG on lap-71 and he took second place. The caution came out with 72 laps complete for a spin in turn 2 by Kyle Boostedboiz.
Biffle nearly got the jump on Preece going back to green on lap-73 but Preece was able to maintain the lead with Biffle slotting into second behind him. Derek VGG was still third with Deberti fourth and Mig Welder Tye fifth. The cuaiton came back out with 77 laps complete as Brent PFI Speed spun and collected the cars of Roman Atwood and LS George.
Biffle again briefly took the lead on the lap-77 restart and they nearly swapped the lead on lap-79 but Preece was able to maintain the lead with Biffle in second. Derek VGG came out of a heavily contested battle for third on lap-80 in third with Deberti in fourth and Victor Alvarez was up to fifth. Biffle made a move to the inside of Preece on lap-83 and he took the lead on lap-84.
Preece was looking high and low for a way around Biffle but Biffle was able to keep Preece behind him. Preece nearly made a pass on lap-87 but he couldn’t complete the move. Preece dove to the inside of Biffle on lap-89 and they were just about even as they took the white flag. Preece was able to get a better run through turns 3+4 on the final lap and he took the checkered flag to win the New England 900. Biffle finished second with Derek VGG, Deberti, and Alvarez 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.
CLEETUS McFARLAND NEW ENGLAND 900 CROWN VICS (90)
1) Ryan Preece #60
2) Greg Biffle #16
3) Derek Vice Grip Garage #1776
4) Brad Deberti #70
5) Victor Alvarez #23
6) Brent PFI Speed #33
7) Tye Braun #6
8) JH Diesel #88
9) L.S. George #3
10) Jackstand Jimmy #69
11) Robby Layton #42
12) Roman Atwood #77
13) Kyle Boostedboiz #24
14) Cameron Johnson #22
15) Jimmy Oakes #76
16) Matt’s sOff Road #48
17) Clutch Pack Zach #18
18) Kevin Smith KSR #78
19) Cleetus McFarland #4
20) Jim York #199
21) Dr. Parker Mitchell #7
