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(Stafford Springs, CT)—Open Modified cars returned to Stafford Motor Speedway for the Lincoln Tech Open 80 on Friday, August 15th. Ronnie Williams drove to a dominant victory, leading nearly the entire first half of the race before having to work his way back to the front after a mid-race pitstop and he led the final 31 laps to take the checkered flag.
The Lincoln Tech 80 took the green flag with Woody Pitkat taking the early lead from pole position. Tyler Chapman pulled alongside Ronnie Williams in the fight for second and he made the pass stick on lap-3. Michael Christopher, Jr. was fourth behind Williams with Max Zachem fifth. Williams took second back from Chapman on lap-5 and he took the lead from Pitkat on lap-6. With 10 laps complete the order was Williams, Pitkat, Chapman, Zachem, and Christopher. Teddy Hodgdon was sixth followed by Eric Goodale, Keith Rocco, Matt Galko, and Jacob Perry.
With 25 laps complete Williams was still the race leader with Pitkat, Chapman, Zachem, and Christopher all giving chase. As the race hit the halfway point, Williams was still in the lead with Zachem now second. Pitkat was third followed by Christopher and Chapman. Goodale was up to sixth with Hodgdon, Perry, Nick Salva, and Rocco making up the top-10. The caution came out with 45 laps complete for Buddy Charette, who spun in turn 2.
Under the caution period the entire field came to pit road for one change tire and adjustments to their cars. Goodale won the race off of pit road followed by Jon McKennedy, Pitkat, Williams, Christopher, Chris Pasteryak, Rocco, Salva, Galko, Zachem, and Hodgdon.
Goodale and McKennedy was the new front row for the restart and McKennedy charged into the lead with Williams taking second. Goodale settled into third with Christopher fourth and Pitkat fifth. Rocco was sixth followed by Hodgdon, Pasteryak, Salva, and Chapman. Williams took the lead from McKennedy on lap-49 and now Goodale and Christopher were closed in on the lead duo of Williams and McKennedy to make a four car fight for the lead. Christopher went by Goodale on lap-52 to move into third place while Williams and McKennedy were starting to stretch out their advantage.
With 10 laps to go, Williams and McKennedy were still the top-2 runners and they had stretched out their lead over Christopher in third to nearly a full straightaway. Goodale was fourth behind Christopher with Hodgdon, Chapman, Pitkat, Perry, Zachem, and George Bessette, Jr. making up the top-10.
Williams led McKennedy to the checkered flag to win the Lincoln Tech 80. Christopher finished third with Goodale and Hodgdon 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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LINCOLN TECH 80 (80)
1) Ronnie Williams, Ellington, CT
2) Jon McKennedy, Chelmsford, MA
3) Michael Christopher, Jr., Wolcott
4) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, NY
5) Teddy Hodgdon, Danbury
6) Tyler Chapman, Ellington
7) Woody Pitkat, Bellingham, MA
8) Jacob Perry, Kannapolis, NC
9) Max Zachem, Preston
10) George Bessette, Jr., Danbury
11) Chris Pasteryak, Lisbon
12) Nick Salva, Old Saybrook
13) Dylan Izzo, Monroe
14) Matt Galko, Mooresville, NC
15) Keith Rocco, Berlin
16) Tyler Barry, Griswold
17) Buddy Charette, Woodstock
