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Meyer, Matthews, Hammann, & Plemons Also Score Sept. 12 Feature Wins
(Stafford Springs, CT)—Stafford Speedway hosted USNE First Responder Friday on September 12th with the TC 13 Shootout joining Stafford’s five weekly divisions in feature action. The SK Modified® division ran their regularly scheduled 40-lap feature as well as the 3rd Annual TC 13 Shootout, a 13 lap race contested between the top-13 finishers from the 40-lap feature. Michael Christopher, Jr. was the big winner of the night taking home the TC 13 Shootout trophy and the $1,313 to win TC 13 Shootout. Also as part of the TC 13 Shootout festivities, the Ted Christopher Safety Initiative, orchestrated by Quinn Christopher, donated a Bell helmet with the winner determined by the winner of the TC 13 Shootout drawing from a list of the five drivers who finished in 13th place in their respective feature events. Christopher drew the Street Stock division which made Bill Cote the winner of the Bell helmet for his 13th place finish in the Street Stock feature.
In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature event, Michael Gervais, Jr. took the early lead with Anthony Flannery and Todd Owen going wheel to wheel for second. Owen took second on lap-2 with Andrew Molleur going around Flannery to move into third on lap-3. Flannery was able to get back in line in fourth, just in front of Cory DiMatteo and Alexander Pearl, who were side by side fighting for fifth place.
Molleur made a move to the inside of Owen on lap-6 to take second with Michael Christopher, Jr. getting around Pearl for sixth. Molleur took the lead from Gervais on lap-8 with DiMatteo moving into third on lap-9. With 10 laps complete the order was now Molleur, Gervais, DiMatteo, Owen, and Christopher, Flannery was sixth followed by Pearl, Marcello Rufrano, Tyler Chapman, and Jon Puleo.
DiMatteo streaked by Molleur to take over the lead on lap-13. Gervais was third behind DiMatteo and Molleur with Christopher fourth and Owen fifth. Christopher took third from Gervais on lap-16 and then took second from Molleur on lap-17. Wesley Prucker spun on the backstretch to bring the caution flag out with 18 laps complete.
Molleur spun from third place on the restart to bring the caution flag right back out. The next restart saw Gervais shoot out of line going down the backstretch and into turn 3 and his car came back up on the track and collected several cars including Curt Brainard, David Arute, Timmy Solomito, and Wade Gagner to bring the caution right back out again before a lap could be completed. Christopher was sent to the rear of the field for making contact with Gervais.
The third lap-19 restart saw DiMatteo take the lead with Flannery in second. Puleo and Owen were wheel to wheel for third with Mikey Flynn and Tyler Chapman wheel to wheel for fifth. Flynn and Chapman touched going into turn 3 with Chapman spinning into the wall to bring the caution flag back out with 20 laps complete.
DiMatteo took the lead on the restart with Puleo moving into second. Flynn took third after a side by side lap with Flannery with Rufrano in fifth behind Flynn and Flannery. Rufrano got around Flannery to take fourth place on lap-23 and then took third from Flynn on lap-24. Puleo was looking high and low for a way around DiMatteo but DiMatteo was able to maintain the lead.
With 5 laps to go it was still DiMatteo and Puleo fighting for the win with Rufrano and Flynn fighting for third and Flannery and Keith Rocco fighting for fifth. Rocco took fifth from Flannery on lap-37 while Flynn made a move to get back by Rufrano for third on lap-39. Puleo couldn’t get close enough to DiMatteo as DiMatteo took down his second win of the 2025 season. Flynn finished third with Rocco and Rufrano rounding out the top-5.
In the 13-lap TC Shootout, Andrew Molleur took the lead at the green flag with Alexander Pearl taking second. Michael Christopher, Jr. was wheel to wheel with David Arute for third with Troy Talman fifth. Christopher took third on lap-2 with Arute fourth and Marcello Rufrano fifth. Cory DiMatteo spun coming out of turn 4 on lap-4 but he continued on as did the race under green.
Christopher took second from Pearl on lap-5 and was all over Molleur for the lead but Molleur was able to keep him behind. Christopher was able to finally make a move for the lead on lap-9 with Pearl now to the inside of Molleur for second. Rufrano was fourth with Arute fifth as the field completed lap-10 and had 3 laps to go.
Christopher took the checkered flag to win the TC 13 Shootout and the $1,313 first place purse. Molleur edged out Pearl at the line for second with Rufrano and Arute rounding out the top-5.
In the 30-lap Late Model feature, Tom Fearn went around polesitter Bobby Stirk, III on the first lap to set the early pace. The caution flew with 2 laps complete for Chris Buffone, who came to a stop in the turn 3 infield grass.
Fearn took command back under green with Andrew Durand moving into second. Chris Meyer took third with Wayne Coury, Jr. fourth and Tom Butler fifth. The caution came out again with 5 laps complete for Adam Gray, who came to a stop against the turn 3 wall.
Fearn had to contend with Meyer on the restart with Meyer taking the lead on lap-6. Fearn then did a 360 spin coming out of turn 4 on lap-7 but kept moving and the race stayed green. Meyer was the leader with Durand, Tom Butler, Buffone, Coury, and Kevin Gambacorta all lined up behind him. The caution came out again with 12 laps for a spin in turn 4 by Adam Gray.
As the race neared the halfway point, Durand was starting to apply heavy pressure to Meyer for the race lead. The top-9 cars were all lined up in a train with Meyer leading Durand, Butler, Coury, Buffone, Gambacorta, Darrell Keane, Paul Varricchio, Jr., and Stirk. Coury dropped off the pace on lap-18 and he limped back to pit road where his crew went under the hood of his car.
With 10 laps to go, Meyer was beginning to stretch out his advantage over Durand in second. Butler was still third with Buffone fourth and Gambacorta fifth. Meyer led the field to the checkered flag to pick up his second consecutive and third overall win of the 2025 season. Durand finished second with Butler, Buffone, and Gambacorta rounding out the top-5.
In the 20-lap SK Light feature, the initial start saw Rob Pedersen go around in turn 1 and the second start attempt saw Kevin Davis spin in turn 1 all before a lap could be completed.
The next start was a full speed pace lap with Daltin McCarthy and Casey Vogt fighting for the lead. Vogt got clear into the lead on lap-4 with Meghan Fuller moving into second. Chris Matthews went around McCarthy to move into third place on lap-5 with McCarthy slotting into fourth, just in front of Ben Morrison. A melee broke out with 6 laps complete as going into turn 1 several cars came together and spun with the cars of Dylan Houghton, Bob Charland, Tyler Barry, Matt Brewer, Nick Anglace, and Josh Morrison all involved while Robert Bloxsom, III came to a stop in turn 2.
Fuller took the lead with Matthews and Vogt wheel to wheel behind her and nearly going 3-wide for the lead. Norm Sears got into the wall in turns 3+4 but he was able to limp back to pit road and the race stayed green. But the caution flew with 9 laps complete for a spin in turn 2 by Adrianna Kimmer.
Matthews charged into the lead back under green with Fuller taking second. Austin Goff was up to third with Vogt fourth and Nickolas Hovey up to fifth. Hovey took fourth place from Vogt on lap-14 and he immediately began to pressure Goff for third. Hovey was able to make the pass on lap-17 after hounding Goff for several laps. Hovey was able to get around Fuller for second on the final lap but he couldn’t catch Matthews as Matthews scored his third win of the 2025 season. Hovey finished second with Fuller, Goff, and Stephen Kalogiannis rounding out the top-5.
In the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature, Norm Root, III led the field to the green flag and he took the early lead ahead of Jeremy Lavoie. The caution flew with 1 lap complete for a spin in turn 1 by RJ Surdell that collected the cars of Matthew Winter, II, Travis Hydar, and Shelby Swan. All four cars were undamaged and were able to continue in the race.
Root again took the lead on the restart with Rich Hammann moving into second. Lavoie now had Devon Jencik to his inside in the fight for third place with Kevin Cormier right behind them in fifth. Devon Jencik cleared Lavoie for third on lap-4 and Cormier followed him by to move into fourth and drop Lavoie back to fifth.
Hammann took the lead from Root on lap-8 with Cormier now in third, Lavoie fourth, and Devon Jencik fifth. Gary Patnode was up to sixth followed by Daryl Vertefeuille, Matt Clement, Jason Lafayette, and Kyle Theriault. Cormier was starting to apply heavy pressure to Root for second place but Root was able to maintain the position. Cormier was able to finally make a move to get around Root on lap-15 to move into second behind Hammann.
Lavoie was able to take third from Root on lap-18 but it was all Hammann at the front as he took down his first win of the 2025 season. Cormier finished second with Lavoie, Root, and Devon Jencik rounding out the top-5.
In the 20-lap Street Stock feature, Tyler Trott took the early lead at the drop of the green flag with Marvin Minkler second and Kolton Gambacorta third. Travis Downey moved up to fourth with Aaron Plemons fifth. Gambacorta took second from Minkler on lap-4 with Downey and Plemons both following him by to move into third and fourth. Brent Gleason took fifth as Minkler fell back to twelfth place.
Plemons took third from Downey on lap-7 with PJ Evans taking fourth and Gleason fifth as Downey fell back to seventh place behind Brandon Warren. As the field hit the halfway point, Gambacorta was right behind Trott in the fight for the lead. Plemons was the car on the move as he ran down both leaders and he made the move to take second on lap-12. Plemons completed his charge to the front by taking the lead from Trott on lap-15.
Plemons scraped the wall coming out of turn 4 on lap-18, which allowed Trott to get right behind Plemons but he couldn’t find a way to get around Plemons as Plemons took down his sixth win of the 2025 season. Trott finished second with Gambacorta, Gleason, and Evans 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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SK MODIFIED® (40)
1) Cory DiMatteo, Farmington
2) Jon Puleo, Branford
3) Mikey Flynn, Hampden, MA
4) Keith Rocco, Berlin
5) Marcello Rufrano, North Haven
6) Anthony Flannery, East Hampton
7) Troy Talman, Oxford, MA
8) Max Zachem, Preston
9) Michael Christopher, Jr., Wolcott
10) Dylan Izzo, Monroe
11) Alexander Pearl, Salem
12) David Arute, Stafford Springs
13) Andrew Molleur, Shelton
14) Wesley Prucker, Stafford Springs
15) Todd Owen, Somers
16) Matt Vassar, Berlin
17) Noah Korner, Canton
18) Wade Gagner, East Longmeadow, MA
19) Rob Summers, Manchester
20) Curt Brainard, Canton
21) Tyler Chapman, Ellington
22) Michael Gervais, Jr., Wolcott
23) Timmy Solomito, West Islip, NY
24) Dan Avery, Somers
25) Steven Chapman, Ellington
DNS – Art Caruso, Windsor
DNS – David Flammia, Jr., Waterbury
SK MODIFIED® TC 13 SHOOTOUT (13)
1) Michael Christopher, Jr., Wolcott
2) Andrew Molleur, Shelton
3) Alexander Pearl, Salem
4) Marcello Rufrano, North Haven
5) David Arute, Stafford Springs
6) Max Zachem, Preston
7) Dylan Izzo, Monroe
8) Troy Talman, Oxford, MA
9) Keith Rocco, Berlin
10) Anthony Flannery, East Hartford
11) Jon Puleo, Branford
12) Mikey Flynn, Hamden, MA
13) Cory DiMatteo, Farmington
LATE MODEL (30)
1) Chris Meyer, Franklin
2) Andrew Durand, Chicopee, MA
3) Tom Butler, Stafford Springs
4) Chris Buffone, Belchertown, MA
5) Kevin Gambacorta, Ellington
6) Darrell Keane, Enfield
7) Paul Varricchio, Jr., Berlin
8) Tom Fearn, East Longmeadow, MA
9) Bobby Stirk, III, Naugatuck
10) Wayne Coury, Sr., Milford
11) Rob Taylor, Jr., Warren
12) Adam Gray, Granby, MA
13) Wayne Coury, Jr., Milford
SK LIGHT (20)
1) Chris Matthews, Stafford
2) Nickolas Hovey, Chaplin
3) Meghan Fuller, Auburn, MA
4) Austin Goff, Stafford Springs
5) Stephen Kalogiannis, New Hartford
6) Casey Vogt, Windsor Locks
7) Amanda West, Colchester
8) Paul Arcari, Somers
9) Frank L’Etoile, Jr., Wethersfield
10) Kevin Davis, Windsor
11) Peter Bennett, Windsor
12) Josh Morrison, Ashford
13) Tyler Barry, Griswold
14) Daltin McCarthy, Oxford, MA
15) Joey Ferrigno, East Hartford
16) Eddie Gomarlo, Swanzey, NH
17) Bob Charland, Stafford Springs
18) Glenn Bartkowski, Manchester
19) Ben Morrison, Ashford
20) Anthony Forino, Waterbury
21) Adrianna Kimmer, Thomaston
22) Rob Pedersen, Stafford Springs
23) Ed Chicoski, New Hartford
24) Norm Sears, Coventry
25) Matt Brewer, Norwich
26) Nick Anglace, Seymour
27) Dylan Houghton, Springfield, MA
28) Robert Bloxsom, III, Milford
LIMITED LATE MODEL (20)
1) Rich Hammann, Tolland
2) Kevin Cormier, Springfield, VT
3) Jeremy Lavoie, Windsor Locks
4) Norman Root, III, Old Saybrook
5) Devon Jencik, Canton
6) Gary Patnode, Barkhamsted
7) Jason Lafayette, Somers
8) Matt Clement, Wethersfield
9) RJ Surdell, Willington
10) Kyle Theriault, Three Rivers, MA
11) Travis Hydar, Woodbury
12) Darryl Vertefeuille, Willington
13) Dana Wray, Northford
14) Connor Jencik, Canton
15) Joe Arena, Bristol
16) Samantha Dell, Pascoag, RI
17) Scott Clement, Wethersfield
18) Shelby Swan, Durham
19) Matthew Winter, II, Springfield, VT
DNS – Kevin Crosby, Coventry
STREET STOCK (20)
1) Aaron Plemons, Uncasville
2) Tyler Trott, East Hartford
3) Kolton Gambacorta, Ellington
4) Brent Gleason, Griswold
5) PJ Evans, Uncasville
6) Travis Downey, Barkhamsted
7) Jason Raymond, Somers
8) Brandon Warren, Chicopee, MA
9) Shawn Monahan, Waterford
10) Jaysin Beal, Groton
11) Sean Riley, Wolcott
12) Marvin Minkler, Stamford
13) Bill Cote, Belchertown, MA
14) Alex Spinnato, Wallingford
15) David Ciastko, Madison
16) Matt Martel, Stafford Springs
17) Rob Sears, Stafford Springs
18) Reed Boullianne, Danbury
19) Andras Bogi, Macungie, PA
20) Pete Cayer, Bristol
21) Garrett Pease, Enfield
22) Chuck Van Schiack, Levittown, PA
23) Zach Collins, Vernon
24) David Macha, Sr., Columbia
DNS – Sean Petlock, Ware, MA
