Stafford Springs (CT) — For 35 years, the Pasteryak family has been trying to get to victory lane at the famed Stafford Springs (CT) Motor Speedway. Friday night, September 9, it finally happened.
With his Father Charlie, and Uncle Carl, watching from pit road, Chris Pasteryak, of Lisbon, CT., started third in a 25-car field, took the lead on lap two, and went on to win the Valenti Modified Racing Series “Shark Cycle 80” for his third victory of the 2011 season.
“My family has been coming here since 1976. This is the first time we ever had a modified in victory lane here. A cool night, a great night,” said Pasteryak.
The Stafford victory was Pasteryak’s sixth series win.
Kenny Barry, of Preston, CT., chased Pasteryak for 12 laps before Doug Coby, of Milford, CT., moved into second on lap 14. Coby pursued the race leader until lap 63 when Rowan Pennink, of Huntingdon Valley, PA., who started 24th, took over second.
Pennink closed fast on Pasteryak, often right on his bumper after late race restarts. “The restarts were killing me,” said Pasteryak. “It took five or six laps to get going again and then hold on.”
Pennink overcame a leak in an earlier qualifying race. He passed the most cars in the feature race to win the Sunoco Hard Charger award.
Coby, Matt Hirschman, Northampton, PA., and Keith Rocco, Meriden, CT., rounded out the top five.
Ted Christopher, Plainfield, CT., Dave Etheridge, Portland, CT., Rob Goodenough, Swanzey, NH., Dennis Charette, Southington, CT., and Louie Mechalides, Tyngsboro, MA., finished sixth
through tenth.
Five caution flags and a red flag slowed the race that took 55 minutes to complete. 20 of the 25 cars that started the event finished on the lead lap.
Race Summary
Sept 9, 2011
Stafford Springs (CT) Motor Speedway
Distance: 80 laps
Time of Race: 55:02
Best Lap Time: 18.618 (Coby)
Best Speed: 96.681
Margin of Victory: 0.183
Lead Changes: 1 (Lap 2)
Lap Leaders: Barry (Lap 1) Pasteryak (Lap 2)
Cautions: Laps 42 (Bolles) 59 (Barrett) 59 (Red for Bateman/Hinckley
59 (Bolles) 76 (Bolles)
Unofficial Finish: (1) Pasteryak, (2) Pennink (3) Coby
(4) Hirschman, (5) Rocco (6) Christopher (7) Etheridge
(8) Goodenough (9) Charette (10) Mechalides
(11) Holdridge (12) Jordan (13) Wrenn (14) Reed
(15) Drown (16) Bolles (17) Zachem (18) Barrett
(19) Doucette (20) Barry (21) Perry (22) Hinckley
(23) Bateman (24) Owen (25) Summers