STAFFORD SPRINGS, Conn. — Stafford Speedway returned to weekly racing action with the late model division taking center stage with their extra distance Paradiso Insurance Late Model 50 feature event on Friday night.
Chris Meyer was the big winner of the night by winning the Paradiso Insurance Late Model 50.
Meyer had the car of Chris Buffone right behind him for roughly the final 35 laps and Buffone actually took the lead from Meyer coming to the white flag, but Meyer was able to retake the lead on the final lap and win the race.
In the Paradiso Insurance 50-lap late model feature, the caution flew right away at the start as going down the backstretch on the opening lap, the cars of Adon Burrell and Tom Butler touched and spun, which collected several other cars, including Adam Gray, Kevin Gambacorta, and Wayne Coury, Jr.
The restart saw Chris Meyer go 4-wide with Tom Fearn, Alexandra Fearn, and Chris Buffone to take the lead. Alexandra Fearn came out in second with Buffone third. Darrell Keane was fourth with Josh Wood fifth as Tom Fearn fell back to sixth in line.
With 10 laps complete the order was still Meyer in front followed by Alexandra Fearn, Buffone, Keane, and Wood. Tom Fearn was sixth with Michael Wray, Bobby Stirk, III, Paul Varricchio, Jr., and Tom Butler making up the top-10. Tom Fearn spun in turn 2 to bring the caution flag out with 13 laps complete.
Meyer took the lead back under green with Buffone taking second. Wood moved up to third while Alexandra Fearn slid back to fourth, just in front of Tom Fearn. Keane was sixth followed by Al Saunders, Stirk, Varricchio, and Wray. Buffone was starting to apply heavy pressure to the back bumper of Meyer, but Meyer was able to maintain the lead.
With 20 laps to go it was still Meyer in command with Buffone right behind him looking for a way to make a bid for the lead. Varricchio was up to third with Alexandra Fearn fourth and Wood fifth. Keane was sixth followed by Wray, Stirk, Al Saunders, and Tom Fearn.
After riding behind Meyer for roughly 35 laps, Buffone took the lead from Meyer as the two cars came to the white flag. Meyer came right back to the inside of Buffone on the final lap and he was able to retake the lead going down the backstretch and into turn 3. Buffone couldn’t get back close enough to Meyer as Meyer took the checkered flag for his second win and the biggest win of the 2025 Late Model season at Stafford. Varricchio finished third with Alexandra Fearn and Bobby Stirk, III rounding out the top five.
Other winners on the night were Mikey Flynn in the SK Modified® feature, Nickolas Hovey in the SK Light feature, Travis Hydar in the Limited Late Model feature, and Brent Gleason in the Street Stock feature.
