STAFFORD SPRINGS, Conn. — Stafford Speedway hosted the CBYD Senator’s Cup and rescheduled Casella Waste Open 80 on Friday, with Michael Christopher Jr. being the big winner of the night.
Christopher not only won the extra distance 50-lap SK Modified feature, but the Casella Waste Open 80 as well. Other weekly feature winners on the night were Al Saunders in the late model division, Nickolas Hovey in the SK Light division, Adrien Paradis III in the limited late model division and Travis Hydar in the street stock feature.
In the extra distance 50-lap CBYD Senator’s Cup SK Modified feature, Steven Chapman took the early lead with Austin Beers taking second behind him. Jon Puleo and Mikey Flynn were wheel to wheel for third with David Arute in fifth. A stack up of cars occurred in turn two involving Arute, George Bessette Jr., Keith Rocco, Curt Brainard, Andrew Molleur and Puleo that brought the caution flag out with three laps complete.
Beers inched his nose in front of Chapman at the line to lead lap five after the restart. Chapman went back to the front on lap six with Beers now side-by-side with Flynn for second. Christopher was up to fourth with Todd Owen in fifth. Beers took second on lap eight with Flynn now having to fend off challenges from Christopher for fourth place.
The caution came back out with 12 laps complete for a three-car spin in turn three involving Wesley Prucker, Bessette and Jack Baldwin.
Beers took the lead back under green with Flynn and Chapman going side-by-side for second. Michael Gervais Jr., Joey Ternullo and John Sandberg to tangled together coming off turn four and they spun through the frontstretch grass to bring the caution out with 16 laps complete.
Beers took the lead on the restart with Christopher taking second.
Christopher made a move to the inside of Beers in turn four and had the lead by a nose at the line shortly after. Christopher cleared Beers into the lead on lap 19 with Flynn, Owen, and Gervais now lined up behind the two lead cars.
The caution came back out with 21 laps complete for a spin in turn one involving Flannery and Chapman.
Christopher went back into the lead on the restart with Owen taking second. Baldwin spun and got into the turn one wall to bring the caution flag back out with 36 laps complete.
Bessette spun in turn two to bring the caution flag back out with 40 laps complete.
Christopher resumed his place at the front of the field with Beers right behind him in second. R.J. Marcotte spun in turn two to bring the yellow flag back out with 44 laps complete.
Christopher powered his way into the lead back under green with Beers moving into second. Gervais was third with Molleur fourth and Owen’s car got sideways and he lost several spots on lap 47 after running in fifth.
Bessette and Arute both spun in turn four to draw the caution with 47 laps complete and set up a three-lap sprint to the finish.
The restart saw Beers hang right with Christopher in the fight for the lead as they ran two laps wheel-to-wheel and were still side-by-side as they took the white flag.
Christopher got clear of Beers on the final lap and he led Beers to the checkered flag to pick up his first SK Modified win of the season and double up as he won the Casella 80 earlier in the evening. Gervais nipped Beers at the line for second with Molleur and DiMatteo rounding out the top five.