THOMPSON, Conn. — The Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series took over the infield for their Constantine Paving & Sealing 75 on Sunoco World Series Saturday.
Stephen Kopcik and Joey Cipriano brought the 33-car field to green with Cipriano getting the opening lead as heavy hitters Patrick Emerling, Jon McKennedy and Woody Pitkat quickly formed on his six o’clock.
McKennedy dove to the bottom to lead lap seven with Cipriano quickly fading to Pitkat the next lap as the balance of the field fell into single file. A pair of cautions set pit strategy in motion for several teams but McKennedy, Emerling, Pitkat and Matt Hirschman kept their machines at the front of the pack in search of the $10,000 payday.
After each caution cycle, McKennedy continued to assert his dominance out ahead of Pitkat and Emerling while ‘Big Money Matt’ and Kopcik kept themselves in contention among the top runners. With laps winding down, Anthony Nocella and Ronnie Williams began entering the picture as George Bessett Jr. climbed into the top 10 after an earlier pit stop.
With 15 laps remaining, Hirschman began to gain considerably on McKennedy, pulling to within a car-length in the corners as the two held a straightaway lead over third-place runner Anthony Nocella. With four laps left Hirschman began to look low with lap traffic ahead under the two-to-go popsicle sticks from the chief starter.
McKennedy used the lappers to his advantage, holding onto the lead and taking the Constantine Paving & Sealing 75 for the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series over Hirschman and Nocella. Kopcik held on for fourth and Matt Swanson stole fifth.
Tom Carey III won the 75-lap American Canadian Tour event, D.J. Shaw scored a victory with the Pro All Stars Series Super Late Models and Ben Seitz won the New England Supermodified Series event.