Michael Gervais (Photo: Stafford Speedway)
STAFFORD – For most drivers out in front of the field in any race, the last thing they want to see are caution flags.
Though Michael Gervais didn’t have the attitude of most drivers Friday at Stafford Motor Speedway.
Gervais welcomed the short runs, got what he needed and it worked out perfect to put him in victory lane in the 40-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified feature at Stafford Motor Speedway.
It was the first victory of the season for Gervais, of Southbury.
“The longer runs the car got a little tight through the center so even though the cautions had everybody catching up, I kind of wanted [cautions] a little bit to help to warm my tires up and get a looser and then I was able to take off for a little bit,” Gervais said.
Woody Pitkat of Stafford was second and Chase Dowling of Roxbury third.
Gervais held the lead from the first lap until Dowling went by him to take over the top spot on lap 28. On a lap 29 restart Gervais went back by Dowling for the lead using the high lane into turn three.
Gervais then held off the charges of Pitkat and Dowling over a final green-white-checkered restart.
“Coming off the [final] corner there I was just trying to drive as hard as I could,” Gervais said. “I was a little tight coming off but I wasn’t letting up for anything. I just stuck my foot in it and drove it to the checkered.”
In the chase for the division title, Ted Christopher came into the event holding a 10-point lead over Ryan Preece. Both drivers had their issues, with Preece eventually finishing seventh and Christopher ninth.
Preece went to the pits early in the event with a flat tire and then was involved in a crash with Eric Berndt on lap 28. But following a lap 29 restart, Christopher spun to the infield on the fronststretch while running seventh.
Christopher, looking for his ninth SK Modified title at Stafford, will take a six-point lead into the final event of the season on Sept. 28. Preece is looking for his second SK Modified championship at Stafford.
How about a new nickname for TC – “Top Ten Ted”?