Stafford Notes: Mark St. Hilaire Scores Late Model Victory; Chase Dowling Wins SK Light Mods

STAFFORD – Mark St. Hilaire got by Adam Gray on a lap 28 restart and then held off the resurgent challenge of Gray to win the 30-lap Late Model feature Friday at Stafford Motor Speedway.

Mark St. Hilaire in victory lane after the Late Model feature Friday at Stafford Speedway (Photo: Stephanie Kimball/Stafford Speedway)

It was the first victory of the season for St. Hilaire, of Berlin. Before Friday, St. Hilaire’s best finish was sixth in six events in 2013.

“I was trying to play games with [Gray] up there because I knew that was a fast car,” St. Hilaire said. “I tried to jump him a little bit and get on the brakes and then on the gas. I tried everything. … I really had to be on my game.”

JJ Hill of Stafford was second and Gray, of Belchertown, third.

It was the seventh consecutive podium finish for Gray. Gray’s only finish outside the top-three in 2013 was an 18th place in the first event of the season.

Gray’s third place, coupled with a 16th place finish by Tom Fearn, vaulted Gray past Fearn at the top of the Late Model standings. Gray came into the event trailing Fearn by 20 points in the standings. He ended the night with a six point lead over Fearn.

Gray was leading on the lap 27 restart, but St. Hilaire got the jump and moved to the lead. On lap 28, Gray got under St. Hilaire and looked ready to regain the lead before he was hit from behind by Dennis Botticello.

Rookie Chase Dowling of Roxbury won for the third time this season in the 25-lap SK Light Modified feature. Cam McDermott of Scituate, R.I. was second and John Studley of Framingham, Mass. third.

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