THOMPSON – It was a celebration two years in the making for Woody Pitkat and Late Model team owner Jeff Hartwell.
And it proved a celebration that rolled on and on and Sunday at Thompson Speedway.
Pitkat completed the double Sunday at Thompson by also celebrating victory in the 30-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified feature for team owner Dan Avery.
“Winning that Late Model race gives you the positive feeling that you just did it, so let’s do it again,” Pitkat said. “I’ve double dipped at Stafford [Motor Speedway], but I don’t think I’ve ever done it here. It’s cool to be able to do that. It’s cool to get in victory lane for one, to be greedy and take two, I’m happy. It’s funny how this works sometimes. You just get a little spark in your rear end there and it just gives you the fire to go even harder.”
Pitkat, of Stafford, held off Keith Rocco on a green-white-checkered restart to win the SK Modified feature.
“He got a pretty good start and I thought he was going to drive me up, but he didn’t,” Pitkat said. “… He’s pretty much a master of restarts here. I’ve been watching him for years here and I don’t know how he drives that thing into the corner likes he does and makes a pass because if I ever did that I would run into the side of guys. He’s definitely the best I would say up here, especially on restarts.”
Rocco, of Wallingford, was second and Todd Owen of Somers third.
“It’s so hard to win these races,” Pitkat said. “I feel like as I get older I feel like the series that I race, if I can win a race in each series that I run I’m happy. I’ve won an SK [Modified] race so far this year, I’ve won a Late Model race so far this year, I’ve won a [Whelen Modified Tour] race this year. I just need a Tri-Track [Open Modified Series] win now.
Last year Pitkat won in the Late Model division driving for Hartwell, but it was a victory that was awarded following a disqualification well after the feature.
Sunday Pitkat finally got the chance to celebrate in victory lane with Hartwell after the 25-lap Late Model feature.
“It’s been a while,” Pitkat said. “I don’t know when the last time I was that I won here. I think I won for these guys last year but it was on a [disqualification] so it wasn’t like we got the chance to go to victory lane on the track.
“It’s definitely cool to be able to win for [Jeff Hartwell]. I started in the early 2000’s here in the Late Model and he was racing so. To be able to drive for him, he gave me an opportunity and we’ve struggled, but as of late we’ve been pretty good.”
Derek Gluchaki of Dartmouth, Mass. was second and Mark Jenison of Warwick, R.I. third.
Corey Fanning of Mapleville, R.I. won the 20-lap Limited Sportsman feature. Kyle Gero of Baltic was second and Shawn Monahan of Waterford third.
Mark Panaroni of Ivoryton was victorious in the 15-lap Mini Stock feature.
Doug Curry of Norwich was second and Charles Canfield of East Haven third.
Congratulations Woody! We love seeing these special accomplishments!