THOMPSON – It was a season brimming with drama for Bryan Narducci in the SK Light Modified division at Thompson Speedway.
So it seemed only fitting that the Colchester driver would put an exclamation on the closing moments of the season in fully dramatic style.
Narducci passed Bert Ouellette coming to the checkered flag to win the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature Saturday at the Sunoco World Series at Thompson Speedway.
Ouellette, of Ellington, slid sideways across the start/finish line for second. Alexander Pearl of Salem was third.
It was the seventh victory in 10 starts in the division this year for Narducci, who clinched the division championship on Sept. 8.
“It’s real nice,” Narducci said. “I came here just wanting to win the race. We clinched the championship [on Sept. 8] here but I ended up doing something stupid and got wrecked. So that wasn’t satisfying. But wining like that, that’s satisfying.”
Narducci’s efforts at Thompson and in the SK Light Modified division at Stafford Speedway, where had had eight wins, helped him to a second consecutive NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Division III national championship.
“It’s pretty amazing, seven wins out of the 10 races,” Narducci said. “… And to win the national championship … that’s real cool too.”
Narducci ran second to Ouellette for most of the event, struggling to find a low lane to try to overtake for the top spot.
On the final lap Narducci went to the high side on Ouellette and they came onto the frontstretch out of turn four side-by-side. Ouellette turned into Narducci coming to the checkered and spun.
“I was going to settle for second,” Narducci said. “I was faster, but it’s so cold you can’t get down on the bottom. I tried it about eight times. I got a run on the top and I was even with him and he just turned hard right. He didn’t want me to win I guess. But we’re here.”
Seriously. Watch the replay. More of the same