STAFFORD – With just over four remaining Andrew Molleur looked like he was going to make his first win a Late Model at Stafford Speedway look easy.
Molleur was checked out from the field out front, holding a 5.4 second lead with the laps winding down.
And then a feisty a Late Model field made Molleur work for that win, again and again, and again, and again.
Molleur, of Shelton, got through six restarts late in the race to win the 30-lap Late Model feature Friday at Stafford.
“That was such a long race,” Molleur said. “… It’s a 30 lap race and it felt like 100.”
Ryan Fearn of East Longmeadow, Mass. was second and Wayne Coury Jr. of Shelton third.
On May 31, 2019 Molleur became the youngest winner ever in the SK Modified division at Stafford Speedway as a 16-year old rookie in that division.
Molleur is in his first season running in the Late Model division at Stafford for team owner Rob Russell Jr. He was making his eighth career start in the division Friday. He also continues to run full-time in the SK Modified division.
“This is something special,” Molleur said. “These guys right here [crew chief] Marc Russell and Rob [Russell Jr.] … and everybody on the [Rob Russell Chassis] crew. … To win the Late Model race is pretty awesome.
“We were able to hold off … these guys that win every week and are really fast every year. To be able to come out here and be competitive is so special and so awesome.”
It’s early in his Late Model driving career but it would appear Moeller’s driving style is a great fit for the division. Very smooth. Messed up on one restart, got the mulligan but otherwise the multiple restarts were terrific. Very consistent.
Is it a thing now stopping on the front stretch, getting out and milking an extra bow out of a win? Just move victory lane to the start finish line. One of the few good changes for the pandemic was not having to watch a couple dozen people tediously trek out for pictures from the stands and back. Move the victory lane ceremony to the front stretch so grandma and grandpa won’t have as far to walk. And get a new back ground song while your at it. How old is Celebrate Good Times and how ubiquitous is it’s use? It was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1981 and got ousted by Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5. What’s 9. to 5 other then what used to be the working hours of white collar workers? Exactly!!!
The wild child is back and didn’t disappoint. Charging through the field for a second and no the two week penalty did not teach him any humility judging by the smartass shot he took at the Arute’s in victory lane no less. My goodness don’t they realize he’s a Fearn!!!
OK, OK the race got crazy at the end but isn’t it impressive how they’ve stuck with the formula for the Late Models and got 24 cars. And a lot of really good cars at that and good drivers.
Gold star to Gambacorta. He admitted the error in one that resulted in Fearn getting into him and the resulting spin.
Doug I agree he looks pretty smooth and I would think Rob Russell has to be happy he’s not putting new fenders and bumpers on every other week or worse , I think a few people questioned the move of putting Andrew in the car but so far looks like T/A Tony made the right suggestion to Rob.Keep up the good work kid
The RRC team could not have expected this success this early. Moeller has been up front weekly and has had some tire issues. Glad he got to victory lane. Great for him and the team. He has shown he can drive anything with wins in every division he has run at Stafford. Good things will come.The Sk looked pretty sporty too considering he just got out of the Late Model