STAFFORD – Veteran Late Model driver Tom Fearn has long proved to be a pro when it comes to offer thank you messages to the businesses that help support his racing efforts.
Friday Fearn went so far as to add a thank you to the brand on the water bottle he was handed in victory lane.
It was that kind of heat on at Stafford Speedway Friday, but it was Fearn also burning up the competition in the Late Model feature.
Fearn checked out on the field in winning the 30-lap Late Model feature Friday at Stafford.
“It was hot there.” Fearn said. “It’s hot for everybody else too. … My crew here, I’ve got to thank them. … We’ve been working on this car getting better and better every week. We really didn’t change much this week. I guess we had a little bit track position.”
It was the second win of the season for Fearn and his 76th career victory overall at Stafford. Fearn is the track’s all-time winningest Late Model driver with 59 wins in the division since 2004. He also had 17 victories in the old Pro Stock division from 1992 to 2000. Fearn has three Pro Stock championships and three Late Model championships at Stafford.
In victory lane Fearn had a message for longtime Stafford announcer Ben Dodge, who has missed recent events due to illness.
“A shout out to Ben Dodge,” Fearn said. “I guess he’s been a little under the weather. We’d like to see him back here. Best wishes to Ben Dodge, hopefully we can have him back here. I love you too Kyle [Rickey], but we love Ben too.”
Adam Gray of Belchertown, Mass. was second and Kevin Gambacorta of Ellington third.
It was the 10th consecutive podium finish for Gray, who had four wins in June and a win, three seconds and a third place in July.
“Tonight was rough for a fat guy,” Gray said. “It’s a little hot in this car. We had fun coming from the back. Taking the spin on the first lap. Luckily no real damage. Worked our way through. Congrats to [Fearn] on the win and [Gambacorta] on third. We’ll keep taking it. I can’t complain.”
Fearn went by Wayne Coury Jr. for the lead on a lap four restart and was never challenged again at the front.
Congrats to Tom, Stuart and the whole Fear Motorsports team. Great Job. Also a shout out to Ben, Get Well Soon
thank you. No one is going to remember except us with all the other on track and in the grass of turn 1 action!
Great night all around. Excellent exciting night