STAFFORD – Travis Hydar came into Friday’s racing card at Stafford Speedway knowing that if he could keep Adrien Paradis III and Bert Ouellette behind him in the Street Stock feature he would clinch his first track championship.
And Hydar made sure he kept his pursuers behind in the best possible way.
Hydar held off Ouellette to win the 20-lap Street Stock feature and clinched the division’s championship for the 2022 season with one event still remaining on the schedule.
Hydar, of Woodbury, came into the night holding a 54-point lead in the Street Stock standings over Paradis and Ouellette tied for second. All he had to do was end the night with a 50-point lead to ensure the championship.
Ouellette, of Ellington, was second and Ryan Waterman of Danielson third. Paradis, of Plainville, ended up fifth.
It meant Hydar ended the night with an insurmountable 56 point lead over Ouellette in the standings. The division runs its last event on Sept. 30.
“The car has been really good all year,” Hydar said. “We’ve had some ups and downs, but we got over them and stayed looking at the bigger picture. I raced for wins every race this year. I try not to look at the points as much as possible because it gets in your head. I don’t want to get myself in my own head. So I just kept that mindset all year.”
It was the fifth victory of the season for Hydar, who also has 16 top-five finishes in 18 starts.
Ouellette’s best shot at Hydar came on a lap 12 restart, but Hydar was able to defend the charge and keep Ouellette at bay over the final eight laps.
“We were just missing that little bit,” Ouellette said. “Me and Travis were basically even. Once he got in front of me he had to make a mistake and he’s been so good this year. He was flawless. Didn’t make a mistake. We cruised home to another solid second place. We needed this tonight. We needed another good point. We’re in a good heated battle with [Paradis] trying to get second place in points. Really want it. This team has worked all season long.”
Tyler Chapman of Ellington got his third victory of the season in the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature.
Tyler Barry of Griswold was second and Jason Chapman of Ellington third.
Kevin Cormier of Agawam, Mass. scored his second win of the season in the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature.
Alexandra Fearn of East Longmeadow, Mass. was second and Jeremy Lavoie of Windsor Locks third.
Leary gets knocked out of the chance to get his first win a couple weeks ago in the SK’s by Moeller’s bonehead turn one gambit and now we have to see West get turned by Charland depriving her of a real shot at getting her first win.
I’d like to think drivers could have a greater appreciation of who they are competing with even in the heat of battle. I’d like to think Charland could think to himself that yes, this is a driver going for her first win and yes a popular woman driver. Certainly not pull the string competing but be at your absolute best is the attempt to pass.
West has more then paid her dues. She and her dad have ground it out over the years incrementally getting better to this point and now she’s a legitimate contender for the win. In that division you get very limited chances for the win unless you’re one of the top teams. Charland has all the experience any driver could accumulate and that tire touch was just a travesty of unfairness for the 15 team. Adding insult to injury she then has to go to the ass end of the field with the guy that put her there and endure all the crap that goes on back there when she should have been cruising to a win, hitting her spots.
I know it can’t be done. I know there is no rule or precedent for it. But when drivers with vast experience that have won a race do that to a team just trying to break through it would be nice to see them sit it out the next race event. Going to the back of the field with the person you put there just doesn’t seem to be much of a penalty.
Doug, I think I’ve figured out who you are finally. No shock.
Do you now, cool beans. If I might suggest you go over to Facebook and drop me a private of public message. We can meet for coffee, chat and see if it leads to anything. You should know I like walks on the beach, romantic dinners by the fire and my favorite flowers are carnations.