STAFFORD – The racing resume of Tom Fearn at Stafford Speedway is overflowing with superlatives.
Fearn came into Friday night’s event at Stafford as the track’s all-time winningest Late Model division driver, sitting fourth on the track’s all-time win list overall. He has three Late Model championships at the track and also won three championships in the track’s former Pro Stock division.
But coming into Friday one of the things Fearn had never done was score a victory in an extended distance Late Model feature.
Friday he checked that box off.
Fearn held off Adam Gray over the closing laps to win the Paradiso Insurance Late Model 50 Friday at Stafford.
It marked the first victory in an extra distance Late Model event at Stafford for Fearn.
“I guess they can’t hold that against me now,” Fearn said.
It Fearn’s 61st Late Model victory and his 78th victory overall at the track, moving him into a tie for third with Keith Rocco on the track’s all-time win list. Fearn also had 17 career Pro Stock wins at Stafford.
“I’ve got to thank [car owner Stu Fearn],” Tom Fearn said. “We’ve worked on this car setup, the last three or four weeks and we’ve gotten better and better. Man oh man, it’s a joy to drive. [Gray] kept me honest there at the end.”
Gray, of Belchertown, rallied from an early race penalty to finish second and Kevin Gambacorta of Ellington was third.
“We had a good run,” Gray said. “My crew, without a doubt, best guys here. We broke a [transmission] in practice. Actually [Fearn] let us use his backup [transmission]. Thanks Tommy. We thrashed on it and here we are.”
On lap 11 Gambacorta went by Michael Wray for the lead with Tom Fearn following to second place.
Caution flew on lap 12. On the ensuring restart Tom Fearn was able to get by Gambacorta for the lead but the pass was negated due to the caution flying again.
On the following restart it was Gambacorta and Tom Fearn going side-by-side for laps 12 and 13 before Tom Fearn edged out to the lead off of turn two on lap 14.
On lap 15 Michael Bennett got by Gambacorta for second with Gray following to third. One lap later Bennett spun in turn four after contact from Gray. Gray was penalized for the incident, putting both cars to the back of the field. Under caution Bennett turned down on Gray in turn one and then brake checked Gray down the backstretch. Bennett was called to the pits and penalized one lap for the incident.
Following a lap 28 restart Tom Fearn was able to check out on the field as Gray clawed his way back to second. Caution flew on lap 42 with Fearn holding a 1.1 second lead.
The initial lap 42 restart was scrubbed after caution flew for a crash before the lap was completed.
On the second attempt at a lap 42 restart Gray got a huge jump, with officials quickly calling the restart back. On the third attempt at the lap 42 restart Tom Fearn was able to clear Gray for the lead off of turn two and go unchallenged the rest of the way.
Congrats to Tom, Stuart and the Gear Motorsports #92 team. Great job winning the 50 lap event.
First off, I was glad to see Tommy Butler walk away, always scary seeing a drivers side hit.
I was hoping Scott Tapley was going to park the drama queen in the 19 for the night, but guess he got the message after being held a lap.
Rickey ,drama queen is putting it mildly , he would have restarted in front of Gray so he could have ended in 2nd or 3rd possibly instead act like a fool and get put a lap down after your crew works all week on car , you might think he’s never touched anyone
Michael Bennett’s career at Stafford is fascinating to examine. From a pro wrestling sort of view, Bennett has gone from a face to a heel. Used to be a big fan favorite. The nice guy who always said the right things and had the cute kids in victory lane. The kind of racer fans couldn’t dislike. In the last three years or so he has turned dark and has become a guy fans love to hate. And he’s become that guy that thinks he can wreck anyone on the way to the front, but if someone else touches him he has a tantrum. Look at last night. Gray barely taps him and he gets called for a penalty. They both go to the back. Bennett has a tantrum and ruins his night, Gray puts his head down and races back to second place.
Jake the Snake is right on ‘eh? The same guy that quit a few years ago after wrecking on the first lap of the season to spend more time with the family. Gotta love that one, last time i checked he still has a family but maybe they need less time now IDK. Has Shawn been weeding out all the bad anti-Bennett comments and protecting him like the announcer at Stafford that has been his biggest supporter like his entire career?