STAFFORD – It was the outcome that it seemed would prove so perfectly fittingly since the TC 13 SK Modified Shootout event was added to the schedule in 2018 at Stafford Speedway.
Friday that emotionally ideal result finally took place.
Mike Christopher Jr., came out on top of a bruising battle with David Arute, then held off Noah Korner in the closing laps to win the 13-lap non-points event which is held annually in memory of his late uncle Ted Christopher, the track’s all-time winningest driver.
“[Arute] and I were beating and banging and being brutal out there,” Mike Christopher Jr. said. “It was a lot of fun. Everything I did he gave back. It was just a ton of fun.”
Ted Christopher was killed in a plane crash on Sept. 16, 2017. Mike Christopher Jr. became the fifth different winner of the special event in five seasons, joining Glen Reen (2018), Keith Rocco (2019), Todd Owen (2020) and David Arute (2021).
After taking the checkered flag Mike Christopher Jr. parked at the flag stand and let his emotion pour out, climbing on his car to salute then fans then going to the fence to celebrate some more.
“It’s extra special obviously for the reason behind the race, the honor that Stafford puts on for my uncle Ted,” Mike Christopher Jr. said. “It’s also meaningful that this year we’ve been struggling really hard with our 40-lap program and just haven’t had good finishes. We’ve had one podium and a bunch of crappy finishes. … Just thinking about the race. It’s been five years going now and we’ve just never had any luck. Last year I think I wrecked on lap one. The first year I had to borrow someone else’s car because mine blew up. It was just bad luck after bad luck every year. So come out here and win it feels pretty good.”
Korner, of Canton, was second and Andrew Molleur of Shelton third.
Arute held the top spot after a lap five wreck, with Mike Christopher Jr. in second. From there the pair putting on a banging back and forth battle at the front.
On lap 10 Christopher got under Arute for the lead into turn three. Arute tried to cross over to regain the lead off of turn four, but got sideways coming onto the frontstretch, allowing Korner to move to second and Molleur to third. Arute ended up fourth.
“David was outside of me … I was like ‘Well … if this thing’s not good I’m just driving it up the hill and being as rough as I could.’” Mike Christopher Jr. said. “That’s how it was. I doored him up to Tolland I don’t know how many times. He just took it and then finally didn’t get by me. When he had the chance to hit me he hit me. I don’t even care, that’s good racing. We were sliding up the track, sparks were flying. Just battling for the lead. There’s nothing better than that. I bet the fans loved it. And that’s what it’s all about, putting on a show in 13 laps.”
Congrats to MCJ; hard fought win.
It seems like last night’s edition was the first TC Shootout that lived up to expectations, with very hard racing over all 13 laps.
Congratulations to Jr. best TC race so far