![](https://racedayct.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Adam-Gray-Win-5-26-23-550x367.jpg)
In a bruising battle for victory, the reigning Late Model champion at Stafford Speedway found his way back to victory lane Friday.
Adam Gray came out on top of a late race battle at the front with Andrew Durand and won the 30-lap Late Model feature Friday at Stafford.
It was the 32nd career Late Model victory at Stafford for Gray, of Belchertown, Mass.
“That was fun,” Gray said. “I said it all last season, I’ll start it again this season. Late Models at Stafford Speedway, without a doubt, the most competitive in any division anywhere.”
Tom Fearn of East Longmeadow, Mass. was second and Chris Meyer of North Franklin third.
Gray to got to the bumper of race leader Durand by lap 26. On lap 27 Gray had found the inside lane under Durand and the door banging battle began. Gray got the run into turn one on lap 28 and came out of turn two with the lead with Meyer and Fearn following to second and third respectively.
Fearn found the way under Meyer coming out of turn four on the final lap to take second place.
“We weren’t too good in the heat race,” Fearn said. “We got together and made some changes. We weren’t sure how it was going to be. I said ‘Let’s give it a whirl and see how it does.’”
Meyer’s third place was a career best for him in the division.
“We’ve struggled with some mechanical issues,” Meyer said. “I think new car blues types of things. I wasn’t expecting a run like this tonight. We’ve been working at it real hard. We had a good starting position and there’s a lot of good guys to race with up front. We were able to keep it up there.”
Congrats to Adam, and the #97 team for the win. An honorable mention to Fearn Motorsports for Toms second place finish. It’s shaping up to be the Tom and Adam show with both winning in the first 3 races.