STAFFORD – The drive to get back to victory lane got a little more heated over the last week for Eric Goodale.
In the Goodale household Eric was feeling the need to get back on a level playing field with his 8-year old son Mason.
Mason Goodale is in his first year competing in the Bandolero Division at Riverhead Raceway. He got his first victory Saturday in his third start in the division.
Friday at Stafford Eric Goodale matched his son in the victory column for 2023.
Goodale held off the charges of Glen Reen after a mid-race pit stop and then drove away over the closing stages to win the Casella Open Modified 80 Friday at Stafford.
“I’m proud of myself this week because I’m not the only one in my family holding a trophy,” Goodale said.
It was the second career victory in a Stafford Open Modified event for Goodale, who got his first on July 13, 2018.
“[Mason] is in his first year at Riverhead,” Goodale said. “He finished fourth, second and then he got the W Saturday. I was sick to my stomach watching him. I felt bad. He was showing me up. It’s been a while since I’ve won and he goes out there and wins in his third race. I was damn proud of him. And he gave me a lot of strength to come out here and put on a good show.”
Reen, of Wilbraham, Mass., who won the most previous Open Modified event at Stafford on May 19, was second.
“I’ll definitely take it,” Reen said. “… Jeff Rocco and Keith Rocco Racing put an unbelievable car underneath me.”
Anthony Bello of Newtown was third.
“That last caution [on lap 50] really helped out with the heat cycle [on the tires],” Bello said. “This is huge for this team. We’re a small team compared to some of these other teams here. It’s just so good to finish on the podium and show my face.”
Caution flew on lap 40 with Stephen Kopcik leading, Teddy Hodgdon IV in second, Reen in third and Goodale in fourth.
It was Goodale winning the race off of pit road, with Reen coming out second and Ronnie Williams going from sixth to third. Kopcik’s team had issues in the pits and fell to 15th.
On the restart it was Goodale and Reen going side-by-side for a lap before Reen took over the top spot off of turn four on lap 41.
Caution flew for the spinning car of Max Zachem on lap 47. On the restart it was Goodale besting Reen to move back to the lead, with Hodgdon moving to second place.
Caution flew for a spin on lap 50. On the restart Hodgdon hung to the outside of Goodale for most of the lap, but Goodale was able to clear him off of turn four with Reen moving back to second place.
“My crew won this race on pit road,” Goodale said. “I didn’t even have to run Reen to the acres today. It was good.”
Am I the only one that enjoys seeing Kopcik get involved in a wreck or have a mechanical issue? He just seems like such an arrogant punk.