STAFFORD – Parity has been the theme in victory lane this year in the Late Model division at Stafford Speedway.
Five different winners headed to victory lane in the first five events of the season.
Friday the trend continued to roll on.
Kevin Gambacorta scored his first win of the season in the 30-lap Late Model feature.
It was the first victory for Gambacorta since July 15 of last season.
“We were really good,” Gambacorta said. “I wasted too much time at the beginning of the race trying to get by [Zack Robinson]. … Just a good night for us to get back in victory lane. … The car was pretty good. I sent it up to Bob Fill this week for a little checkup and he fixed some of the stuff I had screwed up on it and we were pretty good tonight.”
Michael Wray of Northward was second and Adam Gray of Belchertown, Mass. third.
“I’m pretty happy,” Wray said. “We’re on last week’s tires. So not too bad to run second with them. Kevin was on another island out there.”
Said Gray: “Not only are we battling 20 other competitors, it seems like we’re battling some calls in the tower. Our hard work and dedication got us a third place tonight.”
Gambacorta joined Gray, Tom Fearn, Ryan Fearn, Andrew Durand and Tom Butler on the 2023 Late Model winner’s list at Stafford.
On a lap 19 restart it was Wray going by Robinson for the lead on the outside. Robinson wrestled the lead back from Wray one lap later. On lap 21 Gambacorta got under Wray to move into second and began hunting down Robinson.
On lap 24 Gambacorta took a peek under Robinson in turn two but backed out of the move. Two laps later Gambacorta took the same peek and made it stick out of the corner. The pair went side-by-side to turn three with Gambacorta coming out of turn four with the lead with Wayne Coury Jr. following to second.
Caution flew on lap 29 to set up a green-white-checkered finish. Gambacorta was able to get away from the field on the restart with Wray moving to second and Gray to third.
Congrats to Kevin and the #23 team for the win. Good job.
Top of the class, champion contender.