Story By Penny Aicardi – Special To RaceDayCT
STAFFORD – In an electrifying display of skill and determination, Tyler Chapman delivered a masterful performance, fending off the relentless advances of Alexander Pearl to secure his third triumphant victory of the season in the Monaco Ford 30 SK Light Modified feature special non-points event Thursday at Stafford Speedway.
The event was added to the schedule after the Camping World SRX Series management made the decsion late last week to reschedule their second event to Stafford Speedway.
The atmosphere was nothing short of electric as a full house of motorsports fans gathered for the SRX Series, witnessing a $1500-to-win non points race. Chapman’s prowess made for a nail-biting spectacle, leaving the crowd on the edge of their seats.
“It’s the second non-points race we won so it’s definitely wicked nice,” Chapman said. “I saw [Pearl] coming. He caught me with a half straightaway lead in like three laps. He was way faster than me. I knew that. I was just hoping he wouldn’t wreck me. He was faster and I was slower but I won at the end of the day.”
William Lambros drove to the front coming out of turn two after a brief battle with polesitter Stephen Kalogiannis to start off the action, but it was all Tyler Barry at the line when the first lap completed. Caution came out at lap three when a spun car set off a chain reaction and ended the night for Amanda West.
Barry took the lead when the race went back to green as Lambros and Nick Anglace battled side-by-sde for almost a full lap for the second position with Anglace taking the spot. Chapman continued to use the bottom groove to try and get an edge on Anglace, which he successfully did on lap seven. Lambros and Alexander Pearl rounded out the top-five as the race came to caution on lap ten for a spin in turn two.
Chapman took over the lead on the restart after an intense side-by-side battle with Barry through ones and two, but it was on the next lap the dynamic of the front changed with Barry spun to the infield grass.
Chapman went unchallenged when the race resumed while Lambros had his hands full with Pearl right behind him. Pearl took over the second spot on lap 13, but still had Lambros hot on his tail. Anglace and George Bessette, Jr. rounded out the top-five.
Pearl started to cut away at Chapman’s five car length advantage as a long green flag run ensued, but all eyes were on the battle for third as Lambros, Anglace and Bessette ran nose-to-tail. By lap 21, Pearl closed in within a car length to Chapman, and started to make his bid for the lead on lap 23. Pearl stayed on Chapman’s bumper looking first at the high line, and then the bottom, but Chapman remained strong and in charge.
As the duo took the white flag, Pearl made a challenge on Chapman, but couldn’t seal the deal and had to settle for second at the line.
“I think we had the best car tonight, but I had trouble getting through traffic,” Pearl said. “I was just trying to run as clean as I can because that’s how I was raised to race. He was really loose but I didn’t want to spin him out and ruin both of our finishes. I have confidence in the car and we’ll take this and move forward to tomorrow night.”
MONACO FORD SRX SK LIGHT 30 RESULTS: 1. Tyler Chapman, Ellington, CT; 2. Alexander Pearl, Salem, CT; 3. George Bessette, Danbury, CT; 4. Nick Anglace, Seymour, CT; 5. William Lambros, Northport, NY; 6. Jason Chapman, Ellington, CT; 7. David Webb, Nashville, TN; 8. Meghan Fuller, Auburn, MA; 9. Nickolas Hovey, Chaplin, CT; 10. Tyler Alkas, Berlin, CT; 11. Zack Aszklar, Newtown, CT; 12. Joey Ferrigno, East Hartford, CT; 13. Stephen Kalogiannis, New Hartford, CT; 14. Cassandra Cole, Westbrook, CT; 15. Matt Brewer, Norwich, CT; 16. Daltin McCarthy, Oxford, MA; 17. Sami Anderson, Wolcott, CT; 18. Tyler Barry, Griswold, CT; 19. Bob Charland, Stafford Springs, CT; 20. Chris Viens; 21. Wade Gagner, East Longmeadow, MA; 22. Norm Sears, Andover, CT; 23. Josh Morrison, Ashford, CT; 24. Paul Arcari, Somers, CT; 25. Anthony Forino, Waterbury, CT; 26. Hailey Desaulniers, Windham, CT; 27. Brandon Michael, Granville, MA; 28. Ron Midford, Ellington, CT; 29. Amanda West, Colchester, CT; 30. Casey Vogt, Windsor Locks, CT.
The 7 team found what they were missing this season. The 15 team’s luck remains the same. A big thank you to the Monaco team for supporting this race – where was the Monaco car 46?
Vacation
Alex Pearl is a class driver. Ran him clean
Penny is certainly not shy about including superlatives in her race articles …
Rafter Fan,
Everybody has a different writing voice. I can’t thank Penny enough for filling in for me. I never really posted anything here letting people know, but, I was hired to do a two week stint as a public relations representative for the SRX Series for their first event at Stafford and what was supposed to be their second event at Thunder Road, which obviousy ended up at Stafford because of the flooding emergency in Vermont. Because I was working for the SRX on site during the last two Thursday events, I couldn’t properly cover the SK Modified feature on July 13 and last night’s SK Light Modified feature. Penny, who has an extensive history in racing media in the Northeast, was kind enough to step in and help out the last two weeks.
A lot of fans of gentlemanly racing in this forum so the should take note of Pearls approach in this race no doubt approving. Chapman even said the 7 was faster but he kept his line protecting the low side and Pearl being the driver his is happy to settle for second.
Mike Christopher known for courteous contending as well. That is up until he nudged a slower Blewett out of the way and got a win instead of the good sport award.
As laps are winding down, you’re faster and the person in front is taking up all the track the best drivers do what they have to do. It’s really hard to do without wrecking the car in front, takes just the right amount of pressure to pull off but completely fair game in my view.
Chapman proved he would do what it takes to win by running Bessette up the track three weeks ago, making him back out leaving Bessette fuming but no penalty for the 41. Pearl says he’s not “that” kind of driver. Maybe so or maybe he lacks the confidence or talent to take the risk when presented. After all you only get so many shots in a season to get a win knowing you have the fastest car on the track.
Pearl has considerably more experience but it’s pretty clear at this stage Chapman has a much higher ceiling with regard to pure racing talent.
Chapman is faster with a loose car. In higher levels of racing with longer races his style of steering with the rear wheels won’t work.