STAFFORD – Wayne Coury Jr. has been waiting all season long at Stafford Speedway to put the pieces together to challenge for victory in the Late Model division.
Friday he did it in dominating fashion.
Coury, of Fairfield, checked out from the field over the final 18 laps to win the 30-lap Late Model feature Friday at Stafford.
It was the first victory for Coury since Sept. 30, 2022 and his seventh overall in the division.
“We’re back,” Coury said. “We needed this. It’s been an up and down season. We had a really good start to the year, got wrecked badly a few weeks ago, had to get this thing back in shape. Our team did a really great job getting it back in order.”
Paul Varricchio Jr. of Berlin was second and Michael Wray of Northford third.
“The car was loose off,” Varricchio said. “I just fought the car. I reeled in [Coury] and that was the best I could was second. But that’s all good. We’re here, podium. Nice.”
Tom Butler went from fifth to third on the first lap, slotting in behind leader John Blake and second place Coury.
On lap two Coury went by Blake for the lead. The next lap Butler got under Blake through turns one and two. Contact between the two down the backstretch sent Butler spinning the through the grass in turn three before getting back on the track and collecting Andrew Durand and Tom Fearn in the mess.
It was the start of a rash of early race cautions for the event. The caution flew four more times by lap 11.
The race restarted on lap 11 with Coury leading, Jacob Perry in second, Paul Varricchio Jr in third and Butler back up to fourth.
Coury was able to check out on the second attempt at a lap 11 restart, leaving Perry and Varricchio battling for second. Varricchio was able to clear Perry for second on lap 13 and by then Coury had opened more than a second lead on the field.
“It’s just nice to be back,” Coury said. “That felt like a long race. A lot restarts. But this car was good. Haven’t had a car like this year all year. We finally got this thing to where it needs to be. Can’t be happier with it.”
Reigning division champion Rich Hammann of Tolland held off the charges of Gary Patnode to win for the second consecutive week in the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature.
Patnode, of Barkhamstead, was second and Adrien Paradis III of Plainville was third.
George Bessette Jr. of Danbury won the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature. Jason Chapman of Ellington was second and Tyler Chapman of Ellington was third.
Hate to be that guy” the keyboard warrior 😒 ”
#61 Blake was a wrecking ball once again. And once again due to his foolish actions on lap 2 of the feature some good cars were wrecked/spun.
Last week was dumb enough how he slid up into Fearn, however we all deserve a mulligan once in a while in life… To come back a week later and pull the crap he did last night is just foolishness!!!
Fenders galore ,most people see it but Tom Fox doesn’t !!
Elect, Fox see’s all, it’s how he handles the situation.