STAFFORD – On July 12 Adam Gray returned to Stafford Speedway after missing three Late Model events and made his return one to remember by scoring victory.
Friday at Stafford Gray turned the happy return of July 12 into a streak.
After starting 16th in the 18 car field, Gray passed Bobby Stirk for the lead on lap 20 and never trailed again on the way to victory in the 30-lap Late Model feature Friday at Stafford.
“Two in a row is a feat in its own and starting 16th out of 18 tonight, we definitely worked our tails off,” Gray said.
It was the 35th career Late Model win at Stafford for Gray, of Belchertown, Mass., a four-time division champion.
Paul Varricchio Jr. of Berlin was second.
“Lost the brakes with four laps to go,” Varricchio said. “I wasn’t going to stuff it in there and take us both out, that would have been foolish of me. So second is better than nothing.”
Chris Meyer of North Franklin was third.
“We’re figuring some things out,” Meyer said. “The car is pretty good. We changed a set of tires because we had a set on there that just felt weird. Everything was sizing up right, but it just felt weird. I’m happy we did it. It kind of reaffirms to me that I’m getting it, I’m starting to get better. We made the right move and the car is really good.”
The first caution flew on lap 4 with Chris Buffone leading Tom Butler and Alexandra Fearn in third.
On the restart it was Buffone and Butler going side-by-side for two laps, with Fearn stalking them in third. On lap six contact between from Buffone sent Butler spinning in turn four.
On the lap six restart it was Fearn getting the jump out front on second place PJ Zarella. Behind Fearn, Bobby Stirk moved to second past Zarella with Wayne Coury Jr. following to third.
On lap 11 Gray got under Coury into turn one to take over third place. By lap 13 Stirk was stalking all over the bumper of Fearn.
On lap 15 Stirk got under Fearn into turn three, with the pair racing side-by-side to the start finish line to complete the lap. On lap 16 Stirk was able to clear Fearn for the lead off of turn two with Gray following to second.
On lap 18 Gray was able to nudge under Stirk through turns three and four, but Stirk fended off the challenge. On lap 19 Gray found the lane under Stirk once again, with the pair coming off of turn four side-by-side. Gray powered by Stirk for the lead into turn one on lap 20.
On lap 21 Stirk slowed on the track and headed to the pits. By that point Varricchio had passed Fearn for second place and was closing on Gray.
“Just concentrate on the lines, don’t slip up,” Gray said of the final eight laps. “[Varricchio] is quick. You slip up an inch he’s going to fill the hole. So we did what we had to do.”
Congrats to Adam and the #97 team. Back to back wins, isn’t this better than sitting at home