STAFFORD – It wasn’t the smoothest night on the track for Kevin Gambacorta, but even messy race was enough to get the job the done for the Ellington driver.
Gambacorta rallied from an early wreck to finish third in the 30-lap Late Model feature and clinch his second consecutive Late Model championship Friday at Stafford.
It was the fifth division title at Stafford for Gambacorta, who became the first driver in track history to win championships in three divisions at Stafford.
“So I got to stand here last year and [my son] Kolton won the Wild Thing Go-Kart championship and we won the Late Model championship and I said it was a once in a lifetime moment,” Gambacorta said. “But I guess it’s a twice in a lifetime moment because we both did it again this year. I’m so proud of him, what he did in the Go-Kart and a 14-year old kid and … he finished 10th tonight in a Street Stock. I’m so proud of him. For us, it’s still hard to believe how things have gone the last few years. A few years ago we didn’t belong out here. We were getting our asses kicked and I was going to quit. Andy Marchese gave me a chance to drive this BFR car and that turned it all around. Bob Fill took me in and made me a two-time champion now.”
Gambacorta became the fourth driver to win five championships at Stafford joining the late Ted Christopher, the late Bob Potter, Tom Fearn and Ryan Possoco.
Gambacorta won a Street Stock championship [formerly DARE Stock] in 2004. He had Limited Late Model championships in 2006 and 2011. Overall Gambacorta has 29 career victories at the track with 18 Late Model wins, eight Limited Late Model wins and three Street Stock wins.
Paul Varricchio Jr. of Berlin finished second in the feature and ended up second in the standings, 30 points behind Gambacorta.
“Hats off to my guys,” Varricchio Jr. “I really do appreciate coming home in second in the final race. I’m happy.”
Adam Gray of Belchertown, Mass. won for third consecutive week and sixth time this season.
“We got this thing going good,” Gray said.
The action was heated from the drop of the green flag with Wayne Coury Jr. and Bobby Stirk battling side-by-side for the lead on lap two. The side-by-side battle continued on lap three. Caution flew for a wreck at the back of the field in turn three on lap four.
On the lap four restart it was Coury getting the advantage out front and Alexandra Fearn passing Stirk for second. By lap six Gambacorta was up to third.
Caution flew on lap 11. On the lap 11 restart Coury and Alexandra Fearn continued their side-by-side battle out front. Behind them third place Gambacorta got stuck in a battle and ended up getting spun in turn three and then hit on the infield.
Gambacorta limped to pit road for repairs under caution. On the ensuing restart it was Alexandra Fearn controlling out front with Adam Gray moving to second place.
On lap 14 Gray got a run under Alexandra Fearn off of turn four and completed the pass for the lead through turns one and two on lap 15.
By lap 23 Gambacorta had worked his way back to fifth place. On a lap 24 restart Gambacorta got by Chris Meyer to move to fourth.
On lap 28 Gambacorta got by Andrew Durand for third, but Durand fought back to retake the position before the lap was completed. On lap 30 Gambacorta got under Meyer through turns three and four won the drag race to the checkered for third place.
Stafford needs to police helmets on pit road a bit better. The entire time gambacorta was on pit road one of his crew guys was helmet less. Thank god the official was watching the whole time with his radar gun thought. can never to safe!