Checking Out: Wayne Coury Jr. Tops Late Models At Stafford To Snap Extended Winless Run 

STAFFORD – Late Model division veteran Wayne Coury Jr. went winless at Stafford Speedway in 2024. 

Friday at Stafford the Milford driver made up for that winless season with a performance that was purely dominating. 

Coury went to the lead on the first lap and went unchallenged the rest of the way in winning the 30-lap Late Model feature Friday at Stafford. 

It was the first victory for Coury since Aug. 18, 2023 and his eight victory in the division overall.

“Last year was a long, difficult year and it felt terrible not to run that well, not to win, so this means a lot to all of us, especially my crew that just works tirelessly on this thing,” Coury said. “It’s even more disappointing when you don’t win in a whole season and you’re used to it right. That’s why you come here, you want to win races, you want to have fun and this is what makes it fun.” 

Paul Varrichio Jr. of Berlin, who won the first two events of the season saw his winning streak snapped with a second place run. 

“The car was a little off today,” Varricchio said. “We’re all good. Next week’s another week. We were going to go for the hat trick, but it is what it is.” 

Reigning division champion Kevin Gambacorta of Ellington rallied from an early spin to finish third. 

“We were good, just a little bit off tonight,” Gambacora said. 

Wayne Coury went to the lead past pole-sitter Duane Noll at the drop of the green flag to start the event. 

With Coury leading and Chris Meyer in second, the first caution flew on lap five for the spinning cars of Gambacorta and Darrell Keane in turn one as a result of the battle for eighth place. 

“I have to apologize to [Keane],” Gambacorta said. “That was 100 percent our fault. All I can do is apologize and tell him we screwed up.” 

Coury continued to control at the front of the field following the lap five restart. 

Caution flew for the second time on lap eight with Andrew Durand and Bobby Stirk spinning to the infield in turn one. The pair had been battling for fourth place. 

Coury held form at the front of the field for the lap eight restart. Behind him Alexandra Fearn made the jump from fourth to third on the restart, with Varricchio following to fourth. 

On lap 18 Fearn found a lane under Meyer going into turn three and came out of turn four in second place. Varricchio followed in her path to third. 

After clawing back through the field from his early spin, Gambacorta got under Varricchio through turns three and four on lap 20 to move to third.  Varricchio fought back two laps later to get back to third. 

By lap 23 Coury had opened about a nearly one second lead over second place Fearn. With three laps remaining Varricchio found the way by Fearn for second with Gambacorta following to third.