STAFFORD – Ronnie Williams is no stranger to victory lane at Stafford Speedway.
Williams got his first win at the track in 2012 and over the next decade he made scoring victories a regular occurrence at the half-mile.
From 2012 to 2022 Williams had 29 victories at Stafford, with four in SK Light Modified competition, 22 in SK Modified races and three in Open Modified events.
On Friday Williams returned to victory lane at Stafford after almost three years away.
Williams dominated on the way to victory in the Lincoln Tech Open Modified 80 Friday at Stafford. It was the first victory at Stafford for Williams since winning in an SK Modified feature on Sept. 20, 2022.
“We had a really good car from the start,” Williams said. “When we came here for the [Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series race on July 16] our car was very solid. We just knew we just needed a couple breaks along the way. It was a rough start of the year, but ever since [the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series event at Seekonk Speedway on June 25] we’ve really turned it on and we’ve been a top-five and top-three car. It feels like we haven’t won in a long time. It’s good to be back.”
Jon McKennedy of Chelmsford was second.
“Overall it was a good run,” McKennedy said. “Ultimately the pit crew did an awesome job. I think we gained about nine or 10 spots on pit road so shout out to them. Overall we had a good car, we were a little bit too tight early on and even after we took the right rear [tire] I kind of used the right front [tire] up a bit and it hurt me. I thought there as the race was kind of winding down at the end my car was starting to get better and come to me, but [Williams] was stout. He had a really good car.”
Mike Christopher Jr. of Wolcott third.
“It was a pretty nonchalant race I guess,” Christopher said. “We moved up a little bit and we were saving there for a bit. I turned the wick up and got to fourth or third or something like that, but that was kind of all I had. After the pit stop [the crew] adjusted on it and made it better it was just a little too tight in the center [of the corners] to compete with [Williams and McKennedy].”
Woody Pitkat and Williams battled side-by-side at the front of the field to start the race with Pitkat clearing Williams off of turn four on the opening lap. Tyler Chapman followed Pitkat by Williams into second.
On lap four Williams got by Chapman for second and went to work on Pitkat. Williams got under Pitkat off of turn four on lap five, with the pair going side-by-side to complete the lap. Williams was able to compete the pass of Pitkat on lap six.
On lap 29 Max Zachem got under Chapman to take over third. Zachem continued the drive to the front getting by Pitkat on lap 36. On lap 40 Williams held a one second lead over Zachem, with Pitkat about two seconds behind in third.
Caution flew on lap 46 for the car of Buddy Charette in the turn two wall.
The entire field headed to pit road under caution. Eric Goodale, who was fifth when the caution flew, came off pit road in the lead. Jon McKennedy, who came onto pit road in 12th, came off second. Pitkat was third off pit road, followed by Williams and Mike Christopher Jr.
On the lap 46 restart it was McKennedy getting the run by Goodale off of turn two to grab the lead away. Williams followed to second place.
Williams got a run to the inside of McKennedy off of turn four on lap 49, but McKennedy was able to hold him off at the line. But the defense was short for McKennedy. Williams was able to grab the lead back on lap 50 and went unchallenged the rest of the way.
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