Return Engagement: Josh Wood Gets First Late Model Win At Stafford Since 2017

STAFFORD – On April 30, 2017 Josh Wood scored his sixth career Late Model victory at Stafford Speedway. Wood raced full-time in the Late Model and SK Modified divisions that year at Stafford. 

In 2018 he the Palmer, Mass. driver put the Late Model away and ran full-time in the SK Modified division before stepping away from racing after the season. He ran six Late Model races at Stafford in 2021, nine in 2024 and four last year. 

Friday he put the celebratory stamp on his full-time return to Late Model action at the track in 2026. 

Wood held off a gaining Kevin Gambacorta in the final laps to win the 30-lap Late Model feature Friday at Stafford Speedway. 

It was the seventh career Late Model victory for Wood. 

“It definitely feels great to be back,” Wood said. “Since the start of this year, we’ve got this BFR car paired with a RAD motor. Phenomenally fast, so every week we have the confidence to go out there and win.”

Gambacorta, of Ellington, was second and Adam Gray, of Granby, Mass., third.  

Gambacorta had Wood in his sights on the final two laps. 

“The car started going away a little bit, [Gambacorta] was reeling pretty quick. I just tried to hold my line and just you know run steady laps, steady laps, steady laps. I figured he wouldn’t get by me if I kept doing that.” 

Said Gambacorta: “I think we were getting there at the end. I made a mistake coming to the white [flag], I think down in [turns] three and four which might have took all the chances I had away.”

Friday’s race card was halted by rain after two features were completed. Nine laps of the scheduled 20-lap Street Stock race was run before the rains brought the event to a halt, forcing postponement of the Lu-Mac’s Package Store / WTD Logistics Limited Late Model 30 and the 40-lap SK Modified feature. The Lu-Mac’s Package Store / WTD Logistics Limited Late Model 30 will be made on a date to be determined. Sami Anderson won the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature. 

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