Stafford Notes: Ryan Waterman Remains On Fiery Run With Sixth Consecutive Street Stock Win

STAFFORD – The Street Stock division at Stafford Speedway in 2026 has basically been a field of cars trying valiantly to unseat Ryan Waterman from winning. 

Before Friday most of Waterman’s seven victories over the first nine events had been fairly uneventful domination showings for the Danielson veteran. 

On Friday though, getting to six consecutive wins came with some drama for Waterman. 

In the end, it was Waterman going to the lead with less than two laps remaining and driving to his sixth consecutive victory and eighth win of the season. A few weeks ago Waterman was elated for having won three consecutive races for the first time in his storied career. 

“I was happy with three, now we’re at six,” Waterman said. “See if we can make it seven.” 

Waterman, the 2023 Street Stock champion at Stafford, finished fourth in both of the Street Stock events at Stafford this year that he hasn’t won. 

Kolton Gambacorta of Ellington was second and Jason Raymond of Somers third. 

Waterman was up to third behind Brent Gleason and Scott Sundeen for a restart with eight laps remaining. Waterman was able to get by Sundeen for second on the restart before caution flew a lap later when Sundeen wrecked on the frontstretch. 

On the ensuing restart Gleason was able to get the jump on Waterman and PJ Evans found a lane under Waterman on the backstretch moved past him for second on the entry into turn three. Evans tried to keep going forward through turn and got under Gleason. Coming off of turn four Gleason and Evans made contact, sending them hooked and up on the track coming onto the frontstretch. Waterman got stuck behind their hooked cars, allowing Kolton Gambacorta to move to the lead and Jason Raymond to second. Waterman deftly avoided getting caught up Gleason and Evans and fell in line in third. 

“I thought for sure I was going to be mixed up in that,” Waterman said. “Thank God I made it out of that.” 

On the next restart Waterman got under Raymond quickly and then settled in on the bumper of Gambacorta. Waterman found a lane under Gambacorta into turn one and took over the lead. 

“I had to study him a little bit, but he’s getting better every week,” Waterman said. “I had to earn that one.” 

Said Gambacorta: “He was just on my bumper the whole time, so there was nothing I could’ve done about it.” 

The track’s all-time winningest driver in the SK Light Modified division extended that record Friday. 

Chris Matthews of Stafford scored his second win of the season in the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature. 

It was the 27th career victory at Stafford for Matthews. 

Matt Brewer of Norwich was second and Daltin McCarthy of Oxford, Mass. third. 

Travis Hydar of Woodbury got his second win of the season in the 20-lap Limited Sportsman feature. Jason Lafayette of Somers was second and RJ Surdell of Willington third. 

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