Bingo Winner: Michael Bennett Scores NAPA Spring Sizzler Late Model Victory At Stafford

Michael Bennett

STAFFORD – After the 2014 season one of Michael Bennett’s biggest fans asked the Stafford Motor Speedway Late Model driver what he needed to help make 2015 a better year.

Michael Bennett gave him the honest truth.

“I said ‘I need a new car.’”, Bennett said.

And that was exactly what that fan, Bob “Bingo” Navratil got for Bennett.

Sunday at the NAPA Spring Sizzler at Stafford Motor Speedway, Bennett wasted no time in showing Navratil that his investment in the team would pay big dividends.

Bennett, of Stafford, drove away from the field in the closing laps to win the 30-lap Late Model feature Sunday at Stafford.

“I’ve got to thank Bingo,” Bennett said. “… He bought this racecar for us this winter. Just a big thank you to him. He comes to the races religiously and he’s a real good friend of my father-in-law. … We struggled with our car last year. It was very inconsistent and we were having a hard time with it. We wanted to go in another direction. We knew about D.J. Burnham’s [old Limited Late Model] car and that it was a good car and that it sat last year while he drove SK Light [Modifieds] and we bought it.”

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

It was the second Spring Sizzler victory for Bennett, who won at the event in a Limited Late Model in 2005.

“It’s all surreal at this point for me,” Bennett said “We generally start off slow at the Spring Sizzler. For whatever reason, we’ve had mechanical problems or been in early wrecks. It’s first race jitters for everybody and things happen. I’ve had them and caused my own wrecks. To come here and win and have everything work our way is incredible. I won in a Limited Late Model in 2005 but this doesn’t compare to that. This is outstanding. Something I’ve always wanted to do and I’m glad we did.”

Bennett moved to on a lap 20 restart and then went by Tom Butler for second on lap 21.

On lap 23 Bennett got under Michael Scorzelli for the lead off of turn two and never trailed again. Gray beat Gambacorta by inches at the line for second place.