Stafford Notes: Paul Varricchio Jr. Uses Last Lap Pass To Top Late Model Feature 

STAFFORD – The most eventful drama last week in the Late Model division at Stafford took place before the green flag even flew for the event. 

Then division points leader Paul Varricchio couldn’t get his car fired before the feature and got pushed to pit road during pace laps. Varricchio got a Did Not Start for the feature, no points and fell to eighth place in the standings. 

Friday Varricchio was once again the source of drama on the track, but this time it was for his action on the final lap. 

Varricchio passed Adam Gray for the lead off of turn two on the final lap and won the the 30-lap Late Model feature. 

It was the third victory in five races this year for Varricchio, of Berlin. 

“My guys were a little mad at me because I didn’t give them hot dogs last week so we had to put this back in victory lane so I could feed my guys,” Varricchio said. 

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

On lap 11 Gray went under race leader Chris Meyer in turn two and was able to move to the lead through turns three and four, with Alexandra Fearn following to second. 

On lap 12 Fearn got under Gray into turn three to briefly take over the lead, but Gray gave Fearn a bump through turn four to get her up the track and move back to the lead. 

Gambacorta found a lane under Fearn in turn two on lap 13 and moved into second through turn three. Off of turn four, Fearn, Meyer and Wayne Coury Jr. were embroiled in a battle for third. Fearn and Meyer made contact, putting both into the frontstretch wall. 

Gray checked out from the field following the lap 13 restart before caution flew again on lap 21. Coury was able to get by Gray for the lead on the lap 21 restart, but Gray fought back on lap 25 to go back to the lead. Varricchio followed Gray to move into second. 

Varricchio gave Gray a bump in turn three on lap 27, but Gray was up to defending the initial attack before the final lap drama. 

Aaron Plemons scored his second victory of the season in the 20-lap Street Stock feature. 

It was the fifth top-five in six starts this season for Plemons, of Uncasville. 

Brandon Warren of Chicopee, Mass. was second and Tyler Trott of East Hartford third. 

Kyle Theriault of Three Rivers, Mass. won the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature. R.J. Surdell of Willington was second and Jason Lafayette of Somers third. 

WATCH: Tyler Chapman Talks About Opportunity To Drive For Les Hinckley Racing On The Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series