Stafford Notes: Michael Bennett, Rich Hammann And Ryan Waterman Scores Victories 

STAFFORD – After three years away from the track, Michael Bennett returned to the Late Model division at Stafford Speedway in 2026. 

Friday he returned to a place he had become very familiar with over the years in Late Model competition. 

Bennett, of Willington, topped the 30-lap Late Model feature Friday at Stafford. It was his first victory of the season and first in a Late Model at the track since August 27, 2021. Bennett has not run full-time at the track since 2022. 

“All we come down here for is the win,” Bennett said. “… Yeah, it took a little bit longer than I would have liked, but I knew it was coming the way the cars been performing.

Bennett won Late Model championships at Stafford in 2015 and 2021. He was also a Limited Late Model champion at the track in 2005. Friday’s victory was his 26th in the Late Model division and his 45th at the track overall. 

Wayne Coury Jr. of Fairfield was second and Paul Varricchio Jr. of Berlin third. 

Bennett went by Wayne Coury Jr. for the lead on lap eight. Caution flew a lap later. On the ensuing restart Coury was able to regain the lead from Bennett. Three laps later Bennett fought back to regain the lead from Coury and he never trailed again. 

Bennett said he missed a shift on the restart that allowed Coury to grab the lead back. 

“I felt like we had a good good car in the long run there and you know I was just searching searching for the right line and we were pretty even there at the end,” Coury said. “It was nice to see us kind of getting away from the rest of the field and I think we have something to compete with for the rest of the year.” 

Said Varricchio: My night, it went from a blah day to halfway decent finish. I don’t know what we’ve got to do to the car to make it faster, I just, like I said before and I can’t miss saying it again, I’m not able to defend my championship on the platform we had last year and it just, it’s kind of disheartening. But I think a little bit longer we’ll get it, I mean I got really really smart guys and they go the extra mile for me so they’re doing everything they can think of.” 

Rich Hammann of Tolland scored his first victory of the season in the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature. Aaron Plemons of Uncasville was second and Norm Root III of Old Saybrook third. 

Ryan Waterman got his fourth win in six starts this season in the 20-lap Street Stock feature. Matt Lowinski-Loh of Thompson was second and Brent Gleason of Griswold third. 

Follow Us On Your Favorite Socials