Did I Really Miss That? Results of 7/18.

No, I didn't miss all of "that", but I did miss something that will be mentioned later in this entry. Speaking of this entry, here's what's coming up: Two drivers lose their spots on the board in two different divisions, and a red flag comes out in another. (Sounds like the perfect time to think about where my absence falls into place, doesn't it?) So I think this is the point where we just dive right into the action. It shall be like last week's entry: A quick little thing that includes enough about the event to make it worthwhile. Let's get to it, then. Here is what went down on the night of July 18.

DARE Stocks: It was a first time winner in victory lane after this race was all said and done. The other big story to come out of this race happened after a multi-car accident with a little less than two laps to go. This incident hindered the performances of a few of the top runners in the race, including Scott Roy and Norm Sears. The result of this was John Kasper and Tom Stirk on the front row for the final few laps. On the restart, Kasper moved out in front, and was able to stay out in front for his first career DARE Stock win. Stirk would finish second, followed by Todd LaPorta and Duane Provost.

SK Lights: All of the cautions in this race occured either near or after the halfway point. The yellow came out once for a spin and then twice for debris (coincidentially, both debris cautions were on the same lap). On the restart, it was Heather DesRochers pulling out in front. But on the next lap, she would get loose, go up high into the second turn, and collect three other drivers -- including Chris Bakaj. This gave the lead to Alan Provost, who would lead up to lap-16 when Chris Matthews would assume the first position. The battle was now for the second spot, which was between Provost and Mark Bakaj. Using this battle for the runner-up spot, Matthews pulled away and won his sixth feature of the season. Bakaj was able to beat Provost to the line for second, while Raymond Grassetti finished fourth. Tech would have something to say at the end of this one, however, as Grassetti's car was a bit too heavy on the left side. So he was penalized and was sent to last place.

Late Models: In the span of six weeks, two different drivers have seen victory lane. A caution before the halfway point of the race was also a factor in determining who was going to win. While Wayne Coury, Jr and Corey Hutchings were fighting for the lead, the two drivers made contact and ended up in turn four, giving the lead to Ryan Posocco. The rest of the race ran caution free, with Posocco leading every lap on the restart to the end of the race to pick up his third feature in a row and fourth of the season. At the time, the rest of the board looked like this: Woody Pitkat, Rick Charette, and Brian Chapin. But Pitkat's car was found to be illegal in the form of a failed compression test, and he was dropped to last place in the finishing order.

SK Modifieds: Two debris cautions (on the opening lap and on lap-15) weren't going to beat the one caution I ended up missing. Knowing that if I got up out of my seat, I was going to miss something, I got up after prior to one restart on lap-14. Bad timing on my part. While I stood down on the midway, the biggest accident of the night occured, bringing out the red flag in the process. It was a multi-car accident over in turn one, with about five or six (maybe even seven) different drivers named as accident cars. Up at the front of the field, however, two different drivers led the race -- Glenn Griswold for the first 14 laps, followed by Woody Pitkat after Griswold spun to kick dirt up into turn four. On the restart, Pitkat moved out in front and started to pull away from the rest of the field. The true battle for position was for second between Ted Christopher and Keith Rocco. Meanwhile, the laps ticked down and the lead for Pitkat was now at a full straightaway as he dominated the final 25 laps to win his second race of the season. It would be Christopher in second, followed by Rocco in third, and Frank Ruocco in fourth.

Limited Late Models: Let's start with the pre-race stuff. Stacey Botticello returned to the track for the first time in a few years. I got the word that she was back through a friend of mine, and when I made my way to the gate over in turn three, that was the first and last thing I basically saw. (Actually, I wasn't even behind the backstretch yet, and that's when I saw her car.) But she wasn't a factor in this race. Who was a factor? Bill Davis, though his time up in front wasn't until late in the race. For that, you'd have to go to lap-14 when Darrin Havanec took over the lead from Ed Charette... And then got loose in turn four, spun, and brought out the caution. This put Charette back into the lead, but it was only for a short time. Davis moved into the lead on the restart and then held off Andrew Durand over the last six laps (and two more cautions) to win his third race of the season. Durand finished in second, with Sean Foster in third and Kevin Gambacorta in fourth.

And that shall be it for that event. You'll love what's coming up on Friday (weather permitting): Probably the biggest race for the SK Modifieds this season. I'm talking about 150-laps of open-wheeled action and plenty of possible strategy. It's edition number five for this race. I hope you wouldn't want to miss it for the world. The schedule can be found in the usual place, if you click this link right here. In other news, next month (yes, already planning for that), we have another Whelen Modified Tour race to watch. On August 8, it'll be the 18th annual NE Dodge Dealers 150. For those of you who are looking for an entry list, you can find it right here. So until the end of the week, stay safe and dry. Hopefully we shall meet again.