Long Island Motorsports News - Lisa Pignatare Column

August 4, Westfield, MA--- For the first time this season I was in shock. The SK Modifieds actually behaved themselves. When the green flag dropped it was the #90 of Todd Owen jumping into the lead. As Owen led, fourth on back was battling side by side. Even though Owen was able to escape the side by side battles, he couldn’t escape the clutches of the #3 of Jeff Malave. By lap three Malave was able to take the lead. Following Malave for position was the # 51 of Zach Sylvester. Sylvester didn’t waste anytime challenging for the lead. On lap six Sylvester took over the lead. By lap twelve the field had started to settle down and started to act like the premier division that they are. As usual, making there way through the field quietly was the #13 of TC Ted Christopher and the #52 of Woody Pitkat. By lap twenty the first caution flag flew. I was genuinely shocked because in previous weeks the SK’s have had at least two cautions by now. And this was the first of only four cautions. By lap twenty five Pitkat was able to take the lead from Sylvester. Pitkat was able to walk away with the feature win.
In the Late Models it was the #4 of Tom Butler taking a slim lead over the #64 of Michael Bennett. Not even with one lap in the books Butler and Bennett were beating and banging on each other for the top spot. Managing to hold a slim lead was Butler. By lap four though Bennett was finally able to secure the lead. After a brief caution Butler regained the lead. As Butler pulled away the battles from second back were very slim. At this time the top four cars were Butler, the #90 of Corey Hutchings, the #3 of Ryan Posocco and the #17 of Jim Peterson.

While watching all this I was shocked to see that Woody Pitkat in the #48 was running back in the sixteenth spot. With two laps left in the race is when I thought the race was at its best. Posocco, who was running second at this time, finally caught up to Butler. While watching all this I along with the others in the press box was wondering what was going to happen. Posocco was able to take the lead and the win.

The SK Lights saw Heather DesRochers in the #10 take the lead at the drop of the green. DesRochers was able to jump out to a great lead but a lap one caution took the that away from her. When I saw DesRochers in the lead, I was pretty happy to see a female do well up front in a male dominated sport. DesRochers held the lead for two laps due to the hard charging Brit Anderson in the #70. On a restart on lap five DesRochers was able to regain the lead while Anderson fell to the third position. Not long after the restart the #08 of Joe Allegro, Jr. took the lead. Following Allegro was Anderson. Anderson quickly took the lead and never looked back. Anderson was able to take down the lead.

In the Limited Late Models it was the #22 of Sean Foster taking down the win.

Visiting victory lane for the first time in the D.A.R.E Stock division was the #41 of Dan Flannery.

Next week at Stafford the Whelan Modified Tour will be competing in a 150 lap event.

Disclaimer: Views expressed by columnists and all others on this website are strictly their own, and may not necessarily reflect the views and/or opinions of the management of Long Island Motorsports News.