By Lou Modestino

Stafford Speedway returned to NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing action with the Inaugural NAPA Auto Parts SK 5k, which paid the winner $5,000 out of a purse of over $27,000.

Stafford Speedway held an online vote prior to the race with fans able to vote on the qualifying procedure, the number of laps for the feature, the tire rule, and how the lineup would be handicapped. The qualifying, tire rule, and handicapping procedures were decided by the fan vote prior to the race but the lap number remained a mystery to everyone. A weighted draw was held just prior to the start of the race with the top-3 fan choices of 76, 80, and 100 laps in a bucket. The 100-lap chip was drawn, making the race 100-laps long.

After a 2014 season that has seen more downs than ups for Huntingdon Valley, PA driver Rowan Pennink, He used a strong move in turns 3+4 to take the lead from Ryan Preece as they were heading towards the white flag and took home the $5,000 winner’s check.

In other feature action during the night, Jay Stuart recorded his second consecutive Late Model feature victory, Dylan Menditto won the SK Light feature, David Arute took his first Ltd. Late Model checkered flag of the 2014, Frank L’Etoile, Jr. picked up his first win of the 2014 season in the DARE Stock feature, and Mike Christopher, Jr. picked up his first win of the year in the Legend Cars feature.

SK Modified 100 Finish

1) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa

2) Ted Christopher, Plainville

3) Frank Ruocco, Cheshire

4) Keith Rocco, Berlin

5) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Ma

6) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs

7) Todd Owen, Somers

8) Chase Dowling, Roxbury

9) Brian Sullivan, South Windsor

10) Dan Avery, Somers

11) Eric Berndt, Cromwell

12) Sean Foster, Willington

13) Tommy Membrino, Jr., Prospect

14) Michael Gervais, Jr., Southbury

15) Curt Brainard, Canton

16) Zach Sylvester, Lebanon

17) Tony Membrino, Jr., Plantsville

18) Richie Pallai, Jr., Yorktown Heights, Ny

19) Ryan Preece, Berlin

20) Tom Bolles, Ellington

21) Matt Galko, Meriden

22) Nick Boivin, Belchertown, Ma

23) Ronnie Williams, Tolland

24) Joey Cipriano, III, Waterbury

25) Danny Cates, Chaplin

26) Doug Coby, Middletown

27) Chris Jones, New Milford