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Stafford SK notebook: Kopcik, Rocco prevail in SK feature and TC 13

Paul Lambert/STS

Stephen Kopcik wins 40-lap SK feature

Getting his first win of 2019 in the SK Modified division at Stafford was Stephen Kopcik, holding off Keith Rocco and Ronnie Williams in yet another Modified thriller.

“We’ve been winless since 2017, and the same people from then still stand on my crew today,” Kopcik said. “I couldn’t do it without them.”

Nick Salva and Mike Christopher Jr. started on the front row for the SK feature. Salva led the opening portion of the race until Matt Galko took the spot.

On a lap eight restart, a massive jam in the outside lane allowed Christopher to take the lead. Suddenly, however, Christopher slowed on the backstretch on lap 11, and he was forced to pit.

Galko made his way back to the lead, but Joseph Cipriano took it on lap 15.

Ronnie Williams got past Cipriano on lap 19 to take the lead, and quickly pulled away from the pack. A spin involving David Arute and Galko would erase that lead and set up a restart with only 12 laps to go.

Stephen Kopcik got alongside Williams and took the lead with nine to go. Williams, however, was not finished yet. He continued to stalk Kopcik, and battled back alongside, but Rocco jumped to his inside with two laps to go, giving Kopcik enough breathing room to hang on for the win.

“Kid Rock” gets TC 13 Shootout win

Pocketing an additional $1,313 with a win in the Ted Christopher 13 Shootout was Rocco, as he fended off a strong challenge from Todd Owen.

Rocco, who was a member of the late Christopher’s pit crew, savored the moment in Victory Lane.

“This is better than winning the [SK] 5K,” Rocco said. “This means more than anything… That was a really good race.”

Eric Berndt would start on the pole for the 13-lap event, as the number drawn for the invert was seven.

Cipriano took the lead going into turn three on lap one. Todd Owen quickly applied pressure and got by Cipriano on lap three. Two laps later, it was Rocco out front.

Owen fought back, getting underneath Rocco to retake the lead on lap eight.

The two stayed side-by-side until Rocco got back out front with two laps to go.

A last-lap attempt by Owen to get back by Rocco was in vain, as Rocco absorbed the shot to the rear end and pulled away to get the victory.

The results for both races can be found below.

SK Modifieds:

  1. Stephen Kopcik
  2. Keith Rocco
  3. Ronnie Williams
  4. Todd Owen
  5. Glen Reen
  6. Joseph Cipriano
  7. Eric Berndt
  8. Andrew Molleur
  9. Kyle James
  10. Dan Wesson
  11. Tony Membrino
  12. Joey Ternullo
  13. David Arute
  14. Michael Gervais
  15. Tyler Leary
  16. Dan Avery
  17. Matt Galko
  18. Tyler Hines
  19. Marcello Rufrano
  20. Tyler Jones
  21. Ed Spiers
  22. Nick Salva
  23. Troy Talman
  24. Cory DiMatteo
  25. Mike Christopher Jr.
  26. Doug Meservey

TC 13 Shootout:

  1. Keith Rocco
  2. Todd Owen
  3. Stephen Kopcik
  4. Joseph Cipriano
  5. Eric Berndt
  6. Ronnie Williams
  7. Andrew Molleur
  8. Glen Reen
  9. Tony Membrino Jr.
  10. Dan Wesson
  11. David Arute
  12. Joey Ternullo Jr.
  13. Kyle James

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Paul Lambert is an aspiring collegiate journalist. A writer and broadcaster, Paul's excited to cover New England short track racing in 2022. Paul has also been published in the Boston Herald, Speedway Illustrated and on Autoweek.com.

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  1. Pingback: PIT BOX: Whelen Modified Tour Hits Magic Mile For Two – NASCAR Home Tracks

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