Three, Two ... ONE — Gervais Wins At Stafford Motor Speedway

By David S. Smith

STAFFORD SPRINGS — The countdown was on at Stafford Motor Speedway for race car driver Michael Gervais Jr on Friday night May 25. Coming off two consecutive podium finishes, a third place backed up by a second place finish just two weeks ago, crew members joked with the young driver prior to the race, counting down “three – two,” then pausing for Gervais to respond with “one.” And “one” it was as the former go-cart, Legend Car and SK Light Champion powered his Gervais Brothers Roofing SK Modified to the front of the pack midway through the 40 lap event and piloted his way into victory lane with a decisive win.

The win, the first of his career in an SK Modified, has vaulted Gervais to the top of the points chase at Jack Arute’s Stafford Motor Speedway, “The Home of the SK Modifieds.” Gervais leads the points race over NASCAR legend Ted Christopher, Eric Berndt, and the 2011 Stafford Motor Speedway SK Modified Champion Ryan Preece. Woody Pitkat rounds out the top five in points.

In a post race interview from Victory Lane, Gervais stated: “From the start of the race the car felt awesome, I kept my nose clean and just drove out to the front.” Gervais went on to thank his local sponsors from the winners circle, NJK Automotive, Dave Smith Racing, Mark Edwards Siding, Arbitell Convenience Stores, and T/A Engines for the “awesome power.”

“Michael has done a heck of a good job in a very difficult and competitive field of race cars,” stated Mark Arute, Stafford Motor Speedway’s Chief Operating Officer and General Manager. “He is an up and coming star, a great race car driver with a great team. They are doing everything right and we are very excited for him.”

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour was also in town on the 25th with Doug Coby bringing home the checker in the TSI Harley Davidson 125. Bobby Santos III claimed second, Ron Silk came in third, and Newtown’s Dunleavy Repair sponsored car driven by Todd Szegedy crossed the finish line in fourth.

Other racing throughout the night included another victory for Dylan Kopec in the SK Lights, Tom Fearn captured the checker in the Late Model feature and D.J. Burnham crossed the line first in the Limited Late Model division.

In other area racing news, Stevie Kopcik started his NJK sponsored Legends Car from the pole position at Waterford Speedbowl on May 23. The 14 year old driver maintained the lead until the National points leader and other track champions muscled him back to fifth. On his way to a good finish, Kopcik was caught up in a turn-two wreck and was unable to finish. Look for the driver of the “21” in a white “34 coupe” this weekend, as Kopcik’s red sedan was bent beyond repair in lasts weeks mishap. 

Stafford Motor Speedway hosts a full lineup of racing every Friday night. Ticket information and updated results and standings can be found at www.staffordmotorspeedway.com.