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 STAFFORD,
CT----John Blewett, III of Howell, NJ didn't want any of the drama that a last
lap pass for the win might have created. Especially when it's your brother that
your passing for the lead and robbing him of his first career tour win.
John passed brother, Jimmy with 14 laps remaining to win the previously rained
out 150 lap race at the Stafford Motor Speedway before a mediocre crowd at on
July 4th.
Jimmy, better known as 'Showtime' nearly lived up to the billing but he decided
not to pit at all during the race and if a late race caution hadn't come out, it
might be Jimmy notch his first win.
John Blewett drove his #66 family owned car deep into turn one on lap 136 and
then pulled away to grab his third tour win at Stafford and the eighth of his
career.
"Jimmy raced me real clean and I knew that he would." John told the media after
the race that was run with the threat of severe thunderstorms, which never
materielized. "I have to thank my whole family for this win."
John pitted for tires on lap 64 and he credited the crew with getting him out
ahead of many of the other front runners, who also pitted.
 "The
guys did a great job on the pit stop. I knew that we had to get out as quick as
possible and beat them." Once back on the track, John used his experience and
slowly worked his way back to the front as he passed Donnie Lia for second on
lap 132 and then hunted his brother down for the win.
"I knew that if I had any shot for the win that it would come right after the
caution." John said, "I didn't expect to get that low on the track but Jimmy
knew that when I got to his rear bumper that he had to protect the bottom."
The move was so low in turn one that John nearly sent grass and dirt flying to
make the pass stick and then once in the lead, he pulled away for a three second
victory over Jimmy with Donnie Lia third, Zack Sylvester was fourth and fifth
was Mike Stefanik.
For Jimmy, he was thrilled with the run that he managed, especially never
pitting and he knew John would be hungry for the win.
"John ran me clean but he had tires, that was the difference." Jimmy quipped
about his best tour finish to date. "I have to give the crew a lot of credit
because they changed the whole car around. We had a pretty stable car all day
and we continued to turn good lap times."
Jimmy said the onset of possible rain and thunderstorms that they decided to
stay on the track and not pit, a strategy that on most night would be enough to
get him to victory lane but the showers that headed east seemed to fizzle once
they crossed into Connecticut.
When Jimmy, who was suspended from weekly competition at Stafford for rough
riding earlier this year, started on the front row and he quickly moved out
front.
There was a rash of several early cautions which slowed the field as Jimmy
Blewett was able to hold of the charges of Todd Szegedy.
For the first 50 laps, he was able to set a comfortable pace but things began to
heat up when Reggie Ruggiero, the modified veteran on the tour and especially at
Stafford moved into second on lap 51.
Ruggiero looked high and low for several laps and was about to make a move on
lap 60 when he dove the Dick Barney owned car low in turn one and appeared to
grab the lead but exiting turn two, the car came around on the 'Reg' bringing
out a caution.
This was the caution that all of the leaders looked for as a slew of cars came
down pit road for fresh tires.
James Civali, who has shown steady improvement on the tour this year and also
didn't pit now had his sights set on Jimmy Blewett.
Civali made a nice cross over move on lap 70 for the lead but Jimmy returned the
favor just two lap later. Civali repaid Blewett on lap 74 to regain the top
spot.
Once the competitors clicked off lap 76, a breath of air was let out as the
crews knew it was now an official race.
As the drivers slowed for a caution on lap 88, when Danny Sammons and Richard
Savery came together, it set up another bid for the lead and this time Jimmy
went past as something broke in Civali's machine.
With Civali out of the way, Donnie Lia was in second but Jimmy seemed to be able
to pull away and extend his advantage.
Anthony Selsey was turning in a stellar performance running in the top five but
John Blewett, with the advantage of new tires went past Selsey and Sylvester
into third on lap 115.
Many wondered in the press box if Jimmy would have enough to hold off Lia and
his brother if the race ran green to the end that that was settled on lap 125
when Reggie Ruggiero spun in turn two after working his way back into the top
ten.
Now with the two leaders right in front of him, John wasted little time getting
Lia and the used just a couple of laps setting up his brother to take the win.
The rest of the Top ten was Ted Chirstopher for sixth, Tony Hirschman, Selsey
for eighth with Matt Hirschman ninth and a dead heat for tenth as Jerry Marquis
and Ruggiero crossed side by side at the checkered.
MOD TOUR NOTES
Donnie Lia has a good day for the the Long Island driver but not enough to
garner the win. "We were just a bit tight all day. We tried to play the (rain)
strategy but I just tried to be conservative with the car."
Ted Christopher made the most of a bad day as he noticed that the car was
skipping as he was in line for time trials. He withdrew from the qualifying line
and his crew changed motors and he took a provisionial spot.
Mike Stefanik won the Bud Pole award as he bested Tony Hirschman, Todd Szegedy,
Lia and Ronnie Silk.
The purse for the 150 lap event was $83,695 with Blewett earning over $6,000 for
the win. He also became the fifth different winner in as many races this season.
The weather, as mentioned certainly held the crowd down as did the 4th holiday
but overall, Stafford must be pleased with the crowd.
The next race for the NASCAR Whelen modified tour will be Saturday, July 15th
when the modifieds invade the New Hampshire International Speedway. Tony Stewart
and Carl Edwards will be the two Nextel Cup drivers looking to steal the
modified cash. |
