A LOOK BACK AT THE 2005
STAFFORD MOTOR SPEEDWAY SEASON

By: Scott Running

2005 was the 21st season of the Stafford Motor Speedway / CARQUEST Auto Parts relationship. CARQUEST Auto Parts continued their NASCAR Touring division support by sponsoring the Whelen Modified Tour Spring Sizzler and CARQUEST Fall Final Weekend. CARQUEST Auto Parts brought the ISMA Supermodified cars back to Stafford for the Second Annual CARQUEST Extreme Wednesday event. Along with the ISMA Supermodifieds, NEMA Midgets, and Pro-4 Modifieds, CARQUEST lined up an all-star cast of Carl Edwards, Dave Blaney, Sammy Swindell, and Bentley Warren. Those four drivers participated in a match race using USAC Silver Crown cars, which was a precursor to CARQUEST bringing the cars back to Stafford the next season. CARQUEST also continued their support of Stafford's weekly divisions with a $150 bonus to each SK Modified® feature winner a $125 bonus to each Late Model feature winner, and a $100 bonus to each winner of the newly formed Limited Late Model division.

Track champions were Lloyd Agor in the SK Modified® division, Ryan Posocco in the Late Model division, Michael Bennett in the Limited Late Model division, and Joey Ferrigno in the DARE Stock division.

The Whelen Modified Tour made four stops to Stafford during the 2005 season with Tony Hirschman turning the half-mile into his own personal playground as he won the CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler, the August Town Fair Tire 150, and the CARQUEST Fall Final Weekend. Only Ted Christopher's win in the TSI Harley-Davidson 150, which was run in July, kept Hirschman from a clean sweep.

The Busch North Series made a two visits to Stafford during the 2005 season with Matt Kobyluck winning the Aubuchon Hardware 150 event and Ryan Moore winning the TSI Harley-Davidson 150.

The SK Modifieds® entered their 24th season of competition with Lloyd Agor securing his first career SK Modified® track championship. Agor was locked in a duel with Todd Owen for the championship that came down to the final race of the season. Owen was ahead of Agor for the championship during the Fall Final feature, but he had to retire due to mechanical trouble and Agor came away with the championship. Ted Christopher and Frank Ruocco tied for the division lead with 3 wins while other multiple feature winners for the season included Agor, Jeff Baral, Owen, and Woody Pitkat, who each won twice. Single event feature wins were taken down by Eric Berndt, Jimmy Blewett, Willie Hardie, Kenny Horton, Donny Lia, Keith Rocco, and Ronnie Silk.

The 2005 season was the 19th season of Late Model competition at Stafford and it was Ryan Posocco taking down his third consecutive track championship, matching a feat turned by Phil Rondeau from 1987-1989. Posocco only won twice during the year, but he had an amazing 15 top-5 and 18 top-10 finishes in 21 starts to place him ahead of Tom Butler in the final points rundown. Butler and Mike Quintiliano led the division with 4 wins each, while other multiple feature winners included Rick Lanagan and Posocco. Single event feature wins were scored by Marc Atkinson, Craig Collins, Scott Foster, Jr., Scott Garrity, Jim Mavlouganes, Jim Peterson, Ed Ricard, Joe Rzeszutek, and Jay Stuart.

The 2005 season was the introduction of the Limited Late Model division. Michael Bennett took the inaugural championship with a dominant season that included 14 feature victories. Andrew Durand won 6 times, while Eric Grant won a single race.

The 2005 season was the 13th season of DARE Stock competition and it was Joey Ferrigno taking home the DARE Stock track championship. Ferrigno had 3 wins on the season and he also had 12 top-5 and 18 top-10 finishes, which gave him the championship over Charlie Newman and Stacey Botticello. George Nocera, Jr. also won 3 races, including the Paradiso-Muska Shoot-Out. Stacey Botticello, Rob Dow, John Hurley, Newman, and Mike Sweeney each won twice, with Carla Botticello, David Gambacorta, Raymond Grassetti, Jeff Hubbell, Norm Sears, and Fran Siana each winning once.