STAFFORD - The reward for surviving Sunday at Stafford Motor Speedway was a trip to victory lane for the first time in five years for Eric Berndt.
Berndt held off Ted Christopher on a late restart to win the caution-marred 40-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified feature Sunday at the CarQuest Fall Final at Stafford.
It was Berndt's first SK Modified victory at the track since Sept. 1, 2006.
"I'm glad to be back," Berndt said. "It's been a long road."
It was the 10th career SK Modified victory at Stafford for Berndt, who won his first at the track at the Fall Final on Sept. 24, 2000.
Glen Reen of Wilbraham, Mass. was second and Christopher, of Plainville, third.
It was sweet redemption for Berndt, who saw what looked like a sure victory at the track slip away thanks to a bad restart with two laps remaining on Sept. 2. On that night Berndt was driving a car loaned to him by fellow Stafford Speedway competitor Keith Rocco.
Sunday Berndt, also a regular on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour,?held off Christopher on a lap 37 restart and cruised over the closing two laps to the win.
"I was comfortable in my own car," Berndt said. "I knew I had to hit it perfect and I did. I knew what we needed to do."
Christopher lost second place to Reen on the restart.
"I really didn't need that [final caution]," Christopher said. "We got underneath [Berndt] going into [turn] four [before the caution flew]. We caught him and stuff. But on the restart we just didn't go. What are you going to do? It was a good run from the back and it was fun."
Berndt started eighth in the field and was up to second by lap 12. On lap 17 Berndt went past Todd Owen to take the lead. Keith Rocco, who started the race 31st, was up to fourth by lap 23 before contact from Dan Avery sent him spinning.
Rocco battled back again from the rear and was up to seventh by lap 33 when sparks began to fly between himself and James Civali. Rocco used a tap to get by Civali for sixth place, but it was Civali who returned the favor with multiple bangs to Rocco's rear. When the caution flew on lap 37 Stafford Speedway officials made the decision to eject Civali from the event for over aggressive driving.
Rocco ended up fifth.
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Source: http://blogs.courant.com/autoracing/2011/10/eric-berndt-ends-long-winless.html
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