Williamson Seizes the Lead at Stafford: Points Race Flips Following Stout’s Absence

Stafford Springs, CT — In a season-defining night at Stafford Motor Speedway, the Red Light Racing Modified Series Round 15 race saw a dramatic shift in the championship landscape before the green flag even dropped. With only four races remaining in the season, the event at the half-mile institution was characterized by punishing 100-degree track temperatures that rewarded drivers capable of maintaining momentum through the long, flat corners.

The biggest story of the day unfolded in the garage. Three-time defending champion and points leader Eric Stout, who held a slim 11-point lead over Dalton Williamson, was unable to start the race due to a hardware failure and power outage. This catastrophic turn of events left the door wide open for Williamson to seize control of the standings.

Brian Bianchi earned his first career pole position, but the lead was short-lived. At the drop of the green flag, Williamson used a high-side power move to sweep past Bianchi and take the lead on the first lap. While the inside line is traditionally preferred at Stafford, Williamson’s ability to carry momentum on the outside allowed him to dictate the pace for the duration of the 100-lap event.

The intensity of short-track racing surfaced early when Devin Visnaw made contact with Mark Poe, sending Poe’s machine onto its roof. While Poe was forced to retire, other drivers like Ethan Troutman narrowly avoided the carnage by taking to the grass. As the race settled in, a long train of cars formed behind the leaders, making passing exceptionally difficult. A caution on lap 39 involving Rex Hoyle and Brian Neff split the field’s strategy; drivers like Bill Benedict and Fred LeClair opted for fresh tires to carve through the field, while the top five chose to prioritize track position.

Bill Benedict’s recovery was particularly notable; after an earlier incident sent him to the back of the pack, he fought his way back to a ninth-place finish. Meanwhile, AJ Hamel showed early speed but was shuffled back during three-wide racing and eventually spun after contact with Ricardo Cano. Jeff Aho maintained a steady, incident-free run in third place, managing a difficult handling balance to gap the rest of the field and secure a podium finish.

The closing laps featured a persistent duel between Williamson and Bianchi. Bianchi remained glued to the leader’s bumper, applying constant pressure, but Williamson never relinquished the top spot. Dalton Williamson led all 100 laps to secure his third victory of the season and take over the championship lead. The top five was rounded out by Brian Bianchi, Jeff Aho, Joshua Buckley, and Patrick Stout. With Eric Stout’s absence, the series now heads to New Hampshire and Richmond with a new favorite for the Season 15 crown.