RGeeProductions
05-15-2011, 12:06 AM
Rocco back in Victory Lane for the SK Modifieds®;
Andronaco, Puleo, Cembruch other NWAAS winners while Dimatteo and Martin
also claim wins
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action
was back at the Waterford Speedbowl Saturday evening. Six divisions were
in competition on the night, with Wallingford’s Keith Rocco, the defending
division champion, returning to the winner’s circle in the SK Modifieds®.
Brian Andronaco Jr. of Wilton was the winner in a very exciting Bob
Valenti Auto Mall Late Model race, his first on the season. Ed Puleo of
Branford went back-to-back, winning another Street Stock feature on the
year, his third overall. A first time winner took the checkered flag in
the Mini Stock feature with third generation racer Jeffrey Cembruch of
Wallingford capturing the event. Rounding out the night’s winners were
Farmington racer Dana Dimatteo in the Legends Cars and Taylor Martin of
Windham, NH, who won the Bandolero feature.
Rocco wasted no time making moves to get out front in the 35-lap SK
Modified® feature. Glenn Pressel was the early leader, taking command at
the initial start of the race. Tom Abele Jr., Tucker Reynolds Jr., and
Rocco bolted by the inside of Joe Perry to make up the top-four positions
as the field completed lap-3.
Abele quickly got by Pressel for the race lead, trying to put distance
between he and the field behind. Rocco was outside of Reynolds for third
two laps later, taking the position on lap-5. Rocco darted to the inside
of Pressel to take second position a lap later. He then closed in on
Abele for the race lead, moving to the leader’s back bumper pressuring for
the spot. Rocco looked low down the backstretch on lap-7, tucked back in
line, then used the same move down the backstretch to find room underneath
Abele into turn three on lap-8. He spent a lap underneath Abele before
taking possession of the lead as the field raced to lap-9.
Behind Rocco, Tyler Chadwick was moving up rapidly, working his way to
second position by lap-16 after spending multiple laps trying to find his
way around Abele. The race’s only caution flag waved on lap-17 when Joe
Perry spun racing to the inside of Pressel into turn one.
Rocco mastered the only restart he needed to, resuming control over
Chadwick. As the laps clicked off, Rocco continued to slowly stretch out
his lead to a straightaway advantage at the checkered flag. Chadwick ran
well to finish in second position. Kyle James used several maneuvers to
come through the top ten to take third place at the finish, his second
strong showing in as many weeks. Abele and Reynolds completed the
top-five.
The 30-lap Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature was led from the green
flag by Andronaco, but by no means was his route to victory an easy one.
Ernie Bertrand spun from contention on lap-2 while battling with Andronaco
within the top-three spots, bringing out the race’s first caution.
When racing went back to green Joe Curioso challenged Andronaco for the
race lead on the restart. Curioso held his ground in the outside lane for
several laps to remain in contention. Curioso had the power down the
straights but Andronaco rallied in the inside lane through the corners to
remain scored as the leader, keeping the battle for the lead a dogfight.
Behind that battle, Jason Palmer and Rich Staskowski battled for third
position with Bruce Thomas Jr. and Jeff Smith side-by-side tucked in line
behind those two racing for fifth position. The tussle among the top-six
was interrupted on lap-13 when Greg Butler Jr. went around in turn one
collecting Bertrand who made hard contact with the barrier, bringing out
the second and final caution of the race.
The race at the front by the top six was more of the same once the green
flag was shown again. Curioso was able to nudge ahead into the lead on
lap-17, and he and Andronaco swapped the lead for each of the next five
laps. Thomas moved outside Palmer for third, appearing ready to make a
move if a lane opened up.
The top two remained in a dead heat to the white flag. Andronaco was able
to pull out to a half car length over Curioso over the final half-lap, the
most distance between the two all race. Off turn four, Andronaco grabbed
the checkered flag to take his first win of the year. Coming to the
finish line Thomas attempted a three-wide move that resulted in the rest
of the top-five sliding across the line sideways. Palmer was scored
finishing second, Curioso third, Thomas fourth and Smith in fifth as the
group crashed into turn one.
Norm Root was the race leader of the 25-lap Street Stock feature for the
opening circuits. He was using a high line around the Speedbowl to
maintain his lead, however that provided Puleo room to challenge on the
bottom of the track. Root was very fast along the very top groove through
the corners, but Puleo was able to inch his was alongside, and eventually
past, into the lead on lap-11.
As the race moved past its halfway mark, Puleo cruised out ahead of Root,
who had to hold off Brandon Plemons for second. Caution waved on lap-20
when Chris Kvaka was stranded on the infield between turns one and two.
Puleo restarted the race strong and went on to his second consecutive win
in the division. Plemons spun from contention out of turn two once the
race restarted, continuing on without caution but surrendering his good
run. Root chased Puleo to the line to finish second ahead of Al Stone,
Steve Barrett and Charles Beal.
Cembruch used the fifth starting position to aid his efforts in a first
career feature win in the 25-lap Mini Stock race. Ray Christian took over
the race lead from Brian Norman on lap-8, with Cembruch closing in from
third position in rapid fashion. Cembruch followed in Christian’s tire
tracks, powering around the outside of Norman into second on lap-9.
Caution on lap-11 for a multiple car incident in turn two provided
Cembruch the chance to line up alongside Christian on the front row.
Cembruch was strong following the restart, going on to pull out to a
comfortable advantage over the competition. He surged to the victory from
there as the race remained caution-free over the final 14 circuits. Phil
Evans, Glenn Colvin, Bill Leonard and Ian Brew finished second through
fifth, battling for position to the checkered flag in two and three-wide
fashion over the final laps.
Dimatteo captured the win in the Legends Cars feature, surviving multiple
caution flags. The top spot was a hot potato early in the event with
several drivers including Dave Garbo Jr., Alessandro Vitelli, and Joey
Mucciacciaro unable to keep the spot over the opening laps. Once in
front, Dimatteo was virtually unchallenged in taking the win. Giovanni
Giarratana, Paul Kusheba, Mucciacciaro and Ed Field rounded out the
top-five finishers.
Martin dominated the Bandolero race, taking her third Saturday Showdown
Series victory.
Next Saturday night marks the debut of the SK Light division at the
Speedbowl, competing in a 20-lap event that will also see the Speedbowl’s
X-Modified competitors in action. The track’s other NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series SK Modified®, Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model, Street
Stock and Mini Stock divisions will also compete. The Super X-Car
Saturday Showdown Series will also return for a cameo appearance.
In addition to next Saturday, the shoreline oval will be in action on
Wednesday for round two of Wild ‘n Wacky racing, plus Friday’s Show and Go
at the ‘Bowl with spectator drags and cruise night car show. All the
information for each event is available at Speedbowl.com (http://www.speedbowl.com).
(continued)
Andronaco, Puleo, Cembruch other NWAAS winners while Dimatteo and Martin
also claim wins
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action
was back at the Waterford Speedbowl Saturday evening. Six divisions were
in competition on the night, with Wallingford’s Keith Rocco, the defending
division champion, returning to the winner’s circle in the SK Modifieds®.
Brian Andronaco Jr. of Wilton was the winner in a very exciting Bob
Valenti Auto Mall Late Model race, his first on the season. Ed Puleo of
Branford went back-to-back, winning another Street Stock feature on the
year, his third overall. A first time winner took the checkered flag in
the Mini Stock feature with third generation racer Jeffrey Cembruch of
Wallingford capturing the event. Rounding out the night’s winners were
Farmington racer Dana Dimatteo in the Legends Cars and Taylor Martin of
Windham, NH, who won the Bandolero feature.
Rocco wasted no time making moves to get out front in the 35-lap SK
Modified® feature. Glenn Pressel was the early leader, taking command at
the initial start of the race. Tom Abele Jr., Tucker Reynolds Jr., and
Rocco bolted by the inside of Joe Perry to make up the top-four positions
as the field completed lap-3.
Abele quickly got by Pressel for the race lead, trying to put distance
between he and the field behind. Rocco was outside of Reynolds for third
two laps later, taking the position on lap-5. Rocco darted to the inside
of Pressel to take second position a lap later. He then closed in on
Abele for the race lead, moving to the leader’s back bumper pressuring for
the spot. Rocco looked low down the backstretch on lap-7, tucked back in
line, then used the same move down the backstretch to find room underneath
Abele into turn three on lap-8. He spent a lap underneath Abele before
taking possession of the lead as the field raced to lap-9.
Behind Rocco, Tyler Chadwick was moving up rapidly, working his way to
second position by lap-16 after spending multiple laps trying to find his
way around Abele. The race’s only caution flag waved on lap-17 when Joe
Perry spun racing to the inside of Pressel into turn one.
Rocco mastered the only restart he needed to, resuming control over
Chadwick. As the laps clicked off, Rocco continued to slowly stretch out
his lead to a straightaway advantage at the checkered flag. Chadwick ran
well to finish in second position. Kyle James used several maneuvers to
come through the top ten to take third place at the finish, his second
strong showing in as many weeks. Abele and Reynolds completed the
top-five.
The 30-lap Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature was led from the green
flag by Andronaco, but by no means was his route to victory an easy one.
Ernie Bertrand spun from contention on lap-2 while battling with Andronaco
within the top-three spots, bringing out the race’s first caution.
When racing went back to green Joe Curioso challenged Andronaco for the
race lead on the restart. Curioso held his ground in the outside lane for
several laps to remain in contention. Curioso had the power down the
straights but Andronaco rallied in the inside lane through the corners to
remain scored as the leader, keeping the battle for the lead a dogfight.
Behind that battle, Jason Palmer and Rich Staskowski battled for third
position with Bruce Thomas Jr. and Jeff Smith side-by-side tucked in line
behind those two racing for fifth position. The tussle among the top-six
was interrupted on lap-13 when Greg Butler Jr. went around in turn one
collecting Bertrand who made hard contact with the barrier, bringing out
the second and final caution of the race.
The race at the front by the top six was more of the same once the green
flag was shown again. Curioso was able to nudge ahead into the lead on
lap-17, and he and Andronaco swapped the lead for each of the next five
laps. Thomas moved outside Palmer for third, appearing ready to make a
move if a lane opened up.
The top two remained in a dead heat to the white flag. Andronaco was able
to pull out to a half car length over Curioso over the final half-lap, the
most distance between the two all race. Off turn four, Andronaco grabbed
the checkered flag to take his first win of the year. Coming to the
finish line Thomas attempted a three-wide move that resulted in the rest
of the top-five sliding across the line sideways. Palmer was scored
finishing second, Curioso third, Thomas fourth and Smith in fifth as the
group crashed into turn one.
Norm Root was the race leader of the 25-lap Street Stock feature for the
opening circuits. He was using a high line around the Speedbowl to
maintain his lead, however that provided Puleo room to challenge on the
bottom of the track. Root was very fast along the very top groove through
the corners, but Puleo was able to inch his was alongside, and eventually
past, into the lead on lap-11.
As the race moved past its halfway mark, Puleo cruised out ahead of Root,
who had to hold off Brandon Plemons for second. Caution waved on lap-20
when Chris Kvaka was stranded on the infield between turns one and two.
Puleo restarted the race strong and went on to his second consecutive win
in the division. Plemons spun from contention out of turn two once the
race restarted, continuing on without caution but surrendering his good
run. Root chased Puleo to the line to finish second ahead of Al Stone,
Steve Barrett and Charles Beal.
Cembruch used the fifth starting position to aid his efforts in a first
career feature win in the 25-lap Mini Stock race. Ray Christian took over
the race lead from Brian Norman on lap-8, with Cembruch closing in from
third position in rapid fashion. Cembruch followed in Christian’s tire
tracks, powering around the outside of Norman into second on lap-9.
Caution on lap-11 for a multiple car incident in turn two provided
Cembruch the chance to line up alongside Christian on the front row.
Cembruch was strong following the restart, going on to pull out to a
comfortable advantage over the competition. He surged to the victory from
there as the race remained caution-free over the final 14 circuits. Phil
Evans, Glenn Colvin, Bill Leonard and Ian Brew finished second through
fifth, battling for position to the checkered flag in two and three-wide
fashion over the final laps.
Dimatteo captured the win in the Legends Cars feature, surviving multiple
caution flags. The top spot was a hot potato early in the event with
several drivers including Dave Garbo Jr., Alessandro Vitelli, and Joey
Mucciacciaro unable to keep the spot over the opening laps. Once in
front, Dimatteo was virtually unchallenged in taking the win. Giovanni
Giarratana, Paul Kusheba, Mucciacciaro and Ed Field rounded out the
top-five finishers.
Martin dominated the Bandolero race, taking her third Saturday Showdown
Series victory.
Next Saturday night marks the debut of the SK Light division at the
Speedbowl, competing in a 20-lap event that will also see the Speedbowl’s
X-Modified competitors in action. The track’s other NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series SK Modified®, Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model, Street
Stock and Mini Stock divisions will also compete. The Super X-Car
Saturday Showdown Series will also return for a cameo appearance.
In addition to next Saturday, the shoreline oval will be in action on
Wednesday for round two of Wild ‘n Wacky racing, plus Friday’s Show and Go
at the ‘Bowl with spectator drags and cruise night car show. All the
information for each event is available at Speedbowl.com (http://www.speedbowl.com).
(continued)