RGeeProductions
06-19-2011, 09:38 AM
Pressel and Pearl capture bookend SK Modified® wins
Thomas, Meyer, Williams and Cipriano also score NWAAS victories; Avery in
NETS winner's circle
Waterford Speedbowl returned to action
with a busy night on Saturday, hosting Whelen Engineering Night. All five
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions were in action, plus the
visiting New England Truck Series. A held-over SK Modified® feature was
also on the program making for a seven event night full of classic action
at the shoreline oval in front of a jammed crowd.
Gales Ferry competitor Glenn Pressel III took down his first career win in
a held over 35-lap SK Modified® race from May 28, while veteran Jeff Pearl
of Salem picked up his 36th career win in the regularly scheduled feature
on the night. In Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model action, multi-time
division champion Bruce Thomas Jr. of Groton returned to the winner’s
circle. Chris Meyer of North Franklin won a highly entertaining and
competitive Street Stock feature, Chris Williams of Niantic won his second
Mini Stock feature on the year and Joe Cipriano of Waterbury was the SK
Light Modified race winner. Hometown driver Jonathon Avery of Waterford
took the checkered flag in the New England Truck Series feature.
The first 35-lap SK Modified® feature started with a strong field of
competitors. Pressel charged out to the early lead from the pole starting
position, jumping ahead of Tom Abele Jr. during an opening eight-lap
charge. Tucker Reynolds Jr., Matt Gallo and Tyler Chadwick were part of
the early top-five when the first caution waved as Adam Gada and Jeff
Pearl found trouble in turn four on lap-8.
After a cleanup for fluid down on the speedway, two more laps were
recorded before Frank Mucciacciaro Jr. spun in turn three in the middle of
the pack, returning the race to caution. Reynolds had advanced to the
second spot during the sprint and lined up outside Pressel for the
restart. One more lap was complete before Reynolds and Abele got together
in turn two on lap-11, sending Reynolds around and Abele to the pits with
suspension damage.
Rob Janovic Jr. was now outside Pressel with Chadwick and defending
champion Keith Rocco lined up behind the front two looking for racing
room. The action at the front was intense with the top group of cars
racing just inches apart. That ended with too much contact between
Chadwick and Rocco, sending both cars crashing hard into the turn three
wall on lap-17. The chain reaction incident also collected Gallo, Kyle
James, Reynolds and Pearl, with only Pearl able to resume. All drivers
were ok following the incident.
After the delay to clear the track, Diego Monahan and Ted Christopher were
behind Pressel and Janovic. Monahan got by Janovic for second position,
leaving Christopher to spar with Janovic. Eventually Janovic got away in
the third spot and tracked down Monahan. He moved in on Monahan’s back
bumper while Christopher was all alone in fourth position. Jeffrey Gallup
spun on the front chute on lap-29 to return the race to yellow flag
conditions, bringing the field back to Pressel’s rear bumper.
Pressel got a clean restart and with five laps to go, Monahan bobbled in
turn two backing up the outside lane. That allowed Pressel breathing room
to stretch out a lead he would not surrender. He withstood a last lap
challenge by Janovic, going on to the career first win. Janovic, Monahan,
Christopher and Mucciacciaro completed the top five.
In the regularly scheduled 35-lap SK Modified® feature, Nichole Morgillo
was out to the lead from her pole starting position. Trouble on lap-2 in
turn one saw Joey Gada spin into the wall, making hard contact. Others
including Pete Pavone, Christopher and Mike Gada all piled in behind to
bring out the yellow flag.
Morgillo shut the door on a challenge to the low side of the track by
James when racing resumed. She then settled into the groove and led
James, who was ahead of a three-way battle between Janovic, Reynolds and
Chadwick for third. Rocco moved in behind that pack, in a ride borrowed
for the second race of the night. Two cars spun in turns three and four
at the tail of the field, returning the race to caution on lap-8.
When the race went back under green things got interesting at the front.
Morgillo led, however a freight train behind her entering turn three on
lap-9 caused a case of bumper tag among the leaders. Morgillo, Janovic
and Rocco all made contact, sending Morgillo out of the preferred groove
to gather her car. Janovic, Rocco and Pearl led a string of cars to scoot
by to Morgillo’s inside.
Once the leaders established a rhythm and received some racing room to
work, Janovic and Rocco moved out to a four length lead over Pearl. Rocco
went to work looking all over Janovic for the race lead. He finally made
his move on lap-13 with a diving move into turn one. Janovic tried to
fight back on lap-14 to no avail. The running order up front remained
unchanged until a series of cautions on lap-21 that set up a wild finish.
On two restart attempts, Pearl made maneuvers to challenge Rocco and
Janovic for the lead. Each time however, the caution would fly before the
lap was scored complete. On the second attempt a three-wide battle for
the race lead exiting turn two ended with Janovic, Reynolds, Perry and
others coming together out of turn four to keep the race halted under
caution. Under that delay Rocco had a right rear tire go down, sending
him to the pits for repair.
After the dust settled, Pearl was the leader over Chadwick and Kyle James.
The field ran six laps of hard racing with Chadwick challenging Pearl,
who was able to hang on. James raced inside Chadwick to challenge,
eventually moving by Chadwick on lap-29 who began to fade in the outside
lane. A final caution flag waved for Mucciaccario, who was spun exiting
turn four on lap-33.
Pearl mastered a final restart attempt, going on to the win. Abele
climbed up to second following the last restart ahead of Janovic, James
and Chadwick at the checkered flag.
Thomas wired the field in the 30-lap Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model
feature. He had to overcome one caution period which slowed the pace,
which occurred on lap-8. Jason Palmer spun in turn one, also collecting
Anthony Flannery. Thomas was unflappable, leaving a battle for position
behind him.
Rich Staskowski and Jeff Smith went door-to-door for much of the event for
second, with Staskowski ultimately winning out using the inside lane by
lap-18. Brian Andronaco Jr. and Vin Esposito completed the top-five
runners. The race remained under green the rest of the way, with the
field finishing in that order. It was Thomas’ third win on the season,
vaulting him into the championship point lead.
Meyer took control of the Street Stock feature at the drop of the green
flag when pole sitter Norm Root Jr. faltered on the inside of the track.
Meyer held the lead over defending track champion Al Stone III, who spent
much of the 25-laps looking for a way around Meyer. Behind the top two, a
great tussle for the third spot was being waged by Josh Galvin, Ed Puleo,
Ernie Larose and Root. Larose eventually spun from the pack in turn
four, bringing out caution and ending his run.
Over the second half of the race Stone continued to stalk Meyer for the
race lead. Behind, Galvin and Puleo were locked in an equally
entertaining battle for third. The top four put on a fabulous display of
short track auto racing for several laps. Stone actually led a handful of
laps during their fight for the win.
In the end, Meyer had the inside lane and used that to power ahead of
Stone in the closing laps. Galvin moved in to challenge Stone out of the
final corner. With both locked in a dead heat for the second spot, both
drivers got out of shape coming out of turn four to the checkered flag.
Galvin got the spot sideways, slightly ahead of Stone. Puleo and Brandon
Plemons completed the top-five.
Rookie driver Garrett Denton led the first portion of the 25-lap Mini
Stock feature looking stout at the front. A five-length lead that Denton
built up over the competition was eventually diminished by Williams, who
had raced through the top five racers to emerge in second position by
lap-8. Williams moved in on Denton, making the move to take over the lead
just before halfway on lap-12.
The race stayed under green flag conditions with Glenn Colvin racing to
Williams’ bumper. He looked poised to contend for the lead before getting
crossed up trying to rattle Williams. Colvin dropped back several lengths
and it looked like Williams may win in a run away. Caution finally waved
on lap-17, and Williams prevailed on the restart. He then endured a final
caution flag on lap-23 to take his second win on the season over Colvin.
Jeff Mehlenbacher finished third ahead of Charles Canfield and Ian Brew.
(continued)
Thomas, Meyer, Williams and Cipriano also score NWAAS victories; Avery in
NETS winner's circle
Waterford Speedbowl returned to action
with a busy night on Saturday, hosting Whelen Engineering Night. All five
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions were in action, plus the
visiting New England Truck Series. A held-over SK Modified® feature was
also on the program making for a seven event night full of classic action
at the shoreline oval in front of a jammed crowd.
Gales Ferry competitor Glenn Pressel III took down his first career win in
a held over 35-lap SK Modified® race from May 28, while veteran Jeff Pearl
of Salem picked up his 36th career win in the regularly scheduled feature
on the night. In Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model action, multi-time
division champion Bruce Thomas Jr. of Groton returned to the winner’s
circle. Chris Meyer of North Franklin won a highly entertaining and
competitive Street Stock feature, Chris Williams of Niantic won his second
Mini Stock feature on the year and Joe Cipriano of Waterbury was the SK
Light Modified race winner. Hometown driver Jonathon Avery of Waterford
took the checkered flag in the New England Truck Series feature.
The first 35-lap SK Modified® feature started with a strong field of
competitors. Pressel charged out to the early lead from the pole starting
position, jumping ahead of Tom Abele Jr. during an opening eight-lap
charge. Tucker Reynolds Jr., Matt Gallo and Tyler Chadwick were part of
the early top-five when the first caution waved as Adam Gada and Jeff
Pearl found trouble in turn four on lap-8.
After a cleanup for fluid down on the speedway, two more laps were
recorded before Frank Mucciacciaro Jr. spun in turn three in the middle of
the pack, returning the race to caution. Reynolds had advanced to the
second spot during the sprint and lined up outside Pressel for the
restart. One more lap was complete before Reynolds and Abele got together
in turn two on lap-11, sending Reynolds around and Abele to the pits with
suspension damage.
Rob Janovic Jr. was now outside Pressel with Chadwick and defending
champion Keith Rocco lined up behind the front two looking for racing
room. The action at the front was intense with the top group of cars
racing just inches apart. That ended with too much contact between
Chadwick and Rocco, sending both cars crashing hard into the turn three
wall on lap-17. The chain reaction incident also collected Gallo, Kyle
James, Reynolds and Pearl, with only Pearl able to resume. All drivers
were ok following the incident.
After the delay to clear the track, Diego Monahan and Ted Christopher were
behind Pressel and Janovic. Monahan got by Janovic for second position,
leaving Christopher to spar with Janovic. Eventually Janovic got away in
the third spot and tracked down Monahan. He moved in on Monahan’s back
bumper while Christopher was all alone in fourth position. Jeffrey Gallup
spun on the front chute on lap-29 to return the race to yellow flag
conditions, bringing the field back to Pressel’s rear bumper.
Pressel got a clean restart and with five laps to go, Monahan bobbled in
turn two backing up the outside lane. That allowed Pressel breathing room
to stretch out a lead he would not surrender. He withstood a last lap
challenge by Janovic, going on to the career first win. Janovic, Monahan,
Christopher and Mucciacciaro completed the top five.
In the regularly scheduled 35-lap SK Modified® feature, Nichole Morgillo
was out to the lead from her pole starting position. Trouble on lap-2 in
turn one saw Joey Gada spin into the wall, making hard contact. Others
including Pete Pavone, Christopher and Mike Gada all piled in behind to
bring out the yellow flag.
Morgillo shut the door on a challenge to the low side of the track by
James when racing resumed. She then settled into the groove and led
James, who was ahead of a three-way battle between Janovic, Reynolds and
Chadwick for third. Rocco moved in behind that pack, in a ride borrowed
for the second race of the night. Two cars spun in turns three and four
at the tail of the field, returning the race to caution on lap-8.
When the race went back under green things got interesting at the front.
Morgillo led, however a freight train behind her entering turn three on
lap-9 caused a case of bumper tag among the leaders. Morgillo, Janovic
and Rocco all made contact, sending Morgillo out of the preferred groove
to gather her car. Janovic, Rocco and Pearl led a string of cars to scoot
by to Morgillo’s inside.
Once the leaders established a rhythm and received some racing room to
work, Janovic and Rocco moved out to a four length lead over Pearl. Rocco
went to work looking all over Janovic for the race lead. He finally made
his move on lap-13 with a diving move into turn one. Janovic tried to
fight back on lap-14 to no avail. The running order up front remained
unchanged until a series of cautions on lap-21 that set up a wild finish.
On two restart attempts, Pearl made maneuvers to challenge Rocco and
Janovic for the lead. Each time however, the caution would fly before the
lap was scored complete. On the second attempt a three-wide battle for
the race lead exiting turn two ended with Janovic, Reynolds, Perry and
others coming together out of turn four to keep the race halted under
caution. Under that delay Rocco had a right rear tire go down, sending
him to the pits for repair.
After the dust settled, Pearl was the leader over Chadwick and Kyle James.
The field ran six laps of hard racing with Chadwick challenging Pearl,
who was able to hang on. James raced inside Chadwick to challenge,
eventually moving by Chadwick on lap-29 who began to fade in the outside
lane. A final caution flag waved for Mucciaccario, who was spun exiting
turn four on lap-33.
Pearl mastered a final restart attempt, going on to the win. Abele
climbed up to second following the last restart ahead of Janovic, James
and Chadwick at the checkered flag.
Thomas wired the field in the 30-lap Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model
feature. He had to overcome one caution period which slowed the pace,
which occurred on lap-8. Jason Palmer spun in turn one, also collecting
Anthony Flannery. Thomas was unflappable, leaving a battle for position
behind him.
Rich Staskowski and Jeff Smith went door-to-door for much of the event for
second, with Staskowski ultimately winning out using the inside lane by
lap-18. Brian Andronaco Jr. and Vin Esposito completed the top-five
runners. The race remained under green the rest of the way, with the
field finishing in that order. It was Thomas’ third win on the season,
vaulting him into the championship point lead.
Meyer took control of the Street Stock feature at the drop of the green
flag when pole sitter Norm Root Jr. faltered on the inside of the track.
Meyer held the lead over defending track champion Al Stone III, who spent
much of the 25-laps looking for a way around Meyer. Behind the top two, a
great tussle for the third spot was being waged by Josh Galvin, Ed Puleo,
Ernie Larose and Root. Larose eventually spun from the pack in turn
four, bringing out caution and ending his run.
Over the second half of the race Stone continued to stalk Meyer for the
race lead. Behind, Galvin and Puleo were locked in an equally
entertaining battle for third. The top four put on a fabulous display of
short track auto racing for several laps. Stone actually led a handful of
laps during their fight for the win.
In the end, Meyer had the inside lane and used that to power ahead of
Stone in the closing laps. Galvin moved in to challenge Stone out of the
final corner. With both locked in a dead heat for the second spot, both
drivers got out of shape coming out of turn four to the checkered flag.
Galvin got the spot sideways, slightly ahead of Stone. Puleo and Brandon
Plemons completed the top-five.
Rookie driver Garrett Denton led the first portion of the 25-lap Mini
Stock feature looking stout at the front. A five-length lead that Denton
built up over the competition was eventually diminished by Williams, who
had raced through the top five racers to emerge in second position by
lap-8. Williams moved in on Denton, making the move to take over the lead
just before halfway on lap-12.
The race stayed under green flag conditions with Glenn Colvin racing to
Williams’ bumper. He looked poised to contend for the lead before getting
crossed up trying to rattle Williams. Colvin dropped back several lengths
and it looked like Williams may win in a run away. Caution finally waved
on lap-17, and Williams prevailed on the restart. He then endured a final
caution flag on lap-23 to take his second win on the season over Colvin.
Jeff Mehlenbacher finished third ahead of Charles Canfield and Ian Brew.
(continued)