RGeeProductions
09-04-2011, 02:55 PM
Woody Pitkat led the final 17 laps to
take the win at Waterford Speedbowl’s 15th annual Budweiser Modified
Nationals Saturday evening. The event was one of eight features as part
of the track’s Thunder on the Sound program, presented by the Connecticut
National Guard. The win, carrying a $5,000 payday, was Pitkat’s first at
the Speedbowl and came in just his second career start in the SK Modified®
division at the track. Ted Christopher was second and Diego Monahan
finished third.
Pitkat’s run to the checkered flag came on the heels of a wild chain of
events in which he inherited the lead when Todd Ceravolo ran out of fuel
following the final caution flag on lap-133. Ceravolo’s fuel problem may
have triggered a multi-car accident on a previous attempt to restart the
race on lap-133. The incident drew the red flag for clean up and when the
race went back to caution, Ceravolo discovered the fuel issue.
The Budweiser Modified Nationals rolled to the green flag with Joe Perry
and Nichole Morgillo pacing the field. Perry got the jump at the green to
lead lap-1. The action picked up right away as several side-by-side
battles ensued as the field sorted out. Keith Rocco asserted himself
early, making his way into the top-five in the first five laps. He picked
off cars one at a time until he got past Perry’s inside and into the race
lead on lap-9. The first caution waved on lap-10 when Gregg Hurley spun
in turn three.
Rocco led the restart but Ceravolo made a power move under Rocco to take
the lead in turn three on lap-15. Christopher followed Ceravolo past
Rocco, who had to fight off Rob Janovic Jr. to settle into third position.
Ceravolo held Christopher back over two restart attempts, however.
Christopher kept constant pressure on Ceravolo while Rocco, Janovic and
Glenn Pressel were content holding down their spots in the top-five.
Further back, Pitkat, driving the Paige #00 entry, paced himself in the
top ten as the race reached lap-50.
Pitkat continued to pick off positions following a lap-64 restart for a
spin by Monahan in turn two. Pitkat rose to fifth place behind the top
four, who remained unchanged. When caution waved on lap-96 for a spin by
Joe Gada, Christopher and Rocco each ducked into the pits for fresh right
side tires. Ceravolo showed the way over Janovic, Pitkat, Mark Bakaj and
Tom Abele Jr. after the shuffle and flurry of pit activity.
Pitkat found his way past Janovic into second position following a lap-108
restart after Abele spun out of contention. As Ceravolo continued to pace
the field, Rocco sliced his way back through pack into contention just
outside the top five over the next run of green flag racing. He pressured
Morgillo, who was holding down fifth position, finally pulling outside her
on lap-120 before taking the spot on lap-123. Christopher was moving up
fast just behind, pressuring Morgillo for sixth when caution returned on
lap-128 when Bakaj was in the infield in turn two.
The restart put a damper on Rocco’s march to the front. He and
Christopher came together down the front chute before the field reached
turn one, sending several cars scattering to keep the race under caution.
Rocco suffered a flat left rear tire from the contact and returned to the
pit area for repair, while Christopher was able to stay out.
Ceravolo continued to be up to the task on every restart attempt, keeping
any challengers, including Pitkat, at bay. Caution on lap-133 following a
hard trip to the frontstretch wall by Wendell Dailey set the stage for the
pivotal restart attempt. Ceravolo appeared to falter on the restart,
sending the field behind crashing down the frontstretch. Several cars
made hard contact including Morgillo, Rocco, Kyle James, Randy Churchill
and Joe Perry, drawing the red flag. Ceravolo was pushed to the pits once
the race went back under caution. Rocco was able to return after repairs.
The wild turn of events gave the lead to Pitkat, who got the jump on the
final restart ahead of Monahan. The final 17 laps ran through the
checkered flag, with Pitkat going unchallenged the rest of the way.
Christopher raced by Monahan into second but had nothing left to throw
Pitkat’s way. Monahan held back Janovic for third, while Janovic
rebounded from a late flat tire to take fourth. Ceravolo rallied
furiously over the final run to finish fifth.
Pitkat’s only previous start in the division was at the 2008 Modified
Nationals event, where he placed eighth.
Updated NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds Results and
Standings following 9/3 event:
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds® Budweiser Modified
Nationals (150-laps): 1. Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs; 2. Ted
Christopher, Plainfield; 3. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill; 4. Rob Janovic
Jr., Waterford; 5. Todd Ceravolo, Gales Ferry; 6. Jeff Pearl, Salem; 7.
Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 8. Joe Perry, Ashaway, RI; 9. Glenn Pressel
III, Gales Ferry; 10. Mark Bakaj, Lebanon; 11. Greg Moran Sr., Preston;
12. Chris Correll, New London; 13. Joe Gada, Salem; 14. Nichole
Morgillo, Wallingford; 15. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI; 16. Randy Churchill
Jr., Oakdale; 17. Wendell Dailey, Gales Ferry; 18. Tom Abele Jr.,
Norwich; 19. Shawn Solomito, Islip, NY; 20. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr.,
Milford; 21. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 22. Gregg Hurley, Beverly, MA;
23. Adam Gada, Bozrah; 24. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill
Standings after eighteen events: 1. Rocco, 806; 2. Pearl, 762; 3.
Janovic, 741; 4. James, 700; 5. Chadwick, 698; 6. Abele, 654; 7.
Pressel, 624; 8. Morgillo, 580; 9. Perry, 548; 10. Mucciacciaro, 426
Brian Darling
take the win at Waterford Speedbowl’s 15th annual Budweiser Modified
Nationals Saturday evening. The event was one of eight features as part
of the track’s Thunder on the Sound program, presented by the Connecticut
National Guard. The win, carrying a $5,000 payday, was Pitkat’s first at
the Speedbowl and came in just his second career start in the SK Modified®
division at the track. Ted Christopher was second and Diego Monahan
finished third.
Pitkat’s run to the checkered flag came on the heels of a wild chain of
events in which he inherited the lead when Todd Ceravolo ran out of fuel
following the final caution flag on lap-133. Ceravolo’s fuel problem may
have triggered a multi-car accident on a previous attempt to restart the
race on lap-133. The incident drew the red flag for clean up and when the
race went back to caution, Ceravolo discovered the fuel issue.
The Budweiser Modified Nationals rolled to the green flag with Joe Perry
and Nichole Morgillo pacing the field. Perry got the jump at the green to
lead lap-1. The action picked up right away as several side-by-side
battles ensued as the field sorted out. Keith Rocco asserted himself
early, making his way into the top-five in the first five laps. He picked
off cars one at a time until he got past Perry’s inside and into the race
lead on lap-9. The first caution waved on lap-10 when Gregg Hurley spun
in turn three.
Rocco led the restart but Ceravolo made a power move under Rocco to take
the lead in turn three on lap-15. Christopher followed Ceravolo past
Rocco, who had to fight off Rob Janovic Jr. to settle into third position.
Ceravolo held Christopher back over two restart attempts, however.
Christopher kept constant pressure on Ceravolo while Rocco, Janovic and
Glenn Pressel were content holding down their spots in the top-five.
Further back, Pitkat, driving the Paige #00 entry, paced himself in the
top ten as the race reached lap-50.
Pitkat continued to pick off positions following a lap-64 restart for a
spin by Monahan in turn two. Pitkat rose to fifth place behind the top
four, who remained unchanged. When caution waved on lap-96 for a spin by
Joe Gada, Christopher and Rocco each ducked into the pits for fresh right
side tires. Ceravolo showed the way over Janovic, Pitkat, Mark Bakaj and
Tom Abele Jr. after the shuffle and flurry of pit activity.
Pitkat found his way past Janovic into second position following a lap-108
restart after Abele spun out of contention. As Ceravolo continued to pace
the field, Rocco sliced his way back through pack into contention just
outside the top five over the next run of green flag racing. He pressured
Morgillo, who was holding down fifth position, finally pulling outside her
on lap-120 before taking the spot on lap-123. Christopher was moving up
fast just behind, pressuring Morgillo for sixth when caution returned on
lap-128 when Bakaj was in the infield in turn two.
The restart put a damper on Rocco’s march to the front. He and
Christopher came together down the front chute before the field reached
turn one, sending several cars scattering to keep the race under caution.
Rocco suffered a flat left rear tire from the contact and returned to the
pit area for repair, while Christopher was able to stay out.
Ceravolo continued to be up to the task on every restart attempt, keeping
any challengers, including Pitkat, at bay. Caution on lap-133 following a
hard trip to the frontstretch wall by Wendell Dailey set the stage for the
pivotal restart attempt. Ceravolo appeared to falter on the restart,
sending the field behind crashing down the frontstretch. Several cars
made hard contact including Morgillo, Rocco, Kyle James, Randy Churchill
and Joe Perry, drawing the red flag. Ceravolo was pushed to the pits once
the race went back under caution. Rocco was able to return after repairs.
The wild turn of events gave the lead to Pitkat, who got the jump on the
final restart ahead of Monahan. The final 17 laps ran through the
checkered flag, with Pitkat going unchallenged the rest of the way.
Christopher raced by Monahan into second but had nothing left to throw
Pitkat’s way. Monahan held back Janovic for third, while Janovic
rebounded from a late flat tire to take fourth. Ceravolo rallied
furiously over the final run to finish fifth.
Pitkat’s only previous start in the division was at the 2008 Modified
Nationals event, where he placed eighth.
Updated NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds Results and
Standings following 9/3 event:
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds® Budweiser Modified
Nationals (150-laps): 1. Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs; 2. Ted
Christopher, Plainfield; 3. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill; 4. Rob Janovic
Jr., Waterford; 5. Todd Ceravolo, Gales Ferry; 6. Jeff Pearl, Salem; 7.
Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 8. Joe Perry, Ashaway, RI; 9. Glenn Pressel
III, Gales Ferry; 10. Mark Bakaj, Lebanon; 11. Greg Moran Sr., Preston;
12. Chris Correll, New London; 13. Joe Gada, Salem; 14. Nichole
Morgillo, Wallingford; 15. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI; 16. Randy Churchill
Jr., Oakdale; 17. Wendell Dailey, Gales Ferry; 18. Tom Abele Jr.,
Norwich; 19. Shawn Solomito, Islip, NY; 20. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr.,
Milford; 21. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 22. Gregg Hurley, Beverly, MA;
23. Adam Gada, Bozrah; 24. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill
Standings after eighteen events: 1. Rocco, 806; 2. Pearl, 762; 3.
Janovic, 741; 4. James, 700; 5. Chadwick, 698; 6. Abele, 654; 7.
Pressel, 624; 8. Morgillo, 580; 9. Perry, 548; 10. Mucciacciaro, 426
Brian Darling