RGeeProductions
04-08-2012, 01:51 AM
Waterford Speedbowl was in action hosting
the first Saturday night Whelen All-American Series event of the 2012
season. Claiming the opening Saturday night feature wins included Justin
Gaydosh of Newtown who wired the SK Modified® race, leading from start to
finish and Dillon Moltz of Waterford, who won his first career victory in
the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model division at his hometown track.
Corey Hutchings of Salem took the win in the night’s Street Stock feature
while Ken Cassidy Jr. of Lisbon won his second consecutive Mini Stock
feature to begin the year. Thirteen-year old Kaz Grala of Westboro, MA
won the night’s Legends Cars feature and Ken Morin Jr. of Old Saybrook
reached Victory Lane in the Bandolero feature.
The 35-lap SK Modified® feature saw Gaydosh jump to the race lead ahead of
Harry Rheaume at the drop of the green flag. While Gaydosh moved out to a
brief early lead, Kyle James and Nichole Morgillo also snuck past
Rheaume’s inside before he was able to get in line in fourth position.
The field clicked away the early laps with James slicing into Gaydosh’s
lead and Morgillo alone in third place. Behind Morgillo, Rheaume led a
train of cars that included Tom Abele, Diego Monahan and Rob Janovic Jr.
Monahan was the first to jump out of line on lap-4, moving by both Abele
and then Rheaume to sweep into fourth position.
As James began to pressure Gaydosh for the lead, the running order
remained the same through lap-9 when trouble broke out in the pack of cars
battling for fifth position. Rheaume, Abele, Tyler Chadwick and Ed Puleo
all made contact exiting turn two, sending Rheaume and Chadwick hard into
the retaining wall. The violent impact sent Rheaume’s car airborne as the
field continued to scatter behind the wreck. The incident drew the red
flag, resulting in a 35-minute delay for repairs to the wall necessitated
by the severe impact. All the drivers walked away from the incident,
however only Puleo was able to resume after pitting for repairs.
After the cleanup, Gaydosh picked up his lead over James. Monahan got
around Morgillo for third place, with Keith Rocco and Janovic entering the
mix as they darted into the top-five running order on lap-10. Rocco began
looking outside Monahan’s right rear for racing room on lap-12 but could
not make a move. Janovic was using the opportunity to fill the hole
underneath Rocco. The top-five ran in that order through lap-17 before
Rocco finally powered outside Monahan. He took third position then
immediately went outside James for second. He took second from James on
lap-18 before the action was slowed as Al Stone spun between turns one and
two, bringing out caution.
Gaydosh got away from Rocco on the restart, but only one lap was completed
when just behind the top-five, Nichole Morgillo got loose under Jeff Pearl
exiting turn four. Morgillo tried correcting but lost control on the
front chute, clipping Jeff Gallup sending both cars spinning in turn one
on lap-19.
On the following restart, Gaydosh and Rocco made slight contacting
entering turn one battling for the lead. Rocco got momentarily crossed up,
coming together with Janovic who tried to race by Rocco’s inside into
second. The two did a masterful job of keeping their cars pointed
straight ahead down the backchute, but the contact damaged both cars
suspension. Janovic slowed dramatically in turn four, drawing another
caution flag. Both Janovic and Rocco pitted but were unable to resume
before racing went back to green. The new running order for the final
restart saw James line up to Gaydosh’s outside, with Jeff Rocco, Monahan
and Pearl rounding out the top-five.
The final 16-laps were run without further delay after Gaydosh got another
good jump on the restart. James was again able to close the gap back to
the leader as the race reached the final laps. James was in striking
position, valiantly trying to put a crossover move on Gaydosh who defended
each attempt. James’ best run came on lap-33 as he drove off Gaydosh’s
right rear as the exited turn two. Gaydosh again defended the run and
pulled back ahead to set up the final two laps. James tried a last ditch
effort on the final lap but settled for second. Jeff Rocco, Monahan and
Pearl held their positions to round out the top-five.
Moltz came out on top of a thrilling 30-lap Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late
Model feature that saw several drivers competing for the top-five
positions throughout the race. Moltz became the race leader following a
caution on the final lap for a wild exchange among the top three cars.
The race began with Anthony Flannery and Jeff Smith battling neck-and-neck
for the race lead over the opening four circuits. Flannery finally edged
ahead into turn one on lap-5, however Smith tucked in line behind and
immediately pressured Flannery’s inside. The two made incidental contact
but continued racing hard for the lead. Flannery held the advantage, while
Smith continued to hound his inside. Moltz advanced to third position
behind the battle for the lead while Bill Bernard held fourth position and
Keith Rocco moved to fifth. The intense battle for the lead was finally
slowed on lap-14 when the event’s first caution waved when Bernard spun
from fourth place in turn two. Rocco was placed to the rear for contact
to Bernard during the incident.
Flannery led the restart, however only three more laps could be completed
before caution was back over the field when Bruce Thomas Jr. spun from the
back half of the top-five in turn two. Flannery and Smith resumed their
tussle when racing went back green, with Smith finally able to prevail in
the outside lane as the pair entered turn one on lap-19.
Jason Palmer moved into the hunt for a victory during the next green flag
run, moving to second outside Flannery on lap-21. Once clear of Flannery,
Palmer reached Smith’s back bumper looking to make the move to pull
alongside the leader. Entering turn one on lap-25 Palmer made a move low,
with Smith shutting the door on the bid to keep control of the lead.
Palmer went to work on the back bumper of Smith through turns three and
four, loosening up the leader to pull underneath off turn four. Palmer
and Smith raced wheel to wheel with both driving hard for the chance to
visit Speedbowl Victory Lane. With the laps winding down, Brian Andronaco
Jr. spun in turn two on lap-28, momentarily cooling the heated battle up
front and setting up for a wild finish.
Smith and Palmer continued to race even following the restart. Moltz was
in third and seized the opportunity to dive underneath both Smith and
Palmer down the frontstretch as they raced to the white flag. The three
went three-wide through turns one and two with Moltz coming out ahead and
Smith spinning, forcing the field behind to take evasive action. Caution
waved and during the yellow flag, Palmer had a tire go down on his
machine.
That gave the lead to Moltz for the final green-white-checkered restart.
He mastered the final restart attempt over Rocco, who had driven back
through the field to restart the race in second. Moltz took his first
career win in the division in just his third start dating back to the
final race of 2011. Rocco finished second, with Thomas coming back for
third. Joe Curioso and Flannery rounded out the top-five.
(continued)
the first Saturday night Whelen All-American Series event of the 2012
season. Claiming the opening Saturday night feature wins included Justin
Gaydosh of Newtown who wired the SK Modified® race, leading from start to
finish and Dillon Moltz of Waterford, who won his first career victory in
the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model division at his hometown track.
Corey Hutchings of Salem took the win in the night’s Street Stock feature
while Ken Cassidy Jr. of Lisbon won his second consecutive Mini Stock
feature to begin the year. Thirteen-year old Kaz Grala of Westboro, MA
won the night’s Legends Cars feature and Ken Morin Jr. of Old Saybrook
reached Victory Lane in the Bandolero feature.
The 35-lap SK Modified® feature saw Gaydosh jump to the race lead ahead of
Harry Rheaume at the drop of the green flag. While Gaydosh moved out to a
brief early lead, Kyle James and Nichole Morgillo also snuck past
Rheaume’s inside before he was able to get in line in fourth position.
The field clicked away the early laps with James slicing into Gaydosh’s
lead and Morgillo alone in third place. Behind Morgillo, Rheaume led a
train of cars that included Tom Abele, Diego Monahan and Rob Janovic Jr.
Monahan was the first to jump out of line on lap-4, moving by both Abele
and then Rheaume to sweep into fourth position.
As James began to pressure Gaydosh for the lead, the running order
remained the same through lap-9 when trouble broke out in the pack of cars
battling for fifth position. Rheaume, Abele, Tyler Chadwick and Ed Puleo
all made contact exiting turn two, sending Rheaume and Chadwick hard into
the retaining wall. The violent impact sent Rheaume’s car airborne as the
field continued to scatter behind the wreck. The incident drew the red
flag, resulting in a 35-minute delay for repairs to the wall necessitated
by the severe impact. All the drivers walked away from the incident,
however only Puleo was able to resume after pitting for repairs.
After the cleanup, Gaydosh picked up his lead over James. Monahan got
around Morgillo for third place, with Keith Rocco and Janovic entering the
mix as they darted into the top-five running order on lap-10. Rocco began
looking outside Monahan’s right rear for racing room on lap-12 but could
not make a move. Janovic was using the opportunity to fill the hole
underneath Rocco. The top-five ran in that order through lap-17 before
Rocco finally powered outside Monahan. He took third position then
immediately went outside James for second. He took second from James on
lap-18 before the action was slowed as Al Stone spun between turns one and
two, bringing out caution.
Gaydosh got away from Rocco on the restart, but only one lap was completed
when just behind the top-five, Nichole Morgillo got loose under Jeff Pearl
exiting turn four. Morgillo tried correcting but lost control on the
front chute, clipping Jeff Gallup sending both cars spinning in turn one
on lap-19.
On the following restart, Gaydosh and Rocco made slight contacting
entering turn one battling for the lead. Rocco got momentarily crossed up,
coming together with Janovic who tried to race by Rocco’s inside into
second. The two did a masterful job of keeping their cars pointed
straight ahead down the backchute, but the contact damaged both cars
suspension. Janovic slowed dramatically in turn four, drawing another
caution flag. Both Janovic and Rocco pitted but were unable to resume
before racing went back to green. The new running order for the final
restart saw James line up to Gaydosh’s outside, with Jeff Rocco, Monahan
and Pearl rounding out the top-five.
The final 16-laps were run without further delay after Gaydosh got another
good jump on the restart. James was again able to close the gap back to
the leader as the race reached the final laps. James was in striking
position, valiantly trying to put a crossover move on Gaydosh who defended
each attempt. James’ best run came on lap-33 as he drove off Gaydosh’s
right rear as the exited turn two. Gaydosh again defended the run and
pulled back ahead to set up the final two laps. James tried a last ditch
effort on the final lap but settled for second. Jeff Rocco, Monahan and
Pearl held their positions to round out the top-five.
Moltz came out on top of a thrilling 30-lap Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late
Model feature that saw several drivers competing for the top-five
positions throughout the race. Moltz became the race leader following a
caution on the final lap for a wild exchange among the top three cars.
The race began with Anthony Flannery and Jeff Smith battling neck-and-neck
for the race lead over the opening four circuits. Flannery finally edged
ahead into turn one on lap-5, however Smith tucked in line behind and
immediately pressured Flannery’s inside. The two made incidental contact
but continued racing hard for the lead. Flannery held the advantage, while
Smith continued to hound his inside. Moltz advanced to third position
behind the battle for the lead while Bill Bernard held fourth position and
Keith Rocco moved to fifth. The intense battle for the lead was finally
slowed on lap-14 when the event’s first caution waved when Bernard spun
from fourth place in turn two. Rocco was placed to the rear for contact
to Bernard during the incident.
Flannery led the restart, however only three more laps could be completed
before caution was back over the field when Bruce Thomas Jr. spun from the
back half of the top-five in turn two. Flannery and Smith resumed their
tussle when racing went back green, with Smith finally able to prevail in
the outside lane as the pair entered turn one on lap-19.
Jason Palmer moved into the hunt for a victory during the next green flag
run, moving to second outside Flannery on lap-21. Once clear of Flannery,
Palmer reached Smith’s back bumper looking to make the move to pull
alongside the leader. Entering turn one on lap-25 Palmer made a move low,
with Smith shutting the door on the bid to keep control of the lead.
Palmer went to work on the back bumper of Smith through turns three and
four, loosening up the leader to pull underneath off turn four. Palmer
and Smith raced wheel to wheel with both driving hard for the chance to
visit Speedbowl Victory Lane. With the laps winding down, Brian Andronaco
Jr. spun in turn two on lap-28, momentarily cooling the heated battle up
front and setting up for a wild finish.
Smith and Palmer continued to race even following the restart. Moltz was
in third and seized the opportunity to dive underneath both Smith and
Palmer down the frontstretch as they raced to the white flag. The three
went three-wide through turns one and two with Moltz coming out ahead and
Smith spinning, forcing the field behind to take evasive action. Caution
waved and during the yellow flag, Palmer had a tire go down on his
machine.
That gave the lead to Moltz for the final green-white-checkered restart.
He mastered the final restart attempt over Rocco, who had driven back
through the field to restart the race in second. Moltz took his first
career win in the division in just his third start dating back to the
final race of 2011. Rocco finished second, with Thomas coming back for
third. Joe Curioso and Flannery rounded out the top-five.
(continued)