RGeeProductions
06-24-2012, 01:55 PM
A capacity crowd jammed Waterford Saturday
night for the return of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour to the track for
the first time since 2006. The popular shoreline oval hosted NASCAR’s
oldest race division for the “Mr. Rooter 161” under beautiful, seasonable
weather and treated the thousands of fans in attendance to a great night
of motorsports. Doug Coby of Milford was the night’s big winner, claiming
the 161-lap Richie Evans tribute event.
First time winners were the order of the night in the Speedbowl’s weekly
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series races. Hometown driver Rob Janovic Jr.
of Waterford scored the win in the track’s SK Modified® feature, Greg
Moran Jr. of Preston picked up a career first victory in the Street Stock
division and Sean Caron of East Hampton was back in the winner’s circle in
the Mini Stock division for the first time since 2010. Each recorded
their first wins of the 2012 season. Bruce Thomas Jr. of Groton won the
Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model division race, the only repeat winner of
the season on the night.
The 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All American Series SK Modified® division got
things started for the night and saw Jeffrey Gallup take the race lead
over the opening laps. The first caution waved on the lap-3 when last
week’s winner Tyler Chadwick and Brett Gonyaw were involved in a skirmish
down the back chute. Chadwick’s car was left wedged in the wall at the
entrance to turn three and was done for the night once removed from the
racing surface.
The restart had Gallup back out front however Kyle James was turning up
the pressure on the race leader. James was testing the outside groove
ahead of a pack of cars that included Jeff Rocco, Tom Abele Jr., Janovic,
and Diego Monahan. While James was looking to get a wheel on the outside
of Gallup, Rocco filled the hole to James’ inside and the three ran wheel
to wheel for the race lead. James was able to pull even with Gallup and
be scored the race leader in the outside lane on lap-14 before taking full
control on lap-15. Jeff Rocco tried to duplicate the move, however
contact between Gallup and Rocco in turn four sent Rocco spinning for the
second caution flag of the race. Both drivers resumed from the rear.
The restart pitted James against Janovic, bumped up to second in the
exchange. Tom Abele lined up third and when the field rumbled into turn
one for the restart, more contact in turns one and two began with Abele
getting crossed up, resulting in a traffic jam behind. Wendell Dailey
took the brunt of the banging, losing a right front tire on his mount and
keeping the race under caution.
The next restart was key for Janovic. He held strong on the outside of
James, able to power to the race lead off turn two and become the third
leader of the race just before halfway on lap-17. Jeff Pearl moved up to
third place out of a pack battling for the top-ten positions to give chase
to the top two. On lap-18 Joe Gada took a hard trip into the frontstretch
wall after contact in the back half of the top-ten. Shawn Monahan and Joe
Perry were also involved, but were able to continue on.
On the restart Janovic drove into turn one in the race lead ahead of
James. Pearl advanced to second on the inside lane and the two veterans
set sail ahead over the competition. Janovic stretched his lead to
several car lengths over Pearl, who held down second ahead of James, Diego
Monahan and Abele. Janovic’s lead was erased on lap-26 when Shawn
Monahan lost a radiator under the hood of his car, putting fluid down onto
the race surface to necessitate the yellow flag.
Janovic saw Pearl to his outside for the restart but quickly resumed his
place at the head of the field. Pearl tucked back into second ahead of
James but was unable to apply much pressure to the leader, who flexed his
muscle by stretching his advantage back to a comfortable lead. Janovic
had one more restart to master after Will Schneider spun off the front
chute on lap-33 to draw the final caution period.
Janovic was smooth once again on the field’s last chance to disrupt his
stellar performance. Pearl was unable to rally a final bid for the win
and settled for second. James ran up front all night to take third ahead
of Abele and Diego Monahan.
Thomas was back in Victory Lane for the third time of the year at the
Speedbowl in a cleanly competed 30-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
Late Model feature. Thomas had the superior car, but used patience to
pass by race leaders Rich Staskowski and Jeff Smith, the defending
division champion. As Thomas positioned himself third behind the top two,
he went upstairs to the outside lane and set up shop. He first peeked
outside Staskowski on lap-8, but needed until lap-10 to complete the move
to take second position and line up behind Smith’s rear bumper. Thomas
worked on pulling outside Smith, finally getting there on lap-19. He
spent a lap working the outside lane he knows so well to climb his way to
the lead.
Thomas had to hold over two restarts for spins in the final 8 laps before
racing his way to his third win of the year, cutting into Dillon Moltz’s
championship point lead. Joe Curioso grabbed second place at the finish
while Staskowski picked up third.
(continued)
night for the return of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour to the track for
the first time since 2006. The popular shoreline oval hosted NASCAR’s
oldest race division for the “Mr. Rooter 161” under beautiful, seasonable
weather and treated the thousands of fans in attendance to a great night
of motorsports. Doug Coby of Milford was the night’s big winner, claiming
the 161-lap Richie Evans tribute event.
First time winners were the order of the night in the Speedbowl’s weekly
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series races. Hometown driver Rob Janovic Jr.
of Waterford scored the win in the track’s SK Modified® feature, Greg
Moran Jr. of Preston picked up a career first victory in the Street Stock
division and Sean Caron of East Hampton was back in the winner’s circle in
the Mini Stock division for the first time since 2010. Each recorded
their first wins of the 2012 season. Bruce Thomas Jr. of Groton won the
Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model division race, the only repeat winner of
the season on the night.
The 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All American Series SK Modified® division got
things started for the night and saw Jeffrey Gallup take the race lead
over the opening laps. The first caution waved on the lap-3 when last
week’s winner Tyler Chadwick and Brett Gonyaw were involved in a skirmish
down the back chute. Chadwick’s car was left wedged in the wall at the
entrance to turn three and was done for the night once removed from the
racing surface.
The restart had Gallup back out front however Kyle James was turning up
the pressure on the race leader. James was testing the outside groove
ahead of a pack of cars that included Jeff Rocco, Tom Abele Jr., Janovic,
and Diego Monahan. While James was looking to get a wheel on the outside
of Gallup, Rocco filled the hole to James’ inside and the three ran wheel
to wheel for the race lead. James was able to pull even with Gallup and
be scored the race leader in the outside lane on lap-14 before taking full
control on lap-15. Jeff Rocco tried to duplicate the move, however
contact between Gallup and Rocco in turn four sent Rocco spinning for the
second caution flag of the race. Both drivers resumed from the rear.
The restart pitted James against Janovic, bumped up to second in the
exchange. Tom Abele lined up third and when the field rumbled into turn
one for the restart, more contact in turns one and two began with Abele
getting crossed up, resulting in a traffic jam behind. Wendell Dailey
took the brunt of the banging, losing a right front tire on his mount and
keeping the race under caution.
The next restart was key for Janovic. He held strong on the outside of
James, able to power to the race lead off turn two and become the third
leader of the race just before halfway on lap-17. Jeff Pearl moved up to
third place out of a pack battling for the top-ten positions to give chase
to the top two. On lap-18 Joe Gada took a hard trip into the frontstretch
wall after contact in the back half of the top-ten. Shawn Monahan and Joe
Perry were also involved, but were able to continue on.
On the restart Janovic drove into turn one in the race lead ahead of
James. Pearl advanced to second on the inside lane and the two veterans
set sail ahead over the competition. Janovic stretched his lead to
several car lengths over Pearl, who held down second ahead of James, Diego
Monahan and Abele. Janovic’s lead was erased on lap-26 when Shawn
Monahan lost a radiator under the hood of his car, putting fluid down onto
the race surface to necessitate the yellow flag.
Janovic saw Pearl to his outside for the restart but quickly resumed his
place at the head of the field. Pearl tucked back into second ahead of
James but was unable to apply much pressure to the leader, who flexed his
muscle by stretching his advantage back to a comfortable lead. Janovic
had one more restart to master after Will Schneider spun off the front
chute on lap-33 to draw the final caution period.
Janovic was smooth once again on the field’s last chance to disrupt his
stellar performance. Pearl was unable to rally a final bid for the win
and settled for second. James ran up front all night to take third ahead
of Abele and Diego Monahan.
Thomas was back in Victory Lane for the third time of the year at the
Speedbowl in a cleanly competed 30-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
Late Model feature. Thomas had the superior car, but used patience to
pass by race leaders Rich Staskowski and Jeff Smith, the defending
division champion. As Thomas positioned himself third behind the top two,
he went upstairs to the outside lane and set up shop. He first peeked
outside Staskowski on lap-8, but needed until lap-10 to complete the move
to take second position and line up behind Smith’s rear bumper. Thomas
worked on pulling outside Smith, finally getting there on lap-19. He
spent a lap working the outside lane he knows so well to climb his way to
the lead.
Thomas had to hold over two restarts for spins in the final 8 laps before
racing his way to his third win of the year, cutting into Dillon Moltz’s
championship point lead. Joe Curioso grabbed second place at the finish
while Staskowski picked up third.
(continued)