RGeeProductions
07-01-2012, 01:28 AM
The mid-season Speedbowl.com 300 was
completed Saturday night at Waterford Speedbowl putting six divisions in
action for a total of 300 laps of great feature racing. The special event
provided the track’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions with
extra-distance races including the annual 100-lap SK Modified® thriller.
Tyler Chadwick of Ledyard was the night’s big winner, picking up the
trophies in the SK 100 for his fourth win of the year. Jason Palmer of
Berlin recorded his first win of the year in the Bob Valenti Auto Mall
Late Models while Walt Hovey Jr. of Chaplin took down his second Street
Stock race of the season. Bill Leonard of Charlestown, RI scored his
first Mini Stock division win and Matt Pappa of Nassau, NY won his eighth
Legends Cars race of the year at the Speedbowl.
Qualifying for all the divisions was held via time trials, with new track
records being set in three divisions. Keith Rocco set a new fast mark in
the SK Modifieds®, posting a quick time of 14.058 seconds during
qualifying. That was just .003 seconds quicker than the previous fast
time, set by Kenny Horton in 2007 and matched by Ted Christopher in 2010.
Rocco also broke the track record in the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model
division posting a 15.146 second lap. Corey Hutchings bested the previous
Street Stock division effort, using a 17.184 second lap to set the new
record. Sean Caron was fastest in the Mini Stocks with a 17.456 second
lap.
After a redraw, Tom Abele Jr. and Jeff Pearl led a strong 28-car to the
green flag in the SK 100. The field had trouble getting underway as two
caution periods on the initial green flag kept the open-wheel action under
wraps.
When the race settled in, Abele took the lead as Kyle James, Doug Coby,
Chadwick and Rob Janovic Jr. made up the early top-five. Todd Ceravolo’s
car slowed drastically on the track on lap-19 drawing a caution flag to
push his car from the racing surface mechanical woes. The restart was
critical for Abele, as James was eventually able to power his way into the
race lead to Abele’s outside by lap-24.
Chadwick moved to second while Jeff Rocco, Coby, and Keith Rocco became
the new top-five following a lap-29 restart that saw Abele drop back in
the outside lane. The next move among the leaders came on lap-40 when
Keith Rocco snatched fourth away from Coby with a move to his inside.
Ahead, James and Chadwick teamed up to stay out of the grips of the Rocco
brothers who lined up third and fourth. Chadwick was beginning to turn up
his pressure on James when caution was back out on lap-48 when Abele
looped his car exiting turn two in a single car spin.
Chadwick challenged James on a lap-54 restart, making an outside bid with
a strong restart. Chadwick led James out of turn two down the back chute
to become the third and final race leader of the event on lap-55. Coby’s
night ended on lap-56 when he suddenly lost pace of the leaders,
triggering a jam behind him that had Adam Gada and Frank Mucciacciaro
spinning in turn three. During the caution, point leader Jeff Pearl was
on pit road for adjustments before resuming from the rear of the field.
James tried to regain his lead outside Chadwick on two additional restarts
however Chadwick was able to keep a well handling car ahead on the bottom
of the track. The two leaders continued to pace the field as positions
behind changed hands. Keith Rocco, Jeff Rocco, Janovic and Craig Lutz
were all in the mix with eyes on a podium finish.
Keith Rocco was looking for a late race rally, trying to muscle under
James on lap-75 for second. James kept him at bay to hold the spot for
the next several laps. Rocco again tried a power move underneath James
into turn one on lap-84 with the two making contact. James went around to
bring out the caution with Rocco being penalized to the rear for
overaggressive driving. The restart saw Chadwick on the front row with
Janovic and Lutz behind him, and Pearl and Abele battling back through the
field after their mid-race hiccups to show back in the top-five.
Chadwick continued his strong run by picking up where he left off.
Janovic was able to maintain Chadwick’s pace and even look for a way
around by testing different grooves through the corners, however was
unable to get a wheel on the leader. Janovic chased Chadwick through the
checkered flag but it was Chadwick who would pick up the win, his fourth
of the year. Janovic continued his hot streak with a second place finish.
Lutz ran a strong race all night to turn some heads and place third,
while Pearl maintained his points lead with fourth. Abele finished in
fifth.
The special 50-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall
Late Model feature belonged to Palmer. He bided his time in a battle for
second position with Joe Curioso while early race leader Rich Staskowski
raced ahead of the two by three car lengths. Palmer smoothly took second
from Curioso to line up second to Staskowski following a brief lap-9
caution flag. Palmer stayed glued to Staskowski’s outside before easing
into the lead using the top lane on lap-13.
Palmer mastered one final restart after a lap-20 caution period before the
field rattled off the final 30 laps. During the final run Palmer
stretched his lead to several car lengths ahead of Moltz, showcasing a
superior car. The win was Palmer’s first of the year and saw him finish
well ahead of the point leader Moltz. Ray Parent ran a strong race over
the final green flag run to place third.
Hovey wound up in Victory Lane in the 50-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American
Series Street Stock feature. Hovey was a benefactor of a tangle between
leaders Josh Galvin and Corey Hutchings on lap-44. The two traded blows at
the front of the field before Hutchings went spinning from the race lead
after contact from Galvin, who was penalized to the rear of the field.
Hovey led the final six laps while both Galvin and Hutchings stormed back
into podium finishes to claim second and third after a wild conclusion to
the race. The win was Hovey’s second of the 2012 season.
(continued)
completed Saturday night at Waterford Speedbowl putting six divisions in
action for a total of 300 laps of great feature racing. The special event
provided the track’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions with
extra-distance races including the annual 100-lap SK Modified® thriller.
Tyler Chadwick of Ledyard was the night’s big winner, picking up the
trophies in the SK 100 for his fourth win of the year. Jason Palmer of
Berlin recorded his first win of the year in the Bob Valenti Auto Mall
Late Models while Walt Hovey Jr. of Chaplin took down his second Street
Stock race of the season. Bill Leonard of Charlestown, RI scored his
first Mini Stock division win and Matt Pappa of Nassau, NY won his eighth
Legends Cars race of the year at the Speedbowl.
Qualifying for all the divisions was held via time trials, with new track
records being set in three divisions. Keith Rocco set a new fast mark in
the SK Modifieds®, posting a quick time of 14.058 seconds during
qualifying. That was just .003 seconds quicker than the previous fast
time, set by Kenny Horton in 2007 and matched by Ted Christopher in 2010.
Rocco also broke the track record in the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model
division posting a 15.146 second lap. Corey Hutchings bested the previous
Street Stock division effort, using a 17.184 second lap to set the new
record. Sean Caron was fastest in the Mini Stocks with a 17.456 second
lap.
After a redraw, Tom Abele Jr. and Jeff Pearl led a strong 28-car to the
green flag in the SK 100. The field had trouble getting underway as two
caution periods on the initial green flag kept the open-wheel action under
wraps.
When the race settled in, Abele took the lead as Kyle James, Doug Coby,
Chadwick and Rob Janovic Jr. made up the early top-five. Todd Ceravolo’s
car slowed drastically on the track on lap-19 drawing a caution flag to
push his car from the racing surface mechanical woes. The restart was
critical for Abele, as James was eventually able to power his way into the
race lead to Abele’s outside by lap-24.
Chadwick moved to second while Jeff Rocco, Coby, and Keith Rocco became
the new top-five following a lap-29 restart that saw Abele drop back in
the outside lane. The next move among the leaders came on lap-40 when
Keith Rocco snatched fourth away from Coby with a move to his inside.
Ahead, James and Chadwick teamed up to stay out of the grips of the Rocco
brothers who lined up third and fourth. Chadwick was beginning to turn up
his pressure on James when caution was back out on lap-48 when Abele
looped his car exiting turn two in a single car spin.
Chadwick challenged James on a lap-54 restart, making an outside bid with
a strong restart. Chadwick led James out of turn two down the back chute
to become the third and final race leader of the event on lap-55. Coby’s
night ended on lap-56 when he suddenly lost pace of the leaders,
triggering a jam behind him that had Adam Gada and Frank Mucciacciaro
spinning in turn three. During the caution, point leader Jeff Pearl was
on pit road for adjustments before resuming from the rear of the field.
James tried to regain his lead outside Chadwick on two additional restarts
however Chadwick was able to keep a well handling car ahead on the bottom
of the track. The two leaders continued to pace the field as positions
behind changed hands. Keith Rocco, Jeff Rocco, Janovic and Craig Lutz
were all in the mix with eyes on a podium finish.
Keith Rocco was looking for a late race rally, trying to muscle under
James on lap-75 for second. James kept him at bay to hold the spot for
the next several laps. Rocco again tried a power move underneath James
into turn one on lap-84 with the two making contact. James went around to
bring out the caution with Rocco being penalized to the rear for
overaggressive driving. The restart saw Chadwick on the front row with
Janovic and Lutz behind him, and Pearl and Abele battling back through the
field after their mid-race hiccups to show back in the top-five.
Chadwick continued his strong run by picking up where he left off.
Janovic was able to maintain Chadwick’s pace and even look for a way
around by testing different grooves through the corners, however was
unable to get a wheel on the leader. Janovic chased Chadwick through the
checkered flag but it was Chadwick who would pick up the win, his fourth
of the year. Janovic continued his hot streak with a second place finish.
Lutz ran a strong race all night to turn some heads and place third,
while Pearl maintained his points lead with fourth. Abele finished in
fifth.
The special 50-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall
Late Model feature belonged to Palmer. He bided his time in a battle for
second position with Joe Curioso while early race leader Rich Staskowski
raced ahead of the two by three car lengths. Palmer smoothly took second
from Curioso to line up second to Staskowski following a brief lap-9
caution flag. Palmer stayed glued to Staskowski’s outside before easing
into the lead using the top lane on lap-13.
Palmer mastered one final restart after a lap-20 caution period before the
field rattled off the final 30 laps. During the final run Palmer
stretched his lead to several car lengths ahead of Moltz, showcasing a
superior car. The win was Palmer’s first of the year and saw him finish
well ahead of the point leader Moltz. Ray Parent ran a strong race over
the final green flag run to place third.
Hovey wound up in Victory Lane in the 50-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American
Series Street Stock feature. Hovey was a benefactor of a tangle between
leaders Josh Galvin and Corey Hutchings on lap-44. The two traded blows at
the front of the field before Hutchings went spinning from the race lead
after contact from Galvin, who was penalized to the rear of the field.
Hovey led the final six laps while both Galvin and Hutchings stormed back
into podium finishes to claim second and third after a wild conclusion to
the race. The win was Hovey’s second of the 2012 season.
(continued)