RGeeProductions
07-15-2012, 10:28 AM
Waterford Speedbowl returned to action
Saturday evening with another round of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
racing after a week hiatus for the track’s summer break. The spotlight
was on the track’s INEX Legend Cars division as it competed in a special
50-lap feature presented by Big Y World Class Markets. Matt Pappa of
Nassau, NY was the big winner, scoring the INEX Legend Cars race victory
by coming out on top of a final lap duel. Keith Rocco of Meriden scored
two wins on the night in NASCAR action, scoring both the SK Modified® and
Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model features. Josh Galvin of Franklin won
the night’s Street Stock race and Mark Panaroni of Ivoryton picked up the
victory in the Mini Stock feature. The Bandolero race was won by Ken
Morin Jr. of Old Saybrook.
Rocco reached the front in a hurry in the night’s 35-lap NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series feature. Rookie competitor Al Stone led the opening
lap before giving way to Joe Perry. Rocco made moves early to place
himself in the top-three runners by lap-4. Rocco first went by the inside
of Joe Gada then Perry two laps later to race into the lead. The first
caution slowed the race on lap-10 when division newcomer Eddie LeClerc
spun in turn four. One lap later, LeClerc spun in the same spot to bring
out the second caution flag.
Keith Rocco led twin brother Jeff Rocco to the restart into turn one.
Kyle James raced underneath Jeff Rocco to take second position with Tyler
Chadwick looking to join the top-three, finding room to Jeff Rocco’s
inside. Rocco held off the charge and settled into third as Chadwick
tucked in line fourth. Gada rounded out the top-five ahead of a battle
for sixth that saw contact result in cars further back in the pack
stacking up in turn three, sending Rich Brooks spinning for the third
caution on lap-12.
James lined up to Keith Rocco’s outside for the restart, but the result
was the same with Rocco’s lead back to a car length into turn one.
Chadwick once again challenged Jeff Rocco and momentarily took over third
position on lap-13, but Rocco stormed back to his inside on lap-14 to
reclaim the spot. A lengthy run of green flag racing saw the field single
out by halfway. Rob Janovic Jr. was making moves to race into the
top-five, while points leader Jeff Pearl was at the back half of the
top-ten trying to make progress.
Out front, Keith Rocco’s lead was over a half straightaway ahead of James.
Jeff Rocco was on James’ bumper in third while Janovic glued himself to
Chadwick’s bumper for fourth position. Caution finally returned back over
the speedway on lap-31 when Brett Gonyaw spun off turn two, coming to rest
just off the apron of the track in turn three.
The field had trouble on the restart as Gonyaw got crossed up exiting turn
two with Jeff Gallup having nowhere to go, making contact with the
backstretch wall for the final caution flag. The last restart saw Rocco
jump back out ahead over James. Cars behind the leaders got crossed up,
shuffling the order to put Jeff Rocco back in second position while
Janovic moved up to third. James was able get in line fourth and they
raced in that order to the checkered flag. Chadwick rounded out the
top-five. Rocco’s win was his sixth of the year, but first since May 19.
Janovic’s finish lifted him to the point lead in the championship
standings over Pearl, who finished ninth.
Rocco was equally impressive in the 30-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American
Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model race. Ed Gertsch Jr. opened the
race by taking the lead over defending champion Jeff Smith and Anthony
Flannery. Flannery moved to Smith’s inside on lap-2 to take second
position, leaving room for Rocco to follow suit and get to Smith’s inside
on lap-3. Rocco got by Flannery to move to second on lap-5, just before
the first caution flag waved on lap-6 when Duane Noll spun in turn two.
The restart saw Rocco line up to Gertsch’s outside. He spent one lap
there before taking the lead as the field completed lap-7. Bruce Thomas
Jr. found his way through the top-five to move in on Rocco’s bumper on
lap-8. Rocco and Thomas moved out to a comfortable lead over the field
with Thomas trying to chase down the leader. Behind them, Flannery
occupied third position as the race moved past halfway.
Thomas stayed within striking distance of Rocco, but could not seriously
challenge before he received a break on lap-23 when recent winner Jason
Palmer spun out of turn four to bring out the second caution flag.
Rocco was strong on the restart and resumed his lead. Thomas had a final
opportunity come his way in the final stages after Noll spun in turn two
again as the leaders were racing to the white flag. The
green-white-checkered restart saw Rocco pull ahead yet again to take his
third win in the division of 2012. Thomas finished strong in second while
Flannery pulled down third. Point leader Dillon Moltz was fourth and
Gertsch finished in fifth.
The 25-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stock feature was
controlled by Galvin once he made his way to the lead. Dan Darnstaedt and
Joe Arena were at the front of the field to start the race before a quick
caution on lap-2 when Greg Moran Jr. had mechanical failure under the hood
of his machine. Galvin moved up to third position while Darnstaedt and
Arena raced side-by-side for the lead for several laps after racing
returned to the shoreline oval. Once Darnstaedt had Arena cleared for the
lead, Galvin picked up his pursuit of Arena for second. He took that spot
on lap-8 before a lap-10 caution flag was out for Paul Gaedeke and Dan
Butler, who came together at the rear of the field and spun exiting turn
four.
Galvin was able to race to Darnstaedt’s outside to take command following
the restart. Galvin pulled out to a multiple length lead over a battle
for second that broke out. Walt Hovey ended up getting around Darnstaedt
on lap-16 for second. Chris Meyer used the same maneuver to get past
Darnstaedt for third on lap-19. No further caution periods delayed Galvin
from taking his second win of the year, and second in four weeks. Hovey,
Meyer, Darnstaedt and Mike Caprio Jr. completed the top-five.
The 25-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Mini Stock feature had Wayne
Burroughs Jr. taking the lead outside Christopher Ivory on lap-1. Garrett
Denton looked to move to second outside of Ivory on lap-2 but contact saw
Denton go wide exiting turn four. Several cars filled the hole to
Denton’s inside and the field raced four wide down the front chute. The
field settled back into three-wide racing by turn one, with everyone
sorting out the mayhem to keep the race under green to the delight of
fans. The first caution came out with four laps complete when Jeff
Cembruch spun into turn one, getting tagged by Ray Christian sending
others spinning to avoid. After pitting, both Christian and Cembruch
would resume.
On the restart, Panaroni took the lead outside of Burrioughs. Once in the
lead, Panaroni looked stout and would not be threatened. Ian Brew moved
to second with division point leader Ken Cassidy Jr. racing up to third
behind him. The second and final caution flag was displayed on lap-15
when Christian and Denton came together on the front stretch sending
Denton into the infield grass to a stop.
The restart had Panaroni back into the lead ahead while Cassidy and Brew
took up a battle for second. Cassidy made a move to Brew’s inside work to
his advantage, able to take the spot and then give chase to Panaroni.
Panaroni proved too much, as Cassidy could simply not track down the
leader. Panaroni went on to the three car length win, his first of the
year. Cassidy, Brew, and Bill Leonard finished second through fourth,
while Cembruch rallied from his earlier incident to finish in fifth.
(continued)
Saturday evening with another round of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
racing after a week hiatus for the track’s summer break. The spotlight
was on the track’s INEX Legend Cars division as it competed in a special
50-lap feature presented by Big Y World Class Markets. Matt Pappa of
Nassau, NY was the big winner, scoring the INEX Legend Cars race victory
by coming out on top of a final lap duel. Keith Rocco of Meriden scored
two wins on the night in NASCAR action, scoring both the SK Modified® and
Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model features. Josh Galvin of Franklin won
the night’s Street Stock race and Mark Panaroni of Ivoryton picked up the
victory in the Mini Stock feature. The Bandolero race was won by Ken
Morin Jr. of Old Saybrook.
Rocco reached the front in a hurry in the night’s 35-lap NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series feature. Rookie competitor Al Stone led the opening
lap before giving way to Joe Perry. Rocco made moves early to place
himself in the top-three runners by lap-4. Rocco first went by the inside
of Joe Gada then Perry two laps later to race into the lead. The first
caution slowed the race on lap-10 when division newcomer Eddie LeClerc
spun in turn four. One lap later, LeClerc spun in the same spot to bring
out the second caution flag.
Keith Rocco led twin brother Jeff Rocco to the restart into turn one.
Kyle James raced underneath Jeff Rocco to take second position with Tyler
Chadwick looking to join the top-three, finding room to Jeff Rocco’s
inside. Rocco held off the charge and settled into third as Chadwick
tucked in line fourth. Gada rounded out the top-five ahead of a battle
for sixth that saw contact result in cars further back in the pack
stacking up in turn three, sending Rich Brooks spinning for the third
caution on lap-12.
James lined up to Keith Rocco’s outside for the restart, but the result
was the same with Rocco’s lead back to a car length into turn one.
Chadwick once again challenged Jeff Rocco and momentarily took over third
position on lap-13, but Rocco stormed back to his inside on lap-14 to
reclaim the spot. A lengthy run of green flag racing saw the field single
out by halfway. Rob Janovic Jr. was making moves to race into the
top-five, while points leader Jeff Pearl was at the back half of the
top-ten trying to make progress.
Out front, Keith Rocco’s lead was over a half straightaway ahead of James.
Jeff Rocco was on James’ bumper in third while Janovic glued himself to
Chadwick’s bumper for fourth position. Caution finally returned back over
the speedway on lap-31 when Brett Gonyaw spun off turn two, coming to rest
just off the apron of the track in turn three.
The field had trouble on the restart as Gonyaw got crossed up exiting turn
two with Jeff Gallup having nowhere to go, making contact with the
backstretch wall for the final caution flag. The last restart saw Rocco
jump back out ahead over James. Cars behind the leaders got crossed up,
shuffling the order to put Jeff Rocco back in second position while
Janovic moved up to third. James was able get in line fourth and they
raced in that order to the checkered flag. Chadwick rounded out the
top-five. Rocco’s win was his sixth of the year, but first since May 19.
Janovic’s finish lifted him to the point lead in the championship
standings over Pearl, who finished ninth.
Rocco was equally impressive in the 30-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American
Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model race. Ed Gertsch Jr. opened the
race by taking the lead over defending champion Jeff Smith and Anthony
Flannery. Flannery moved to Smith’s inside on lap-2 to take second
position, leaving room for Rocco to follow suit and get to Smith’s inside
on lap-3. Rocco got by Flannery to move to second on lap-5, just before
the first caution flag waved on lap-6 when Duane Noll spun in turn two.
The restart saw Rocco line up to Gertsch’s outside. He spent one lap
there before taking the lead as the field completed lap-7. Bruce Thomas
Jr. found his way through the top-five to move in on Rocco’s bumper on
lap-8. Rocco and Thomas moved out to a comfortable lead over the field
with Thomas trying to chase down the leader. Behind them, Flannery
occupied third position as the race moved past halfway.
Thomas stayed within striking distance of Rocco, but could not seriously
challenge before he received a break on lap-23 when recent winner Jason
Palmer spun out of turn four to bring out the second caution flag.
Rocco was strong on the restart and resumed his lead. Thomas had a final
opportunity come his way in the final stages after Noll spun in turn two
again as the leaders were racing to the white flag. The
green-white-checkered restart saw Rocco pull ahead yet again to take his
third win in the division of 2012. Thomas finished strong in second while
Flannery pulled down third. Point leader Dillon Moltz was fourth and
Gertsch finished in fifth.
The 25-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stock feature was
controlled by Galvin once he made his way to the lead. Dan Darnstaedt and
Joe Arena were at the front of the field to start the race before a quick
caution on lap-2 when Greg Moran Jr. had mechanical failure under the hood
of his machine. Galvin moved up to third position while Darnstaedt and
Arena raced side-by-side for the lead for several laps after racing
returned to the shoreline oval. Once Darnstaedt had Arena cleared for the
lead, Galvin picked up his pursuit of Arena for second. He took that spot
on lap-8 before a lap-10 caution flag was out for Paul Gaedeke and Dan
Butler, who came together at the rear of the field and spun exiting turn
four.
Galvin was able to race to Darnstaedt’s outside to take command following
the restart. Galvin pulled out to a multiple length lead over a battle
for second that broke out. Walt Hovey ended up getting around Darnstaedt
on lap-16 for second. Chris Meyer used the same maneuver to get past
Darnstaedt for third on lap-19. No further caution periods delayed Galvin
from taking his second win of the year, and second in four weeks. Hovey,
Meyer, Darnstaedt and Mike Caprio Jr. completed the top-five.
The 25-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Mini Stock feature had Wayne
Burroughs Jr. taking the lead outside Christopher Ivory on lap-1. Garrett
Denton looked to move to second outside of Ivory on lap-2 but contact saw
Denton go wide exiting turn four. Several cars filled the hole to
Denton’s inside and the field raced four wide down the front chute. The
field settled back into three-wide racing by turn one, with everyone
sorting out the mayhem to keep the race under green to the delight of
fans. The first caution came out with four laps complete when Jeff
Cembruch spun into turn one, getting tagged by Ray Christian sending
others spinning to avoid. After pitting, both Christian and Cembruch
would resume.
On the restart, Panaroni took the lead outside of Burrioughs. Once in the
lead, Panaroni looked stout and would not be threatened. Ian Brew moved
to second with division point leader Ken Cassidy Jr. racing up to third
behind him. The second and final caution flag was displayed on lap-15
when Christian and Denton came together on the front stretch sending
Denton into the infield grass to a stop.
The restart had Panaroni back into the lead ahead while Cassidy and Brew
took up a battle for second. Cassidy made a move to Brew’s inside work to
his advantage, able to take the spot and then give chase to Panaroni.
Panaroni proved too much, as Cassidy could simply not track down the
leader. Panaroni went on to the three car length win, his first of the
year. Cassidy, Brew, and Bill Leonard finished second through fourth,
while Cembruch rallied from his earlier incident to finish in fifth.
(continued)