RGeeProductions
08-05-2012, 01:53 PM
Waterford Speedbowl returned to action on
the shoreline following a rain out a week ago with its special “Four
Cylinder Fury” NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing program, presented
by USG. While four cylinder cars were the highlight of the night, the
story of the night was in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK
Modified® division. One of the hottest open-wheel Modified drivers in the
country, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour point leader Doug Coby of Milford,
took over for an injured Keith Rocco of Meriden to score victory in
impressive fashion. Waterford’s Dillon Moltz won his fifth Bob Valenti
Auto Mall Late Model division race of the year, Ken Cassidy Jr. won his
tenth Mini Stock race of 2012 in a special extra-distance event, and a
first-time Speedbowl win went to Joe Arena of Bristol in the Street
Stocks. Wayne Shifflett of Preston won the X-Car feature and Dave
Richardi of North Easton, MA scored the win in the visiting Pro Four
Modifieds of New England race. The Northeast Mini Stock Tour race was won
by Shawn Swallow of Stark, NH in a thrilling photo finish in that race.
Rocco, the division point leader headed into the event, injured his wrist
in a practice crash on Sunday at Thompson International Speedway. He
turned over his ride to Coby for the 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American
Series SK Modified® feature. After resuming the race from the rear of the
field, Coby methodically picked his way through the field in Rocco’s #88.
Coby used several timely caution flags during the event to make his
progress to the front of the field.
The race began with Jeffrey Gallup holding the pole starting position. On
the intial green flag, the field only made it to turn two before Brett
Gonyaw spun from third position triggering hair-raising moments for
several competitors as the caution flag waved. During the caution, Rocco
went to the pits to hand the wheel over to Coby. A lengthier delay ensued
when the cars of Will Schneider and Tyler Chadwick became locked together
on the track in turn four.
Once the track was clear Gallup was challenged on the opening lap by Kyle
James, who motored under Gallup to the stripe to lead lap-1. Gonyaw and
Will Schneider came together through turns three and four disabling both
cars which made their way off the speedway under their own power to keep
the race under green. The second caution flag was not far behind however,
waving on lap-3 when a check-up further back in the field had Joe Perry
coming to rest on the track in turn four.
Drivers were kept on their toes following the next restart as James
resumed over Gallup, however a battle for third saw Rich Brooks and Jeff
Pearl make contact with Pearl brushing the backstretch wall. Everyone
stayed pointed ahead until lap-6 when Justin Gaydosh and Jeff Rocco made
contact entering turn one in a battle in the back of the top-ten, bringing
out the caution as both cars spun through the turns. On the restart,
Brooks and Gallup made contact in turn three before a lap could be
complete, sending both spinning to drop them from the front runners.
After making it past lap-6, the field settled in for an extended run of
green flag racing with action to be found all over the track. James was
comfortable out front while Diego Monahan, Shawn Monahan, Tommy Barrett
and Pearl held down the top-five in single file order
Already benefitting by the multiple cautions and cars heading pit side for
adjustments, Coby was just inside the top-ten for the green flag run. He
went to work during the run, continuing forward progress to arrive on
Pearl’s bumper for fifth position on lap-12. Coby worked on Pearl for
three laps before diving outside on lap-15. Chadwick was on Coby’s tail,
following him through the top-ten as he recovered from his early incident.
Coby moved to the top-five by clearing Pearl, with Chadwick past Pearl on
lap-16 just as Coby creeped in on Barrett for fourth.
The action for third position became a heated three car battle over the
next several laps. Coby kept the pressure on Barrett, who in turn was all
over Shawn Monahan who began to struggle with the handles on his machine.
Barrett looked outside Monahan for the spot while Coby waited for an
opening in either lane. Barrett finally got the run he needed on Monahan
on lap-21 to pull even, spending two laps working for the spot before
claiming it on lap-23. Coby got outside Monahan to take over fourth
position on lap-24, dropping Monahan to fifth.
Monahan could not rest as Chadwick was on his bumper pressuring to move
his way into the lead pack. The action just ahead of the battle for
fifth, Coby challenged to move in the top-three by stalking Barrett for
the spot. Coby went to the top of the track looking for a run. As Coby
was outside Barrett, Chadwick had just taken over fifth from Monahan on
lap-27 when Monahan lost control in turn three, spinning into the wall to
finally slow the torrid pace and erase the advantage James and Diego
Monahan held at the front.
James got away on the restart again, leaving Diego Monahan in the grips of
Barrett. Monahan fended off a brief challenge for second and Coby jumped
to Barrett’s outside to immediately challenge again for third. Coby had
the spot on lap-30 and then wasted no time in diving to Monahan’s outside
in a bid for second. Just as Coby was making his move, Nichole Morgillo
spun around in turn three after moving through the top-ten, returning the
race to caution.
The lap-30 restart had James jumping to the lead over Monahan, who lined
up to his outside. Coby used the inside lane on the restart to
successfully take over second position, finally clear of Monahan on
lap-32. Chadwick followed suit to make his way to third position on the
same lap. As the field worked lap-33, an incident in turn one between
Gallup and Morgillo brought out the final yellow flag, providing Coby the
chance to line up outside of James.
Coby timed the restart perfectly and powered into the lead outside James
down the front chute and through turns one and two. Coby sprinted ahead
over the final three lap dash to the checkered flag to score the win.
James had a great run all night leading the brunt of the race, only to
settle for second position, and Chadwick placed a strong third. Monahan
went spinning on the final lap in turns three and four to shuffle the
field as it raced for finishing position, with Rob Janovic Jr. taking
fourth and Jeff Rocco finishing fifth.
The driver of record in the winning #88 car ended up being Coby after
official review. Keith Rocco took the initial green flag at the tail of
the running order, however the field only made it to turn two on the
opening lap before the caution flag flew. Rocco immediately ducked into
the turn three pit gate to make the driver change to Coby before coming
around to take the caution flag. Per the published track rules regarding
Race Procedure, “points and (prize) money will be awarded to the driver
that completes the initial green flag lap.” Coby was the driver of record
that completed the initial green flag lap on the track upon exiting the
pit area. The ruling unofficially drops Rocco from the point lead, moving
Chadwick into the top spot. Rocco slipped to fourth in the standings.
The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Mini Stock division was on center
stage during the Four Cylinder Fury event, staging a special 50-lap
feature race. Over the course of a rough and tumble event, it emerged as
a three-car battle for much of it at the front of the field among Cassidy,
Jeffrey Cembruch and Ray Christian III. Sean Caron was the race’s early
leader, but he gave way to Christian on lap-10 after the third restart of
the race. Cassidy marched into second inside of Caron on lap-13. Cassidy
took over the lead before halfway and held back challenges from both
Christian and Cembruch over the second half of the race. Cassidy survived
multiple restarts to take his tenth victory of the year, but first since
June 16 after he won nine of the first ten events in the division.
Christian and Cembruch completed the podium finishers.
The 30-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late
Model feature ran caution free with Moltz coming out on top. Jeff Smith
took the race lead at the drop of the green flag over Anthony Flannery.
Moltz shuffled his way through front runners to take second position on
lap-3 and chase down Smith on lap-5. He moved to the leader’s outside and
spent two laps there before clearing Smith for the race lead on lap-7.
Once out front, Moltz pulled away as Bruce Thomas Jr. battled Smith for
second. Thomas was in the spot on lap-10 and spent the rest of the race
trying to track down Moltz. Thomas had cut the lead to a single car
length by the final lap, but his effort came up just short with a second
place finish. Moltz took the win, his fifth on the year. Smith finished
third. Moltz and Thomas are first and second in the division’s season
standings.
(continued)
the shoreline following a rain out a week ago with its special “Four
Cylinder Fury” NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing program, presented
by USG. While four cylinder cars were the highlight of the night, the
story of the night was in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK
Modified® division. One of the hottest open-wheel Modified drivers in the
country, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour point leader Doug Coby of Milford,
took over for an injured Keith Rocco of Meriden to score victory in
impressive fashion. Waterford’s Dillon Moltz won his fifth Bob Valenti
Auto Mall Late Model division race of the year, Ken Cassidy Jr. won his
tenth Mini Stock race of 2012 in a special extra-distance event, and a
first-time Speedbowl win went to Joe Arena of Bristol in the Street
Stocks. Wayne Shifflett of Preston won the X-Car feature and Dave
Richardi of North Easton, MA scored the win in the visiting Pro Four
Modifieds of New England race. The Northeast Mini Stock Tour race was won
by Shawn Swallow of Stark, NH in a thrilling photo finish in that race.
Rocco, the division point leader headed into the event, injured his wrist
in a practice crash on Sunday at Thompson International Speedway. He
turned over his ride to Coby for the 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American
Series SK Modified® feature. After resuming the race from the rear of the
field, Coby methodically picked his way through the field in Rocco’s #88.
Coby used several timely caution flags during the event to make his
progress to the front of the field.
The race began with Jeffrey Gallup holding the pole starting position. On
the intial green flag, the field only made it to turn two before Brett
Gonyaw spun from third position triggering hair-raising moments for
several competitors as the caution flag waved. During the caution, Rocco
went to the pits to hand the wheel over to Coby. A lengthier delay ensued
when the cars of Will Schneider and Tyler Chadwick became locked together
on the track in turn four.
Once the track was clear Gallup was challenged on the opening lap by Kyle
James, who motored under Gallup to the stripe to lead lap-1. Gonyaw and
Will Schneider came together through turns three and four disabling both
cars which made their way off the speedway under their own power to keep
the race under green. The second caution flag was not far behind however,
waving on lap-3 when a check-up further back in the field had Joe Perry
coming to rest on the track in turn four.
Drivers were kept on their toes following the next restart as James
resumed over Gallup, however a battle for third saw Rich Brooks and Jeff
Pearl make contact with Pearl brushing the backstretch wall. Everyone
stayed pointed ahead until lap-6 when Justin Gaydosh and Jeff Rocco made
contact entering turn one in a battle in the back of the top-ten, bringing
out the caution as both cars spun through the turns. On the restart,
Brooks and Gallup made contact in turn three before a lap could be
complete, sending both spinning to drop them from the front runners.
After making it past lap-6, the field settled in for an extended run of
green flag racing with action to be found all over the track. James was
comfortable out front while Diego Monahan, Shawn Monahan, Tommy Barrett
and Pearl held down the top-five in single file order
Already benefitting by the multiple cautions and cars heading pit side for
adjustments, Coby was just inside the top-ten for the green flag run. He
went to work during the run, continuing forward progress to arrive on
Pearl’s bumper for fifth position on lap-12. Coby worked on Pearl for
three laps before diving outside on lap-15. Chadwick was on Coby’s tail,
following him through the top-ten as he recovered from his early incident.
Coby moved to the top-five by clearing Pearl, with Chadwick past Pearl on
lap-16 just as Coby creeped in on Barrett for fourth.
The action for third position became a heated three car battle over the
next several laps. Coby kept the pressure on Barrett, who in turn was all
over Shawn Monahan who began to struggle with the handles on his machine.
Barrett looked outside Monahan for the spot while Coby waited for an
opening in either lane. Barrett finally got the run he needed on Monahan
on lap-21 to pull even, spending two laps working for the spot before
claiming it on lap-23. Coby got outside Monahan to take over fourth
position on lap-24, dropping Monahan to fifth.
Monahan could not rest as Chadwick was on his bumper pressuring to move
his way into the lead pack. The action just ahead of the battle for
fifth, Coby challenged to move in the top-three by stalking Barrett for
the spot. Coby went to the top of the track looking for a run. As Coby
was outside Barrett, Chadwick had just taken over fifth from Monahan on
lap-27 when Monahan lost control in turn three, spinning into the wall to
finally slow the torrid pace and erase the advantage James and Diego
Monahan held at the front.
James got away on the restart again, leaving Diego Monahan in the grips of
Barrett. Monahan fended off a brief challenge for second and Coby jumped
to Barrett’s outside to immediately challenge again for third. Coby had
the spot on lap-30 and then wasted no time in diving to Monahan’s outside
in a bid for second. Just as Coby was making his move, Nichole Morgillo
spun around in turn three after moving through the top-ten, returning the
race to caution.
The lap-30 restart had James jumping to the lead over Monahan, who lined
up to his outside. Coby used the inside lane on the restart to
successfully take over second position, finally clear of Monahan on
lap-32. Chadwick followed suit to make his way to third position on the
same lap. As the field worked lap-33, an incident in turn one between
Gallup and Morgillo brought out the final yellow flag, providing Coby the
chance to line up outside of James.
Coby timed the restart perfectly and powered into the lead outside James
down the front chute and through turns one and two. Coby sprinted ahead
over the final three lap dash to the checkered flag to score the win.
James had a great run all night leading the brunt of the race, only to
settle for second position, and Chadwick placed a strong third. Monahan
went spinning on the final lap in turns three and four to shuffle the
field as it raced for finishing position, with Rob Janovic Jr. taking
fourth and Jeff Rocco finishing fifth.
The driver of record in the winning #88 car ended up being Coby after
official review. Keith Rocco took the initial green flag at the tail of
the running order, however the field only made it to turn two on the
opening lap before the caution flag flew. Rocco immediately ducked into
the turn three pit gate to make the driver change to Coby before coming
around to take the caution flag. Per the published track rules regarding
Race Procedure, “points and (prize) money will be awarded to the driver
that completes the initial green flag lap.” Coby was the driver of record
that completed the initial green flag lap on the track upon exiting the
pit area. The ruling unofficially drops Rocco from the point lead, moving
Chadwick into the top spot. Rocco slipped to fourth in the standings.
The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Mini Stock division was on center
stage during the Four Cylinder Fury event, staging a special 50-lap
feature race. Over the course of a rough and tumble event, it emerged as
a three-car battle for much of it at the front of the field among Cassidy,
Jeffrey Cembruch and Ray Christian III. Sean Caron was the race’s early
leader, but he gave way to Christian on lap-10 after the third restart of
the race. Cassidy marched into second inside of Caron on lap-13. Cassidy
took over the lead before halfway and held back challenges from both
Christian and Cembruch over the second half of the race. Cassidy survived
multiple restarts to take his tenth victory of the year, but first since
June 16 after he won nine of the first ten events in the division.
Christian and Cembruch completed the podium finishers.
The 30-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late
Model feature ran caution free with Moltz coming out on top. Jeff Smith
took the race lead at the drop of the green flag over Anthony Flannery.
Moltz shuffled his way through front runners to take second position on
lap-3 and chase down Smith on lap-5. He moved to the leader’s outside and
spent two laps there before clearing Smith for the race lead on lap-7.
Once out front, Moltz pulled away as Bruce Thomas Jr. battled Smith for
second. Thomas was in the spot on lap-10 and spent the rest of the race
trying to track down Moltz. Thomas had cut the lead to a single car
length by the final lap, but his effort came up just short with a second
place finish. Moltz took the win, his fifth on the year. Smith finished
third. Moltz and Thomas are first and second in the division’s season
standings.
(continued)