RGeeProductions
04-28-2013, 11:14 PM
Ideal weather conditions blessed
Waterford Speedbowl for another round of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
racing on Saturday. Fans were treated to a show that placed
third-generation racer Joe Gada of Salem in the winner’s circle, claiming
the night’s 35-lap SK Modified® main event in dominating fashion.
Defending division champion Dillon Moltz of Waterford won the Bob Valenti
Auto Mall Late Model race, Josh Galvin of Franklin won a thrilling Street
Stock feature and Ian Brew of Wood River Junction, RI took his first Mini
Stock feature win of the year. Corey Coates of Ledyard won the visiting
New England Truck Series feature. The Legend Cars feature results ran
past deadline.
Tyler Jackson led a full field of open-wheel ground pounders to green for
their 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series feature. Jackson took the
early lead over Jeffrey Gallup with Gada holding third. After settling in
for the opening laps, Gada moved by Gallup’s inside for second on lap-4.
Gada continued his forward progress and found room to Jackson’s inside in
turn one the next lap and was scored as the new leader on lap-6. Craig
Lutz followed suit and was in second. Jeff Rocco got loose to Jackson’s
inside in turn one causing the field behind to stack up, resulting in Ed
Puleo and Justin Gaydosh coming together to bring out the caution. Puleo
was unable to resume.
Gada led the restart over Lutz, who settled into second. Only two laps
more were completed before bumper tag headed into turn one again caused
trouble, this time with Kyle James stranded in the infield to bring out
the second caution flag on lap-8. Damage to James’ car was severe enough
that he did not return.
Gada got the jump over Lutz again when racing went back to green. Jeff
Rocco got past Lutz’s inside to take second and he and Gada moved out
ahead of a three-car pack of Lutz, Diego Monahan and Ted Christopher.
Christopher pulled out of line on lap-17 and tried to make a run on
Monahan. Meanwhile Monahan was trying to find room to Lutz’s inside. That
battle cooled down when caution came back out on lap-18 as Adam Gada was
stalled on the track in distress. Rocco pulled off the track from second
into the pits during the caution and did not return.
Gada got the better of Lutz for the third time in the race on the restart.
Monahan and Christopher were able to keep Lutz in the outside lane,
taking over second and third positions on lap-19. Gada hustled away from
the combination of Monahan and Christopher with the race staying green.
Lutz held fourth position while Keith Rocco made his way into the top-five
past Tyler Chadwick. Rocco got by Lutz on lap-24 to take fourth as
Christopher turned up his pressure on Monahan. Meanwhile Gada’s lead once
again grew to a straightaway.
Christopher made a move on Monahan’s outside on lap-27 to get to second
position however time was not on his side. Without any further caution
flags Gada continued his romp to the checkered flag. The victory marked
the first time a third generation driver has ever won in the SK Modified®
division. Christopher finished second ahead of Monahan, who ended up
third.
Dennis Gada, Joe’s father, is the only driver in track history to claim
seven championships and is the all-time leader in SK Modified® division
wins with 62. Joe’s grandfather Bob Gada was also a winner in the
Modified division and a champion in support divisions. In total, the Gada
family has won a total of 11 track championships and greater than 120
races at the famed shoreline oval.
After two competitors elected to give up their front row starting
positions for the 30-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, Jeff Smith and
Dillon Moltz lined up to begin the race side-by-side. The two raced the
final 25-laps of their race a week ago separated by inches at most for the
majority of the race. This week Moltz took command early over Smith, last
week’s winner.
Moltz had to hold back Smith over five restarts during the event, doing so
each time. Smith chased Moltz the entire time, holding back a run by Joe
Curioso to take second. On lap-28, Curioso got tangled up with Jason
Palmer dropping each from a top finish. Moltz went on to record the
victory, the first of the season for the defending champion in the
division. Keith Rocco finished third.
The Street Stock division treated fans to a fabulous finish that came down
to the checkered flag in their 25-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
race. Joe Arena used the pole starting position to take a comfortable
early lead. Phil Evans held down second but was under fire from Norm Root
Jr. and Galvin among others. As Galvin had to work through traffic to
emerge in second by lap-10, Arena’s margin over him was nearly a
straightaway.
Two late caution periods in the final stages of the race tightened up the
field. Following the final yellow flag on lap-20, Arena ran side-by-side
with Galvin to his outside in a battle for the lead. The two swapped the
lead three times over the stretch run with Galvin leading laps 21 and 22
and Arena rallying to grab the lead on laps 23 and 24. Third place runner
Chris Meyer stayed with the lead duo during their tussle for the top spot
and made it a three-way battle for the win on the final lap. With Galvin
and Arena still neck and neck headed into turn three, Meyer found room to
Arena’s inside as the trio rounded turn four. Meyer’s presence broke
Arena’s charge enough for Galvin to slip ahead in the outside lane for a
half-car length win over both Arena and Meyer in an exciting three-wide
finish to the checkered flag. Arena nipped Meyer for second.
Brew held off a hard charging Garrett Denton to deny him a second
consecutive win in the Mini Stocks. Brew took the lead from Chris Ivory
on the third lap of the 25-lap race then raced ahead of a three-car battle
for second between defending division champion Ken Cassidy Jr. along with
Ray Christian and Denton, both feature winners on the season already.
Denton was able to come away with second position for good on lap-15.
Denton tracked down Brew over the next 10 laps to make a run at the win on
the final lap. Denton tried to get to Brew’s rear bumper exiting turn
two, and was able to pressure Brew through turn four and find room to his
inside. Brew was able to hold the challenge back and streaked to his
first win of the season. Denton settled for second with Cassidy placing
third.
The 20-lap Legend Cars feature saw sparks fly in the beginning. Cory
Dimatteo led lap-1 after passing pole sitter Stephen Kopcik. Nick Ladyga
and Dana Dimatteo each made their way by the front two to race into the
top two spots on lap-2, however they made contact on lap-5. Ladyga spun
up the track coming to rest in turn four to bring out the caution flag.
Dana Dimatteo was sent to the rear, handing the lead back to his younger
brother Cory. Cory Dimatteo led the restart however Garbo was already in
the mix, leap-frogging past defending division champion Paul Kusheba and
Dimatteo in one lap to take command on lap-7.
Once out front, Garbo had little trouble keeping challengers at bay. He
survived two additional caution flags the rest of the way to claim his
first win of the season at the Speedbowl. Garbo is the reigning division
champion in its Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday series, however has been competing
in Late Models in the south for 2013. Garbo’s cameo appearance Saturday
landed him in the winner’s circle. Dylan Izzo finished in second and
Ladyga stormed back to wind up third.
Corey Coates beat out defending series champion Duane Noll to win the
visiting 25-lap New England Truck Series feature.
The Speedbowl is back in action three times during the coming week. The
season debut of its Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday series and the return of Sho &
Go Friday nights at the Speedbowl join next Saturday’s NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series event. The Speedbowl will operate three nights per
week throughout summer. More details on all three race nights can be
found online at Speedbowl.com.
(continued)
Waterford Speedbowl for another round of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
racing on Saturday. Fans were treated to a show that placed
third-generation racer Joe Gada of Salem in the winner’s circle, claiming
the night’s 35-lap SK Modified® main event in dominating fashion.
Defending division champion Dillon Moltz of Waterford won the Bob Valenti
Auto Mall Late Model race, Josh Galvin of Franklin won a thrilling Street
Stock feature and Ian Brew of Wood River Junction, RI took his first Mini
Stock feature win of the year. Corey Coates of Ledyard won the visiting
New England Truck Series feature. The Legend Cars feature results ran
past deadline.
Tyler Jackson led a full field of open-wheel ground pounders to green for
their 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series feature. Jackson took the
early lead over Jeffrey Gallup with Gada holding third. After settling in
for the opening laps, Gada moved by Gallup’s inside for second on lap-4.
Gada continued his forward progress and found room to Jackson’s inside in
turn one the next lap and was scored as the new leader on lap-6. Craig
Lutz followed suit and was in second. Jeff Rocco got loose to Jackson’s
inside in turn one causing the field behind to stack up, resulting in Ed
Puleo and Justin Gaydosh coming together to bring out the caution. Puleo
was unable to resume.
Gada led the restart over Lutz, who settled into second. Only two laps
more were completed before bumper tag headed into turn one again caused
trouble, this time with Kyle James stranded in the infield to bring out
the second caution flag on lap-8. Damage to James’ car was severe enough
that he did not return.
Gada got the jump over Lutz again when racing went back to green. Jeff
Rocco got past Lutz’s inside to take second and he and Gada moved out
ahead of a three-car pack of Lutz, Diego Monahan and Ted Christopher.
Christopher pulled out of line on lap-17 and tried to make a run on
Monahan. Meanwhile Monahan was trying to find room to Lutz’s inside. That
battle cooled down when caution came back out on lap-18 as Adam Gada was
stalled on the track in distress. Rocco pulled off the track from second
into the pits during the caution and did not return.
Gada got the better of Lutz for the third time in the race on the restart.
Monahan and Christopher were able to keep Lutz in the outside lane,
taking over second and third positions on lap-19. Gada hustled away from
the combination of Monahan and Christopher with the race staying green.
Lutz held fourth position while Keith Rocco made his way into the top-five
past Tyler Chadwick. Rocco got by Lutz on lap-24 to take fourth as
Christopher turned up his pressure on Monahan. Meanwhile Gada’s lead once
again grew to a straightaway.
Christopher made a move on Monahan’s outside on lap-27 to get to second
position however time was not on his side. Without any further caution
flags Gada continued his romp to the checkered flag. The victory marked
the first time a third generation driver has ever won in the SK Modified®
division. Christopher finished second ahead of Monahan, who ended up
third.
Dennis Gada, Joe’s father, is the only driver in track history to claim
seven championships and is the all-time leader in SK Modified® division
wins with 62. Joe’s grandfather Bob Gada was also a winner in the
Modified division and a champion in support divisions. In total, the Gada
family has won a total of 11 track championships and greater than 120
races at the famed shoreline oval.
After two competitors elected to give up their front row starting
positions for the 30-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, Jeff Smith and
Dillon Moltz lined up to begin the race side-by-side. The two raced the
final 25-laps of their race a week ago separated by inches at most for the
majority of the race. This week Moltz took command early over Smith, last
week’s winner.
Moltz had to hold back Smith over five restarts during the event, doing so
each time. Smith chased Moltz the entire time, holding back a run by Joe
Curioso to take second. On lap-28, Curioso got tangled up with Jason
Palmer dropping each from a top finish. Moltz went on to record the
victory, the first of the season for the defending champion in the
division. Keith Rocco finished third.
The Street Stock division treated fans to a fabulous finish that came down
to the checkered flag in their 25-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
race. Joe Arena used the pole starting position to take a comfortable
early lead. Phil Evans held down second but was under fire from Norm Root
Jr. and Galvin among others. As Galvin had to work through traffic to
emerge in second by lap-10, Arena’s margin over him was nearly a
straightaway.
Two late caution periods in the final stages of the race tightened up the
field. Following the final yellow flag on lap-20, Arena ran side-by-side
with Galvin to his outside in a battle for the lead. The two swapped the
lead three times over the stretch run with Galvin leading laps 21 and 22
and Arena rallying to grab the lead on laps 23 and 24. Third place runner
Chris Meyer stayed with the lead duo during their tussle for the top spot
and made it a three-way battle for the win on the final lap. With Galvin
and Arena still neck and neck headed into turn three, Meyer found room to
Arena’s inside as the trio rounded turn four. Meyer’s presence broke
Arena’s charge enough for Galvin to slip ahead in the outside lane for a
half-car length win over both Arena and Meyer in an exciting three-wide
finish to the checkered flag. Arena nipped Meyer for second.
Brew held off a hard charging Garrett Denton to deny him a second
consecutive win in the Mini Stocks. Brew took the lead from Chris Ivory
on the third lap of the 25-lap race then raced ahead of a three-car battle
for second between defending division champion Ken Cassidy Jr. along with
Ray Christian and Denton, both feature winners on the season already.
Denton was able to come away with second position for good on lap-15.
Denton tracked down Brew over the next 10 laps to make a run at the win on
the final lap. Denton tried to get to Brew’s rear bumper exiting turn
two, and was able to pressure Brew through turn four and find room to his
inside. Brew was able to hold the challenge back and streaked to his
first win of the season. Denton settled for second with Cassidy placing
third.
The 20-lap Legend Cars feature saw sparks fly in the beginning. Cory
Dimatteo led lap-1 after passing pole sitter Stephen Kopcik. Nick Ladyga
and Dana Dimatteo each made their way by the front two to race into the
top two spots on lap-2, however they made contact on lap-5. Ladyga spun
up the track coming to rest in turn four to bring out the caution flag.
Dana Dimatteo was sent to the rear, handing the lead back to his younger
brother Cory. Cory Dimatteo led the restart however Garbo was already in
the mix, leap-frogging past defending division champion Paul Kusheba and
Dimatteo in one lap to take command on lap-7.
Once out front, Garbo had little trouble keeping challengers at bay. He
survived two additional caution flags the rest of the way to claim his
first win of the season at the Speedbowl. Garbo is the reigning division
champion in its Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday series, however has been competing
in Late Models in the south for 2013. Garbo’s cameo appearance Saturday
landed him in the winner’s circle. Dylan Izzo finished in second and
Ladyga stormed back to wind up third.
Corey Coates beat out defending series champion Duane Noll to win the
visiting 25-lap New England Truck Series feature.
The Speedbowl is back in action three times during the coming week. The
season debut of its Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday series and the return of Sho &
Go Friday nights at the Speedbowl join next Saturday’s NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series event. The Speedbowl will operate three nights per
week throughout summer. More details on all three race nights can be
found online at Speedbowl.com.
(continued)