RGeeProductions
05-19-2013, 01:06 PM
Waterford Speedbowl hosted Scout Night
Saturday evening celebrating two American traditions, scouting and racing.
The crowd on hand was treated to a five-division NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series program. Scoring victories on the night included Kyle
James of Ashaway, RI in the SK Modifieds® and Bruce Thomas Jr. of Groton
in the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models. A pair of defending champions
earned their first 2013 wins, Ken Cassidy Jr. of Lisbon and Paul French of
Andover in the Mini Stocks and SK Light Modifieds, respectively. Ryan
Waterman of Danielson was a first-ever winner in the Street Stock feature.
All five were first time winners in 2013.
James picked up his win surviving a wild 35-lap race in the SK Modified®
division. James, who started in last position, dodged incidents which
resulted in eight caution flags that plagued the race. He started the
race in 23rd position after power steering problems sidelined him in
practice and qualifying.
The race began with rookie Tyler Jackson and Ed Puleo battling for the
lead from their front row starting positions. Jackson bobbled exiting
turn two on lap-2 creating a traffic jam behind him which resulted in a
caution for Diego Monahan, who spun into turn-3. Puleo took the lead on
the restart as Jeff Rocco and Tom Abele climbed to second and third on the
track.
Nichole Morgillo and Justin Gaydosh spun in tandem out of turn two
battling in a tight pack of cars just outside the top-five for the second
caution flag on lap-10. The restart was not kind to Jeff Rocco as he made
heavy contact with the retaining wall exiting turn two while running
second. Ted Christopher was collected and pitted for repairs, returning at
the tail end of the field while Rocco’s night was over.
Only one more lap was completed before caution was back out on lap-11 as
more mayhem broke out behind Puleo. Another bobble by Jackson out of turn
two resulted in several cars making contact and Monahan again the victim,
stopped on the track with a flat tire. Keith Rocco took the opportunity to
head to the pits for attention to his machine during the yellow.
Craig Lutz took over at the front with a daring three-wide maneuver after
racing went back to green. He looked inside Puleo down the back chute
coming to lap-14 as Puleo fended off a challenge to his outside by Abele.
Lutz cleared both exiting turn four to streak into the lead. He held the
top spot through lap-22 when Puleo fought back and found room to his
inside. Behind Puleo Todd Ceravolo eventually came away with second
position in a battle that saw three cars tangle on lap-24. Abele and Lutz
both tried racing under Brett Gonyaw in turn two, coming together to bring
out the next caution flag and sending all three to the pit area for
repair. The melee bumped James up to third position and into contention.
James was able to get ahead of Ceravolo on the ensuing restart, trailing
Puleo when Jeffrey Gallup and Christopher wrecked in turn four battling
for fourth on lap-25. Once in second, James used the next restart to stay
outside of Puleo and take command on lap-27. James survived a final
restart on lap-33, besting Ceravolo to race to the checkered flag.
Ceravolo wound up second while Puleo ran up front all night, leading much
of the race, to place third. Keith Rocco and Lutz both rebounded from
their hurdles to round out the top-five.
Thomas won the 30-lap Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model race following a
tumultuous pass for the lead on lap-27. Moltz took command at the front
early before the only caution flag flew on lap-4 when Keith Rocco, Anthony
Ryan Jr., Vin Esposito and Rich Duranti came together in turn two. Thomas
lined up second for the restart but watched as Moltz again pulled ahead.
Thomas tried to stay in Moltz’s tire tracks as the two drifted away from a
battle for third place over the next several laps. Jeff Smith held the
spot but Jason Palmer, Rich Staskowski and Rocco were all jockeying for
track position. Rocco came out with the position by lap-12, however
Moltz and Thomas were a straightaway ahead as the race hit its second
half.
With racing clean and green for the extended run Moltz’s car began showing
signs of slowly fading away. Thomas slowly closed back in on Moltz,
inching his way to the leader’s rear bumper by lap-24. Thomas bided his
time and found room under Moltz coming out of turn four racing to lap-27.
Moltz broke sideways and made contact with Thomas the entire length of the
frontstretch into turn one before Thomas muscled the top spot away. Moltz
was able to recover however Rocco was closing in fast from third. While
Thomas was able to clear remaining lapped traffic to go on to the
checkered flag, Rocco got by Moltz on the final lap to snatch second. The
win was the 55th of Thomas’ Speedbowl career.
Waterman was a well-received first-time winner in the Street Stock
division in a caution-free 25-lap event. A newcomer to the division,
Waterman took the lead on lap-7 from Dan Darnstaedt. While Darnstaedt
moved out to a quick early advantage, Waterman and Joe Arena moved to
second and third and closed the gap back to the leader. When Waterman
found room inside of Darnstaedt, Arena filled the gap to take second on
lap-8. Behind them, Chris Meyer and Brandon Plemons filled the top-five
while Josh Galvin and Corey Hutchings broke out of traffic trying to run
down the top-five.
By lap-11 Meyer and Plemons cleared Darnstaedt with Arena the next target.
Meyer challenged him for second position beginning on lap-13, however
Arena battled hard and the two put on a great show until Meyer finally got
past on lap-16. Galvin had caught the pack to make a three car battle for
third among Arena, Plemons and himself while Waterman was looking great
out front.
Meyer closed in on Waterman and pressured the young leader. Meyer looked
high on multiple occasions, but Waterman was too quick and composed to
lose focus. Meyer settled for second while Arena came out on top in the
battle for third. Both Arena and Meyer congratulated and praised
Waterman’s performance following the race.
(continued)
Saturday evening celebrating two American traditions, scouting and racing.
The crowd on hand was treated to a five-division NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series program. Scoring victories on the night included Kyle
James of Ashaway, RI in the SK Modifieds® and Bruce Thomas Jr. of Groton
in the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models. A pair of defending champions
earned their first 2013 wins, Ken Cassidy Jr. of Lisbon and Paul French of
Andover in the Mini Stocks and SK Light Modifieds, respectively. Ryan
Waterman of Danielson was a first-ever winner in the Street Stock feature.
All five were first time winners in 2013.
James picked up his win surviving a wild 35-lap race in the SK Modified®
division. James, who started in last position, dodged incidents which
resulted in eight caution flags that plagued the race. He started the
race in 23rd position after power steering problems sidelined him in
practice and qualifying.
The race began with rookie Tyler Jackson and Ed Puleo battling for the
lead from their front row starting positions. Jackson bobbled exiting
turn two on lap-2 creating a traffic jam behind him which resulted in a
caution for Diego Monahan, who spun into turn-3. Puleo took the lead on
the restart as Jeff Rocco and Tom Abele climbed to second and third on the
track.
Nichole Morgillo and Justin Gaydosh spun in tandem out of turn two
battling in a tight pack of cars just outside the top-five for the second
caution flag on lap-10. The restart was not kind to Jeff Rocco as he made
heavy contact with the retaining wall exiting turn two while running
second. Ted Christopher was collected and pitted for repairs, returning at
the tail end of the field while Rocco’s night was over.
Only one more lap was completed before caution was back out on lap-11 as
more mayhem broke out behind Puleo. Another bobble by Jackson out of turn
two resulted in several cars making contact and Monahan again the victim,
stopped on the track with a flat tire. Keith Rocco took the opportunity to
head to the pits for attention to his machine during the yellow.
Craig Lutz took over at the front with a daring three-wide maneuver after
racing went back to green. He looked inside Puleo down the back chute
coming to lap-14 as Puleo fended off a challenge to his outside by Abele.
Lutz cleared both exiting turn four to streak into the lead. He held the
top spot through lap-22 when Puleo fought back and found room to his
inside. Behind Puleo Todd Ceravolo eventually came away with second
position in a battle that saw three cars tangle on lap-24. Abele and Lutz
both tried racing under Brett Gonyaw in turn two, coming together to bring
out the next caution flag and sending all three to the pit area for
repair. The melee bumped James up to third position and into contention.
James was able to get ahead of Ceravolo on the ensuing restart, trailing
Puleo when Jeffrey Gallup and Christopher wrecked in turn four battling
for fourth on lap-25. Once in second, James used the next restart to stay
outside of Puleo and take command on lap-27. James survived a final
restart on lap-33, besting Ceravolo to race to the checkered flag.
Ceravolo wound up second while Puleo ran up front all night, leading much
of the race, to place third. Keith Rocco and Lutz both rebounded from
their hurdles to round out the top-five.
Thomas won the 30-lap Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model race following a
tumultuous pass for the lead on lap-27. Moltz took command at the front
early before the only caution flag flew on lap-4 when Keith Rocco, Anthony
Ryan Jr., Vin Esposito and Rich Duranti came together in turn two. Thomas
lined up second for the restart but watched as Moltz again pulled ahead.
Thomas tried to stay in Moltz’s tire tracks as the two drifted away from a
battle for third place over the next several laps. Jeff Smith held the
spot but Jason Palmer, Rich Staskowski and Rocco were all jockeying for
track position. Rocco came out with the position by lap-12, however
Moltz and Thomas were a straightaway ahead as the race hit its second
half.
With racing clean and green for the extended run Moltz’s car began showing
signs of slowly fading away. Thomas slowly closed back in on Moltz,
inching his way to the leader’s rear bumper by lap-24. Thomas bided his
time and found room under Moltz coming out of turn four racing to lap-27.
Moltz broke sideways and made contact with Thomas the entire length of the
frontstretch into turn one before Thomas muscled the top spot away. Moltz
was able to recover however Rocco was closing in fast from third. While
Thomas was able to clear remaining lapped traffic to go on to the
checkered flag, Rocco got by Moltz on the final lap to snatch second. The
win was the 55th of Thomas’ Speedbowl career.
Waterman was a well-received first-time winner in the Street Stock
division in a caution-free 25-lap event. A newcomer to the division,
Waterman took the lead on lap-7 from Dan Darnstaedt. While Darnstaedt
moved out to a quick early advantage, Waterman and Joe Arena moved to
second and third and closed the gap back to the leader. When Waterman
found room inside of Darnstaedt, Arena filled the gap to take second on
lap-8. Behind them, Chris Meyer and Brandon Plemons filled the top-five
while Josh Galvin and Corey Hutchings broke out of traffic trying to run
down the top-five.
By lap-11 Meyer and Plemons cleared Darnstaedt with Arena the next target.
Meyer challenged him for second position beginning on lap-13, however
Arena battled hard and the two put on a great show until Meyer finally got
past on lap-16. Galvin had caught the pack to make a three car battle for
third among Arena, Plemons and himself while Waterman was looking great
out front.
Meyer closed in on Waterman and pressured the young leader. Meyer looked
high on multiple occasions, but Waterman was too quick and composed to
lose focus. Meyer settled for second while Arena came out on top in the
battle for third. Both Arena and Meyer congratulated and praised
Waterman’s performance following the race.
(continued)