RGeeProductions
06-09-2013, 12:37 PM
A six-division NASCAR Whelen All-American
Series program was hosted at Waterford Speedbowl Saturday evening. Three
of the races ran without need of a caution flag. Scoring wins on the
quick-paced night of motorsports were Keith Rocco of Meriden, who notched
his fourth win of the year in the SK Modified® division and Bruce Thomas
Jr. of Groton, winner of the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature.
Corey Hutchings of Salem checkered his third Street Stock race of the year
and Ian Brew was the winner of the Mini Stocks, his second on the season.
Randy Churchill Jr. of Oakdale captured his third SK Light Modified race
and Nick Ladyga was a first-time winner of the year in the INEX Legend
Cars.
Before the night’s racing, the Speedbowl hosted Laps for Lupus benefitting
the Lupus Foundation of America’s Connecticut Chapter. A Track Walk and
fundraising efforts on the night netted over $9,300 for the charity.
Rocco landed back in the winner’s circle in NASCAR Whelen All-American
Series SK Modified® action for the first time since May 4. Rocco had a
good car under him from the start. He worked his way through the top ten
as the lead changed hands multiple times in the opening laps.
The race got started with 1992 track champion Ted Christopher pacing the
field to green. He got a great jump over Justin Gaydosh to turn one to
take the initial the lead. Gaydosh pressed Christopher’s back bumper as
defending division champion Tyler Chadwick worked the outside lane to
create a three-way battle for the lead. Chadwick looked outside of
Christopher in turns one and two on lap-3 and as Christopher tried to hold
off the move Gaydosh found room to his inside to make a three-wide battle
off the corner. Chadwick backed out and watched Gaydosh drive by the
inside of Christopher into the race lead.
Kyle James moved by Chadwick into third on lap-6 and continued his
assault, taking second from Christopher with an inside move on lap-8.
Chadwick held fourth but was under fire from Joey Gada, while Rocco
inserted himself into that battle by lap-11. Gada and Rocco both cleared
Chadwick then used the outside lane to get around Christopher just ahead
of the first caution flag on lap-12, which waved for a Nichole Morgillo
spin in turn one. While under yellow, Christopher ducked to the pits for
adjustments.
James lined up outside Gaydosh for the restart and was able to make a race
for the lead when racing resumed. James led lap-13 by a nose and finally
cleared Gaydosh for sole possession of the top spot on lap-15. Rocco
meanwhile moved to third and once the top two singled out, went to work.
He raced high to find room to pull alongside Gaydosh for second on lap-17.
James was just ahead and Rocco continued to use the top groove of the
track to search for a way around the leader. Rocco got a wheel outside
James entering turn one on lap-20, completing the move to take over at the
front. The caution returned on lap-23 for a spin by Shawn Monahan.
Rocco had company behind him when Todd Ceravolo took second from James
following the third attempt to restart the race on lap-23. Rocco was able
to get the better of Ceravolo on two additional restarts following
incidents on laps 24 and 25. Once clear of Ceravolo, Rocco pulled ahead
to the win to bolster his lead in the standings over Ceravolo. James
continued his hot streak to place third. Gaydosh came away with fourth in
a battle for the spot in the closing laps with Diego Monahan, who was
fifth.
The SK Light Modifieds competed in a 25-lap race that was a duel between
Chris Ignazio of Colchester and Churchill over much of the middle of the
feature. Ignazio led from the start but Churchill moved top his rear
bumper, continually pressuring Ignazio until Ignazio pushed high in turn
four on lap-19, sliding across Churchill’s car down the front chute into
the infield to bring out the caution. Churchill inherited the lead for
the restart and got away from Glenn Griswold to go on to the win.
Griswold was second and Paul French finished third.
The Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models went green-to-checkered for their
30-lap feature. Rich Staskowski motored out to the lead at the start of
the race and built up a five car length cushion while the field sorted out
a battle for second. Jason Palmer was able to come away with the position
to slowly chase down Staskowski over the second half of the event. Thomas
finally emerged out of the pack in third and joined Palmer in pursuit of
the leader. They both eventually caught the leader and the top three cars
were nose to tail just after halfway.
Thomas went outside Palmer for second on lap-19 and even after a brush
with the wall on lap-20 was still able to keep pace with Staskowski.
Thomas waited until Staskowski slipped up high exiting turn four to make
his move on lap-24. Thomas went low and had the handles to pull ahead.
Over the final six laps Thomas went on to win unchallenged. Palmer was
able to pass Staskowski for second at the finish and Keith Rocco wound up
third.
Hutchings was in control from the drop of the green flag in the 25-lap
Street Stock race. He mastered the field building up over a full
straightaway lead over of Al Stone in a race that was completed without
incident. Hutchings cruised easily to the win, his third of the year but
first since April 13. Stone finished solidly in second while Josh Galvin
was third.
In another caution-free race it was Brew dominating the Mini Stock
division for his second victory of the year. Brew was able to get by early
leader Joe Liskiewicz, then sprinted ahead to a commanding lead. Brew
went on to the 25-lap win over Doug Curry, who wound up with a career-best
finish of second. Ken Cassidy Jr., winner of the past two races for the
division, was third.
The 20-lap Legend Cars had trouble getting started as early caution flags
mounted, however when racing settled in the division put on a great battle
to the checkered flag. Giovanni Giarratana took the lead on lap-3 and
held the spot as Ladyga slowly picked off cars to rise to second position.
A lap-13 restart, the final of the race, lined up Ladyga outside of
Giarratana. A good restart saw Giarratana pull back to his lead forcing
Ladyga to tuck in line behind, trailing him through lap-19. With the
final lap underway, Ladgya was in position to contend for the victory. He
got a great run underneath Giarratana through turns three and four to make
for a photo finish at the checkered flag. The two finished near even, with
Ladyga winning by just .010 of a second at the official finish.
The Speedbowl is back in action June 15 for Whelen Night with six
divisions of racing. In two weeks the cars and stars of the NASCAR Whelen
Modified Tour roll into the Speedbowl for the Mr. Rooter 161 on Saturday,
June 22. Online ticket sales are available as well as a hotel and ticket
package with Days Inn of Mystic. A NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
racing card supports the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour on June 22. More
information about tickets and the hotel and ticket combination are
available by visiting www.Speedbowl.com.
(continued)
Series program was hosted at Waterford Speedbowl Saturday evening. Three
of the races ran without need of a caution flag. Scoring wins on the
quick-paced night of motorsports were Keith Rocco of Meriden, who notched
his fourth win of the year in the SK Modified® division and Bruce Thomas
Jr. of Groton, winner of the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature.
Corey Hutchings of Salem checkered his third Street Stock race of the year
and Ian Brew was the winner of the Mini Stocks, his second on the season.
Randy Churchill Jr. of Oakdale captured his third SK Light Modified race
and Nick Ladyga was a first-time winner of the year in the INEX Legend
Cars.
Before the night’s racing, the Speedbowl hosted Laps for Lupus benefitting
the Lupus Foundation of America’s Connecticut Chapter. A Track Walk and
fundraising efforts on the night netted over $9,300 for the charity.
Rocco landed back in the winner’s circle in NASCAR Whelen All-American
Series SK Modified® action for the first time since May 4. Rocco had a
good car under him from the start. He worked his way through the top ten
as the lead changed hands multiple times in the opening laps.
The race got started with 1992 track champion Ted Christopher pacing the
field to green. He got a great jump over Justin Gaydosh to turn one to
take the initial the lead. Gaydosh pressed Christopher’s back bumper as
defending division champion Tyler Chadwick worked the outside lane to
create a three-way battle for the lead. Chadwick looked outside of
Christopher in turns one and two on lap-3 and as Christopher tried to hold
off the move Gaydosh found room to his inside to make a three-wide battle
off the corner. Chadwick backed out and watched Gaydosh drive by the
inside of Christopher into the race lead.
Kyle James moved by Chadwick into third on lap-6 and continued his
assault, taking second from Christopher with an inside move on lap-8.
Chadwick held fourth but was under fire from Joey Gada, while Rocco
inserted himself into that battle by lap-11. Gada and Rocco both cleared
Chadwick then used the outside lane to get around Christopher just ahead
of the first caution flag on lap-12, which waved for a Nichole Morgillo
spin in turn one. While under yellow, Christopher ducked to the pits for
adjustments.
James lined up outside Gaydosh for the restart and was able to make a race
for the lead when racing resumed. James led lap-13 by a nose and finally
cleared Gaydosh for sole possession of the top spot on lap-15. Rocco
meanwhile moved to third and once the top two singled out, went to work.
He raced high to find room to pull alongside Gaydosh for second on lap-17.
James was just ahead and Rocco continued to use the top groove of the
track to search for a way around the leader. Rocco got a wheel outside
James entering turn one on lap-20, completing the move to take over at the
front. The caution returned on lap-23 for a spin by Shawn Monahan.
Rocco had company behind him when Todd Ceravolo took second from James
following the third attempt to restart the race on lap-23. Rocco was able
to get the better of Ceravolo on two additional restarts following
incidents on laps 24 and 25. Once clear of Ceravolo, Rocco pulled ahead
to the win to bolster his lead in the standings over Ceravolo. James
continued his hot streak to place third. Gaydosh came away with fourth in
a battle for the spot in the closing laps with Diego Monahan, who was
fifth.
The SK Light Modifieds competed in a 25-lap race that was a duel between
Chris Ignazio of Colchester and Churchill over much of the middle of the
feature. Ignazio led from the start but Churchill moved top his rear
bumper, continually pressuring Ignazio until Ignazio pushed high in turn
four on lap-19, sliding across Churchill’s car down the front chute into
the infield to bring out the caution. Churchill inherited the lead for
the restart and got away from Glenn Griswold to go on to the win.
Griswold was second and Paul French finished third.
The Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models went green-to-checkered for their
30-lap feature. Rich Staskowski motored out to the lead at the start of
the race and built up a five car length cushion while the field sorted out
a battle for second. Jason Palmer was able to come away with the position
to slowly chase down Staskowski over the second half of the event. Thomas
finally emerged out of the pack in third and joined Palmer in pursuit of
the leader. They both eventually caught the leader and the top three cars
were nose to tail just after halfway.
Thomas went outside Palmer for second on lap-19 and even after a brush
with the wall on lap-20 was still able to keep pace with Staskowski.
Thomas waited until Staskowski slipped up high exiting turn four to make
his move on lap-24. Thomas went low and had the handles to pull ahead.
Over the final six laps Thomas went on to win unchallenged. Palmer was
able to pass Staskowski for second at the finish and Keith Rocco wound up
third.
Hutchings was in control from the drop of the green flag in the 25-lap
Street Stock race. He mastered the field building up over a full
straightaway lead over of Al Stone in a race that was completed without
incident. Hutchings cruised easily to the win, his third of the year but
first since April 13. Stone finished solidly in second while Josh Galvin
was third.
In another caution-free race it was Brew dominating the Mini Stock
division for his second victory of the year. Brew was able to get by early
leader Joe Liskiewicz, then sprinted ahead to a commanding lead. Brew
went on to the 25-lap win over Doug Curry, who wound up with a career-best
finish of second. Ken Cassidy Jr., winner of the past two races for the
division, was third.
The 20-lap Legend Cars had trouble getting started as early caution flags
mounted, however when racing settled in the division put on a great battle
to the checkered flag. Giovanni Giarratana took the lead on lap-3 and
held the spot as Ladyga slowly picked off cars to rise to second position.
A lap-13 restart, the final of the race, lined up Ladyga outside of
Giarratana. A good restart saw Giarratana pull back to his lead forcing
Ladyga to tuck in line behind, trailing him through lap-19. With the
final lap underway, Ladgya was in position to contend for the victory. He
got a great run underneath Giarratana through turns three and four to make
for a photo finish at the checkered flag. The two finished near even, with
Ladyga winning by just .010 of a second at the official finish.
The Speedbowl is back in action June 15 for Whelen Night with six
divisions of racing. In two weeks the cars and stars of the NASCAR Whelen
Modified Tour roll into the Speedbowl for the Mr. Rooter 161 on Saturday,
June 22. Online ticket sales are available as well as a hotel and ticket
package with Days Inn of Mystic. A NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
racing card supports the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour on June 22. More
information about tickets and the hotel and ticket combination are
available by visiting www.Speedbowl.com.
(continued)