RGeeProductions
06-30-2013, 12:02 PM
Waterford Speedbowl was back with a quick
paced six-division racing program Saturday evening. Scoring NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series victories included Keith Rocco of Meriden, who notched
his fifth win of the year in the SK Modifieds®. Waterford’s Dillon Moltz
won for the second time this season in the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late
Models, Brandon Plemons of Uncasville took the checkered flag in the
Street Stocks and Bill Leonard of Charlestown, RI won for the second
straight week in the Mini Stocks. In INEX racing, Giovanni Giarratana of
Newington won the night’s Legend Cars feature. The Super X-Cars competed
in a Saturday Showdown Series event won by Preston’s Ed Ryan.
Rocco knifed his way to the front in a hotly contested and action packed
SK Modified® feature. He was on leader Diego Monahan’s rear bumper by
lap-17 of the 35-lapper. Monahan started the race third and was behind an
early battle for the top spot between pole sitter Frank Mucciacciaro and
Craig Lutz. Those two spent most of the first six laps side-by-side until
Monahan asserted himself from third. Headed into turn one Monahan shot
underneath Mucciacciaro into turn one to wrestle away the lead on lap-8.
Action behind Monahan was red hot as Mucciacciaro, Lutz and Tyler Chadwick
went three-wide for second position through turns three and four. Lutz
was forced to back out before he ran out of racing room rounding turn four
while Chadwick scooted into second past Mucciacciaro. Rocco was making
his way through the top ten during the opening laps to emerge in fourth.
He went outside of Mucciacciaro for third on lap-10 with eyes on running
down the lead duo. Chadwick was looking to the outside of Monahan for the
race lead by lap-12 as Rocco closed in. The torrid pace was finally
slowed on lap-13 when Nichole Morgillo spun in turn one from a position in
the top ten to draw the caution flag.
Monahan got a great jump over the field on the restart to lead things back
to turn one. Rocco was inside of Chadwick, taking over second on lap-16
with Lutz advancing to third close behind. Rocco tested the outside
looking for a run on Monahan, but had to contend with Lutz who threatened
to fill the gap to his inside each time. The entertaining three-way
battle for the lead lasted through lap-24 when Monahan and Rocco got some
breathing room over Lutz. Behind them Kyle James got past Chadwick to
move to third and then ran down Lutz.
Rocco continued to shadow Monahan’s every move, finally working him over
with a crossover move out of turn four down the front chute on lap-26.
Rocco set Monahan up high then dove low to pull even as they barreled into
turn one. He cleared Monahan as they raced into turn three and survived a
shot from behind by Monahan in turn three before leading lap-27. James
came on strong, taking second away from Monahan leaving Lutz looking to
duplicate the move. The two came together with Monahan unable to save his
car, spinning out of contention off turn four to bring out the caution
flag.
Rocco had James to his outside for the restart but got a good jump to
resume his lead. James ducked to second position where he stayed. He
pressed Rocco until the final two laps when Rocco pulled ahead to a two
car length victory. Rocco added to his point lead with his fifth win of
the year. James finished second and Lutz ran with the lead pack all race
and wound up third. Rob Janovic followed up his win from a week ago with
a fourth place effort and Todd Ceravolo continued his string of top-fives
by finishing fifth.
Moltz romped to victory in the 30-lap Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model
feature. The race, which ran caution free, saw Moltz jump out ahead of
Jason Palmer at the drop of the green flag. Moltz rolled out to an
impressive lead in the opening circuits. Keith Rocco moved to second
position around Palmer on lap-6, however Moltz was already well ahead.
Rocco chased Moltz for the duration but was never able to cut into his
lead. Moltz survived a brush with the front stretch wall on lap-20 that
did not slow his run to the checkered flag. The win was his second of the
season but first since April 27. Palmer kept ahead of his challengers to
finish third, with Jeff Smith and Anthony Flannery rounding out the
top-five.
The 25-lap Mini Stock feature ended up with a wild conclusion that saw
Leonard end up in the winner’s circle for the second consecutive week.
Coming to the white flag, leaders Ken Cassidy Jr. and Ray Christian
tangled exiting turn four. The two battled much of the second half of the
race, trading the lead multiple times over the final laps. The two made
contact headed for the white flag when Cassidy, in the outside lane, was
bumped by Christian trying to hang on inside. Cassidy spun through the
infield however the race stayed under green on the final lap. As the
field came to the finish line Christian took the checkered flag first,
however was penalized by track officials moments later for the contact
with Cassidy. Christian was dropped to the end of the running order
while Leonard was lifted to the victory.
Plemons won for the first time of the year in the 25-lap Street Stock
race. The 2009 division champion led from the beginning and held back a
mid-race charge by Corey Hutchings. When Hutchings tucked back behind
Plemons into second, he could not muster a further challenge the rest of
the way. Only one caution flag slowed Plemons on his way to the win.
Hutchings finished second and Joe Arena was third.
Giarratana took over command in the INEX Legend Cars feature following a
lap-5 restart. He moved through the pack while a battle for the lead
ensued between several drivers. Three different drivers showed the way in
the first five laps when 2012 track champion Paul Kusheba took over just
ahead of a caution flag. Giarratana motored around Kusheba’s outside on
lap-6, then held off Dylan Izzo after a final restart on lap-18. It was
Giarratana’s first Saturday night victory and second overall victory of
2013. Izzo finished second and Angelo Belsito finished third.
The 20-lap race for the Super X-Car division was taken by Ryan in
impressive fashion. He rode the outside lane to success, steadily making
his way by the top three cars before overtaking Matt Carlson on the 16th
lap. Ryan pulled away from the field over the final laps. Frank Alessio
finished second and Bill Reiman was third.
(continued)
paced six-division racing program Saturday evening. Scoring NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series victories included Keith Rocco of Meriden, who notched
his fifth win of the year in the SK Modifieds®. Waterford’s Dillon Moltz
won for the second time this season in the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late
Models, Brandon Plemons of Uncasville took the checkered flag in the
Street Stocks and Bill Leonard of Charlestown, RI won for the second
straight week in the Mini Stocks. In INEX racing, Giovanni Giarratana of
Newington won the night’s Legend Cars feature. The Super X-Cars competed
in a Saturday Showdown Series event won by Preston’s Ed Ryan.
Rocco knifed his way to the front in a hotly contested and action packed
SK Modified® feature. He was on leader Diego Monahan’s rear bumper by
lap-17 of the 35-lapper. Monahan started the race third and was behind an
early battle for the top spot between pole sitter Frank Mucciacciaro and
Craig Lutz. Those two spent most of the first six laps side-by-side until
Monahan asserted himself from third. Headed into turn one Monahan shot
underneath Mucciacciaro into turn one to wrestle away the lead on lap-8.
Action behind Monahan was red hot as Mucciacciaro, Lutz and Tyler Chadwick
went three-wide for second position through turns three and four. Lutz
was forced to back out before he ran out of racing room rounding turn four
while Chadwick scooted into second past Mucciacciaro. Rocco was making
his way through the top ten during the opening laps to emerge in fourth.
He went outside of Mucciacciaro for third on lap-10 with eyes on running
down the lead duo. Chadwick was looking to the outside of Monahan for the
race lead by lap-12 as Rocco closed in. The torrid pace was finally
slowed on lap-13 when Nichole Morgillo spun in turn one from a position in
the top ten to draw the caution flag.
Monahan got a great jump over the field on the restart to lead things back
to turn one. Rocco was inside of Chadwick, taking over second on lap-16
with Lutz advancing to third close behind. Rocco tested the outside
looking for a run on Monahan, but had to contend with Lutz who threatened
to fill the gap to his inside each time. The entertaining three-way
battle for the lead lasted through lap-24 when Monahan and Rocco got some
breathing room over Lutz. Behind them Kyle James got past Chadwick to
move to third and then ran down Lutz.
Rocco continued to shadow Monahan’s every move, finally working him over
with a crossover move out of turn four down the front chute on lap-26.
Rocco set Monahan up high then dove low to pull even as they barreled into
turn one. He cleared Monahan as they raced into turn three and survived a
shot from behind by Monahan in turn three before leading lap-27. James
came on strong, taking second away from Monahan leaving Lutz looking to
duplicate the move. The two came together with Monahan unable to save his
car, spinning out of contention off turn four to bring out the caution
flag.
Rocco had James to his outside for the restart but got a good jump to
resume his lead. James ducked to second position where he stayed. He
pressed Rocco until the final two laps when Rocco pulled ahead to a two
car length victory. Rocco added to his point lead with his fifth win of
the year. James finished second and Lutz ran with the lead pack all race
and wound up third. Rob Janovic followed up his win from a week ago with
a fourth place effort and Todd Ceravolo continued his string of top-fives
by finishing fifth.
Moltz romped to victory in the 30-lap Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model
feature. The race, which ran caution free, saw Moltz jump out ahead of
Jason Palmer at the drop of the green flag. Moltz rolled out to an
impressive lead in the opening circuits. Keith Rocco moved to second
position around Palmer on lap-6, however Moltz was already well ahead.
Rocco chased Moltz for the duration but was never able to cut into his
lead. Moltz survived a brush with the front stretch wall on lap-20 that
did not slow his run to the checkered flag. The win was his second of the
season but first since April 27. Palmer kept ahead of his challengers to
finish third, with Jeff Smith and Anthony Flannery rounding out the
top-five.
The 25-lap Mini Stock feature ended up with a wild conclusion that saw
Leonard end up in the winner’s circle for the second consecutive week.
Coming to the white flag, leaders Ken Cassidy Jr. and Ray Christian
tangled exiting turn four. The two battled much of the second half of the
race, trading the lead multiple times over the final laps. The two made
contact headed for the white flag when Cassidy, in the outside lane, was
bumped by Christian trying to hang on inside. Cassidy spun through the
infield however the race stayed under green on the final lap. As the
field came to the finish line Christian took the checkered flag first,
however was penalized by track officials moments later for the contact
with Cassidy. Christian was dropped to the end of the running order
while Leonard was lifted to the victory.
Plemons won for the first time of the year in the 25-lap Street Stock
race. The 2009 division champion led from the beginning and held back a
mid-race charge by Corey Hutchings. When Hutchings tucked back behind
Plemons into second, he could not muster a further challenge the rest of
the way. Only one caution flag slowed Plemons on his way to the win.
Hutchings finished second and Joe Arena was third.
Giarratana took over command in the INEX Legend Cars feature following a
lap-5 restart. He moved through the pack while a battle for the lead
ensued between several drivers. Three different drivers showed the way in
the first five laps when 2012 track champion Paul Kusheba took over just
ahead of a caution flag. Giarratana motored around Kusheba’s outside on
lap-6, then held off Dylan Izzo after a final restart on lap-18. It was
Giarratana’s first Saturday night victory and second overall victory of
2013. Izzo finished second and Angelo Belsito finished third.
The 20-lap race for the Super X-Car division was taken by Ryan in
impressive fashion. He rode the outside lane to success, steadily making
his way by the top three cars before overtaking Matt Carlson on the 16th
lap. Ryan pulled away from the field over the final laps. Frank Alessio
finished second and Bill Reiman was third.
(continued)