RGeeProductions
07-13-2013, 10:59 AM
Waterford Speedbowl hosted the inaugural
Belltown Tire Service Center Little Guys 200 Friday evening, putting four
of the track’s support divisions into the spotlight. Open competition
Mini Stock and Street Stock events paid each winner $1,000.00. Corey
Hutchings of Salem was the Street Stock event winner and Glen Thomas Jr.
of Groton took the checkered flag in the night’s Mini Stock race.
Giovanni Giarratana of Newington won his third INEX Legend Cars event in
the last four at the track and Brad Voglesong of Middletown won the X-Car
race. Belltown Tire Service Center put on a Pit Crew Challenge on the
track’s front chute between races, won by the team of Glen Thomas Jr.
Thomas was the big winner in the open competition Mini Stock feature. He
began the 50-lap feature back in eighth position and worked his way
towards the front as Ray Christian III held the lead. Christian took the
lead on lap-1 with Ken Cassidy Jr. trailing him. Christian opened up a
five car lead as Nick Anderson and Pete Zaikarite lined up in third and
fourth place. Thomas joined the fray and was fifth as the race hit
lap-10.
The top five cars singled out and ran down Christian’s brief early lead as
Thomas began asserting himself. He picked off cars one at a time until he
was behind a battle for the lead between Christian and Nick Anderson.
Anderson had gotten around Cassidy’s outside on lap-18 and Thomas joined
him. Anderson stayed in the outside lane and went to the outside of
Christian.
Thomas sat behind that duo for two laps before making a diving move under
both as they began lap-21. Going three-wide for the lead down the back
chute, Christian and Anderson made contact with Anderson ending his night
in the turn three wall. The yellow flag for Anderson set up the only
restart of the race, which Thomas mastered.
Thomas resumed his lead with Zaikarite chasing him. The two former
Speedbowl Wednesday night stalwarts led a battle for third among the
track’s winningest Mini Stock division drivers of all time – Cassidy and
Dan Field. Field got the better of Cassidy on lap-25, a key battle when
Zaikarite dropped off the pace from second position, retiring to the
infield on lap-30.
The race remained under the green flag through the checkered flag. Thomas
was not seriously challenged the rest of the way, cruising to the win.
Field finished second with Cassidy third. Bill Leonard was fourth and
Chris Williams finished in fifth.
Hutchings was unstoppable in the 50-lap open competition Street Stock
event. He made his way to the front after a caution on lap-4 when leaders
Brandon Plemons and Ryan Lineham tangled in turn one. Lineham had been
pressing Plemons heavily until he made contact, sending Plemons spinning
in turn one. Lineham, a former Seekonk Speedway track champion, was
summoned to the rear handing the lead to Hutchings.
Hutchings powered into the lead after the restart, however trouble behind
had Lineham with right front damage to draw another caution flag keeping
the race under delay and sending teams pitside for adjustments. Once the
race got back underway, Hutchings got away from Joe Kohler after a brief
battle.
Hutchings pulled out to a several car length lead which Kohler could not
overcome. Shawn Monahan tried to take second from Kohler, briefly doing
so before fading and dropping out of the event. Hutchings rolled to
victory while Kohler ran well in his first-ever Speedbowl appearance to
take second. Plemons rebounded from his early spin to finish third. Allen
Coates and Dwayne Dorr, two former division champions, completed the
top-five.
The INEX Legend Cars feature saw Giarratana continue his hot streak in the
division. Giarratana won for the third time in the past four events at
the track. Two nights earlier, he finished second after running out of
laps. Giarratana had to hold back a charging Dana Dimatteo over a long
green flag run that closed the race.
Michael Christopher Jr. and Brendon Bock battled on the front row when the
green flag was dropped on the 50-lap race, with Bock leading lap-1 by a
nose. He moved into the top spot dropping down in front of Christopher as
Giarratana moved through the field. He lined up outside of Bock after
getting by Christopher and 2012 champion Paul Kusheba ahead of a lap-7
restart.
Although Bock got the advantage when the race went back to green,
Giarratana fought off a challenge by Kusheba before going to work on Bock.
He found room to Bock’s inside in turn three on lap-9, taking over as
they reached the start-finish line. Dana Dimatteo made his way to fourth
around Christopher and the top four cars began to break away from the rest
of the field. Christopher led the next group of cars which included Shaun
Buffington and Kyle Rogers. The yellow flag was back on lap-13 when
Christopher lost power, dropping from fourth and becoming stranded on the
track.
Giarratana led the restart but only one more lap was completed when Scott
Limkemann, making his first start ever in the division, spun into the turn
one wall. After the cleanup Giarratana again powered ahead of Kusheba,
who did not restart well. Dimatteo moved to second with Buffington up to
third. The final 36 laps were run to the checkered flag.
Giarratana moved out to a sizeable lead, however Dimatteo was able to cut
into it as the race wore on. Giarratana was too strong however, cruising
to the win. Dimatteo finished in second with Bock taking third. Jason
Palmer, another former champion making just his second start of the year,
was fourth and Joey Ternullo finished fifth.
Voglesong controlled the 50-lap X-Car race when he made his way by Zach
Thomas. Voglesong came from the tenth starting position and used the
opening laps to slice his way through the pack. Jordan Hadley led until
Thomas took the lead by lap-5. Voglesong moved to second and by lap-10
was stalking all over Thomas. He pulled ahead just before the halfway
point, getting around Thomas on lap-22. The only caution flag flew on
lap-24 and Voglesong got away from Thomas on the restart. Over the
remainder of the race Voglesong led comfortably with Steve Barrett moving
to second in his first ever start in the division. He finished in second
with Zach Thomas besting a battle with Chris Thomas over the final laps to
finish third.
The Speedbowl takes a break from its Saturday night NASCAR racing this
week, and resumes with Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday next week. Sho & Go
Friday’s return next week, and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing
picks up next Saturday, July 20. Full details on all the Speedbowl’s
upcoming events can be found at Speedbowl.com
Waterford Speedbowl 7/12 Little Guys 200 Results:
Open Comp Street Stocks (50-laps): 1. Corey Hutchings, Salem; 2. Joe
Kohler, Cranston, RI; 3. Brandon Plemons, Uncasville; 4. Allen Coates,
Ledyard; 5. Dwayne Dorr, Ledyard; 6. Shawn Monahan, Quaker Hill; 7.
Ryan Lineham, Hope Valley, RI
Open Comp Mini Stocks (50-laps): 1. Glen Thomas Jr., Groton; 2. Dan
Field, Deep River; 3. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 4. Bill Leonard,
Charlestown, RI; 5. Chris Williams, Waterford; 6. Charles Beal, Ledyard;
7. Steve Barrett, Preston; 8. Jeff Lee, Uncasville; 9. Pete Zaikarite,
Niantic; 10. Ray Christian III, Groton; 11. Nick Anderson, Oxford, MA
INEX Legend Cars (50-laps): 1. Giovanni Giarratana, Newington; 2. Dana
Dimatteo, Farmington; 3. Brendon Bock, Franklin Square, NY; 4. Jason
Palmer, Berlin; 5. Joey Ternullo, Middletown; 6. Kyle Rogers, Waterbury;
7. Joe Gada, Salem; 8. T.J. Thompson, Lisbon; 9. Sean Fitzmaurice,
Woodstock; 10. Jags Palmer, Berlin; 11. John O’Sullivan Jr., Salem; 12.
Art Marrero, Baltic; 13. Peter Cirilli, Farmington; 14. Paul Kusheba IV,
Monroe; 15. George Whitney, Old Saybrook; 16. Scott Limkemann, East
Lyme; 17. Michael Christopher Jr., Wolcott; DQ - Shaun Buffington,
Plainfield; DNS – Cory Dimatteo, Farmington
X-Cars (50-laps): 1. Brad Voglesong, Middletown; 2. Steve Barrett,
Preston; 3. Zach Thomas, New London; 4. Chris Thomas, Waterford; 5.
Mitch Bombard, Willimantic; 6. Jordan Hadley, Quaker Hill; 7. C.P.
Burdick, Deep River; 8. Onie Pierce, Norwich; 9. Jeff Dombrowksi,
Oakdale; 10. Nate Bryington, Webster, MA; 11. Chris Lee, Uncasville;
12. Matt Westover, Gales Ferry; 13. Elizabeth Gaston, Vernon; 14. Chuck
McDonald, Groton; 15. Frank Shepard, Oakdale; 16. Kim Bickford,
Griswold; 17. Zach Ezzell, Plainfield
Brian Darling
Belltown Tire Service Center Little Guys 200 Friday evening, putting four
of the track’s support divisions into the spotlight. Open competition
Mini Stock and Street Stock events paid each winner $1,000.00. Corey
Hutchings of Salem was the Street Stock event winner and Glen Thomas Jr.
of Groton took the checkered flag in the night’s Mini Stock race.
Giovanni Giarratana of Newington won his third INEX Legend Cars event in
the last four at the track and Brad Voglesong of Middletown won the X-Car
race. Belltown Tire Service Center put on a Pit Crew Challenge on the
track’s front chute between races, won by the team of Glen Thomas Jr.
Thomas was the big winner in the open competition Mini Stock feature. He
began the 50-lap feature back in eighth position and worked his way
towards the front as Ray Christian III held the lead. Christian took the
lead on lap-1 with Ken Cassidy Jr. trailing him. Christian opened up a
five car lead as Nick Anderson and Pete Zaikarite lined up in third and
fourth place. Thomas joined the fray and was fifth as the race hit
lap-10.
The top five cars singled out and ran down Christian’s brief early lead as
Thomas began asserting himself. He picked off cars one at a time until he
was behind a battle for the lead between Christian and Nick Anderson.
Anderson had gotten around Cassidy’s outside on lap-18 and Thomas joined
him. Anderson stayed in the outside lane and went to the outside of
Christian.
Thomas sat behind that duo for two laps before making a diving move under
both as they began lap-21. Going three-wide for the lead down the back
chute, Christian and Anderson made contact with Anderson ending his night
in the turn three wall. The yellow flag for Anderson set up the only
restart of the race, which Thomas mastered.
Thomas resumed his lead with Zaikarite chasing him. The two former
Speedbowl Wednesday night stalwarts led a battle for third among the
track’s winningest Mini Stock division drivers of all time – Cassidy and
Dan Field. Field got the better of Cassidy on lap-25, a key battle when
Zaikarite dropped off the pace from second position, retiring to the
infield on lap-30.
The race remained under the green flag through the checkered flag. Thomas
was not seriously challenged the rest of the way, cruising to the win.
Field finished second with Cassidy third. Bill Leonard was fourth and
Chris Williams finished in fifth.
Hutchings was unstoppable in the 50-lap open competition Street Stock
event. He made his way to the front after a caution on lap-4 when leaders
Brandon Plemons and Ryan Lineham tangled in turn one. Lineham had been
pressing Plemons heavily until he made contact, sending Plemons spinning
in turn one. Lineham, a former Seekonk Speedway track champion, was
summoned to the rear handing the lead to Hutchings.
Hutchings powered into the lead after the restart, however trouble behind
had Lineham with right front damage to draw another caution flag keeping
the race under delay and sending teams pitside for adjustments. Once the
race got back underway, Hutchings got away from Joe Kohler after a brief
battle.
Hutchings pulled out to a several car length lead which Kohler could not
overcome. Shawn Monahan tried to take second from Kohler, briefly doing
so before fading and dropping out of the event. Hutchings rolled to
victory while Kohler ran well in his first-ever Speedbowl appearance to
take second. Plemons rebounded from his early spin to finish third. Allen
Coates and Dwayne Dorr, two former division champions, completed the
top-five.
The INEX Legend Cars feature saw Giarratana continue his hot streak in the
division. Giarratana won for the third time in the past four events at
the track. Two nights earlier, he finished second after running out of
laps. Giarratana had to hold back a charging Dana Dimatteo over a long
green flag run that closed the race.
Michael Christopher Jr. and Brendon Bock battled on the front row when the
green flag was dropped on the 50-lap race, with Bock leading lap-1 by a
nose. He moved into the top spot dropping down in front of Christopher as
Giarratana moved through the field. He lined up outside of Bock after
getting by Christopher and 2012 champion Paul Kusheba ahead of a lap-7
restart.
Although Bock got the advantage when the race went back to green,
Giarratana fought off a challenge by Kusheba before going to work on Bock.
He found room to Bock’s inside in turn three on lap-9, taking over as
they reached the start-finish line. Dana Dimatteo made his way to fourth
around Christopher and the top four cars began to break away from the rest
of the field. Christopher led the next group of cars which included Shaun
Buffington and Kyle Rogers. The yellow flag was back on lap-13 when
Christopher lost power, dropping from fourth and becoming stranded on the
track.
Giarratana led the restart but only one more lap was completed when Scott
Limkemann, making his first start ever in the division, spun into the turn
one wall. After the cleanup Giarratana again powered ahead of Kusheba,
who did not restart well. Dimatteo moved to second with Buffington up to
third. The final 36 laps were run to the checkered flag.
Giarratana moved out to a sizeable lead, however Dimatteo was able to cut
into it as the race wore on. Giarratana was too strong however, cruising
to the win. Dimatteo finished in second with Bock taking third. Jason
Palmer, another former champion making just his second start of the year,
was fourth and Joey Ternullo finished fifth.
Voglesong controlled the 50-lap X-Car race when he made his way by Zach
Thomas. Voglesong came from the tenth starting position and used the
opening laps to slice his way through the pack. Jordan Hadley led until
Thomas took the lead by lap-5. Voglesong moved to second and by lap-10
was stalking all over Thomas. He pulled ahead just before the halfway
point, getting around Thomas on lap-22. The only caution flag flew on
lap-24 and Voglesong got away from Thomas on the restart. Over the
remainder of the race Voglesong led comfortably with Steve Barrett moving
to second in his first ever start in the division. He finished in second
with Zach Thomas besting a battle with Chris Thomas over the final laps to
finish third.
The Speedbowl takes a break from its Saturday night NASCAR racing this
week, and resumes with Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday next week. Sho & Go
Friday’s return next week, and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing
picks up next Saturday, July 20. Full details on all the Speedbowl’s
upcoming events can be found at Speedbowl.com
Waterford Speedbowl 7/12 Little Guys 200 Results:
Open Comp Street Stocks (50-laps): 1. Corey Hutchings, Salem; 2. Joe
Kohler, Cranston, RI; 3. Brandon Plemons, Uncasville; 4. Allen Coates,
Ledyard; 5. Dwayne Dorr, Ledyard; 6. Shawn Monahan, Quaker Hill; 7.
Ryan Lineham, Hope Valley, RI
Open Comp Mini Stocks (50-laps): 1. Glen Thomas Jr., Groton; 2. Dan
Field, Deep River; 3. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 4. Bill Leonard,
Charlestown, RI; 5. Chris Williams, Waterford; 6. Charles Beal, Ledyard;
7. Steve Barrett, Preston; 8. Jeff Lee, Uncasville; 9. Pete Zaikarite,
Niantic; 10. Ray Christian III, Groton; 11. Nick Anderson, Oxford, MA
INEX Legend Cars (50-laps): 1. Giovanni Giarratana, Newington; 2. Dana
Dimatteo, Farmington; 3. Brendon Bock, Franklin Square, NY; 4. Jason
Palmer, Berlin; 5. Joey Ternullo, Middletown; 6. Kyle Rogers, Waterbury;
7. Joe Gada, Salem; 8. T.J. Thompson, Lisbon; 9. Sean Fitzmaurice,
Woodstock; 10. Jags Palmer, Berlin; 11. John O’Sullivan Jr., Salem; 12.
Art Marrero, Baltic; 13. Peter Cirilli, Farmington; 14. Paul Kusheba IV,
Monroe; 15. George Whitney, Old Saybrook; 16. Scott Limkemann, East
Lyme; 17. Michael Christopher Jr., Wolcott; DQ - Shaun Buffington,
Plainfield; DNS – Cory Dimatteo, Farmington
X-Cars (50-laps): 1. Brad Voglesong, Middletown; 2. Steve Barrett,
Preston; 3. Zach Thomas, New London; 4. Chris Thomas, Waterford; 5.
Mitch Bombard, Willimantic; 6. Jordan Hadley, Quaker Hill; 7. C.P.
Burdick, Deep River; 8. Onie Pierce, Norwich; 9. Jeff Dombrowksi,
Oakdale; 10. Nate Bryington, Webster, MA; 11. Chris Lee, Uncasville;
12. Matt Westover, Gales Ferry; 13. Elizabeth Gaston, Vernon; 14. Chuck
McDonald, Groton; 15. Frank Shepard, Oakdale; 16. Kim Bickford,
Griswold; 17. Zach Ezzell, Plainfield
Brian Darling