RGeeProductions
07-28-2013, 12:04 PM
Waterford Speedbowl hosted its annual
Nostalgia Night Saturday, treating a large crowd on hand to a thrilling
night of motorsports that honored racing past and present. The event
featured the track’s usual fare of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
racing in addition to exhibition events by vintage auto racing clubs. The
Northeastern Midget Association, one of the fastest and oldest sanctioned
racing groups in the country, also joined the program for its Shane
Hammond Memorial event. Picking up NASCAR wins on the night included Kyle
James of Ashaway, RI in the SK Modifieds® and Dillon Moltz of Waterford in
the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature, while Uncasville’s Phil
Evans was a first-time winner in the Street Stocks and Ian Brew of Wood
River Junction, RI took the night’s Mini Stock race. The Northeastern
Midget Association races went to Anthony Marvuglio of East Bridgewater, MA
and Avery Stoehr of Lakeville, MA, who won the NEMA Lite event.
James finished strong in the 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK
Modified® feature to close out his second win of the season. He was mired
in traffic at the start of the race then used a long stretch of green flag
racing to march his way into contention.
Tom Abele used the pole starting position to race into the lead over Diego
Monahan when the green flag was draped over the field. He took control
out of turn two to bring the field to lap-1 as Monahan held second. The
competition felt out their cars in the opening five laps without much
excitement until Frank Mucciacciaro spun between turns one and two on
lap-6 to bring out the first caution flag of the event.
After a false start by Monahan, Abele picked up where he left off as he
again pulled ahead out of turn two when racing resumed. Monahan continued
in second while Todd Ceravolo looked poised to try and make it two wins in
a row as he used the outside lane to climb into a battle for third with
Jeffrey Gallup. Those two ran side-by-side as Tyler Chadwick lined up
behind Ceravolo in the outside lane looking to push forward. Ceravolo and
Chadwick’s plans were changed when Gallup found room under Monahan in turn
three on lap-9. He raced to second as Chadwick was able to change lanes
to the bottom of the track and pull under Ceravolo. He got by Ceravolo
and Monahan to move into third. James was next to keep both Ceravolo and
Monahan pinned in the top groove, riding into fourth position by lap-15.
Ahead, Abele was comfortably leading Gallup as Chadwick was draped all
over his rear bumper. James picked up pursuit of the battle for second
position, tagging along to make a three-car train behind Abele’s lead.
Keith Rocco and Ceravolo were next behind that battle but had trouble
keeping up with the pace of the top four cars as the race stretched past
halfway.
The running order remained unchanged through lap-23, however Abele’s lead
was beginning to grow as the heat was turned up for second position with
the laps counting down. As Chadwick tried to find a way to work Gallup
over for second lap after lap, James pulled the pin and looked to the
outside lane to make some noise. He pulled outside Chadwick into turn one
on lap-30 with Chadwick momentarily able to fend off the challenge. As
they raced to complete lap-31 James tried again, racing even with Chadwick
down the front chute with both cars breathing down Gallup’s rear bumper.
The battle boiled over exiting turn two as Chadwick got into Gallup’s left
rear trying to thwart the bid by James, sending Gallup spinning off the
back chute. The second caution flag came out for Gallup, erasing Abele’s
lead as well as the long run of green flag racing.
Both Gallup and Chadwick, deemed responsible for the contact, were forced
to pick up at the rear of the field. That was the break James needed,
pulling him into second and alongside Abele for the pivotal restart. With
a strong car in the outside lane, James was able to stay to Abele’s
outside following the restart. Coming to the white flag, James got away
from Abele out of turn four to take the flag first. Over the final lap
James streaked ahead to the checkered flag. Abele’s strong run came up
just short, winding up second. Todd Ceravolo benefitted by the late
caution flag to claim third. Rocco and Craig Lutz completed the top-five.
Following the race, Kyle James was named the ‘Rough and Tumble’ driver of
the race for his late heroics.
(continued)
Nostalgia Night Saturday, treating a large crowd on hand to a thrilling
night of motorsports that honored racing past and present. The event
featured the track’s usual fare of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
racing in addition to exhibition events by vintage auto racing clubs. The
Northeastern Midget Association, one of the fastest and oldest sanctioned
racing groups in the country, also joined the program for its Shane
Hammond Memorial event. Picking up NASCAR wins on the night included Kyle
James of Ashaway, RI in the SK Modifieds® and Dillon Moltz of Waterford in
the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature, while Uncasville’s Phil
Evans was a first-time winner in the Street Stocks and Ian Brew of Wood
River Junction, RI took the night’s Mini Stock race. The Northeastern
Midget Association races went to Anthony Marvuglio of East Bridgewater, MA
and Avery Stoehr of Lakeville, MA, who won the NEMA Lite event.
James finished strong in the 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK
Modified® feature to close out his second win of the season. He was mired
in traffic at the start of the race then used a long stretch of green flag
racing to march his way into contention.
Tom Abele used the pole starting position to race into the lead over Diego
Monahan when the green flag was draped over the field. He took control
out of turn two to bring the field to lap-1 as Monahan held second. The
competition felt out their cars in the opening five laps without much
excitement until Frank Mucciacciaro spun between turns one and two on
lap-6 to bring out the first caution flag of the event.
After a false start by Monahan, Abele picked up where he left off as he
again pulled ahead out of turn two when racing resumed. Monahan continued
in second while Todd Ceravolo looked poised to try and make it two wins in
a row as he used the outside lane to climb into a battle for third with
Jeffrey Gallup. Those two ran side-by-side as Tyler Chadwick lined up
behind Ceravolo in the outside lane looking to push forward. Ceravolo and
Chadwick’s plans were changed when Gallup found room under Monahan in turn
three on lap-9. He raced to second as Chadwick was able to change lanes
to the bottom of the track and pull under Ceravolo. He got by Ceravolo
and Monahan to move into third. James was next to keep both Ceravolo and
Monahan pinned in the top groove, riding into fourth position by lap-15.
Ahead, Abele was comfortably leading Gallup as Chadwick was draped all
over his rear bumper. James picked up pursuit of the battle for second
position, tagging along to make a three-car train behind Abele’s lead.
Keith Rocco and Ceravolo were next behind that battle but had trouble
keeping up with the pace of the top four cars as the race stretched past
halfway.
The running order remained unchanged through lap-23, however Abele’s lead
was beginning to grow as the heat was turned up for second position with
the laps counting down. As Chadwick tried to find a way to work Gallup
over for second lap after lap, James pulled the pin and looked to the
outside lane to make some noise. He pulled outside Chadwick into turn one
on lap-30 with Chadwick momentarily able to fend off the challenge. As
they raced to complete lap-31 James tried again, racing even with Chadwick
down the front chute with both cars breathing down Gallup’s rear bumper.
The battle boiled over exiting turn two as Chadwick got into Gallup’s left
rear trying to thwart the bid by James, sending Gallup spinning off the
back chute. The second caution flag came out for Gallup, erasing Abele’s
lead as well as the long run of green flag racing.
Both Gallup and Chadwick, deemed responsible for the contact, were forced
to pick up at the rear of the field. That was the break James needed,
pulling him into second and alongside Abele for the pivotal restart. With
a strong car in the outside lane, James was able to stay to Abele’s
outside following the restart. Coming to the white flag, James got away
from Abele out of turn four to take the flag first. Over the final lap
James streaked ahead to the checkered flag. Abele’s strong run came up
just short, winding up second. Todd Ceravolo benefitted by the late
caution flag to claim third. Rocco and Craig Lutz completed the top-five.
Following the race, Kyle James was named the ‘Rough and Tumble’ driver of
the race for his late heroics.
(continued)