RGeeProductions
08-11-2013, 02:28 PM
Waterford Speedbowl hosted the sixth
annual Wings & Wheels event on Saturday evening in front of a large crowd.
Fans were treated to some of the fastest and most sophisticated short
track racecars in the country as the International Supermodified
Association made their only visit of the season and was joined by the
popular Valenti Modified Racing Series, Northeastern Midget Association
and NEMA Lites, plus the home track NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK
Modifieds® and SK Light Modifieds. Keith Rocco of Meriden was the bigger
winner of the night, taking both the Valenti Modified Racing Series event
and the night’s SK Modified feature, recording two more milestone wins in
his racing career. Jon McKennedy of Chelmsford, MA was dominant in the
50-lap Supermodified race while Todd Bertrand of Suffield impressed with a
big victory in the NEMA Midgets. Scott Bigelow of East Hampton won the
NEMA Lite feature and Plainfield’s Corey Barry won his second consecutive
SK Light Modified event to round out the night’s winners.
Rocco picked up his sixth NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified®
win of the season but perhaps more significant, the victory was the 50th
of his career in the division. He marched steadily to the front of the
field using the outside lane to his advantage.
Ed Puleo led the field to the green flag and took the early advantage in
turns one and two as outside front row starter Jeff Gallup got high and
was kicked back when Rob Janovic and Frank Mucciacciaro made an early
three-wide scenario in pursuit of second. Kyle James and Rocco were on
the move early and Rocco was among the top-five cars on lap-9, all under
green flag conditions. Rocco moved past fourth place Mucciacciaro on
lap-10 and was challenging third place Craig Lutz with Puleo still out
front by three car legnths. The first yellow flag of the race momentarily
slowed Rocco and the field on lap-11 when Rich Duranti got off course in
turn four.
Rocco picked up where he left off, getting by Lutz and Rob Janovic Jr. to
take second behind leader Ed Puleo when racing resumed. Puleo was able to
hold back the charges of Rocco until lap-16 when Rocco, the 2010 NASCAR
Whelen All-American Series national champion, stormed past his outside
into the lead around turns one and two. Mucciacciaro and Janovic were
still side-by-side, this time for third position, until Mucciacciaro
wrestled the spot away on lap-17. A lap later, Janovic got loose and
couldn’t hold his car from spinning out of turn four and the caution was
back out for the second time.
Rocco bested Puleo on the lap-18 restart and marched out to a convincing
lead. Puleo got in line second but James asserted himself following the
restart to take third, then run outside of Puleo to take second on lap-20.
The best battle after that was for fourth between Mucciacciaro and Ted
Christopher who took shots at one another through lap-30. Behind them,
Lutz and Tyler Chadwick were locked in equally compelling duel. Just as
it appeared Rocco was on cruise control a final caution on lap-33 when
Tyler Jackson got into the wall and slowed on the track forced Rocco into
a final showdown with James.
Rocco won the restart to go on to victory for the milestone win. James
finished second and Puleo finished a solid run in third. Christopher ran
well to place fourth and Mucciacciaro wound up fifth. Dennis Gada is the
all-time SK Modified® division win leader with 62.
Barry was trying to run down early leader Victoria Bergenty in the 25-lap
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Light Modified race and was aided by
a yellow flag on lap-14 for a spin. Bergenty had taken the lead on lap-1
and moved ahead to a comfortable lead with Barry chasing. Barry was able
to line up alongside Bergenty for the restart, staying to her outside
before getting around her to lead lap-15 just ahead of another quick
caution flag. The next restart between the two had Barry leading
Bergenty, and he quickly got away and bested defending champion Paul
French who took second. Chris Ignazio was able to claim third and Bergenty
ended up fourth. Barry chipped away at Randy Churchill’s lead in the
point standings with his third win of the year, coupled with a fifth place
effort by Churchill after a heat race crashed forced him into a borrowed
ride for the main event.
Rocco scored his second career victory in the Valenti Modified Racing
Series in front of a home track crowd. The division’s 100-lap feature saw
Rocco rally to the front early in the going, taking command on the outside
of Chris Pasteryak on lap-9. Rocco led easily over a long stretch of
racing that took the event through a caution on lap-89 when Todd Owen’s
car spewed fluid around the track. Following a lengthy delay for the
cleanup, Rocco hung tough and survived four additional caution periods
over the final nine laps which took its toll on the field behind him.
Rocco handled every restart and subsequent challenger to take his first
series win at the Speedbowl, marking the seventh different division he has
won in at the track, tops all-time in the track’s 63-year history. Series
point leader Rowan Pennink finished in second and Pasteryak ended up
third. Tommy Barrett and veteran racer Dwight Jarvis avoided the late
trouble to finish fourth and fifth.
McKennedy wired the field in the 50-lap ISMA Supermodified race. After an
opening lap incident collected several cars to bring out a quick caution
flag, McKennedy took the lead when racing was able to get underway and
blitzed the field. He jumped ahead following each of four caution flags
that slowed the race. McKennedy was never seriously threatened – his
closest encounter came avoiding a spin by a car back in the field on
lap-21. Ben Seitz took advantage of the restarts to advance into second
position by the checkered flag after running up front all race. Mike
Ordway Jr. finished third. McKennedy’s quick lap was a 12.46, good for
over a 108mph average lap around the quick three-eighths mile Speedbowl.
Bertrand was masterful on his way to the win in the 25-lap NEMA Midget
Angelilo Memorial race. In what he described as “the best track
(conditions) of the year” he blistered his way to the win, recording his
second win of the season. At times he was nearly a half track ahead of
his competition. Bertrand’s best lap was a scorching 12.79 second tour of
the three-eighths mile oval, the fastest lap by the division over the past
several years, translating to a 106 mile-per-hour average lap. Bertrand
took the lead from Paul Scally on the seventh lap. The special event paid
tribute to Gene and Marilyn Angelilo, the legendary late car owners and
club officers.
Bigelow had to get around his brother Ryan to take the lead in the 25-lap
NEMA Lite feature. He outdueled his sibling early on and held back a
charging Ian Cumens over the final ten laps.
Next Saturday a six-division program returns to the Speedbowl with NASCAR
Whelen All-American Series racing by the SK Modifieds, Bob Valenti Auto
Mall Late Models, Street Stocks and Mini Stocks. They will be joined by
an appearance by the New England Truck Series as well as the track’s INEX
Legend Cars.
(continued)
annual Wings & Wheels event on Saturday evening in front of a large crowd.
Fans were treated to some of the fastest and most sophisticated short
track racecars in the country as the International Supermodified
Association made their only visit of the season and was joined by the
popular Valenti Modified Racing Series, Northeastern Midget Association
and NEMA Lites, plus the home track NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK
Modifieds® and SK Light Modifieds. Keith Rocco of Meriden was the bigger
winner of the night, taking both the Valenti Modified Racing Series event
and the night’s SK Modified feature, recording two more milestone wins in
his racing career. Jon McKennedy of Chelmsford, MA was dominant in the
50-lap Supermodified race while Todd Bertrand of Suffield impressed with a
big victory in the NEMA Midgets. Scott Bigelow of East Hampton won the
NEMA Lite feature and Plainfield’s Corey Barry won his second consecutive
SK Light Modified event to round out the night’s winners.
Rocco picked up his sixth NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified®
win of the season but perhaps more significant, the victory was the 50th
of his career in the division. He marched steadily to the front of the
field using the outside lane to his advantage.
Ed Puleo led the field to the green flag and took the early advantage in
turns one and two as outside front row starter Jeff Gallup got high and
was kicked back when Rob Janovic and Frank Mucciacciaro made an early
three-wide scenario in pursuit of second. Kyle James and Rocco were on
the move early and Rocco was among the top-five cars on lap-9, all under
green flag conditions. Rocco moved past fourth place Mucciacciaro on
lap-10 and was challenging third place Craig Lutz with Puleo still out
front by three car legnths. The first yellow flag of the race momentarily
slowed Rocco and the field on lap-11 when Rich Duranti got off course in
turn four.
Rocco picked up where he left off, getting by Lutz and Rob Janovic Jr. to
take second behind leader Ed Puleo when racing resumed. Puleo was able to
hold back the charges of Rocco until lap-16 when Rocco, the 2010 NASCAR
Whelen All-American Series national champion, stormed past his outside
into the lead around turns one and two. Mucciacciaro and Janovic were
still side-by-side, this time for third position, until Mucciacciaro
wrestled the spot away on lap-17. A lap later, Janovic got loose and
couldn’t hold his car from spinning out of turn four and the caution was
back out for the second time.
Rocco bested Puleo on the lap-18 restart and marched out to a convincing
lead. Puleo got in line second but James asserted himself following the
restart to take third, then run outside of Puleo to take second on lap-20.
The best battle after that was for fourth between Mucciacciaro and Ted
Christopher who took shots at one another through lap-30. Behind them,
Lutz and Tyler Chadwick were locked in equally compelling duel. Just as
it appeared Rocco was on cruise control a final caution on lap-33 when
Tyler Jackson got into the wall and slowed on the track forced Rocco into
a final showdown with James.
Rocco won the restart to go on to victory for the milestone win. James
finished second and Puleo finished a solid run in third. Christopher ran
well to place fourth and Mucciacciaro wound up fifth. Dennis Gada is the
all-time SK Modified® division win leader with 62.
Barry was trying to run down early leader Victoria Bergenty in the 25-lap
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Light Modified race and was aided by
a yellow flag on lap-14 for a spin. Bergenty had taken the lead on lap-1
and moved ahead to a comfortable lead with Barry chasing. Barry was able
to line up alongside Bergenty for the restart, staying to her outside
before getting around her to lead lap-15 just ahead of another quick
caution flag. The next restart between the two had Barry leading
Bergenty, and he quickly got away and bested defending champion Paul
French who took second. Chris Ignazio was able to claim third and Bergenty
ended up fourth. Barry chipped away at Randy Churchill’s lead in the
point standings with his third win of the year, coupled with a fifth place
effort by Churchill after a heat race crashed forced him into a borrowed
ride for the main event.
Rocco scored his second career victory in the Valenti Modified Racing
Series in front of a home track crowd. The division’s 100-lap feature saw
Rocco rally to the front early in the going, taking command on the outside
of Chris Pasteryak on lap-9. Rocco led easily over a long stretch of
racing that took the event through a caution on lap-89 when Todd Owen’s
car spewed fluid around the track. Following a lengthy delay for the
cleanup, Rocco hung tough and survived four additional caution periods
over the final nine laps which took its toll on the field behind him.
Rocco handled every restart and subsequent challenger to take his first
series win at the Speedbowl, marking the seventh different division he has
won in at the track, tops all-time in the track’s 63-year history. Series
point leader Rowan Pennink finished in second and Pasteryak ended up
third. Tommy Barrett and veteran racer Dwight Jarvis avoided the late
trouble to finish fourth and fifth.
McKennedy wired the field in the 50-lap ISMA Supermodified race. After an
opening lap incident collected several cars to bring out a quick caution
flag, McKennedy took the lead when racing was able to get underway and
blitzed the field. He jumped ahead following each of four caution flags
that slowed the race. McKennedy was never seriously threatened – his
closest encounter came avoiding a spin by a car back in the field on
lap-21. Ben Seitz took advantage of the restarts to advance into second
position by the checkered flag after running up front all race. Mike
Ordway Jr. finished third. McKennedy’s quick lap was a 12.46, good for
over a 108mph average lap around the quick three-eighths mile Speedbowl.
Bertrand was masterful on his way to the win in the 25-lap NEMA Midget
Angelilo Memorial race. In what he described as “the best track
(conditions) of the year” he blistered his way to the win, recording his
second win of the season. At times he was nearly a half track ahead of
his competition. Bertrand’s best lap was a scorching 12.79 second tour of
the three-eighths mile oval, the fastest lap by the division over the past
several years, translating to a 106 mile-per-hour average lap. Bertrand
took the lead from Paul Scally on the seventh lap. The special event paid
tribute to Gene and Marilyn Angelilo, the legendary late car owners and
club officers.
Bigelow had to get around his brother Ryan to take the lead in the 25-lap
NEMA Lite feature. He outdueled his sibling early on and held back a
charging Ian Cumens over the final ten laps.
Next Saturday a six-division program returns to the Speedbowl with NASCAR
Whelen All-American Series racing by the SK Modifieds, Bob Valenti Auto
Mall Late Models, Street Stocks and Mini Stocks. They will be joined by
an appearance by the New England Truck Series as well as the track’s INEX
Legend Cars.
(continued)