RGeeProductions
08-18-2013, 05:24 PM
Waterford Speedbowl was back in action
Saturday with a six division race program at the popular shoreline oval.
Picking up NASCAR Whelen All-American Series wins included Keith Rocco of
Meriden, winner of his seventh SK Modified® race of the year after an
exciting photo finish and Jason Palmer of Berlin, winning his first Bob
Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature of the season. Salem’s Corey
Hutchings won the Street Stock feature and took over the division point
lead while Ian Brew of Wood River Junction, RI won another race in the
Mini Stock division. Giovanni Giarratana of Newington won the night’s
INEX Legend Cars race and Duane Noll of Monroe took the checkered flag in
the visiting New England Truck Series.
Rocco rallied past defending track champion Tyler Chadwick out of the
final corner in a thrilling three-lap showdown between the two following
the final restart of the 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK
Modified® race. The race began with Chadwick on the pin, leading the way
at the drop of the green flag. He jumped ahead of Frank Mucciacciaro who
settled into second with Rob Janovic Jr. moving to third.
Craig Lutz was the driver on the move early as he picked his way past the
outside of Jeff Gallup to move into fourth in the opening laps. He
continued his forward progress staying on the top of the track, getting to
the outside of Janovic for third on lap-6 and taking the position a lap
later. On lap-8 Lutz had put himself on Mucciacciaro’s rear bumper for
second as Chadwick had pulled ahead. Behind Lutz, Rocco was back in
traffic battling at the back half of the top ten with Todd Ceravolo. Lutz
finally found room outside of Mucciacciaro to take over second position as
the race stayed under the green flag through lap-13. The racing was
brought to a halt when Ed Puleo got out of shape in turn three, gathering
his car however as the pack behind checked up, Nichole Morgillo got
bounced into the turn three wall to bring out the first caution flag.
Morgillo was unable to return.
The restart had Chadwick matched with Lutz on the front row. Chadwick was
able to get the lead with a solid restart however Lutz was not about to
let him pull ahead as easily as he had earlier. The two opened up a
little breathing room over the fight for third position and Lutz went to
work. He tried to find room to Chadwick’s outside on several occasions to
no avail. Meanwhile, Rocco benefitted by the restart and used the inside
lane to pull inside the top-five. He got past the inside of Janovic on
lap-22 to move fourth. He was in third on lap-25 with a gap to close on
the lead two which remained as Chadwick holding back the advances of Lutz.
With Rocco rapidly closing Chadwick was able to take a one car length lead
over Lutz, who was in jeopardy of losing second to a streaking Rocco.
Rocco went to the outside lane, finding room outside of Lutz on lap-30.
On lap-31 Rocco used a surge out of turn two to pull even, then used a run
out of turn four to overtake Lutz for second position. With just four
laps to catch and pass Chadwick, Rocco was aided by another caution flag,
the final of the race, on lap-32 when Kyle James spun in turn four,
setting up the pivotal restart.
Chadwick got a good restart to hold the top spot with Rocco staying glued
to his outside. Chadwick defended Rocco’s outside bid to lead lap-33 and
kept him there as they raced towards the final lap. As the two came off
the fourth corner to the white flag, Rocco tucked in behind and gave
Chadwick’s rear bumper a nudge as the cars entered turn one. That gave
Rocco the opportunity to dive inside Chadwick in turn two. The two ran
side-by-side over the final half-lap to the checkered flag. Rocco, on the
inside, was able to just beat Chadwick by a bumper to the finish line in a
photo-finish. The margin of victory for Rocco was just .001 seconds in
one of the closest finishes ever for the division. Chadwick was forced to
settle for second after leading the first 34 laps of the race. Lutz
finished third after running with the leaders and pressuring Chadwick for
the lead over much of the second half. Janovic finished fourth and
Mucciacciaro was fifth.
In the 30-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late
Model race, Palmer took his first win of the season with an impressive
showing. Bruce Thomas Jr. was the early leader as Palmer trailed a
battle for second between Jeff Smith and Rich Staskowski. Palmer was able
to get past Smith and contend for second when Smith spun on lap-7 to
create the only restart of the race. Thomas led, however Palmer closed in
and was on his tail shortly after. Palmer was able to find room to the
inside of Thomas, who couldn’t keep his car low, enabling Palmer to race
to the lead for good on lap-14.
As Palmer made the move to claim the lead, Rocco had advanced to third and
closed in on the lead two. He followed Palmer past the inside of Thomas
and was in sole possession of second on lap-15. The second half of the
race was dominated by all green flag racing with Rocco keeping pace with
Palmer. Rocco, however, was never able to close in to Palmer’s rear
bumper as he went on to the win. The victory was the third ever for
Palmer in the division and the 55th of his career at the track, good for
11th all-time for the former Legend Cars division standout. Rocco
finished second and Rich Staskwoski ended up third after Thomas was
disqualified in post-race inspection. Ray Christian III recorded a
career-best in the division with his fourth place finish and Smith
rebounded from his spin to finish fifth.
(continued)
Saturday with a six division race program at the popular shoreline oval.
Picking up NASCAR Whelen All-American Series wins included Keith Rocco of
Meriden, winner of his seventh SK Modified® race of the year after an
exciting photo finish and Jason Palmer of Berlin, winning his first Bob
Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature of the season. Salem’s Corey
Hutchings won the Street Stock feature and took over the division point
lead while Ian Brew of Wood River Junction, RI won another race in the
Mini Stock division. Giovanni Giarratana of Newington won the night’s
INEX Legend Cars race and Duane Noll of Monroe took the checkered flag in
the visiting New England Truck Series.
Rocco rallied past defending track champion Tyler Chadwick out of the
final corner in a thrilling three-lap showdown between the two following
the final restart of the 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK
Modified® race. The race began with Chadwick on the pin, leading the way
at the drop of the green flag. He jumped ahead of Frank Mucciacciaro who
settled into second with Rob Janovic Jr. moving to third.
Craig Lutz was the driver on the move early as he picked his way past the
outside of Jeff Gallup to move into fourth in the opening laps. He
continued his forward progress staying on the top of the track, getting to
the outside of Janovic for third on lap-6 and taking the position a lap
later. On lap-8 Lutz had put himself on Mucciacciaro’s rear bumper for
second as Chadwick had pulled ahead. Behind Lutz, Rocco was back in
traffic battling at the back half of the top ten with Todd Ceravolo. Lutz
finally found room outside of Mucciacciaro to take over second position as
the race stayed under the green flag through lap-13. The racing was
brought to a halt when Ed Puleo got out of shape in turn three, gathering
his car however as the pack behind checked up, Nichole Morgillo got
bounced into the turn three wall to bring out the first caution flag.
Morgillo was unable to return.
The restart had Chadwick matched with Lutz on the front row. Chadwick was
able to get the lead with a solid restart however Lutz was not about to
let him pull ahead as easily as he had earlier. The two opened up a
little breathing room over the fight for third position and Lutz went to
work. He tried to find room to Chadwick’s outside on several occasions to
no avail. Meanwhile, Rocco benefitted by the restart and used the inside
lane to pull inside the top-five. He got past the inside of Janovic on
lap-22 to move fourth. He was in third on lap-25 with a gap to close on
the lead two which remained as Chadwick holding back the advances of Lutz.
With Rocco rapidly closing Chadwick was able to take a one car length lead
over Lutz, who was in jeopardy of losing second to a streaking Rocco.
Rocco went to the outside lane, finding room outside of Lutz on lap-30.
On lap-31 Rocco used a surge out of turn two to pull even, then used a run
out of turn four to overtake Lutz for second position. With just four
laps to catch and pass Chadwick, Rocco was aided by another caution flag,
the final of the race, on lap-32 when Kyle James spun in turn four,
setting up the pivotal restart.
Chadwick got a good restart to hold the top spot with Rocco staying glued
to his outside. Chadwick defended Rocco’s outside bid to lead lap-33 and
kept him there as they raced towards the final lap. As the two came off
the fourth corner to the white flag, Rocco tucked in behind and gave
Chadwick’s rear bumper a nudge as the cars entered turn one. That gave
Rocco the opportunity to dive inside Chadwick in turn two. The two ran
side-by-side over the final half-lap to the checkered flag. Rocco, on the
inside, was able to just beat Chadwick by a bumper to the finish line in a
photo-finish. The margin of victory for Rocco was just .001 seconds in
one of the closest finishes ever for the division. Chadwick was forced to
settle for second after leading the first 34 laps of the race. Lutz
finished third after running with the leaders and pressuring Chadwick for
the lead over much of the second half. Janovic finished fourth and
Mucciacciaro was fifth.
In the 30-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late
Model race, Palmer took his first win of the season with an impressive
showing. Bruce Thomas Jr. was the early leader as Palmer trailed a
battle for second between Jeff Smith and Rich Staskowski. Palmer was able
to get past Smith and contend for second when Smith spun on lap-7 to
create the only restart of the race. Thomas led, however Palmer closed in
and was on his tail shortly after. Palmer was able to find room to the
inside of Thomas, who couldn’t keep his car low, enabling Palmer to race
to the lead for good on lap-14.
As Palmer made the move to claim the lead, Rocco had advanced to third and
closed in on the lead two. He followed Palmer past the inside of Thomas
and was in sole possession of second on lap-15. The second half of the
race was dominated by all green flag racing with Rocco keeping pace with
Palmer. Rocco, however, was never able to close in to Palmer’s rear
bumper as he went on to the win. The victory was the third ever for
Palmer in the division and the 55th of his career at the track, good for
11th all-time for the former Legend Cars division standout. Rocco
finished second and Rich Staskwoski ended up third after Thomas was
disqualified in post-race inspection. Ray Christian III recorded a
career-best in the division with his fourth place finish and Smith
rebounded from his spin to finish fifth.
(continued)