RGeeProductions
09-01-2013, 11:19 AM
A quick paced and action packed racing
program was the order of the night Saturday at Waterford Speedbowl as the
track played host to its ‘Thunder on the Sound’ event, highlighted by the
Budweiser Modified Nationals SK 150 feature event. Keith Rocco of Meriden
was the night’s big winner, picking up the $5,000 payday along with the
checkered flag in the Budweiser Modified Nationals SK 150. In total,
seven drivers notched victories on the evening. Joining Rocco in the
winner’s circle included a first-time Speedbowl winner as Jay, ME
competitor David Farrington Jr. picked up an impressive victory in the Bob
Valenti Auto Mall Late Model division. Corey Hutchings of Salem won
another Street Stock race while Ray Christian III of Groton and Glenn
Griswold of Vernon each picked up their second wins of the season in the
respective Mini Stock and SK Light Modified divisions. In INEX racing
Paul Kusheba of Monroe won an exciting Legend Cars event and Andrew Morin
of Old Saybrook won his first ever race in the Bandoleros.
Rocco began the Budweiser Modified Nationals from deep in the 25-car
starting field of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds®. He
rose from seventeenth position at the start to take the race lead on
lap-83 from Tom Abele Jr. with some early patience then timely firepower.
The race began with Jeff Gallup taking the lead on the opening lap. The
first caution flag of the race was not far behind however, as Adam Gada
was sent to the pit area for leaking fluid on the racing surface with just
one lap scored complete. When the race resumed the field quickly settled
in for a lengthy run of green flag racing.
Gallup continued to lead as Ted Christopher moved to second. He
challenged Gallup by lap-8, eventually racing by his outside into the lead
on lap-9. Behind Gallup, Rob Janovic raced in third with Todd Ceravolo
fourth. As the top cars ran single file feeling out their rides for the
long race, Woody Pitkat and Tyler Chadwick were both on the move after
starting the race outside the top ten. Ahead, Christopher was already
placing cars at the tail of the field down a lap as the race worked
towards lap-35. Moments later, John Montesanto spun off the front stretch
into the grass to bring out the yellow flag on lap-38. During the caution
period Ceravolo ducked to the pit area, giving up his position among the
top-four.
Christopher quickly got away from Gallup on the restart. Abele lined up
fourth when Ceravolo departed, getting past Janovic on lap-39 before
challenging Gallup. He was second on lap-40 and Janovic got by Gallup
into third on lap-42. Pitkat restarted the race from fifth, climbing past
Gallup on lap-43 to get to fourth. Once in line those four cars ran
single file through another stretch of clean racing, remaining unchanged
through the next yellow flag on lap-68. While the top four ran in order,
Rocco began to assert himself during the run. He ended up fifth to Pitkat
for the ensuing restart at lap-71.
Rocco made his moves count from that point forward. He got past the
outside of Pitkat for fourth on lap-74 and third-place runner Janovic on
lap-75 just ahead of the next caution flag. The restart saw Christopher
pull away from Abele and just as Rocco was challenging for second, the
cars of Diego Monahan, Tyler Jackson and Frank Mucciacciaro found trouble
in turn three to return the race to caution on lap-79. The complexion of
the race changed dramatically as Christopher relinquished the lead to head
to the pits for adjustments to his car for the final half of the event.
With Christopher restarting from back in seventeenth, Abele assumed
control with Rocco to his outside. Rocco used a well-timed restart to
race even with Abele to turn one, pulling ahead as the pair exited turn
two. Rocco had the lead on lap-83 bringing Pitkat with him around the
outside of the track into second. Chadwick was on the attack, clawing
into third around Abele on lap-85 with his sights set on the top two.
Chadwick tried to work over Pitkat for several laps to no avail, riding
third until a caution on lap-99.
Rocco used a good restart over Pitkat to head back to turn one as the
leader on the restart. Just behind them Janovic survived a wild ride as he
got bounced from fifth place off the apron of the track into turn one,
gathering his car up to keep the race green. Chadwick found an opening
under Pitkat to snatch second and pick up pursuit of Rocco. The two
pulled ahead with Chadwick stalking Rocco over a stretch that brought the
race to lap-120. Several times Chadwick tried to get a wheel outside of
Rocco but could never quite muster the momentum to pull alongside.
After Chadwick finally settled in line behind, Rocco turned it up a notch
with the laps closing down, pulling away from Chadwick as the race moved
to its final stretch. With Rocco streaking towards closing out an
impressive win with a near straightaway advantage, Pitkat was back on
Chadwick trying to pick up second in the closing laps. When it appeared
the race may continue to the checkered flag, Matt Galko saw a solid effort
run sour as he went up in smoke on lap-147, stopping at the top of the
track in turn two to bring out a caution.
Two additional late incidents forced Rocco into restarting smoothly to
seal the win. He nailed each one, the first versus Chadwick and the final
against Pitkat, who was able to reclaim second on lap-148 as Chadwick
appeared to have nothing left. Pitkat could not catch Rocco to challenge
and finished in second. Chadwick took third and Abele ran up front all
night to take a hard earned fourth. Janovic recovered to take home fifth.
Twelve cars finished the race on the lead lap.
With the win, Rocco becomes the third driver to take back-to-back wins in
the prestigious event. One year ago Rocco was the winner of record after
starting the race, however he relinquished the seat to Ceravolo two weeks
later after a rain delay coupled with a penalty sidelined him. No driver
owns three wins in the history of the Budweiser Modified Nationals.
(continued)
program was the order of the night Saturday at Waterford Speedbowl as the
track played host to its ‘Thunder on the Sound’ event, highlighted by the
Budweiser Modified Nationals SK 150 feature event. Keith Rocco of Meriden
was the night’s big winner, picking up the $5,000 payday along with the
checkered flag in the Budweiser Modified Nationals SK 150. In total,
seven drivers notched victories on the evening. Joining Rocco in the
winner’s circle included a first-time Speedbowl winner as Jay, ME
competitor David Farrington Jr. picked up an impressive victory in the Bob
Valenti Auto Mall Late Model division. Corey Hutchings of Salem won
another Street Stock race while Ray Christian III of Groton and Glenn
Griswold of Vernon each picked up their second wins of the season in the
respective Mini Stock and SK Light Modified divisions. In INEX racing
Paul Kusheba of Monroe won an exciting Legend Cars event and Andrew Morin
of Old Saybrook won his first ever race in the Bandoleros.
Rocco began the Budweiser Modified Nationals from deep in the 25-car
starting field of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds®. He
rose from seventeenth position at the start to take the race lead on
lap-83 from Tom Abele Jr. with some early patience then timely firepower.
The race began with Jeff Gallup taking the lead on the opening lap. The
first caution flag of the race was not far behind however, as Adam Gada
was sent to the pit area for leaking fluid on the racing surface with just
one lap scored complete. When the race resumed the field quickly settled
in for a lengthy run of green flag racing.
Gallup continued to lead as Ted Christopher moved to second. He
challenged Gallup by lap-8, eventually racing by his outside into the lead
on lap-9. Behind Gallup, Rob Janovic raced in third with Todd Ceravolo
fourth. As the top cars ran single file feeling out their rides for the
long race, Woody Pitkat and Tyler Chadwick were both on the move after
starting the race outside the top ten. Ahead, Christopher was already
placing cars at the tail of the field down a lap as the race worked
towards lap-35. Moments later, John Montesanto spun off the front stretch
into the grass to bring out the yellow flag on lap-38. During the caution
period Ceravolo ducked to the pit area, giving up his position among the
top-four.
Christopher quickly got away from Gallup on the restart. Abele lined up
fourth when Ceravolo departed, getting past Janovic on lap-39 before
challenging Gallup. He was second on lap-40 and Janovic got by Gallup
into third on lap-42. Pitkat restarted the race from fifth, climbing past
Gallup on lap-43 to get to fourth. Once in line those four cars ran
single file through another stretch of clean racing, remaining unchanged
through the next yellow flag on lap-68. While the top four ran in order,
Rocco began to assert himself during the run. He ended up fifth to Pitkat
for the ensuing restart at lap-71.
Rocco made his moves count from that point forward. He got past the
outside of Pitkat for fourth on lap-74 and third-place runner Janovic on
lap-75 just ahead of the next caution flag. The restart saw Christopher
pull away from Abele and just as Rocco was challenging for second, the
cars of Diego Monahan, Tyler Jackson and Frank Mucciacciaro found trouble
in turn three to return the race to caution on lap-79. The complexion of
the race changed dramatically as Christopher relinquished the lead to head
to the pits for adjustments to his car for the final half of the event.
With Christopher restarting from back in seventeenth, Abele assumed
control with Rocco to his outside. Rocco used a well-timed restart to
race even with Abele to turn one, pulling ahead as the pair exited turn
two. Rocco had the lead on lap-83 bringing Pitkat with him around the
outside of the track into second. Chadwick was on the attack, clawing
into third around Abele on lap-85 with his sights set on the top two.
Chadwick tried to work over Pitkat for several laps to no avail, riding
third until a caution on lap-99.
Rocco used a good restart over Pitkat to head back to turn one as the
leader on the restart. Just behind them Janovic survived a wild ride as he
got bounced from fifth place off the apron of the track into turn one,
gathering his car up to keep the race green. Chadwick found an opening
under Pitkat to snatch second and pick up pursuit of Rocco. The two
pulled ahead with Chadwick stalking Rocco over a stretch that brought the
race to lap-120. Several times Chadwick tried to get a wheel outside of
Rocco but could never quite muster the momentum to pull alongside.
After Chadwick finally settled in line behind, Rocco turned it up a notch
with the laps closing down, pulling away from Chadwick as the race moved
to its final stretch. With Rocco streaking towards closing out an
impressive win with a near straightaway advantage, Pitkat was back on
Chadwick trying to pick up second in the closing laps. When it appeared
the race may continue to the checkered flag, Matt Galko saw a solid effort
run sour as he went up in smoke on lap-147, stopping at the top of the
track in turn two to bring out a caution.
Two additional late incidents forced Rocco into restarting smoothly to
seal the win. He nailed each one, the first versus Chadwick and the final
against Pitkat, who was able to reclaim second on lap-148 as Chadwick
appeared to have nothing left. Pitkat could not catch Rocco to challenge
and finished in second. Chadwick took third and Abele ran up front all
night to take a hard earned fourth. Janovic recovered to take home fifth.
Twelve cars finished the race on the lead lap.
With the win, Rocco becomes the third driver to take back-to-back wins in
the prestigious event. One year ago Rocco was the winner of record after
starting the race, however he relinquished the seat to Ceravolo two weeks
later after a rain delay coupled with a penalty sidelined him. No driver
owns three wins in the history of the Budweiser Modified Nationals.
(continued)