RGeeProductions
09-15-2013, 03:34 PM
A chilly night greeted race fans in
attendance for Waterford Speedbowl’s program on Saturday evening but the
action on the track stayed red hot. Scoring NASCAR Whelen All-American
Series victories were Frank Mucciacciaro in the SK Modifieds®, winning for
the first time since 2006 while Keith Rocco of Meriden won his ninth Bob
Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature of 2013. Danielson’s Ryan Waterman
won his second Street Stock feature of the year and Ken Cassidy Jr. of
Lisbon won another Mini Stock feature, recording an important victory in
his accomplished racing career. Wayne Shifflett of Preston took down the
checkered flag in the night’s X-Car race.
Mucciacciaro earned a hard-fought victory to end a draught that stretched
back several seasons. He benefitted by way of a pole starting position
but was fast from the start. He took the lead over Jeff Gallup, then
endured four yellow flags for incidents which slowed his pace. After
taking control, the field settled in behind Mucciacciaro over the opening
laps. Gallup was second ahead of Joe Gada and Rob Janovic. Todd Ceravolo
battled Nicole Morgillo for fifth place when on lap-5, Morgillo got loose
out of turn two in the outside lane. Her car made slight contact with
Craig Lutz sending both sliding off the back stretch into the grass in
turn three to draw the first yellow flag. Both cars were able to resume
from the rear of the field.
Mucciacciaro resumed his lead after a solid restart. Gada tried to snatch
second position away from Gallup to no avail when the next caution flag
was out on lap-10. Morgillo’s car slowed in turn three and after she
recovered, her car went spinning out of turn four making contact with the
front stretch wall. Corey Coates and Shawn Thibeault also were collected
as the yellow flag flew. All three were able to resume after a visit to
the pit area.
Gallup tried to wrangle the lead away from Mucciacciaro when racing went
back to green, but the veteran racer was able to fight off the bid.
Ceravolo darted his way by both Gada and eventually Gallup into second
position to get on Mucciaciaro’s rear bumper and immediately tested the
outside of the track to challenge for the race lead. As the top two cars
pulled ahead, Gallup and Gada were locked in a battle for third leading a
string of cars that battled side-by-side behind them. Janovic, Kyle
James, Keith Rocco, Diego Monahan and Tyler Chadwick were all among the
traffic jam behind the leaders as the race moved past halfway.
That pack continued to slice and dice as Gada got third from Gallup, who
tucked in line to open up the outside lane for James to try and move into
contention for a second consecutive win. A three car battle for fourth
position heated up on lap-19 as James pressed Gallup’s outside but Janovic
saw an opening to the inside of the track exiting turn two. A three-wide
scenario saw the cars race down the back chute and through turn three
before calamity struck when they ran out of racing room in turn four.
Contact was made and the chain reaction sent Chadwick careening into the
wall. The caution flag returned as the defending champion limped to the
pit area, unable to return.
Mucciacciaro still held the lead for the restart. He was able to race
ahead of Ceravolo when the green flag flew however Ceravolo refused to
back down after tucking back in line behind. Ceravolo hounded
Mucciacciario, trying both the high and low grooves but was never able to
get a wheel alongside the leader to establish a passing lane. A final
chance for Ceravolo came on a lap-24 restart after the final caution flag
waved when John Montesanto spun off turn four into the grass and was
unable to refire his machine.
Again, Mucciacciaro controlled the restart and was clear of Ceravolo out
of turn two. Over the final 11 laps it was much of the same, as Ceravolo
pestered Mucciacciaro. Gada and Janovic raced behind in third and fourth
positions while Rocco was able to get by Gallup for fifth on lap-26. Up
front, Mucciacciaro held back every charge Ceravolo mounted to capture the
victory. Ceravolo settled for second place while Janovic was able to put
a final lap move to the inside of Gada to take third. Gada was fourth and
Rocco finished fifth. Rocco was forced into a borrowed ride after his
primary #88 car lost an engine in practice.
Rocco was nearly flawless in the 30-lap Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model
feature on his way to a ninth victory in 18 events for the division on the
year. He started the race fifth but quickly worked to third position
behind a battle for the lead over the opening four laps between Jason
Palmer and Ray Christian III. Those two cars stayed glued together at the
front until Palmer worked his way to the lead on lap-4, bringing Rocco
with him into second. Palmer left the smallest of openings to the inside
of the track and Rocco jumped at the opportunity, racing inside of Palmer
as the two raced to lap-5. Rocco had the lead on lap-6 and led through
the only caution flag of the race, coming on lap-23. Rocco got a great
restart, getting away from Palmer and coasting to victory. Palmer had to
contend with Christian over the final laps in a battle for second
position. Christian came away with the spot and Palmer settled for third.
Waterman’s victory in the 25-lap Street Stock race was a popular one with
the crowd. The young driver moved through the field early on to position
himself third behind leaders Dwayne Dorr and Joe Arena. Arena dogged Dorr
over much of the early going but couldn’t find a way around, eventually
giving up second to Waterman on lap-15. Waterman didn’t stop there,
continuing his march to the front by getting inside of Dorr into the lead
on lap-17 just ahead of the only yellow flag of the race. Waterman
powered ahead of two-time champion Al Stone on the restart, keeping a
two-car length advantage between him and Stone, who finished second.
Corey Hutchings, the championship point leader, was third. Waterman had
the crowd behind him as he picked up an emotional win. Waterman’s mother
passed away suddenly earlier this summer.
Cassidy’s victory marked a milestone. He captured his 50th career win in
the Mini Stock division following the 25-lap feature, putting him just
outside the top-ten all-time at the Speedbowl in the track’s 63-year
history. Cassidy took the lead on lap-8 during the race, which ran
without a caution flag. He was never threatened the rest of the way.
Dave Trudeau took home a strong second place finish in a rare Speedbowl
appearance, with Garrett Denton finishing third. Denton trails Cassidy in
the season point standings.
Shifflett’s victory seemed improbable when he was caught up in a wild
wreck in the 25-lap X-Car race. On lap-3 Shifflett tried to avoid a
spinning car when he ended up sliding into the turn four wall. Others
piled in and Shifflett’s car actually ended up on top of another when the
dust settled. The damage didn’t prevent Shifllett from pitting, making
repairs, then rebounding to slice his way through the field and ultimately
the win. Shifflett took the lead following a restart after being one of
three cars battling for the lead three-wide on lap-20. That didn’t work
and early leader Scott Limkemann went spinning in turn one from the
outside lane, triggering a multi-car wreck behind to create the final
caution of the race. Shifflett outdueled Chris Thomas over the final six
laps. Larry Loomis Jr. finished on Shifflett’s tail while Thomas grabbed
third. It was Shifflett’s second win in the division’s Saturday Showdown
Series.
(continued)
attendance for Waterford Speedbowl’s program on Saturday evening but the
action on the track stayed red hot. Scoring NASCAR Whelen All-American
Series victories were Frank Mucciacciaro in the SK Modifieds®, winning for
the first time since 2006 while Keith Rocco of Meriden won his ninth Bob
Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature of 2013. Danielson’s Ryan Waterman
won his second Street Stock feature of the year and Ken Cassidy Jr. of
Lisbon won another Mini Stock feature, recording an important victory in
his accomplished racing career. Wayne Shifflett of Preston took down the
checkered flag in the night’s X-Car race.
Mucciacciaro earned a hard-fought victory to end a draught that stretched
back several seasons. He benefitted by way of a pole starting position
but was fast from the start. He took the lead over Jeff Gallup, then
endured four yellow flags for incidents which slowed his pace. After
taking control, the field settled in behind Mucciacciaro over the opening
laps. Gallup was second ahead of Joe Gada and Rob Janovic. Todd Ceravolo
battled Nicole Morgillo for fifth place when on lap-5, Morgillo got loose
out of turn two in the outside lane. Her car made slight contact with
Craig Lutz sending both sliding off the back stretch into the grass in
turn three to draw the first yellow flag. Both cars were able to resume
from the rear of the field.
Mucciacciaro resumed his lead after a solid restart. Gada tried to snatch
second position away from Gallup to no avail when the next caution flag
was out on lap-10. Morgillo’s car slowed in turn three and after she
recovered, her car went spinning out of turn four making contact with the
front stretch wall. Corey Coates and Shawn Thibeault also were collected
as the yellow flag flew. All three were able to resume after a visit to
the pit area.
Gallup tried to wrangle the lead away from Mucciacciaro when racing went
back to green, but the veteran racer was able to fight off the bid.
Ceravolo darted his way by both Gada and eventually Gallup into second
position to get on Mucciaciaro’s rear bumper and immediately tested the
outside of the track to challenge for the race lead. As the top two cars
pulled ahead, Gallup and Gada were locked in a battle for third leading a
string of cars that battled side-by-side behind them. Janovic, Kyle
James, Keith Rocco, Diego Monahan and Tyler Chadwick were all among the
traffic jam behind the leaders as the race moved past halfway.
That pack continued to slice and dice as Gada got third from Gallup, who
tucked in line to open up the outside lane for James to try and move into
contention for a second consecutive win. A three car battle for fourth
position heated up on lap-19 as James pressed Gallup’s outside but Janovic
saw an opening to the inside of the track exiting turn two. A three-wide
scenario saw the cars race down the back chute and through turn three
before calamity struck when they ran out of racing room in turn four.
Contact was made and the chain reaction sent Chadwick careening into the
wall. The caution flag returned as the defending champion limped to the
pit area, unable to return.
Mucciacciaro still held the lead for the restart. He was able to race
ahead of Ceravolo when the green flag flew however Ceravolo refused to
back down after tucking back in line behind. Ceravolo hounded
Mucciacciario, trying both the high and low grooves but was never able to
get a wheel alongside the leader to establish a passing lane. A final
chance for Ceravolo came on a lap-24 restart after the final caution flag
waved when John Montesanto spun off turn four into the grass and was
unable to refire his machine.
Again, Mucciacciaro controlled the restart and was clear of Ceravolo out
of turn two. Over the final 11 laps it was much of the same, as Ceravolo
pestered Mucciacciaro. Gada and Janovic raced behind in third and fourth
positions while Rocco was able to get by Gallup for fifth on lap-26. Up
front, Mucciacciaro held back every charge Ceravolo mounted to capture the
victory. Ceravolo settled for second place while Janovic was able to put
a final lap move to the inside of Gada to take third. Gada was fourth and
Rocco finished fifth. Rocco was forced into a borrowed ride after his
primary #88 car lost an engine in practice.
Rocco was nearly flawless in the 30-lap Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model
feature on his way to a ninth victory in 18 events for the division on the
year. He started the race fifth but quickly worked to third position
behind a battle for the lead over the opening four laps between Jason
Palmer and Ray Christian III. Those two cars stayed glued together at the
front until Palmer worked his way to the lead on lap-4, bringing Rocco
with him into second. Palmer left the smallest of openings to the inside
of the track and Rocco jumped at the opportunity, racing inside of Palmer
as the two raced to lap-5. Rocco had the lead on lap-6 and led through
the only caution flag of the race, coming on lap-23. Rocco got a great
restart, getting away from Palmer and coasting to victory. Palmer had to
contend with Christian over the final laps in a battle for second
position. Christian came away with the spot and Palmer settled for third.
Waterman’s victory in the 25-lap Street Stock race was a popular one with
the crowd. The young driver moved through the field early on to position
himself third behind leaders Dwayne Dorr and Joe Arena. Arena dogged Dorr
over much of the early going but couldn’t find a way around, eventually
giving up second to Waterman on lap-15. Waterman didn’t stop there,
continuing his march to the front by getting inside of Dorr into the lead
on lap-17 just ahead of the only yellow flag of the race. Waterman
powered ahead of two-time champion Al Stone on the restart, keeping a
two-car length advantage between him and Stone, who finished second.
Corey Hutchings, the championship point leader, was third. Waterman had
the crowd behind him as he picked up an emotional win. Waterman’s mother
passed away suddenly earlier this summer.
Cassidy’s victory marked a milestone. He captured his 50th career win in
the Mini Stock division following the 25-lap feature, putting him just
outside the top-ten all-time at the Speedbowl in the track’s 63-year
history. Cassidy took the lead on lap-8 during the race, which ran
without a caution flag. He was never threatened the rest of the way.
Dave Trudeau took home a strong second place finish in a rare Speedbowl
appearance, with Garrett Denton finishing third. Denton trails Cassidy in
the season point standings.
Shifflett’s victory seemed improbable when he was caught up in a wild
wreck in the 25-lap X-Car race. On lap-3 Shifflett tried to avoid a
spinning car when he ended up sliding into the turn four wall. Others
piled in and Shifflett’s car actually ended up on top of another when the
dust settled. The damage didn’t prevent Shifllett from pitting, making
repairs, then rebounding to slice his way through the field and ultimately
the win. Shifflett took the lead following a restart after being one of
three cars battling for the lead three-wide on lap-20. That didn’t work
and early leader Scott Limkemann went spinning in turn one from the
outside lane, triggering a multi-car wreck behind to create the final
caution of the race. Shifflett outdueled Chris Thomas over the final six
laps. Larry Loomis Jr. finished on Shifflett’s tail while Thomas grabbed
third. It was Shifflett’s second win in the division’s Saturday Showdown
Series.
(continued)