RGeeProductions
09-22-2013, 05:13 PM
A record setting night took place
Saturday at Waterford Speedbowl as it hosted a six division NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series race program. Leading the way was a win by
Wallingford’s Nichole Morgillo in the SK Modified® feature, becoming the
first woman to win a race in the track’s premier division in the 63-year
history of the race track. Earlier in the night, Victoria Bergenty of
Plainville captured a victory in the SK Light Modified feature to join
Morgillo as winning women in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action, a
first at the oval. Keith Rocco of Meriden unofficially captured the Bob
Valenti Auto Mall Late Model track championship following his tenth win of
the season to become just the second driver to win titles in three
different divisions at the track. Ken Cassidy Jr. of Lisbon took one step
further in his quest for a fifth championship in one division as he won
the night’s Mini Stock feature and Corey Hutchings of Salem won his
seventh Street Stock race of the year. In INEX racing, Dylan Izzo of
Westport won his fourth Saturday night Legend Cars feature of 2013.
Morgillo’s historic run in the 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK
Modified® feature was hard fought down to the checkered flag. She held
back a charging Ted Christopher over the final 11 laps to take the win,
capping a memorable day at the track. Earlier in the night Morgillo’s
boyfriend and fellow SK Modified® driver Shawn Thibeault proposed to her
on the track’s front stretch before the crowd as part of the evening’s
opening festivities.
The race began with Diego Monahan blasting into the lead outside of
pole-sitter Thibeault. Morgillo quickly worked her way into second
position after starting the race in fourth to move to Monahan’s rear
bumper. Tom Abele Jr. got to third around Thibeault before the first
caution flag waved as Joe Gada and Tyler Chadwick came together running
side-by-side in the back chute before the field could complete lap-3. The
contact sent both cars into the retaining wall causing damage that
eliminated both from the race. Adam Gada was also collected and pitted
for repairs, returning at the rear of the field.
Monahan had Morgillo to his outside for the restart and was able to hold
down the top spot, leading lap-3 when trouble behind saw Jeff Gallup,
Keith Rocco and Zach Azklar spin off the front chute with minimal contact.
All were able to resume after the second caution flag of the race.
After another yellow flag for a spin on lap-4, the field settled in for a
stretch of green flag racing. Monahan showed the way over Morgillo but
all eyes were on Kyle James as he marched his way into contention using
the outside lane. James was up to third by lap-10 and tried valiantly to
work his way outside of Morgillo. He was unable to do so after several
attempts, holding down third as Monahan continued to lead. Rob Janovic
Jr. held fourth while Todd Ceravolo completed the top five as the pack
raced nose to tail. That changed on lap-19 when Monahan suffered a
mechanical failure out of turn four while leading. The field scattered
past his ailing car which drifted high out of the racing groove in turn
one, bringing out the caution flag when he came to a stop in turn two.
Morgillo inherited the lead with James to her outside for the restart. As
the field began to pick up the pace out of turn four coming to the green
flag James suffered some type of drivetrain failure, backing up the
outside lane. The inside lane powered past as James could not come up to
speed. The field completed one lap before caution waved again on lap-20
for James, stranded on the apron of the track.
Morgillo got a strong restart over Janovic on the next attempt with Ted
Christopher on the move, challenging Janovic’s inside for second position.
He cleared Janovic for the spot as the race ran to lap-23. Behind the top
three cars Ceravolo and Ed Puleo battled for a spot among the top-five,
resulting in the two cars making contact sending Puleo around in turn one.
Rocco, Craig Lutz and Jim Larsen all piled in to bring out another
caution flag, the final of the race, on lap-24. Rocco and Lutz were both
sidelined for the night.
Christopher tried to stay with Morgillo on the restart but she proved too
much, taking the lead away out of turn two. Christopher fought off a
brief bid from Janovic for second before settling in behind Morgillo as
they raced to lap-25. Christopher was not content, immediately going to
work looking for a way to pull alongside Morgillo. Christopher tried both
the high and low racing grooves along with a few timely shots to the rear
bumper of Morgillo over the next several laps but Morgillo would not be
rattled. She held a steady line and held back the advances of Christopher
through the checkered flag. He finished second while Janovic ended up
third. Jeff Gallup was fourth and Ceravolo rebounded to finish fifth.
Bergenty earned her record-setting victory with an impressive performance
in the 25-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American SK Light Modified feature. She
used the outside lane to battle past early leader Larry Goss, finally
getting ahead on lap-7. Once in front she pulled away, only to be run
down late in the race by division point leader Randy Churchill Jr.
Churchill was quick enough to catch Bergenty but didn’t have a strong
enough car to pull alongside. Bergenty, a second generation racer, held
on for the win and was greeted by a hearty applause from the crowd after
she exited the car as she became the first female to ever win a NASCAR
Whelen All-American Series race at the track, just a couple hours ahead of
Morgillo. Churchill finished in second and Glenn Griswold was third.
Victoria’s father John campaigned modifieds at speedways across southern
New England for several years.
(continued)
Saturday at Waterford Speedbowl as it hosted a six division NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series race program. Leading the way was a win by
Wallingford’s Nichole Morgillo in the SK Modified® feature, becoming the
first woman to win a race in the track’s premier division in the 63-year
history of the race track. Earlier in the night, Victoria Bergenty of
Plainville captured a victory in the SK Light Modified feature to join
Morgillo as winning women in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action, a
first at the oval. Keith Rocco of Meriden unofficially captured the Bob
Valenti Auto Mall Late Model track championship following his tenth win of
the season to become just the second driver to win titles in three
different divisions at the track. Ken Cassidy Jr. of Lisbon took one step
further in his quest for a fifth championship in one division as he won
the night’s Mini Stock feature and Corey Hutchings of Salem won his
seventh Street Stock race of the year. In INEX racing, Dylan Izzo of
Westport won his fourth Saturday night Legend Cars feature of 2013.
Morgillo’s historic run in the 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK
Modified® feature was hard fought down to the checkered flag. She held
back a charging Ted Christopher over the final 11 laps to take the win,
capping a memorable day at the track. Earlier in the night Morgillo’s
boyfriend and fellow SK Modified® driver Shawn Thibeault proposed to her
on the track’s front stretch before the crowd as part of the evening’s
opening festivities.
The race began with Diego Monahan blasting into the lead outside of
pole-sitter Thibeault. Morgillo quickly worked her way into second
position after starting the race in fourth to move to Monahan’s rear
bumper. Tom Abele Jr. got to third around Thibeault before the first
caution flag waved as Joe Gada and Tyler Chadwick came together running
side-by-side in the back chute before the field could complete lap-3. The
contact sent both cars into the retaining wall causing damage that
eliminated both from the race. Adam Gada was also collected and pitted
for repairs, returning at the rear of the field.
Monahan had Morgillo to his outside for the restart and was able to hold
down the top spot, leading lap-3 when trouble behind saw Jeff Gallup,
Keith Rocco and Zach Azklar spin off the front chute with minimal contact.
All were able to resume after the second caution flag of the race.
After another yellow flag for a spin on lap-4, the field settled in for a
stretch of green flag racing. Monahan showed the way over Morgillo but
all eyes were on Kyle James as he marched his way into contention using
the outside lane. James was up to third by lap-10 and tried valiantly to
work his way outside of Morgillo. He was unable to do so after several
attempts, holding down third as Monahan continued to lead. Rob Janovic
Jr. held fourth while Todd Ceravolo completed the top five as the pack
raced nose to tail. That changed on lap-19 when Monahan suffered a
mechanical failure out of turn four while leading. The field scattered
past his ailing car which drifted high out of the racing groove in turn
one, bringing out the caution flag when he came to a stop in turn two.
Morgillo inherited the lead with James to her outside for the restart. As
the field began to pick up the pace out of turn four coming to the green
flag James suffered some type of drivetrain failure, backing up the
outside lane. The inside lane powered past as James could not come up to
speed. The field completed one lap before caution waved again on lap-20
for James, stranded on the apron of the track.
Morgillo got a strong restart over Janovic on the next attempt with Ted
Christopher on the move, challenging Janovic’s inside for second position.
He cleared Janovic for the spot as the race ran to lap-23. Behind the top
three cars Ceravolo and Ed Puleo battled for a spot among the top-five,
resulting in the two cars making contact sending Puleo around in turn one.
Rocco, Craig Lutz and Jim Larsen all piled in to bring out another
caution flag, the final of the race, on lap-24. Rocco and Lutz were both
sidelined for the night.
Christopher tried to stay with Morgillo on the restart but she proved too
much, taking the lead away out of turn two. Christopher fought off a
brief bid from Janovic for second before settling in behind Morgillo as
they raced to lap-25. Christopher was not content, immediately going to
work looking for a way to pull alongside Morgillo. Christopher tried both
the high and low racing grooves along with a few timely shots to the rear
bumper of Morgillo over the next several laps but Morgillo would not be
rattled. She held a steady line and held back the advances of Christopher
through the checkered flag. He finished second while Janovic ended up
third. Jeff Gallup was fourth and Ceravolo rebounded to finish fifth.
Bergenty earned her record-setting victory with an impressive performance
in the 25-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American SK Light Modified feature. She
used the outside lane to battle past early leader Larry Goss, finally
getting ahead on lap-7. Once in front she pulled away, only to be run
down late in the race by division point leader Randy Churchill Jr.
Churchill was quick enough to catch Bergenty but didn’t have a strong
enough car to pull alongside. Bergenty, a second generation racer, held
on for the win and was greeted by a hearty applause from the crowd after
she exited the car as she became the first female to ever win a NASCAR
Whelen All-American Series race at the track, just a couple hours ahead of
Morgillo. Churchill finished in second and Glenn Griswold was third.
Victoria’s father John campaigned modifieds at speedways across southern
New England for several years.
(continued)