RGeeProductions
10-14-2013, 02:15 PM
Waterford Speedbowl was back in action
Saturday to wrap up its NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing season,
concluding a program suspended by weather a week ago. Keith Rocco of
Meriden continued to rewrite track history books, picking up victories in
both the SK Modified® and Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model races to set a
new single season record for wins at the track. Rocco first won Saturday
in the Late Models then came back to double up in the day’s main
attraction, the 50-lap SK Modified® race, giving him 24 total wins on the
year. Josh Galvin of Franklin scored a popular victory in the Street
Stock race and Garrett Denton of Hope Valley, RI won a special Mini Stock
Shootout event.
Rocco’s record-setting victory in the SK Modified® race was not easy. He
made a steady march to the front in the early going to become a contender
and used restart mastery as the primary key to his win. The race began
with Diego Monahan out front however only two laps were able to be
completed when the first caution flag came out when Jeff Gallup bobbled
out of turn two, setting off some bumper tag that sent Tom Abele Jr.
sliding into the grass and coming to rest at the entrance of turn three.
Monahan led the restart but Kyle James snatched second away from Joe Gada.
Only two more laps were complete when something let go on Matt Galko’s
machine, sending him spinning into turn one and collecting Corey Coates
and Mark Panaroni. All three were sidelined from the event. James wore
out Monahan on the restart, staying to his outside for four laps before
finally able to take the lead and clear Monahan on lap-8. Ed Puleo moved
into third and Rocco rose to fourth position, dropping Gada back to fifth.
Puleo and Rocco both got around the outside of Monahan on successive laps
to take second and third by lap-12. The next caution was out on lap-14
when veteran racer Frank Mucciacciaro clipped the front stretch wall out
of turn four causing heavy right front damage to his car, ending his day
early.
James led through two more restarts before Rocco moved into second,
getting past Puleo on lap-16. James pulled ahead with Rocco in pursuit,
with the two stretching their advantage over Puleo with Ted Christopher
moving to fourth. James took a two car length lead and stretched it out
over Rocco as a longer stretch of green flag racing brought the race to
lap-33. Christopher turned up the pressure on Puleo for several laps
before using a power move to get underneath through turns three and four.
Puleo went spinning trying to keep Christopher at bay, bringing the
caution back out on lap-33.
Rocco’s restart magic began after, using a well-timed start to race James
even to turn one. Rocco was able to rob James of his momentum to race to
the lead in the outside lane. Rocco pulled down ahead of James and went
to work on keeping James in his rear view mirror. James looked for a way
to challenge Rocco when on lap-38, he got into the front stretch wall
causing enough damage to send him hard into the turn one wall and end a
great run.
With James off his tail, Rocco now had Christopher line up to his outside
for the restart. Another great restart enabled Rocco to pull ahead of
Christopher, who held back Craig Lutz to settle into second and go after
the leader. Christopher stayed with Rocco and applied pressure.
Christopher couldn’t muster enough to get alongside Rocco, staying with
him until the final caution flag came out with six laps remaining for a
three car melee in turn four.
Christopher got into the back stretch wall on the restart, allowing Rocco
to drive away over the remaining laps to the milestone win. Christopher
was able to hang on for second while Lutz finished in third. Gada was
fourth and Diego Monahan came from the back after a pit stop to wind up
fifth.
The win was the 24th of Rocco’s memorable season, eclipsing the mark set
by Speedbowl legend Don Collins. Collins won 23 races in 1960 between the
Modified and Non-Ford divisions. Collins is one of the Speedbowl’s
all-time best and most popular competitors, claiming five titles and 101
race wins, one of only two drivers to post over 100 career victories at
the track. Rocco’s 24 victories came among four divisions, he won 12 Bob
Valenti Auto Mall Late Model races, ten times in the SK Modifieds® and
once each in two touring series that made Speedbowl appearances in 2013 –
the Valenti Modified Racing Series and New England Pro Four Modifieds.
Just two weeks ago Rocco became the first driver in track history to win
two championships in the same season at the track after clinching the SK
Modified® and Late Model crowns.
In Saturday’s 50-lap Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature, Rocco had
already claimed the lead when the race was suspended by weather last
Sunday. Rocco picked up where he left off when the race restarted,
surviving a brief challenge from Ray Christian III before pulling ahead
for the win. Glenn Boss of Danielson finished second and Jeff Smith
outdueled Bruce Thomas Jr. to earn a podium finish with third. Rocco’s
Late Model win was his 12th of the season in the division and tied him
with Collins’ mark of 23 victories before his record-setting win in the SK
Modified race.
Galvin topped division champion Corey Hutchings in the 50-lap Street Stock
race, driving away following the final restart with ten laps remaining.
Galvin got past the inside of early leader Lloyd Anderson Jr. on lap-6
after a two lap battle. Hutchings pulled in line behind Galvin on lap-19
and the two dueled over the middle race, eventually swapping the lead as
they battled side-by-side for several laps. Hutchings took the spot
momentarily only to see Galvin fight back on the outside of the track and
take the lead for good on lap-28. The battle intensified again on lap-38
as Hutchings made a final charge, however Galvin was able to hold off the
move and cruised to the victory from there. Hutchings finished in second
and Al Stone III was third.
The Mini Stock division competed in a special 25-lap Shootout race added
to the schedule for Saturday’s event. Denton dominated the non-points
race, which was slowed by two caution flags. He took the lead from Jeff
Moffat early and powered ahead to a convincing advantage. As Denton
pulled ahead, track champion Ken Cassidy Jr. took second but was unable to
run Denton down. The race ran without further incident to the checkered
flag and Cassidy finished several cars back. Glen Thomas Jr. finished on
Cassidy’s rear bumper in third.
The next event at the Speedbowl is Saturday, October 26 when the annual
Smacktoberfest closes the season. A Demolition Derby, Trailer Race,
Figure 8 race and four and eight cylinder Enduro racing plus more are all
part of the card. Details for the event are available on Speedbowl.com.
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds® (50-laps): 1. Keith
Rocco, Meriden; 2. Ted Christopher, Plainville; 3. Craig Lutz, Miller
Place, NY; 4. Joe Gada, Salem; 5. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill; 6.
Nichole Morgillo, Wallingford; 7. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 8. Ed
Puleo, Branford; 9. Jeffrey Gallup, Agawam, MA; 10. Shawn Thibeault,
Plainville; 11. Jim Larsen, East Hartland; 12. Tom Abele Jr., Norwich;
13. Wendell Dailey, Gales Ferry; 14. Shawn Monahan, Waterford; 15. Kyle
James Ashaway, RI; 16. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., Milford; 17. Rich
Duranti, Quaker Hill; 18. Matt Galko, Meriden; 19. Mark Panaroni,
Ivoryton; 20. Corey Coates, Ledyard; 21. Adam Gada, Bozrah
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models
(50-laps): 1. Keith Rocco, Meriden; 2. Glenn Boss, Danielson; 3. Jeff
Smith, Old Lyme; 4. Bruce Thomas Jr., Groton; 5. Rich Staskowski, Hope
Valley, RI; 6. Ray Christian III, Groton; 7. Anthony Ryan Sr., Danbury;
8. Robert Barcsansky Jr., North Haven; 9. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill; 10.
Mike Sweeney Jr., Meriden; 11. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 12. Tony Macrino,
Waterford; 13. Chris Garside, Waterford; DNS – Robert Leblanc Jr.,
Norwalk; DQ – Vin Esposito, Seymour
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stocks (50-laps): 1. Josh
Galvin, Franklin; 2. Corey Hutchings, Salem; 3. Al Stone III, Durham;
4. Ryan Waterman, Danielson; 5. Dwayne Dorr, Ledyard; 6. Chris Meyer,
North Franklin; 7. Norm Root Jr., Old Saybrook; 8. Lloyd Anderson Jr.,
Wauregan; 9. Joseph Fogarasi, Columbia; 10. Bill McNeil, Preston; 11.
Tom Shea, New London; 12. Dan Darnstaedt, Durham; 13. Kelsey Rottino,
Willimantic; 14. Travis Jurcik, Chaplin; 15. Ed Gertsch Jr., East Haven;
16. Don Spence Jr., Oakdale; 17. Tim Morse, Waterbury; 18. Steve
Barrett, Preston; 19. Joe Arena, Bristol; DQ – Jack Aquilina; DNS – Ed
Puleo, Branford; DNS – Phil Evans, Uncasville
Mini Stock Shootout (25-laps): 1. Garrett Denton, Hope Valley, RI; 2.
Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 3. Glen Thomas Jr., Groton; 4. Charles
Canfield, New Haven; 5. Dave Trudeau, Manfield; 6. Eric Bourgeios, East
Haddam; 7. Jeff Moffat, North Smithfield, RI; 8. John Bowes, Willington;
9. Jeffrey Lee, Uncasville; 10. Sean Caron, East Hampton; DQ - Pete
Zaikarite, Niantic
Brian Darling
Saturday to wrap up its NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing season,
concluding a program suspended by weather a week ago. Keith Rocco of
Meriden continued to rewrite track history books, picking up victories in
both the SK Modified® and Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model races to set a
new single season record for wins at the track. Rocco first won Saturday
in the Late Models then came back to double up in the day’s main
attraction, the 50-lap SK Modified® race, giving him 24 total wins on the
year. Josh Galvin of Franklin scored a popular victory in the Street
Stock race and Garrett Denton of Hope Valley, RI won a special Mini Stock
Shootout event.
Rocco’s record-setting victory in the SK Modified® race was not easy. He
made a steady march to the front in the early going to become a contender
and used restart mastery as the primary key to his win. The race began
with Diego Monahan out front however only two laps were able to be
completed when the first caution flag came out when Jeff Gallup bobbled
out of turn two, setting off some bumper tag that sent Tom Abele Jr.
sliding into the grass and coming to rest at the entrance of turn three.
Monahan led the restart but Kyle James snatched second away from Joe Gada.
Only two more laps were complete when something let go on Matt Galko’s
machine, sending him spinning into turn one and collecting Corey Coates
and Mark Panaroni. All three were sidelined from the event. James wore
out Monahan on the restart, staying to his outside for four laps before
finally able to take the lead and clear Monahan on lap-8. Ed Puleo moved
into third and Rocco rose to fourth position, dropping Gada back to fifth.
Puleo and Rocco both got around the outside of Monahan on successive laps
to take second and third by lap-12. The next caution was out on lap-14
when veteran racer Frank Mucciacciaro clipped the front stretch wall out
of turn four causing heavy right front damage to his car, ending his day
early.
James led through two more restarts before Rocco moved into second,
getting past Puleo on lap-16. James pulled ahead with Rocco in pursuit,
with the two stretching their advantage over Puleo with Ted Christopher
moving to fourth. James took a two car length lead and stretched it out
over Rocco as a longer stretch of green flag racing brought the race to
lap-33. Christopher turned up the pressure on Puleo for several laps
before using a power move to get underneath through turns three and four.
Puleo went spinning trying to keep Christopher at bay, bringing the
caution back out on lap-33.
Rocco’s restart magic began after, using a well-timed start to race James
even to turn one. Rocco was able to rob James of his momentum to race to
the lead in the outside lane. Rocco pulled down ahead of James and went
to work on keeping James in his rear view mirror. James looked for a way
to challenge Rocco when on lap-38, he got into the front stretch wall
causing enough damage to send him hard into the turn one wall and end a
great run.
With James off his tail, Rocco now had Christopher line up to his outside
for the restart. Another great restart enabled Rocco to pull ahead of
Christopher, who held back Craig Lutz to settle into second and go after
the leader. Christopher stayed with Rocco and applied pressure.
Christopher couldn’t muster enough to get alongside Rocco, staying with
him until the final caution flag came out with six laps remaining for a
three car melee in turn four.
Christopher got into the back stretch wall on the restart, allowing Rocco
to drive away over the remaining laps to the milestone win. Christopher
was able to hang on for second while Lutz finished in third. Gada was
fourth and Diego Monahan came from the back after a pit stop to wind up
fifth.
The win was the 24th of Rocco’s memorable season, eclipsing the mark set
by Speedbowl legend Don Collins. Collins won 23 races in 1960 between the
Modified and Non-Ford divisions. Collins is one of the Speedbowl’s
all-time best and most popular competitors, claiming five titles and 101
race wins, one of only two drivers to post over 100 career victories at
the track. Rocco’s 24 victories came among four divisions, he won 12 Bob
Valenti Auto Mall Late Model races, ten times in the SK Modifieds® and
once each in two touring series that made Speedbowl appearances in 2013 –
the Valenti Modified Racing Series and New England Pro Four Modifieds.
Just two weeks ago Rocco became the first driver in track history to win
two championships in the same season at the track after clinching the SK
Modified® and Late Model crowns.
In Saturday’s 50-lap Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature, Rocco had
already claimed the lead when the race was suspended by weather last
Sunday. Rocco picked up where he left off when the race restarted,
surviving a brief challenge from Ray Christian III before pulling ahead
for the win. Glenn Boss of Danielson finished second and Jeff Smith
outdueled Bruce Thomas Jr. to earn a podium finish with third. Rocco’s
Late Model win was his 12th of the season in the division and tied him
with Collins’ mark of 23 victories before his record-setting win in the SK
Modified race.
Galvin topped division champion Corey Hutchings in the 50-lap Street Stock
race, driving away following the final restart with ten laps remaining.
Galvin got past the inside of early leader Lloyd Anderson Jr. on lap-6
after a two lap battle. Hutchings pulled in line behind Galvin on lap-19
and the two dueled over the middle race, eventually swapping the lead as
they battled side-by-side for several laps. Hutchings took the spot
momentarily only to see Galvin fight back on the outside of the track and
take the lead for good on lap-28. The battle intensified again on lap-38
as Hutchings made a final charge, however Galvin was able to hold off the
move and cruised to the victory from there. Hutchings finished in second
and Al Stone III was third.
The Mini Stock division competed in a special 25-lap Shootout race added
to the schedule for Saturday’s event. Denton dominated the non-points
race, which was slowed by two caution flags. He took the lead from Jeff
Moffat early and powered ahead to a convincing advantage. As Denton
pulled ahead, track champion Ken Cassidy Jr. took second but was unable to
run Denton down. The race ran without further incident to the checkered
flag and Cassidy finished several cars back. Glen Thomas Jr. finished on
Cassidy’s rear bumper in third.
The next event at the Speedbowl is Saturday, October 26 when the annual
Smacktoberfest closes the season. A Demolition Derby, Trailer Race,
Figure 8 race and four and eight cylinder Enduro racing plus more are all
part of the card. Details for the event are available on Speedbowl.com.
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds® (50-laps): 1. Keith
Rocco, Meriden; 2. Ted Christopher, Plainville; 3. Craig Lutz, Miller
Place, NY; 4. Joe Gada, Salem; 5. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill; 6.
Nichole Morgillo, Wallingford; 7. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 8. Ed
Puleo, Branford; 9. Jeffrey Gallup, Agawam, MA; 10. Shawn Thibeault,
Plainville; 11. Jim Larsen, East Hartland; 12. Tom Abele Jr., Norwich;
13. Wendell Dailey, Gales Ferry; 14. Shawn Monahan, Waterford; 15. Kyle
James Ashaway, RI; 16. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., Milford; 17. Rich
Duranti, Quaker Hill; 18. Matt Galko, Meriden; 19. Mark Panaroni,
Ivoryton; 20. Corey Coates, Ledyard; 21. Adam Gada, Bozrah
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models
(50-laps): 1. Keith Rocco, Meriden; 2. Glenn Boss, Danielson; 3. Jeff
Smith, Old Lyme; 4. Bruce Thomas Jr., Groton; 5. Rich Staskowski, Hope
Valley, RI; 6. Ray Christian III, Groton; 7. Anthony Ryan Sr., Danbury;
8. Robert Barcsansky Jr., North Haven; 9. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill; 10.
Mike Sweeney Jr., Meriden; 11. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 12. Tony Macrino,
Waterford; 13. Chris Garside, Waterford; DNS – Robert Leblanc Jr.,
Norwalk; DQ – Vin Esposito, Seymour
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stocks (50-laps): 1. Josh
Galvin, Franklin; 2. Corey Hutchings, Salem; 3. Al Stone III, Durham;
4. Ryan Waterman, Danielson; 5. Dwayne Dorr, Ledyard; 6. Chris Meyer,
North Franklin; 7. Norm Root Jr., Old Saybrook; 8. Lloyd Anderson Jr.,
Wauregan; 9. Joseph Fogarasi, Columbia; 10. Bill McNeil, Preston; 11.
Tom Shea, New London; 12. Dan Darnstaedt, Durham; 13. Kelsey Rottino,
Willimantic; 14. Travis Jurcik, Chaplin; 15. Ed Gertsch Jr., East Haven;
16. Don Spence Jr., Oakdale; 17. Tim Morse, Waterbury; 18. Steve
Barrett, Preston; 19. Joe Arena, Bristol; DQ – Jack Aquilina; DNS – Ed
Puleo, Branford; DNS – Phil Evans, Uncasville
Mini Stock Shootout (25-laps): 1. Garrett Denton, Hope Valley, RI; 2.
Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 3. Glen Thomas Jr., Groton; 4. Charles
Canfield, New Haven; 5. Dave Trudeau, Manfield; 6. Eric Bourgeios, East
Haddam; 7. Jeff Moffat, North Smithfield, RI; 8. John Bowes, Willington;
9. Jeffrey Lee, Uncasville; 10. Sean Caron, East Hampton; DQ - Pete
Zaikarite, Niantic
Brian Darling