RGeeProductions
10-19-2013, 10:53 PM
Bobby Santos Sets Fast Time In WMT Qualifying
Thompson Speedway’s World Series of Auto Racing kicked off with a full racing card of 10 feature events Saturday evening after Bobby Santos posted the fastest time in NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour qualifying. Keith Rocco picked up the win in the Valenti Modified Racing Series 75-lapper while NASCAR Whelen All American Series victories went to Adam Norton, Corey Hutchings, Rick Gentes, and Mike Viens. Duane Noll earned the New England Truck Series win while Dan Meservey picked up a win in the Pro 4 Modified Series. Outlaw wins went to George Rego, Mike Viens and Wayne Coury, Jr.
Keith Rocco ran a dominant race in the Valenti Modified Racing Series and was followed to victory lane by 2013 series champion Rowan Pennink. Many tried, but no one could knock Rocco from the point and he led wire-to-wire in the caution-filled race.
Rocco took the early lead with Richard Savary and Todd Owen in tow before caution flew at lap seven. Rocco held on to the lead through two restarts as Ted Christopher made his way up to the second spot for the third restart on lap eight. Christopher was all over Rocco when racing resumed, but Rocco held strong. Anthony Nocella, Richard Savary, and Dan Meservey rounded out the top-five as the field strung out single file around the 5/8th’s mile oval.
Rocco and Christopher set a torrid pace and pulled away from the rest of the field by half a straightaway as they maneuvered through lapped traffic. Tommy Barrett, Jr. made his way into third before the caution flew at lap 49 and tightened up the field. Rocco led the field into turn one with Christopher all over his bumper. Danny Cates maneuvered by Barrett for third and closed in on Christopher’s bumper. The front trio – Rocco, Christopher and Cates – ran nose-to-tail before Cates dropped to the bottom groove on lap 54 to challenge Christopher. Cates got up alongside Christopher before caution came out and put him back in line in third.
Rocco and Christopher drove into turn one side-by-side on the lap 54 restart, but Rocco never relinquished the lead. Savary got by Cates for third. On lap 59, Christopher went high in turn two and dropped back several positions, however, a caution flew and he gained his spot back on the front row for the restart.
Rocco had the lead into turn one on the restart, but Christopher used the high groove to drive by for the first lead change of the night. Rocco retaliated and drove back by him to reclaim the top spot as Cates got by Christopher for second. Steve Masse backed his machine into the turn two wall to bring out the caution at lap 62 with Barrett on the front row with Rocco.
Rocco held strong on the restart and drove out to a five-car length advantage that Barrett closed up by lap 66. Christopher and Rowan Pennink were close behind. On lap 72, Pennink got by Christopher for the third spot as he set his sights on Barrett, which he got by for second. Pennink hoped to catch Rocco, but time ran out and Rocco cruised to the checkers.
Adam Norton picked up the victory in the caution plagued Lite Modified feature after taking the lead at lap 16 and holding on through several restarts.
Glenn Griswold took the early lead with John Studley attaching himself to Griswold’s back bumper by the third circuit. On lap five, Studley dropped to the bottom and got alongside Griswold before driving out to the lead heading into turn three. Norton tried to follow his line, but Griswold held strong in second until the caution came out at lap six.
Studley took the lead on the restart only to lose it to Norton, however, caution reverted the field back and Studley was out front once again for the restart. Studley held on to the lead at the drop of the green with Norton less than a car length behind, and the two pulled away by two seconds over the rest of the field. Caution flew for a spun car in turn four at lap 16. A five-car wreck unfolded in turns one and two on the restart further delaying green flag action. Two more restarts ensued without a lap being completed.
Norton took over the lead after Studley received a penalty and was sent to the rear. On the restart, Norton drove to the front with Griswold close behind. Norton was able to pull away by a five-car length advantage before caution reappeared two laps before the race conclusion.
Norton took the field back to green in a single file restart with Studley headed to the rear-bumper of Norton before the lap was complete. Norton held off the fast approaching Studley to take down the win.
Corey Hutchings took the lead from Bill McNeil following a late-race restart in the Limited Sportsman feature event, and held on for the checkered flag after a hard-fought battle that saw the duo swap the lead several times.
Al Stone, III led early in the race, but it was all Travis Jurcik at the conclusion of the first circuit. Scott Sundeen moved into third, and used the bottom groove at lap five to challenge for the second spot before taking over the position heading into turn one of lap six. Sundeen closed in on Jurcik, and after clearing a lapped car, dropped to the bottom to make a challenge. On lap eight, the duo was side-by-side when Sundeen got sideways and dropped back into second. Bill McNeil moved into third place and the top three pulled away from the rest of the field before a caution slowed the pace at lap 12. Jurcik didn’t hesitate to get back out front. Sundeen, however, dropped to the bottom coming out of turn two to get a solid run on Jurcik along the backstretch. The two were dead even, but Sundeen had a slight advantage at the line and took over the lead. The battle continued on the next circuit, but in turn four, contact was made and Jurcik spun to the infield grass before caution flew.
Sundeen chose the inside lane for the restart with Bill McNeil on the outside. The field stacked up on the restart with several cars taking damage – including Sundeen - before the caution flew. McNeil assumed the lead for the restart, and led into turn one, but it was Corey Hutchings on the bottom challenging for the lead before caution flew once again. On the drop of the green, McNeil held off the challenges of Hutchings, but Hutchings continued to challenge. On lap 17, Hutchings dropped to the bottom with McNeil hanging to the outside. McNeil led by a slight advantage at the line with Hutchings driving back out front by a nose on the following circuit. The final lap was just as intense with Hutchings settling into the lead comfortably ahead of McNeil to take the checkered flag.
Rick Gentes held off Tom Carey in an exciting conclusion to the Late Model feature that took two attempts at a green-white-checker finish. Gentes led the field into turn one at the beginning of the race before putting a couple of carlengths between him and the rest of the field. Dillon Moltz took the second spot but not without pressure from Ray Parent, who took over the spot by lap 15. Tom Carey held on for third. Gentes continued to pull way from the rest of the field as they battled for position behind him. The frontrunners approached lapped traffic by the 17th circuit, which Gentes maneuvered through with ease. It appeared nothing was going to stop Gentes’ momentum until caution slowed the pace at lap 23 to tighten the field up for a two-lap dash to the checkers. Gentes chose the inside lane for the restart and charged to the front heading into turn one. Gentes drove high to get in front of Ray Parent allowing Carey to make a move on the bottom. The duo went side-by-side with Carey getting the lead, however, a caution came out before the lap was complete and they would have to do it all over again. Gentes went to the front at the drop of the green, but the action was tight and Carey emerged in second place. Carey was challenging Gentes when the caution came out yet again. Gentes and Carey were on the front row together with them driving into turn one dead even. Gentes took the lead in turn two after Carey slowed dramatically in the corner. Gentes was followed to the checkers by Moltz who finished second.
(continued)
Thompson Speedway’s World Series of Auto Racing kicked off with a full racing card of 10 feature events Saturday evening after Bobby Santos posted the fastest time in NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour qualifying. Keith Rocco picked up the win in the Valenti Modified Racing Series 75-lapper while NASCAR Whelen All American Series victories went to Adam Norton, Corey Hutchings, Rick Gentes, and Mike Viens. Duane Noll earned the New England Truck Series win while Dan Meservey picked up a win in the Pro 4 Modified Series. Outlaw wins went to George Rego, Mike Viens and Wayne Coury, Jr.
Keith Rocco ran a dominant race in the Valenti Modified Racing Series and was followed to victory lane by 2013 series champion Rowan Pennink. Many tried, but no one could knock Rocco from the point and he led wire-to-wire in the caution-filled race.
Rocco took the early lead with Richard Savary and Todd Owen in tow before caution flew at lap seven. Rocco held on to the lead through two restarts as Ted Christopher made his way up to the second spot for the third restart on lap eight. Christopher was all over Rocco when racing resumed, but Rocco held strong. Anthony Nocella, Richard Savary, and Dan Meservey rounded out the top-five as the field strung out single file around the 5/8th’s mile oval.
Rocco and Christopher set a torrid pace and pulled away from the rest of the field by half a straightaway as they maneuvered through lapped traffic. Tommy Barrett, Jr. made his way into third before the caution flew at lap 49 and tightened up the field. Rocco led the field into turn one with Christopher all over his bumper. Danny Cates maneuvered by Barrett for third and closed in on Christopher’s bumper. The front trio – Rocco, Christopher and Cates – ran nose-to-tail before Cates dropped to the bottom groove on lap 54 to challenge Christopher. Cates got up alongside Christopher before caution came out and put him back in line in third.
Rocco and Christopher drove into turn one side-by-side on the lap 54 restart, but Rocco never relinquished the lead. Savary got by Cates for third. On lap 59, Christopher went high in turn two and dropped back several positions, however, a caution flew and he gained his spot back on the front row for the restart.
Rocco had the lead into turn one on the restart, but Christopher used the high groove to drive by for the first lead change of the night. Rocco retaliated and drove back by him to reclaim the top spot as Cates got by Christopher for second. Steve Masse backed his machine into the turn two wall to bring out the caution at lap 62 with Barrett on the front row with Rocco.
Rocco held strong on the restart and drove out to a five-car length advantage that Barrett closed up by lap 66. Christopher and Rowan Pennink were close behind. On lap 72, Pennink got by Christopher for the third spot as he set his sights on Barrett, which he got by for second. Pennink hoped to catch Rocco, but time ran out and Rocco cruised to the checkers.
Adam Norton picked up the victory in the caution plagued Lite Modified feature after taking the lead at lap 16 and holding on through several restarts.
Glenn Griswold took the early lead with John Studley attaching himself to Griswold’s back bumper by the third circuit. On lap five, Studley dropped to the bottom and got alongside Griswold before driving out to the lead heading into turn three. Norton tried to follow his line, but Griswold held strong in second until the caution came out at lap six.
Studley took the lead on the restart only to lose it to Norton, however, caution reverted the field back and Studley was out front once again for the restart. Studley held on to the lead at the drop of the green with Norton less than a car length behind, and the two pulled away by two seconds over the rest of the field. Caution flew for a spun car in turn four at lap 16. A five-car wreck unfolded in turns one and two on the restart further delaying green flag action. Two more restarts ensued without a lap being completed.
Norton took over the lead after Studley received a penalty and was sent to the rear. On the restart, Norton drove to the front with Griswold close behind. Norton was able to pull away by a five-car length advantage before caution reappeared two laps before the race conclusion.
Norton took the field back to green in a single file restart with Studley headed to the rear-bumper of Norton before the lap was complete. Norton held off the fast approaching Studley to take down the win.
Corey Hutchings took the lead from Bill McNeil following a late-race restart in the Limited Sportsman feature event, and held on for the checkered flag after a hard-fought battle that saw the duo swap the lead several times.
Al Stone, III led early in the race, but it was all Travis Jurcik at the conclusion of the first circuit. Scott Sundeen moved into third, and used the bottom groove at lap five to challenge for the second spot before taking over the position heading into turn one of lap six. Sundeen closed in on Jurcik, and after clearing a lapped car, dropped to the bottom to make a challenge. On lap eight, the duo was side-by-side when Sundeen got sideways and dropped back into second. Bill McNeil moved into third place and the top three pulled away from the rest of the field before a caution slowed the pace at lap 12. Jurcik didn’t hesitate to get back out front. Sundeen, however, dropped to the bottom coming out of turn two to get a solid run on Jurcik along the backstretch. The two were dead even, but Sundeen had a slight advantage at the line and took over the lead. The battle continued on the next circuit, but in turn four, contact was made and Jurcik spun to the infield grass before caution flew.
Sundeen chose the inside lane for the restart with Bill McNeil on the outside. The field stacked up on the restart with several cars taking damage – including Sundeen - before the caution flew. McNeil assumed the lead for the restart, and led into turn one, but it was Corey Hutchings on the bottom challenging for the lead before caution flew once again. On the drop of the green, McNeil held off the challenges of Hutchings, but Hutchings continued to challenge. On lap 17, Hutchings dropped to the bottom with McNeil hanging to the outside. McNeil led by a slight advantage at the line with Hutchings driving back out front by a nose on the following circuit. The final lap was just as intense with Hutchings settling into the lead comfortably ahead of McNeil to take the checkered flag.
Rick Gentes held off Tom Carey in an exciting conclusion to the Late Model feature that took two attempts at a green-white-checker finish. Gentes led the field into turn one at the beginning of the race before putting a couple of carlengths between him and the rest of the field. Dillon Moltz took the second spot but not without pressure from Ray Parent, who took over the spot by lap 15. Tom Carey held on for third. Gentes continued to pull way from the rest of the field as they battled for position behind him. The frontrunners approached lapped traffic by the 17th circuit, which Gentes maneuvered through with ease. It appeared nothing was going to stop Gentes’ momentum until caution slowed the pace at lap 23 to tighten the field up for a two-lap dash to the checkers. Gentes chose the inside lane for the restart and charged to the front heading into turn one. Gentes drove high to get in front of Ray Parent allowing Carey to make a move on the bottom. The duo went side-by-side with Carey getting the lead, however, a caution came out before the lap was complete and they would have to do it all over again. Gentes went to the front at the drop of the green, but the action was tight and Carey emerged in second place. Carey was challenging Gentes when the caution came out yet again. Gentes and Carey were on the front row together with them driving into turn one dead even. Gentes took the lead in turn two after Carey slowed dramatically in the corner. Gentes was followed to the checkers by Moltz who finished second.
(continued)