RGeeProductions
04-13-2014, 08:46 PM
Waterford Speedbowl’s Blastoff Weekend
continued Sunday with the final six races of the event card being
completed. Keith Rocco of Berlin dominated the day, turning in a
memorable performance as he took a victory in all three events he entered.
He reached the winner’s circle in the Valenti Modified Racing Series
season opening race, joining his triumphs in the Speedbowl’s NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series SK Modified® and Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model
divisions to tie a 54-year old track record for number of victories in a
single day. Other race wins on Sunday went to Josh Galvin of Franklin in
the Street Stock race and Ian Brew of Wood River Junction in the Mini
Stocks, while Avery Stoehr of Lakeville, MA continued a family tradition
of winning in the Northeastern Midget Association feature.
Rocco from green to checkered flags in the 100-lap Valenti Modified Racing
Series feature, the popular New England based open-wheel touring division.
Rocco was pushed over the first half of the race by rival Ted
Christopher. Christopher, from Plainville, moved to second place on
lap-22 and pressed Rocco into a fast pace until he lost an engine in his
car on lap-42. That put oil down on the speedway and triggered a big
wreck behind Rocco, collecting many of the top-ten cars behind.
Former Speedbowl driver Chris Pasteryak was able to steer clear of the
wreckage and keep pace with Rocco over the second half of the race,
however was unable to mount a serious challenge. Rocco navigated lapped
traffic over the final twenty laps and survived a final restart on lap-84
to take the win. Pasteryak finished the race with a solid second place
effort while Todd Szegedy rebounded from getting caught up in the lap-42
melee to finish third. Keith’s brother Jeff Rocco finished fourth and Max
Zachem was fifth. All but Szegedy began their racing careers at the
Speedbowl.
A special 64-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified® feature
commemorating the track’s number of years in operation actually began
Rocco’s big day, landing him the first of his three wins. He began the
race in the fourth starting position with his brother Jeff Rocco leading
the field to green. Jeff Rocco led the opening laps but the action heated
up quickly among the top-three cars when Todd Ceravolo had a hard time
keeping the handles on his second place car. Tim Jordan got caught up in
the aftermath and went spinning from traffic just outside the top-five on
lap-3, drawing the first caution flag of the race.
Jeff Gallup moved into the lead on the outside of Jeff Rocco after the
race restarted, with Keith Rocco moving to second on lap-9. The next
caution flag came before the field could complete another lap when Rob
Janovic Jr. went for a slide in turn three, collecting Diego Monahan,
whose day was ended with suspension damage.
Keith Rocco lined up outside Gallup and powered ahead to lead lap-10.
Craig Lutz advanced to second position and trailed Rocco the remainder of
the way but was never able to muster a bid for the win, including over
another five restart attempts as caution flags mounted. A serious
incident occurred on lap-29 after Joe Gada slowed on the track. The
caution flag waved when Gada’s car was stalled at the exit road off the
track front chute. Jeff Rocco got out of shape exiting turn four just
after the yellow came out, slamming the rear of Gada’s machine. The cars
sustained heavy damage, however both drivers walked away from the wreck.
Kyle James proved to be the race’s hard charger, coming from a 25th place
starting position with a strong showing. He marched towards the front,
taking third from Ted Christopher on lap-34. He pressed Lutz on several
occasions for second but Lutz fended off the challenges. James settled
for third at the finish, with Christopher and Shawn Thibeault completing
the top-five.
Rocco checkered the 50-lap Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature adding to
his standout day. Bruce Thomas Jr. led the opening six laps before the
first of two caution flags slowed the race on lap-6. Rocco had already
moved to second and was able to overtake Thomas following the restart. He
led handily through a long stretch before the next yellow flag on lap-45.
Rocco mastered the final duel with Thomas to pick up his second
consecutive Valenti Late Model victory on the season.
Rocco’s three wins in a day tied the feat accomplished in the 1960 season
by legendary Speedbowl racer Don Collins.
Brew was the benefactor of a final corner incident that collected the two
lead cars in the 30-lap Mini Stock feature. Brew was in third behind Ken
Cassidy Jr. and Garrett Denton for the last lap but Cassidy spun causing
Denton to slow and drop to the apron of the track to avoid serious
contact. Brew kept his momentum and drove around the outside of both to
take the checkered flag in a finish that had fans on their feet. Cassidy
and Denton had battled for the race lead throughout much of the feature
and appeared headed for a one-two finish with Brew third. Dave Trudeau
and Doug Curry each drove through the final corner to finish on the podium
in second and third respectively.
Galvin rebounded from a late race incident in last week’s Street Stock
feature to dominate Sunday’s 30-lap race. He was never seriously
threatened, able to pull ahead to several car lengths on each stretch of
green flag racing. Travis Jurcik came away with second position after
many competitors had a shot at the runner-up position. Monte Gibbs
finished third. A week ago Galvin was leading when he tangled with Al
Stone of Durham in the closing laps.
Stoehr needed to fend off a mid-race challenge by Ian Cumens before
romping to victory in the 25-lap NEMA Midget race, the season opener for
the series. Stoehr was in command during lengthy green flag runs in the
feature and went on to the win. Cumens wound up finishing second after
battling John Zych Jr., a previous Blastoff winner in NEMA, for second
over much of the race. Zych was third.
Waterford Speedbowl Budweiser Blastoff Sunday 4/13 Results:
Valenti Modified Racing Series (100-laps): 1. Keith Rocco, Berlin; 2.
Chris Pasteryak, Lisbon; 3. Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield; 4. Jeff Rocco,
Wallingford; 5. Max Zachem, Preston; 6. Mike Holdridge, Madison; 7.
Eric Goodale, Wading River, NY; 8. Anthony Nocella, Woburn, MA; 9. Todd
Annarummo, Swansea, MA; 10. Mike Willis Jr., Grantham, NH; 11. Jeff
Pearl, Salem; 12. Tom Abele Jr., Norwich; 13. Charlie Pasteryak, Lisbon;
14. Todd Owen, Somers; 15. Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, PA; 16.
Dylan Kopec, Palmer, MA; 17. Brad Van Houten, Wading River, NY; 18. Dave
Etheridge, Portland; 19. Justin Bonsignore, Islip, NY; 20. Ted
Christopher, Plainville; 21. Steve Masse, Bellingham, MA; 22. Norm
Wrenn, Nashua, NH; 23. Richard Savary, Canton, MA; 24. Shawn Solomito,
Islip, NY
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds® (64-laps): 1. Keith
Rocco, Berlin; 2. Craig Lutz, Miller Place, NY; 3. Kyle James, Ashaway,
RI; 4. Ted Christopher, Plainville; 5. Shawn Thibeault, Plainville; 6.
Shawn Monahan, Waterford; 7. Ed Puleo, Branford; 8. Tim Jordan,
Plainfield; 9. Cam McDermott, Scituate, RI; 10. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard;
11. Justin Gaydosh, Newtown; 12. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 13. Jim
Larsen, East Hartland; 14. Jeff Goodale, Riverhead, NY; 15. Nichole
Morgillo, Southington; 16. Todd Ceravolo, Gales Ferry; 17. Adam Gada,
Bozrah; 18. Corey Coates, Ledyard; 19. Todd Annarummo, Swansea, MA; 20.
Jeff Rocco, Wallingford; 21. Joe Gada, Salem; 22. Jeff Gallup, Agawam,
MA; 23. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill; 24. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., Milford;
25. Wendell Dailey, Gales Ferry
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models
(50-laps): 1. Keith Rocco, Berlin; 2. Bruce Thomas Jr., Groton; 3.
Jason Palmer, Berlin; 4. Glenn Boss, Danielson; 5. Vin Esposito,
Seymour; 6. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 7. Anthony Ryan, Danbury; 8. Nicholas
Sowa, Middletown; 9. Joe Gada, Salem; 10. Mike Sweeney, Meriden; 11.
Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill; 12. Ryan Morgan, Mystic; 13. Chris Garside,
Waterford
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stocks (30-laps): 1. Josh
Galvin, Franklin; 2. Travis Jurcik, Chaplin; 3. Monte Gibbs, Higganum;
4. Chris Meyer, North Franklin; 5. Al Stone, Durham; 6. Greg Moran Jr.,
Preston; 7. Norm Root Jr., Old Saybrook; 8. Phil Evans, Uncasville; 9.
Steve Barrett, Preston; 10. Lloyd Anderson Jr., Wauregan; 11. Nate
Appell, Westbrook; 12. Ryan Waterman, Danielson; 13. Jake Bercham, West
Greenwich, RI
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Mini Stocks (30-laps): 1. Ian Brew,
Wood River Junction, RI; 2. Dave Trudeau, Mansfield; 3. Doug Curry,
Groton; 4. Jeff Moffat, Smithfield, RI; 5. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI; 6.
Ray Christian, Groton; 7. Wayne Burroughs Jr., Oakdale; 8. Ken Cassidy
Jr., Lisbon; 9. Joe Liskiewicz, Preston; 10. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon;
11. Sean Caron, East Hampton; 12. John Bowes, Willington; 13. Pete
Zaikarite, Niantic; 14. Melissa Clavette, Bozrah; 15. Nick Pappacoda,
North Branford; 16. Garrett Denton, Hope Valley, RI; 17. Jeff Lee,
Uncasville
NEMA Midgets (25-laps): 1. Avery Stoehr, Lakeville, MA; 2. Ian Cumens,
Lydell, PA; 3. John Zych Jr., Mendon, MA; 4. Seth Carlson, Brimfield; 5.
Todd Bertrand, Suffield; 6. Ryan Bigelow, East Hampton; 7. Paul Bigelow
8. Carl Medeiros, 9. Matt Swanson, 10. Jim Chambers, Atkinson, NH; 11.
Paul Scalley, Raynham, MA; 12. Bethany Stoehr, Bridgewater, MA; 13.
Randy Cabral, Kingston, MA; 14. Pete Pernesiglio, Ronkonkoma, NY
Brian Darling
continued Sunday with the final six races of the event card being
completed. Keith Rocco of Berlin dominated the day, turning in a
memorable performance as he took a victory in all three events he entered.
He reached the winner’s circle in the Valenti Modified Racing Series
season opening race, joining his triumphs in the Speedbowl’s NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series SK Modified® and Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model
divisions to tie a 54-year old track record for number of victories in a
single day. Other race wins on Sunday went to Josh Galvin of Franklin in
the Street Stock race and Ian Brew of Wood River Junction in the Mini
Stocks, while Avery Stoehr of Lakeville, MA continued a family tradition
of winning in the Northeastern Midget Association feature.
Rocco from green to checkered flags in the 100-lap Valenti Modified Racing
Series feature, the popular New England based open-wheel touring division.
Rocco was pushed over the first half of the race by rival Ted
Christopher. Christopher, from Plainville, moved to second place on
lap-22 and pressed Rocco into a fast pace until he lost an engine in his
car on lap-42. That put oil down on the speedway and triggered a big
wreck behind Rocco, collecting many of the top-ten cars behind.
Former Speedbowl driver Chris Pasteryak was able to steer clear of the
wreckage and keep pace with Rocco over the second half of the race,
however was unable to mount a serious challenge. Rocco navigated lapped
traffic over the final twenty laps and survived a final restart on lap-84
to take the win. Pasteryak finished the race with a solid second place
effort while Todd Szegedy rebounded from getting caught up in the lap-42
melee to finish third. Keith’s brother Jeff Rocco finished fourth and Max
Zachem was fifth. All but Szegedy began their racing careers at the
Speedbowl.
A special 64-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified® feature
commemorating the track’s number of years in operation actually began
Rocco’s big day, landing him the first of his three wins. He began the
race in the fourth starting position with his brother Jeff Rocco leading
the field to green. Jeff Rocco led the opening laps but the action heated
up quickly among the top-three cars when Todd Ceravolo had a hard time
keeping the handles on his second place car. Tim Jordan got caught up in
the aftermath and went spinning from traffic just outside the top-five on
lap-3, drawing the first caution flag of the race.
Jeff Gallup moved into the lead on the outside of Jeff Rocco after the
race restarted, with Keith Rocco moving to second on lap-9. The next
caution flag came before the field could complete another lap when Rob
Janovic Jr. went for a slide in turn three, collecting Diego Monahan,
whose day was ended with suspension damage.
Keith Rocco lined up outside Gallup and powered ahead to lead lap-10.
Craig Lutz advanced to second position and trailed Rocco the remainder of
the way but was never able to muster a bid for the win, including over
another five restart attempts as caution flags mounted. A serious
incident occurred on lap-29 after Joe Gada slowed on the track. The
caution flag waved when Gada’s car was stalled at the exit road off the
track front chute. Jeff Rocco got out of shape exiting turn four just
after the yellow came out, slamming the rear of Gada’s machine. The cars
sustained heavy damage, however both drivers walked away from the wreck.
Kyle James proved to be the race’s hard charger, coming from a 25th place
starting position with a strong showing. He marched towards the front,
taking third from Ted Christopher on lap-34. He pressed Lutz on several
occasions for second but Lutz fended off the challenges. James settled
for third at the finish, with Christopher and Shawn Thibeault completing
the top-five.
Rocco checkered the 50-lap Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature adding to
his standout day. Bruce Thomas Jr. led the opening six laps before the
first of two caution flags slowed the race on lap-6. Rocco had already
moved to second and was able to overtake Thomas following the restart. He
led handily through a long stretch before the next yellow flag on lap-45.
Rocco mastered the final duel with Thomas to pick up his second
consecutive Valenti Late Model victory on the season.
Rocco’s three wins in a day tied the feat accomplished in the 1960 season
by legendary Speedbowl racer Don Collins.
Brew was the benefactor of a final corner incident that collected the two
lead cars in the 30-lap Mini Stock feature. Brew was in third behind Ken
Cassidy Jr. and Garrett Denton for the last lap but Cassidy spun causing
Denton to slow and drop to the apron of the track to avoid serious
contact. Brew kept his momentum and drove around the outside of both to
take the checkered flag in a finish that had fans on their feet. Cassidy
and Denton had battled for the race lead throughout much of the feature
and appeared headed for a one-two finish with Brew third. Dave Trudeau
and Doug Curry each drove through the final corner to finish on the podium
in second and third respectively.
Galvin rebounded from a late race incident in last week’s Street Stock
feature to dominate Sunday’s 30-lap race. He was never seriously
threatened, able to pull ahead to several car lengths on each stretch of
green flag racing. Travis Jurcik came away with second position after
many competitors had a shot at the runner-up position. Monte Gibbs
finished third. A week ago Galvin was leading when he tangled with Al
Stone of Durham in the closing laps.
Stoehr needed to fend off a mid-race challenge by Ian Cumens before
romping to victory in the 25-lap NEMA Midget race, the season opener for
the series. Stoehr was in command during lengthy green flag runs in the
feature and went on to the win. Cumens wound up finishing second after
battling John Zych Jr., a previous Blastoff winner in NEMA, for second
over much of the race. Zych was third.
Waterford Speedbowl Budweiser Blastoff Sunday 4/13 Results:
Valenti Modified Racing Series (100-laps): 1. Keith Rocco, Berlin; 2.
Chris Pasteryak, Lisbon; 3. Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield; 4. Jeff Rocco,
Wallingford; 5. Max Zachem, Preston; 6. Mike Holdridge, Madison; 7.
Eric Goodale, Wading River, NY; 8. Anthony Nocella, Woburn, MA; 9. Todd
Annarummo, Swansea, MA; 10. Mike Willis Jr., Grantham, NH; 11. Jeff
Pearl, Salem; 12. Tom Abele Jr., Norwich; 13. Charlie Pasteryak, Lisbon;
14. Todd Owen, Somers; 15. Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, PA; 16.
Dylan Kopec, Palmer, MA; 17. Brad Van Houten, Wading River, NY; 18. Dave
Etheridge, Portland; 19. Justin Bonsignore, Islip, NY; 20. Ted
Christopher, Plainville; 21. Steve Masse, Bellingham, MA; 22. Norm
Wrenn, Nashua, NH; 23. Richard Savary, Canton, MA; 24. Shawn Solomito,
Islip, NY
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds® (64-laps): 1. Keith
Rocco, Berlin; 2. Craig Lutz, Miller Place, NY; 3. Kyle James, Ashaway,
RI; 4. Ted Christopher, Plainville; 5. Shawn Thibeault, Plainville; 6.
Shawn Monahan, Waterford; 7. Ed Puleo, Branford; 8. Tim Jordan,
Plainfield; 9. Cam McDermott, Scituate, RI; 10. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard;
11. Justin Gaydosh, Newtown; 12. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 13. Jim
Larsen, East Hartland; 14. Jeff Goodale, Riverhead, NY; 15. Nichole
Morgillo, Southington; 16. Todd Ceravolo, Gales Ferry; 17. Adam Gada,
Bozrah; 18. Corey Coates, Ledyard; 19. Todd Annarummo, Swansea, MA; 20.
Jeff Rocco, Wallingford; 21. Joe Gada, Salem; 22. Jeff Gallup, Agawam,
MA; 23. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill; 24. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., Milford;
25. Wendell Dailey, Gales Ferry
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models
(50-laps): 1. Keith Rocco, Berlin; 2. Bruce Thomas Jr., Groton; 3.
Jason Palmer, Berlin; 4. Glenn Boss, Danielson; 5. Vin Esposito,
Seymour; 6. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 7. Anthony Ryan, Danbury; 8. Nicholas
Sowa, Middletown; 9. Joe Gada, Salem; 10. Mike Sweeney, Meriden; 11.
Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill; 12. Ryan Morgan, Mystic; 13. Chris Garside,
Waterford
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stocks (30-laps): 1. Josh
Galvin, Franklin; 2. Travis Jurcik, Chaplin; 3. Monte Gibbs, Higganum;
4. Chris Meyer, North Franklin; 5. Al Stone, Durham; 6. Greg Moran Jr.,
Preston; 7. Norm Root Jr., Old Saybrook; 8. Phil Evans, Uncasville; 9.
Steve Barrett, Preston; 10. Lloyd Anderson Jr., Wauregan; 11. Nate
Appell, Westbrook; 12. Ryan Waterman, Danielson; 13. Jake Bercham, West
Greenwich, RI
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Mini Stocks (30-laps): 1. Ian Brew,
Wood River Junction, RI; 2. Dave Trudeau, Mansfield; 3. Doug Curry,
Groton; 4. Jeff Moffat, Smithfield, RI; 5. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI; 6.
Ray Christian, Groton; 7. Wayne Burroughs Jr., Oakdale; 8. Ken Cassidy
Jr., Lisbon; 9. Joe Liskiewicz, Preston; 10. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon;
11. Sean Caron, East Hampton; 12. John Bowes, Willington; 13. Pete
Zaikarite, Niantic; 14. Melissa Clavette, Bozrah; 15. Nick Pappacoda,
North Branford; 16. Garrett Denton, Hope Valley, RI; 17. Jeff Lee,
Uncasville
NEMA Midgets (25-laps): 1. Avery Stoehr, Lakeville, MA; 2. Ian Cumens,
Lydell, PA; 3. John Zych Jr., Mendon, MA; 4. Seth Carlson, Brimfield; 5.
Todd Bertrand, Suffield; 6. Ryan Bigelow, East Hampton; 7. Paul Bigelow
8. Carl Medeiros, 9. Matt Swanson, 10. Jim Chambers, Atkinson, NH; 11.
Paul Scalley, Raynham, MA; 12. Bethany Stoehr, Bridgewater, MA; 13.
Randy Cabral, Kingston, MA; 14. Pete Pernesiglio, Ronkonkoma, NY
Brian Darling