RGeeProductions
06-15-2014, 10:11 AM
An action packed and entertaining six
division NASCAR Whelen All-American Series race program hit the track
Saturday at Waterford Speedbowl. Repeat winners were commonplace during
the event, including Keith Rocco of Berlin, who doubled up on the night
with wins in the SK Modified® and Valenti Auto Mall Late Model division
races. Josh Galvin of Franklin won another Street Stock race and Randy
Churchill was back in Victory Lane following the SK Light Modified
feature. Jeff Lee of Uncasville was the only new winner, a career first
victor in the Mini Stock ranks. Allen Coates added another Speedbowl win
to his career in the visiting New England Truck Series race.
An extra-distance 40-lap SK Modified® highlighted Saturday’s racing card,
checkered by Rocco. He made the move of the race early and once in the
lead, closed the race with a long green flag run to the checkered flag.
The opening green flag saw the third place car Paul Kusheba come up to
speed slowly, giving the outside lane behind the front row an advantage.
Rocco was mid-pack and able to slide by multiple cars on the opening lap,
led by Tim Jordan. Ted Christopher moved to second on lap-3 and tailed
Jordan until the first caution of the race came out before the field could
complete lap-5. Contact between the cars of Kusheba and Ed Puleo saw
Puleo spin off the track down the back chute, collecting Frank
Mucciacciaro.
The restart saw Jordan lead Christopher but it was Rocco’s dazzling move
in traffic that captured everyone’s attention. He went from fourth to
second position between laps 5 and 6. The lead cars of Jordan and
Christopher went wide through turn four causing a tense moment for the
field behind. Jordan recovered to hold his lead, but Christopher lost
momentum to keep his car off the wall. Craig Lutz darted inside
Christopher while Rocco shot through the middle of both cars down the
front chute, coming away with second position. He took a shot from
Christopher in turn one before pulling outside Jordan for the lead. Rocco
stayed there for four laps before seizing control, clearing Jordan exiting
turn two on lap-10.
Tom Pinson spun in turn four on lap-12 to create the final restart. Rocco
quickly got away from Jordan, who received a challenge for second position
from Lutz. Behind them, Christopher was in a battle with Rob Janovic for
fourth. Those side-by-side battles ended with Lutz clearing Jordan on
lap-15, bringing Janovic underneath Jordan for third. Christopher
eventually got past Jordan to move into fourth and joined Lutz and Janovic
in a battle for second for the final 20 laps of the race.
The final 28 laps were run without incident and Rocco was undeterred. The
action for second intensified over the final six laps, including a nifty
save by Janovic off turn four on lap-34. The cars of Lutz, Janovic and
Christopher raced nose to tail on the final lap and Janovic got crossed up
again, this time in turn two. He chased his car nearly saving it again,
unfortunately getting into the infield off the back stretch and giving up
a podium finish. Lutz continued his string of podium finishes and ended
up second while Christopher finished third. Jordan was fourth and Kyle
James fought to earn a spot among the top-five at the finish.
Rocco returned to the winner’s circle in the Valenti Auto Mall Late Model
division, winning his sixth race in the division to snap a four race
winless streak. Rocco’s effort became a little easier halfway through the
30-lap feature. He was second to leader Bruce Thomas Jr. when the caution
flag waved on lap-16. As the field came to the green flag to restart the
race, a flat right front tire on Thomas’s car triggered a wreck that sent
Thomas to the pit area for repairs and collected several others. Rocco
came away unscathed, inherited the lead, and never waivered. He had to
hold back Jason Palmer, seeking a third consecutive victory, over a
green-white-checkered flag finish. Palmer finished second and former
division champion Jeff Smith was third. Rocco won the first five Late
Model features of year.
Lee was an enthusiastic and popular first time winner in the Mini Stock
ranks. He used a pole starting position to take off at the start of the
race and was never threatened during the non-stop 25-lapper. A week ago,
Lee led much of the race until encountering trouble late in the race and
finishing back in the field. Saturday’s victory was another first – Lee
won driving an Acura Integra model car, the first time the front-wheel
drive model has won a NASCAR Mini Stock feature at the track. The
division has been dominated by rear-wheel drive Ford Mustangs for the past
15 years. Pete Zaikarite finished in the runner-up position and teenager
Garrett Denton was third.
Coates won for the 83rd time of his storied Speedbowl career during the
25-lap New England Truck Series race. He survived a rough and tumble
event, taking the lead halfway through the race on the outside of the
track. He passed Andy Lindeman with a power move and pulled away from the
field the rest of the way. Chris Correll finished in second and Coates’
son Corey was third.
Churchill was another returning face to land in Victory Lane Saturday,
checkering the 25-lap SK Light Modified feature. The defending division
champion took the lead on lap-3 then held on over a host of restarts that
mounted as the race wore on. Churchill held back both Paul Buzel and
Corey Barry, who entered the night as the winner the previous two races
for the division. It was Churchill’s second win of the year, but first
since May 3.
Galvin won for the fifth time in six races in the Street Stocks, using a
three-wide maneuver to take the lead on lap-11 of the 25-lap race. He
went inside Norm Root Jr. and Steve Barrett down the front stretch after
trailing their side-by-side battle for three laps. Once in front, Galvin
fended off the challenges of Al Stone on multiple restarts to claim the
victory. Stone was second and Monte Gibbs finished third. Galvin
finished second a week ago when Ryan Waterman was able to keep him out of
Victory Lane.
Next Saturday, the cars and stars from the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
make their annual visit to the Connecticut shore for the Mr. Rooter 161, a
tribute race to nine-time Modified champion Richie Evans. An action
packed night of open-wheel Modified racing will be on display. Doug Coby
and Ryan Preece, the past two series champions, have won the previous two
editions of the 161. A full NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing card
supports the event. Advance tickets sales are open online by visiting
Speedbowl.com or contacting the track office.
(continued)
division NASCAR Whelen All-American Series race program hit the track
Saturday at Waterford Speedbowl. Repeat winners were commonplace during
the event, including Keith Rocco of Berlin, who doubled up on the night
with wins in the SK Modified® and Valenti Auto Mall Late Model division
races. Josh Galvin of Franklin won another Street Stock race and Randy
Churchill was back in Victory Lane following the SK Light Modified
feature. Jeff Lee of Uncasville was the only new winner, a career first
victor in the Mini Stock ranks. Allen Coates added another Speedbowl win
to his career in the visiting New England Truck Series race.
An extra-distance 40-lap SK Modified® highlighted Saturday’s racing card,
checkered by Rocco. He made the move of the race early and once in the
lead, closed the race with a long green flag run to the checkered flag.
The opening green flag saw the third place car Paul Kusheba come up to
speed slowly, giving the outside lane behind the front row an advantage.
Rocco was mid-pack and able to slide by multiple cars on the opening lap,
led by Tim Jordan. Ted Christopher moved to second on lap-3 and tailed
Jordan until the first caution of the race came out before the field could
complete lap-5. Contact between the cars of Kusheba and Ed Puleo saw
Puleo spin off the track down the back chute, collecting Frank
Mucciacciaro.
The restart saw Jordan lead Christopher but it was Rocco’s dazzling move
in traffic that captured everyone’s attention. He went from fourth to
second position between laps 5 and 6. The lead cars of Jordan and
Christopher went wide through turn four causing a tense moment for the
field behind. Jordan recovered to hold his lead, but Christopher lost
momentum to keep his car off the wall. Craig Lutz darted inside
Christopher while Rocco shot through the middle of both cars down the
front chute, coming away with second position. He took a shot from
Christopher in turn one before pulling outside Jordan for the lead. Rocco
stayed there for four laps before seizing control, clearing Jordan exiting
turn two on lap-10.
Tom Pinson spun in turn four on lap-12 to create the final restart. Rocco
quickly got away from Jordan, who received a challenge for second position
from Lutz. Behind them, Christopher was in a battle with Rob Janovic for
fourth. Those side-by-side battles ended with Lutz clearing Jordan on
lap-15, bringing Janovic underneath Jordan for third. Christopher
eventually got past Jordan to move into fourth and joined Lutz and Janovic
in a battle for second for the final 20 laps of the race.
The final 28 laps were run without incident and Rocco was undeterred. The
action for second intensified over the final six laps, including a nifty
save by Janovic off turn four on lap-34. The cars of Lutz, Janovic and
Christopher raced nose to tail on the final lap and Janovic got crossed up
again, this time in turn two. He chased his car nearly saving it again,
unfortunately getting into the infield off the back stretch and giving up
a podium finish. Lutz continued his string of podium finishes and ended
up second while Christopher finished third. Jordan was fourth and Kyle
James fought to earn a spot among the top-five at the finish.
Rocco returned to the winner’s circle in the Valenti Auto Mall Late Model
division, winning his sixth race in the division to snap a four race
winless streak. Rocco’s effort became a little easier halfway through the
30-lap feature. He was second to leader Bruce Thomas Jr. when the caution
flag waved on lap-16. As the field came to the green flag to restart the
race, a flat right front tire on Thomas’s car triggered a wreck that sent
Thomas to the pit area for repairs and collected several others. Rocco
came away unscathed, inherited the lead, and never waivered. He had to
hold back Jason Palmer, seeking a third consecutive victory, over a
green-white-checkered flag finish. Palmer finished second and former
division champion Jeff Smith was third. Rocco won the first five Late
Model features of year.
Lee was an enthusiastic and popular first time winner in the Mini Stock
ranks. He used a pole starting position to take off at the start of the
race and was never threatened during the non-stop 25-lapper. A week ago,
Lee led much of the race until encountering trouble late in the race and
finishing back in the field. Saturday’s victory was another first – Lee
won driving an Acura Integra model car, the first time the front-wheel
drive model has won a NASCAR Mini Stock feature at the track. The
division has been dominated by rear-wheel drive Ford Mustangs for the past
15 years. Pete Zaikarite finished in the runner-up position and teenager
Garrett Denton was third.
Coates won for the 83rd time of his storied Speedbowl career during the
25-lap New England Truck Series race. He survived a rough and tumble
event, taking the lead halfway through the race on the outside of the
track. He passed Andy Lindeman with a power move and pulled away from the
field the rest of the way. Chris Correll finished in second and Coates’
son Corey was third.
Churchill was another returning face to land in Victory Lane Saturday,
checkering the 25-lap SK Light Modified feature. The defending division
champion took the lead on lap-3 then held on over a host of restarts that
mounted as the race wore on. Churchill held back both Paul Buzel and
Corey Barry, who entered the night as the winner the previous two races
for the division. It was Churchill’s second win of the year, but first
since May 3.
Galvin won for the fifth time in six races in the Street Stocks, using a
three-wide maneuver to take the lead on lap-11 of the 25-lap race. He
went inside Norm Root Jr. and Steve Barrett down the front stretch after
trailing their side-by-side battle for three laps. Once in front, Galvin
fended off the challenges of Al Stone on multiple restarts to claim the
victory. Stone was second and Monte Gibbs finished third. Galvin
finished second a week ago when Ryan Waterman was able to keep him out of
Victory Lane.
Next Saturday, the cars and stars from the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
make their annual visit to the Connecticut shore for the Mr. Rooter 161, a
tribute race to nine-time Modified champion Richie Evans. An action
packed night of open-wheel Modified racing will be on display. Doug Coby
and Ryan Preece, the past two series champions, have won the previous two
editions of the 161. A full NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing card
supports the event. Advance tickets sales are open online by visiting
Speedbowl.com or contacting the track office.
(continued)