RGeeProductions
06-29-2014, 10:22 AM
Seven racing events were on Saturday
night’s card at Waterford Speedbowl, settting the stage for an action
packed night of motorsports. Picking up NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
wins included Keith Rocco of Berlin in the SK Modifieds®, Vin Esposito of
Seymour in the Valenti Auto Mall Late Models and Corey Barry of Plainfield
in the SK Light Modifieds. Ryan Waterman of Danielson picked up an
exciting victory in the Street Stock race and Garrett Denton of Hope
Valley, RI checkered the Mini Stocks. Mike Christopher Jr. of Wolcott won
another INEX Legend Cars feature and Ledyard’s Corey Coates won the
visiting New England Truck Series race.
Rocco checkered his sixth SK Modified® race of the year in 12 events for
the division after an impressive crossover move landed him the lead in the
second half of the race. The 35-lap SK Modified feature was led to the
green flag by first year competitor Paul Kusheba. Rob Janovic Jr. got the
jump on the opening circuit over Kusheba, leading until the first caution
flag of the race on lap-4. Kyle James was contending for a spot among the
top three when he spun in turn four racing underneath Tim Jordan.
Janovic got a good restart over Kusheba when racing resumed. Jordan
followed into second position but the big mover was Rocco. He used a
three wide move to take fourth position in turns three and four on lap-7
just ahead of a big incident between turns one and two behind him.
Several cars came together in a wreck, which turned out to be scary for
Shawn Monahan. After contact with Brent Sweet, his car erupted in flames
in turn two, staying engulfed until he was able to stop the car in turn
three, drawing the red flag. The safety crew extinguished the fire and
Monahan fortunately escaped the incident unscathed.
Jordan got the best of Janovic on the ensuing restart, riding the outside
lane into the lead on lap-8. Rocco got past Kusheba into third and stayed
on the attack, going around Janovic’s outside into second on lap-10.
Jordan and Rocco pulled ahead to a big lead as Janovic, Tyler Chadwick and
Kusheba raced in a pack jockeying for third position. Chadwick was able
to work over Janovic and move to third, just ahead of a spin by Zach
Aszklar out of turn two to draw a caution flag on lap-22.
Jordan got a great restart but Rocco sailed in to his outside in turn one
to make a run. Jordan was up to the task, holding back the charge through
turn three but Rocco’s crossover move changed the game. He went from the
high to low lane in turn four to get a run on Jordan down the front chute
to turn one. He completed the move out of turn two and was scored as the
new leader on lap-24.
Rocco had to beat Jordan on three remaining restarts, including some
determined efforts by Jordan to try and recapture the top spot. Rocco got
away each time to nail down the victory. Jordan took home a fine second
place effort and Chadwick was back on the podium, finishing third.
Janovic was fourth and Joe Gada finished fifth.
Esposito won for the second time of the year in the Valenti Auto Mall Late
Models. He bested Bruce Thomas Jr. over a final five lap sprint to the
finish in the 30-lap feature. Esposito took the lead on lap-9 from Mike
Sweeney Jr, however lost it to Thomas following a lap-20 restart during a
wild second half of the race.
Trouble began when Keith Rocco got out of shape while running third,
taking a vicious hit into the backstretch wall on lap-15 that drew the
caution and red flags when his car burst aflame. Rocco quickly got out
and walked away from the incident. Esposito led through a lap-20 caution
flag and ensuing restart when he spun his tires, putting Thomas out front.
Thomas took an excursion through the infield on a lap-25 restart attempt
that caused a caution flag behind him, surviving that before Esposito
rallied to get inside Thomas on lap-27 under green flag racing. The two
battled side-by-side before Esposito took the white flag in the lead,
powering to the win by a car length at the finish. Thomas ended up in
second and Jim Banfield was third.
(continued)
night’s card at Waterford Speedbowl, settting the stage for an action
packed night of motorsports. Picking up NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
wins included Keith Rocco of Berlin in the SK Modifieds®, Vin Esposito of
Seymour in the Valenti Auto Mall Late Models and Corey Barry of Plainfield
in the SK Light Modifieds. Ryan Waterman of Danielson picked up an
exciting victory in the Street Stock race and Garrett Denton of Hope
Valley, RI checkered the Mini Stocks. Mike Christopher Jr. of Wolcott won
another INEX Legend Cars feature and Ledyard’s Corey Coates won the
visiting New England Truck Series race.
Rocco checkered his sixth SK Modified® race of the year in 12 events for
the division after an impressive crossover move landed him the lead in the
second half of the race. The 35-lap SK Modified feature was led to the
green flag by first year competitor Paul Kusheba. Rob Janovic Jr. got the
jump on the opening circuit over Kusheba, leading until the first caution
flag of the race on lap-4. Kyle James was contending for a spot among the
top three when he spun in turn four racing underneath Tim Jordan.
Janovic got a good restart over Kusheba when racing resumed. Jordan
followed into second position but the big mover was Rocco. He used a
three wide move to take fourth position in turns three and four on lap-7
just ahead of a big incident between turns one and two behind him.
Several cars came together in a wreck, which turned out to be scary for
Shawn Monahan. After contact with Brent Sweet, his car erupted in flames
in turn two, staying engulfed until he was able to stop the car in turn
three, drawing the red flag. The safety crew extinguished the fire and
Monahan fortunately escaped the incident unscathed.
Jordan got the best of Janovic on the ensuing restart, riding the outside
lane into the lead on lap-8. Rocco got past Kusheba into third and stayed
on the attack, going around Janovic’s outside into second on lap-10.
Jordan and Rocco pulled ahead to a big lead as Janovic, Tyler Chadwick and
Kusheba raced in a pack jockeying for third position. Chadwick was able
to work over Janovic and move to third, just ahead of a spin by Zach
Aszklar out of turn two to draw a caution flag on lap-22.
Jordan got a great restart but Rocco sailed in to his outside in turn one
to make a run. Jordan was up to the task, holding back the charge through
turn three but Rocco’s crossover move changed the game. He went from the
high to low lane in turn four to get a run on Jordan down the front chute
to turn one. He completed the move out of turn two and was scored as the
new leader on lap-24.
Rocco had to beat Jordan on three remaining restarts, including some
determined efforts by Jordan to try and recapture the top spot. Rocco got
away each time to nail down the victory. Jordan took home a fine second
place effort and Chadwick was back on the podium, finishing third.
Janovic was fourth and Joe Gada finished fifth.
Esposito won for the second time of the year in the Valenti Auto Mall Late
Models. He bested Bruce Thomas Jr. over a final five lap sprint to the
finish in the 30-lap feature. Esposito took the lead on lap-9 from Mike
Sweeney Jr, however lost it to Thomas following a lap-20 restart during a
wild second half of the race.
Trouble began when Keith Rocco got out of shape while running third,
taking a vicious hit into the backstretch wall on lap-15 that drew the
caution and red flags when his car burst aflame. Rocco quickly got out
and walked away from the incident. Esposito led through a lap-20 caution
flag and ensuing restart when he spun his tires, putting Thomas out front.
Thomas took an excursion through the infield on a lap-25 restart attempt
that caused a caution flag behind him, surviving that before Esposito
rallied to get inside Thomas on lap-27 under green flag racing. The two
battled side-by-side before Esposito took the white flag in the lead,
powering to the win by a car length at the finish. Thomas ended up in
second and Jim Banfield was third.
(continued)