RGeeProductions
09-21-2014, 11:57 AM
Waterford Speedbowl returned to
action after two weeks of wet weather halted its scheduled NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series racing programs. First time winners for the year were
the order of the night as three of the six events saw new faces in the
winner’s circle. Diego Monahan of Quaker Hill led the way, picking up the
SK Modified® victory in dramatic fashion. Anthony Ryan Jr. of Danbury and
Pete Zaikarite of Niantic won the Valenti Auto Mall Late Model and Mini
Stock races respectively, joining Monahan as first time winners on the
year. Other victories went to Al Stone III of Durham in the Street
Stocks, Paul Buzel of Trumbull in the SK Light Modifieds, and Mike
Christopher Jr. of Wolcott in an extra-distance INEX Legend Cars race.
Monahan came out on top of a wild SK Modified® race where no less than
three competitors had a shot to win over two green-white-checkered flag
attempts to complete the race. Monahan battled his brother Shawn and
three-time track champion Keith Rocco over a thrilling, rough and tumble
final nine laps.
The 35-lap race began with Joe Gada and Monahan on the front row. It
didn’t take long for sparks to fly, as Ed Puleo checked up on the back
chute as the field worked lap-2 triggering a multi-car incident behind.
The contact sent Rocco over Rob Janovic’s car before spinning in turn
three, also collecting Bert Marvin, Brent Sweet and Tommy Vigh Jr. to
bring out the first caution flag of the race. Rocco returned after
pitting for repairs.
Monahan led while Gada battled Puleo for second for several laps. Gada
used the outside lane to make a bid for the lead on lap-22, just as rookie
competitor Paul Kusheba drove inside Puleo to move into third position.
Monahan fought off Gada’s challenge and Kusheba capitalized, taking second
when Gada found himself out of the racing groove in turn four. A spin at
the back of the field with 23 laps completed created another yellow flag,
setting up a series of four restarts which brought the race to lap-26.
Kusheba was a victim of one botched restart attempt, getting spun from
contention to lift Shawn Monahan and Rocco into the top three, staging the
slugfest to the finish at the front.
The top three of Diego Monahan, Shawn Monahan and Rocco traded blows the
rest of the way with Diego Monahan holding the lead throughout. Rocco
made his way past Shawn Monahan into second on lap-28 only to see Monahan
fire back and reclaim the position a lap later. Shawn hounded Diego for
the next three laps, trying to make an outside run with Rocco tucked
closely behind before a yellow flag on lap-33 set up the first attempt to
finish the race.
After the restart Rocco made a charge from third coming to the white flag,
however a spin behind the leaders saw the yellow flag fly again to keep
the race from ending. Rocco got inside Diego Monahan and contact between
the two down the frontstretch sent Rocco spinning into turn one,
collecting Craig Lutz and Tim Jordan in a grinding wreck. Because the
incident happened after the caution flag and before another lap was scored
complete, the running order for the restart kept both Monahan brothers on
the front row with Rocco third.
The field restarted cleanly and was able to finish the two lap sprint to
the checkered flag. Diego Monahan fended off an outside bid by his
brother over the final lap, going on to the win, his first since August of
2013. Rocco got past Shawn Monahan out of the final corner to finish
second, and Shawn Monahan ended up third. Gada was fourth, and Ted
Christopher completed the top-five.
Ryan made an impressive charge, wiring the field to checker the 30-lap
Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature. He was never seriously challenged
and survived just one yellow flag that slowed the race on lap-3. Bruce
Thomas Jr. spun after contact from Jason Palmer, collecting Chris Garside
as well as point leader Keith Rocco. When racing resumed, Vin Esposito
eventually moved to second position and chased Ryan over the second half
of the race but was unable to close in to make a serious bid for the win.
Rocco rebounded from the early incident to finish third as he closed in on
another division championship.
Stone won his fourth Street Stock race of the year with an impressive run
in the night’s 25-lap race. He started the race seventh and was second on
lap-9, moving up under green flag racing. Ed Gertsch Jr. showed the way
early and Stone was cutting into his cushion out front when the first
yellow flag of the race came out on lap-16. Stone bided his time, darting
inside of Gertsch on lap-18 before taking over for good on lap-19. A
final caution flag came on lap-21, giving Gertsch a final chance at Stone.
Stone held back the challenges to claim the win. Moose Douton got past
Gertsch in the closing laps to take second and Gertsch finished third.
Stone’s win, coupled with a rough race for championship leader Josh
Galvin, enabled him to keep his title hopes alive. Stone is second to
Galvin in the standings.
Buzel was the benefactor of a late race scuffle at the front of the field
in the 25-lap SK Light Modified feature, picking up his second consecutive
win in the process. Buzel was third and running with the lead cars of
Larry Goss and Randy Churchill Jr. as their battle for the race lead
heated up in the final five circuits. Churchill tried to make an outside
pass on Goss in turn two on lap-23. Goss bobbled and when he gathered his
car up the track, Churchill was forced into the wall to bring out the
yellow flag and end his strong run. Buzel lined up outside of Goss for
the ensuing restart, raced Goss even to the white flag and was able to
narrowly edge ahead through the third and fourth corner to nip Goss by a
bumper in a photo finish. Goss ended up second and point leader Corey
Barry was third.
Zaikarite picked up his first Saturday night victory in the night’s 25-lap
Mini Stock feature. The former Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday champion led the
way throughout and pulled ahead to the win. Ray Christian and Doug Curry
finished second and third, respectively.
Christopher checkered the night’s special 50-lap INEX Legend Cars feature,
winning for the 24th overall time of the year to extend his record number
of wins in one season for the division. The win gave Christopher an
automatic starting berth in the sanctioning bodies Asphalt Nationals
event, held October 16-18 at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He
took the lead inside of Dana Dimatteo on the tenth lap, leading
comfortably through the final caution flag, which came on lap-40. He
bested Dimatteo on the restart, going on to win. Dimatteo finished second
and Joey Ternullo was third.
(continued)
action after two weeks of wet weather halted its scheduled NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series racing programs. First time winners for the year were
the order of the night as three of the six events saw new faces in the
winner’s circle. Diego Monahan of Quaker Hill led the way, picking up the
SK Modified® victory in dramatic fashion. Anthony Ryan Jr. of Danbury and
Pete Zaikarite of Niantic won the Valenti Auto Mall Late Model and Mini
Stock races respectively, joining Monahan as first time winners on the
year. Other victories went to Al Stone III of Durham in the Street
Stocks, Paul Buzel of Trumbull in the SK Light Modifieds, and Mike
Christopher Jr. of Wolcott in an extra-distance INEX Legend Cars race.
Monahan came out on top of a wild SK Modified® race where no less than
three competitors had a shot to win over two green-white-checkered flag
attempts to complete the race. Monahan battled his brother Shawn and
three-time track champion Keith Rocco over a thrilling, rough and tumble
final nine laps.
The 35-lap race began with Joe Gada and Monahan on the front row. It
didn’t take long for sparks to fly, as Ed Puleo checked up on the back
chute as the field worked lap-2 triggering a multi-car incident behind.
The contact sent Rocco over Rob Janovic’s car before spinning in turn
three, also collecting Bert Marvin, Brent Sweet and Tommy Vigh Jr. to
bring out the first caution flag of the race. Rocco returned after
pitting for repairs.
Monahan led while Gada battled Puleo for second for several laps. Gada
used the outside lane to make a bid for the lead on lap-22, just as rookie
competitor Paul Kusheba drove inside Puleo to move into third position.
Monahan fought off Gada’s challenge and Kusheba capitalized, taking second
when Gada found himself out of the racing groove in turn four. A spin at
the back of the field with 23 laps completed created another yellow flag,
setting up a series of four restarts which brought the race to lap-26.
Kusheba was a victim of one botched restart attempt, getting spun from
contention to lift Shawn Monahan and Rocco into the top three, staging the
slugfest to the finish at the front.
The top three of Diego Monahan, Shawn Monahan and Rocco traded blows the
rest of the way with Diego Monahan holding the lead throughout. Rocco
made his way past Shawn Monahan into second on lap-28 only to see Monahan
fire back and reclaim the position a lap later. Shawn hounded Diego for
the next three laps, trying to make an outside run with Rocco tucked
closely behind before a yellow flag on lap-33 set up the first attempt to
finish the race.
After the restart Rocco made a charge from third coming to the white flag,
however a spin behind the leaders saw the yellow flag fly again to keep
the race from ending. Rocco got inside Diego Monahan and contact between
the two down the frontstretch sent Rocco spinning into turn one,
collecting Craig Lutz and Tim Jordan in a grinding wreck. Because the
incident happened after the caution flag and before another lap was scored
complete, the running order for the restart kept both Monahan brothers on
the front row with Rocco third.
The field restarted cleanly and was able to finish the two lap sprint to
the checkered flag. Diego Monahan fended off an outside bid by his
brother over the final lap, going on to the win, his first since August of
2013. Rocco got past Shawn Monahan out of the final corner to finish
second, and Shawn Monahan ended up third. Gada was fourth, and Ted
Christopher completed the top-five.
Ryan made an impressive charge, wiring the field to checker the 30-lap
Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature. He was never seriously challenged
and survived just one yellow flag that slowed the race on lap-3. Bruce
Thomas Jr. spun after contact from Jason Palmer, collecting Chris Garside
as well as point leader Keith Rocco. When racing resumed, Vin Esposito
eventually moved to second position and chased Ryan over the second half
of the race but was unable to close in to make a serious bid for the win.
Rocco rebounded from the early incident to finish third as he closed in on
another division championship.
Stone won his fourth Street Stock race of the year with an impressive run
in the night’s 25-lap race. He started the race seventh and was second on
lap-9, moving up under green flag racing. Ed Gertsch Jr. showed the way
early and Stone was cutting into his cushion out front when the first
yellow flag of the race came out on lap-16. Stone bided his time, darting
inside of Gertsch on lap-18 before taking over for good on lap-19. A
final caution flag came on lap-21, giving Gertsch a final chance at Stone.
Stone held back the challenges to claim the win. Moose Douton got past
Gertsch in the closing laps to take second and Gertsch finished third.
Stone’s win, coupled with a rough race for championship leader Josh
Galvin, enabled him to keep his title hopes alive. Stone is second to
Galvin in the standings.
Buzel was the benefactor of a late race scuffle at the front of the field
in the 25-lap SK Light Modified feature, picking up his second consecutive
win in the process. Buzel was third and running with the lead cars of
Larry Goss and Randy Churchill Jr. as their battle for the race lead
heated up in the final five circuits. Churchill tried to make an outside
pass on Goss in turn two on lap-23. Goss bobbled and when he gathered his
car up the track, Churchill was forced into the wall to bring out the
yellow flag and end his strong run. Buzel lined up outside of Goss for
the ensuing restart, raced Goss even to the white flag and was able to
narrowly edge ahead through the third and fourth corner to nip Goss by a
bumper in a photo finish. Goss ended up second and point leader Corey
Barry was third.
Zaikarite picked up his first Saturday night victory in the night’s 25-lap
Mini Stock feature. The former Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday champion led the
way throughout and pulled ahead to the win. Ray Christian and Doug Curry
finished second and third, respectively.
Christopher checkered the night’s special 50-lap INEX Legend Cars feature,
winning for the 24th overall time of the year to extend his record number
of wins in one season for the division. The win gave Christopher an
automatic starting berth in the sanctioning bodies Asphalt Nationals
event, held October 16-18 at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He
took the lead inside of Dana Dimatteo on the tenth lap, leading
comfortably through the final caution flag, which came on lap-40. He
bested Dimatteo on the restart, going on to win. Dimatteo finished second
and Joey Ternullo was third.
(continued)