Godin and Sneade Top a Wild Night of Racing at Thompson
Thompson, CT — All six NASCAR Weekly Racing Series divisions took to the Connecticut oval on Thursday Night Thompson Thunder. When the checkers fell it was Roger Godin in the WRS Pro Stocks, John Sneade in the Sunoco Modifieds, Rick Gentes in the Accel Late Model division, Ed Puleo in the Exide Shortrack Strictly Stocks, Chris Gagnon in the Mini Stocks, and George Savary in the Pro-Four Modifieds all taking down victories.
A wild Sunoco Modified race saw John Sneade of Oxford, MA in victory lane. Young Josh Steeves brought the field to green in the thirty-lap event and looked to be on his way to his first career Sunoco Modified victory when disaster struck . The Uxbridge, MA native withstood countless restarts only to retire from the event from the lead position with only two laps to go with a broken transmission.
Former Pro Stock track champion, “Radical” Rick Martin, made his return to Thompson International Speedway making his SK Modified debut in the Angie Cerase owned #5. An impressive run, from seventeenth to fourth, was halted at halfway when the motor expired in the G. Lopes Construction machine, ending Martin’s bid for the victory.
A scary moment occurred on lap 19 when contact between John Sneade, Curt Brainard, and David Lessard sent Lessard flipping end-over-end, over the front straight wall and landing on it’s roof just short of the starter’s stand. Lessard walked away from the incident unhurt. When green flag racing resumed Steeves, Sneade, Matty Adanti and David Kutka were embroiled in a heated battle at the head of the field. A lap 25 spin by Joe Phinney of Cichester, NH set up a restart where Steeves once again took command of the race. Two laps later he lost the transmission, turning the lead over to Matty Adanti. Adanti, also looking for his career-first SK win, and second-running David Kutka made contact and went spinning to the infield. When the green-white-checker flew John Sneade moved ahead to take the win.
Roger Godin continued his dominance of the Pro Stock division recording his fourth straight victory. Norm Wrenn of Nashua, NH brought the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Pro Stocks down for the green flag, however, his time at the front of the pack was short-lived as he went around in turn two of the first lap. Andy Johnson momentarily inherited the lead before Steve Ribbe took command. When Ribbe crossed the stripe on the fifth circuit Godin had already advanced ten positions.
Ribbe withstood a number of cautions and heavy pressure from Phil Rondeau to put some distance between himself and the top-five. Ribbe watched his lead disappear when the yellow waved for Chris Perley and Bernie Croteau. Roger Godin, up to the third position at that point, worked his restart magic reminiscent of the week before and got by both Ribbe and Rondeau to take the lead.
The final ten laps of the event saw the top-five run nose-to-tail with Godin showing the way. Godin was not able to check out as Ribbe would get a run on him in the corners. Sheer horsepower allowed Godin to retain the lead and take home the win. On the final lap Phil Rondeau, who had been running third, slowed on the racing surface relinquishing his podium finish. The win marks Godin’s fourth consecutive and fifth of the season.
Scott Fanning of Smithfield, RI put his tiger striped #88 in the lead at the drop of the green in the Accel Late Model division feature event. He would be king until lap six when Scott Bronczyk got the edge. Point leader Lonnie Mecteau continued to run strong coming from his tenth starting spot to pressure the front duo of Bronczyk and Rick Gentes.
The caution on lap 15 for a spin by Gerry Konopka erased a half-straightaway lead that Bronczyk had built. On the restart Gentes took over from Bronczyk with Mecteau following suit. With five laps remaining Mecteau applied heavy pressure to Gentes. Zuidema had worked his way past Bronczyk for the third position. When the checkers flew it was Gentes taking down his first win of the season.
Ed Puleo of East Haven, CT took the lead from Bill McNeil when the green flag flew after a caution on lap 19. Puleo resumed the lead on the restart and went on to take the victory. The victory was a boost to the team. “I gave up on this car last week,” said Puleo from victory lane. “We crashed pretty hard last week. My crew worked on the car until 2:00 a.m. this morning. It is put together with bubblegum.” This was Ed “MacGuyver” Puleo’s second win of the season. Tim Taylor recovered from an early spin to finish in the fifth position.
Dennis Coates of Wrentham, MA appeared to be on his way to the Mini Stock victory when his #40 went up in smoke. This gave the lead to, none other than, Chris Gagnon. Gagnon then checked out in his 3G to score his sixth victory of the season.
The mission of the Pro Four Modified competitors was to dethrone, the undefeated, George Savary. It would not be, however, as the king reigned supreme. Savary, from his fifth starting spot, took the lead before the completion of the first lap and would not be headed. Les Rose, who is chasing Savary in the point battle, also chased Savary to the checkers. Lapped traffic and a late race restart allowed Rose to reel in the #21 but to no avail. En route to his fifth straight victory, George Savary lapped all but the podium finishers.
August 10, 2000 Pro Stock Finish: Roger Godin, Spencer, MA; Steve Ribbe, Kingston, MA; Andy Johnson, Rehoboth, MA; Dick Houlihan, Berkeley, MA; Phil Rondeau, Baltic, CT; Dennis Maxfield, Fitchburg, MA; Chris Perley, Rowley, MA; Bernie Croteau, Monson, MA; Ron Louro, Warren, RI; Ron LaPerche, Millis, MA.
Sunoco Modified Finish (Unofficial): John Sneade, Oxford, MA; Stuart McCarthy, Oxford, MA; Chris Oscella, Manchester, CT; Tom White, Calverton, NY; David Kutka, Jr., Westbrook, CT; Butch Perry, Ashaway, RI; Dave McElroy, Uxbridge, MA; John White, Baiting Hollow, NY; Bob Gartside, Scotland, CT; Matty Adanti, Old Saybrook, CT.
Late Model Finish: Rick Gentes, Woonsocket, RI; Lonnie Mecteau, Plainfield, CT; Jeff Zuidema, N. Brookfield, MA; Scott Bronczyk, N. Grosvernordale, CT; George Greco, Jr. Easton, CT; Jeff Plakias, Agawam, MA; John Falconi, Marlboro, MA; Mark Palmisano, S. Deerfield, MA; Bruce Adams, Dayville, CT; Scott Fanning, Smithfield, RI.
Strictly Stock Finish: Ed Puleo, E. Haven, CT; Bill McNeil, Taftville, CT; Kevin Mason, W. Warwick, RI; Scott Cook, Uncasville, CT; Tim Taylor, Danielson, CT; Lyle Wolfinger, Moodus, CT; Mark Jenison, Warwick, RI; Ryan Stone, Branford, CT; Frank Kiser, Jr., N. Providence, RI; Mark Decosta, Cranston, RI.
Mini Stock Finish: Chris Gagnon, Moosup, CT; Rod Rixham, Sutton, MA; Bill Prisco, Pawtucket, RI; Gene Vitiello, Pascoag, RI, Roger Larson, Milford, CT; Dave Huard, Oxford, MA; Ron Rixham, Jefferson, MA; Harold Jones, Sr., Danielson, CT; Ray Fitzgerald, Worcester, MA; Dennis Coates, Wrentham, MA.
Sources: Thompson Speedway PR
Pro-Four Modified Finish: George Savary, Les Rose, Jr.