Gordon Ends Jinx; Houlihan, Rose Duplicate; Quinn, Sutcliffe, & Dean Take First Checkers of 2000
Thompson, CT — The Busch North Series made their season debut at the Thompson International Speedway on Sunday in the Sunoco 150 and when the checkers flew it was Tracy Gordon of Strong, ME with the victory. The win was Gordon’s second straight in the Busch North Series. Dick Houlihan of Berkley, MA in the Winston Racing Series Pro Stocks recorded his second straight victory as well. Not to be outdone Les Rose, Jr. recorded his second consecutive taking the Pro Four Modified win. New faces in victory lane on Sunday included Scott Quinn of Slatersville, RI in the Sunoco Modifieds, Walt Sutcliffe, Jr. of E. Haven, CT in the Late Models, and Todd Dean of Danielson, CT in the Strictly Stocks. Rich Barry of Central Village, CT made a return visit to victory lane in the Mini Stocks.
Tracy Gordon took the lead from Jamie Aube of Manchester, NH with only eleven laps remaining in the Sunoco 150, ending his self-proclaimed “Connecticut jinx”. The late stages of the race resembled earlier times in the Series with veterans Aube and Bobby Dragon of Milton, VT leading the pack around the 5/8th mile oval. Each would finish in season highs as Aube, with older tires, held off Dale Shaw for the second position. Dragon, also with older tires, held on to finish in the fifth position behind Brad Leighton.
Dick Houlihan duplicated last week’s feat holding off a hard-charging Ken Kohler, Jr. to record the win in the Weekly Racing Series Pro Stocks. Ken Kohler jumped out to the lead from his pole starting spot and would hold the position through halfway. A lap 16 caution for a spin by Jim McCallum would prove to be Kohler’s downfall as Dick Houlihan took the lead on the restart.
Houlihan’s task was made slightly easier when several of the fast cars near the front of the pack were caught up in a lap twenty incident. Phil Rondeau got crossed up, after contact with Chuck Docherty, collecting Docherty, Steve Ribbe, and Jim McCallum. When the race went back to green Houlihan regained the lead while the hottest battle on the track was for the fourth position between Phil Rondeau Norm Wrenn. Rondeau took the position with seven laps remaining. When the checkered flag flew it was Houlihan holding off all challenges to record his third win of the season.
Scott Quinn methodically picked his way to the front of the Sunoco Modified feature to record his first win of the season. Steve Lombardo set the early pace in the 30-lap affair before relinquishing the top spot to Robert Palmer. Robert Palmer would have only a short stay at the front with Scott Quinn taking over on lap number thirteen. After quickly disposing of Zach Sylvester and Lombardo, Curt Brainard, up from his fifth starting spot, set his sites on the leader Quinn.
Quinn withstood a number of late race restarts and continual pressure from Brainard to take home the top prize. A three-wide battle at the stripe with the checkers in the air appeared to have determined the top six finishing order with Robert Palmer, Rick Martin, and Kerry Malone within inches at the line. Technical inspection claimed the impressive finish for “Radical” Rick Martin. Palmer, and Kerry Malone would round out the top-five.
Walt Sutcliffe, Jr. led every lap of the Late Model race to become a first time winner in the 2000 season. Sutcliffe held off an impressive field to score the victory. The top dogs of the Late Model division, John Falconi, Gerry Young, Lonnie Mecteau, and Jeff Plakias, jockeyed for position behind Sutcliffe, running side-by-side lap after lap for the top five spots. Falconi’s second place finish broke the tie for the second point position with Gerry Konopka.
Todd Dean put his Strictly Stock into victory lane for the first time this season leading all 20 laps of the event. Lyle Wolfinger was back in early season form to record the runner-up position. Rich Barry proved to be too tough for the competition when the Mini Stocks made their run to the checkers, taking down his second win of the 2000 season. In a repeat of last week’s feature Les Rose, Jr. led George Savary to the Pro Four Modified checkers. The event was a family affair as Richard and Buddy Savary followed their father to the stripe.
Pro Stock Finish: Dick Houlihan, Berkley, MA; Ken Kohler, Jr., N. Providence, RI; Phil Rondeau, Baltic, CT; Norm Wrenn, Nashua, NH; Roger Godin, Spencer, MA; Rusty Murray, Tiverton, RI; Ed Carroll III, Longmeadow, MA; Dave Bitondo, Berkley, MA; Doug Krapata, Farmingdale, NY; Chris Magee, Edgartown, MA.
Sunoco Modified Finish: Scott Quinn, Slatersville, RI; Curt Brainard, Canton, CT; Bert Marvin, Waterford, CT; Robert Palmer, Griswold, CT; Kerry Malone, Needham, MA; Steve Lombardo, Norfolk, MA; Tom Tagg, Oxford, MA; David Kukta, Jr., Westbrook, CT; Zach Sylvester, Lebanon, CT; Darryl Tiezzi, Ivoryton, CT.
Late Model Finish: Walt Sutcliffe Jr., E. Haven, CT; John Falconi, Marlboro, MA; Lonnie Mecteau, Plainfield, CT; Scott Bronczyk, N. Grosvenordale, CT; Jeff Plakias, Agawam, MA; Rick Laflesh, Griswold, CT; Rick Gentes, Woonsocket, RI; Gerry Konopka, Lebanon, CT; Bill Wheeler, Sag Harbor, NY; R.J. Marcotte, Millville, MA.
Strictly Stock Finish: Todd Dean, Danielson, CT; Lyle Wolfinger, Moodus, CT; Ed Puleo, E. Haven, CT; Tim Taylor, Danielson, CT; Kevin Mason, W. Warwick, RI; Mark Jenison, Brooklyn, CT; Ryan Stone, Branford, CT; Larry Barnett, Ledyard, CT; Scott Cook, Uncasville, CT; Norm Beauvais, Jr., Mapleville, RI.
Mini Stock finish: Rich Barry, Central Village, CT; Dennis Coates, Wrentham, MA; Roger Larson, Milford, MA; Brian Marcotte, Danielson, CT; Chris Gagnon, Moosup, CT; Dave Clark, Plainfield, CT; Ray Fitzgerald, Worcester, MA; Dave Huard, Oxford, MA; Gene Vitiello, Pascoag, RI; Cindy Larson, Milford, MA.
Pro-Four Modified: Les Rose, Jr., Raynham, MA; George Savary, Westwood, MA; Richard Savary, Avon, MA; Buddy Savary, Adam Norton, Brookfield, MA.
Sources: Thompson Speedway PR