Ron Yuhas Jr. crowned 59th Modified Track Champion; Bruce Thomas Jr., Brandon Plemons, Danny Field, Jason Palmer and Allen Coates also honored
Waterford, CT — A full house of over 500 strong gathered Saturday evening at Groton Inn & Suites to pay tribute to Waterford Speedbowl’s 2009 Track Champions. Ron Yuhas Jr., Bruce Thomas Jr., Brandon Plemons and Danny Field were awarded the track’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series division championships while Jason Palmer and Allen Coates picked up their respective hardware as the Legends Cars and NEATV Truck Series champs. Each etched their name into the Speedbowl record books in unique fashion.
Nearly 80 drivers in total were recognized for their efforts during the season. Special awards honoring the Top Rookie, Sportsman of the Year, Most Improved Driver and Pit Crew of the Year in each of the six divisions were also distributed.
The opening Saturday night of the season set the tone for the battle to the SK Modified® track championship. In that event Keith Rocco used a daring last lap maneuver in turn four to gain the win by inches over Ron Yuhas Jr. From there, a classic Speedbowl duel engaged between the two and carried throughout the 20-race season. Yuhas, of Groton, used a 10 race streak of top-five finishes to narrow a 50-point cushion Rocco built up over the first half of the year. Yuhas checkered the final Saturday night race and survived a wild 100-lap Finale event to claim his first ever championship. He also brought home the first title to his car owner, Mike Murphy, as well as to the Yuhas family. His father, Ron Yuhas Sr., was a long-time car owner in the Modified ranks at Waterford. In total Yuhas captured three wins and posted 15 top-five and 19 top-ten finishes on the season. He was the only competitor to complete every lap in 2009 and became the 59th Modified track champion at the ‘Bowl, one of the nation’s longest such lists.
Continue reading ‘Waterford Speedbowl Celebrates 2009 Champions’
