Waterford, CT — Waterford Speedbowl opened its 60th season in grand fashion Sunday, playing host to the opening races for the Modified Racing Series, NEMA Midgets and its NASCAR Whelen All-American Series program. Milford competitor Doug Coby championed the Modified Racing Series, Keith Rocco mastered every restart thrown his way to cruise to victory in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified® race and Chris Leonard was a first time winner in the NEMA Midgets. Other winners included Tim Jordan in the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models, Ed Puleo in the Street Stocks and Dan Field in the Norwich Bulletin Mini Stocks.
Rocco and Ron Yuhas Jr. started the 60-lap SK Modified® feature on the front row, picking up the exciting points battle they engaged in for the 2009 track championship. Rocco took the lead at the drop of the green flag over Yuhas. The field went to work early with abundant side by side battles to be found throughout the field when Rob Janovic Jr. spun off turn four to bring out caution on lap four.
Rocco jumped out front on the restart. Yuhas tucked into second leaving a heated battle for position behind. Todd Ceravolo was on the move, advancing into third when Glen Pressell III spun in turn two for the event’s second caution on lap 12.
Photo Galleries
[Waterford - Budweiser Blastoff 03/27/10] by Adam Fohlin
[Waterford - Budweiser Blastoff 03/28/10] by Adam Fohlin
[ Waterford - Budweiser Blastoff 03/27/10] by Nicholas Teto
[Waterford - Budweiser Blastoff 03/28/10] by Nicholas Teto
Continue reading ‘Budweiser Blastoff Concludes with Coby, Rocco, Leonard, Jordan, Puleo & Field Victorious’
Waterford, CT — Doug Coby of Milford Conn., won the opening Modified Racing Series sponsored by BobValentiAutomall.com race of the 2010 season at Waterford Speedbowl. Coby passed defending series champion Jon McKennedy of Chelmsford, Mass. on lap 44 and led the rest of the way to score a .79 second victory over Matt Hirschman of Northampton, Pa. McKennedy finished third.
“The car was very consistent all day,” said Coby. “We ran our fastest lap of the race with about five to go. It feels great to win.”
It was the second career series win for Coby who started this race in the Czarnecki Brothers race team #20 in the 8th position. Both of his victories have occurred at Waterford, the previous win was in May of 2009. Coby is the first driver to repeat a victory at the Connecticut shoreline oval in nine series races dating back to 2006.
Continue reading ‘Doug Coby Wins the First Modified Racing Series Event of the Season at Waterford’
Waterford, CT — Chris Leonard warned the media. “I’m not good at talking,” he explained after winning his first-ever Northeastern Midget Association feature Sunday at Waterford Speedbowl’s Budweiser Blast Off. It was his only problem.
Taking off from the pole, Leonard, 19, needed only five minutes and 40 and three quarters seconds (a Speedbowl record) to capture the 25 lapper. Although “it seemed like an hour” to him, Leonard didn’t face a serious challenge in putting the family-owned No. 22 Hawk/Autocraft in victory lane.
Chasing Leonard the entire way, Russ Stoehr (Dumo’s Desire Racing 45) was second. Erica Santos (Breault 44), Randy Cabral (Bertrand47) and Chris DeRitis (DeRitis 75) filled out the top five.
Continue reading ‘Leonard Grabs First NEMA Win At ‘Bowl’
Waterford, CT — Waterford Speedbowl kicked off its 60th consecutive season of operation with the opening day of Budweiser Blastoff Weekends. Fourteen divisions qualified, highlighted by the Modified Racing Series, NEMA Midgets and the ‘Bowl’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions. Eight feature races were completed on the day, recording the first winners of the season.
Max Zachem of Preston checkered an entertaining 25-lap Legends Car race. Shaun Buffington of Plainfield jumped to the race lead from his pole starting position until lap seven when contact from second place runner Anthony Flannery sent Buffington spinning, resulting in a caution flag with both drivers resuming at the rear. Max Zachem of Preston took over at the front over a heated battle behind for the top five positions. Zachem was challenged by Giovanni Giarratana and Dana Dimatteo over the latter portion of the race, holding them off in exciting fashion.
Allen Coates of Ledyard moved outside Howard Payne to battle for the race lead in the 25-lap NASCAR Whelen All American Series Truck race. After a clean side-by-side battle, Coates pulled away on lap four and slowly pulled away from the field for his 72nd career win at the track, fifth all-time.
Photo Galleries
[Waterford - Budweiser Blastoff 03/27/10] by Adam Fohlin
[Waterford - Budweiser Blastoff 03/28/10] by Adam Fohlin
[Waterford - Budweiser Blastoff 03/27/10] by Nicholas Teto
[Waterford - Budweiser Blastoff 03/28/10] by Nicholas Teto
Continue reading ‘Zachem, Coates, Wrenn, Nocella, Logan, Lomartire, Beal among Budweiser Blastoff Saturday Winners’
