Waterford, CT — Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday was in action at the Speedbowl with both new faces and returning winners reaching Victory Lane. Dennis Pantani of Branford wound up the victor of a rough and tumble Legends Cars race, scoring his first career win. Nicholas Sowa of Middletown won a hotly contested Bandolero event. Patrick Williams, also of Middletown, won his first X-Car race of the year in a highly entertaining feature. Frank Alessio of Colchester rebounded from a hard wreck one week ago to reach the winner’s circle in the Super X-Car race. Bubby Brouwer of Waterford and Kathy Civardi of Noank rounded out the night’s winners, scoring the X-Modified and Women on Wheels checkered flags.
The Legends Cars put both the wild and the wacky into the night’s program when they rolled out for their 20-lap race. A battle of attrition and perseverance started with Troy Talman leading early before Anthony Flannery looked to return to the winner’s circle after two week’s of crashes. He took command on lap 2 ahead of Dana Dimatteo and Dave Garbo Jr., with Talman back to fourth. Garbo spun out of contention on lap 5, but the race continued on without caution. Ed Field and visiting driver John Hilliker entered the top five looking for racing room.
Trouble broke out in turn four among the top five on lap 8. Contact between Flannery and Dimatteo collected Talman, Field and Hilliker sending all five crashing into the turn four wall. Only Flannery was able to drive away. That caution set off a chain reaction where no less than three other competitors, Dennis Pantani, Michael Blaskey and Carl Blandina all took turns out front. However, each suffered contact from behind that dropped them from the lead and kept the front row a revolving door. Flannery at one point inherited the lead again only to have a flat tire put him back in the pits before the race could return to green.
[Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto
Continue reading ‘Pantani a first-ever winner in Legends Cars; Sowa, Alessio, Williams, Brouwer and Civardi all reach Victory Lane as well’
Waterford, CT — The action picks up at Waterford Speedbowl in just 10 days when it hosts the 3rd annual Wings ‘n Wheels event, featuring the fastest short track auto racing cars and stars for a blockbuster night of motorsports. The winged wonders, the ISMA Supermodifieds (50-laps) and NEMA Midgets (25-laps), join the ground pounding Modified Racing Series (100-laps) and Speedbowl’s own SK Modifieds® (35-laps) for an open-wheel extravaganza of speed and excitement. The event marks the only time these divisions race together all season across the Northeast.
The three visiting series’ are each making a repeat appearance at the ‘Bowl this year. Mike Lichty of Canada recorded an emotional and exciting first career victory over Memorial Day weekend when the ISMA’s first raced back on May 29. NEMA has visited twice thus far in 2010, with Chris Leonard taking his first career series win as part of the Budweiser Blastoff event in March. Russ Stoehr was the most recent winner on July 24 as part of Nostalgia Night’s special Shane Hammond Memorial race. Doug Coby opened the Modified Racing Series season with a 100-lap win in the popular open-wheel division, also during Budweiser Blastoff Weekend. In eight events held at the Speedbowl for the MRS, Coby was the first repeat winner.
Race fans can also see NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national points leader Keith Rocco in action in the Speedbowl’s SK Modified® field. Rocco currently leads the division in wins (8) and points (+23). Seven drivers have reached Victory Lane this season in the ‘Bowl’s headline weekly division.
Continue reading ‘Wings & Wheels roars into Waterford Speedbowl August 14′
Brockton, MA — Neither will admit to any concern, but Randy Cabral and Russ Stoehr, running one-two atop the Northeastern Midget Association points battle, are flirting with history. There are two major races looming in August – NEMA’s participation in Waterford Speedbowl’s Wings & Wheels on the 14th and the heralded Boston Louie Memorial at Seekonk on the 28th.
After three wins this year in the Bertrand 47, two-time defending champion Cabral is a win away from sole possession of sixth on NEMA’s all-time win list. He is currently tied with Johnny Mann with 29. Stoehr, a two-timer so far this summer in the Dumo’s Desire 45, sits fourth with 42 wins, three behind Nokie Fornoro.
Cabral, insistent that he “doesn’t belong” with the drivers ahead of him, dismisses the subject quickly. Still, second-generation driver Cabral and third-generation competitor Stoehr, who has won two of the last three races, are fully aware of the role history plays in the 58-year old club.
Continue reading ‘Cabral, Stoehr Chasing NEMA History’
Don’t forget to tune in to the debut of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour on VERSUS tonight at 7 p.m. The Riverhead 200 was held on July 31 at Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway.
VERSUS can be found at:
DirecTV Ch. 603 / 603 HD
Dish Network Ch. 151 / 151 HD
Cable – check local listings
