Archive for May 20th, 2012

Pennink Victorious in MRS at Thompson; Preece Scores Sunoco Mod Thriller; McDermott, Palmisano, Lowinski-Loh, Moran & Gorgievski Other Weekly Series Winners

Published at May 20, 2012 in Thompson. Closed

Thompson, CT — A picture perfect day set the backdrop for a full slate of racing action at Thompson International Speedway that featured the Modified Racing Series and six divisions of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action. A caution-filled main event saw Rowan Pennink of Huntington Valley, PA, as the survival of the fittest to post the victory.

Ryan Preece of Berlin, CT, led only the checkered flag lap in the Sunoco Modifieds to score the feature event win. Last year’s TIS Modified track champion, Cam McDermott of Scituate, RI, made the step up to the Lite Modified division in winning style. Marc Palmisano of Hadley, MA, came on strong in the waning laps of the Late Model event to claim the victory. Art Moran III of Preston, CT was tops in Limited Sportsman division while Mike Gorgievski of Auburn, MA, earned the victory in the Mini Stocks. John Lowinski-Loh, Jr. of Milford, MA, scored his first career TIS Modified feature victory.

Rowan Pennink of Huntington Valley, PA, outlasted the competition in a Modified Racing event that was marred by 11 cautions. Ted Christopher and Pennink waged a great battle for the lead in the early stages of the main event that saw 35 cars take the green flag. Christopher held the point and held back advances of Pennink. Christopher held Pennink at bay on countless restarts as attrition built. Pennink made what turned out to be the winning move on lap 34 when he dove to the inside of Christopher to take the lead. Shortly after, Christopher retired from the event.

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Buffington Becomes First Repeat Winner of 2012

Published at May 20, 2012 in NELCAR and NHMS. Closed

Throughout the first five Amsoil Nelcar Legends Tour races, there had been five different winners. In a season that has shown much more competition than we have ever seen, it was almost like nothing changed in the third Moat Mountain NHMS Series races of the season. Shaun Buffington was once again the fastest car all day, and took the feature win, becoming the first repeat winner of the season. He didn’t get it easily however, as a wild race produced some of the best racing at the front that is now expected due to recent close finishes at NHMS. While practice once again doubled as qualifying, Buffington and his teammate Tom Gray in the 18 car were the two quickest, and would lead each of their respective heat races to the green flag.

For the first heat race, it was Buffington on the pole with the 56 of Evan Beaulieu on the outside. For the start, it was those two who took off in the top two positions with the 38 of Matt Bourgoine in third. The yellow flag game out at the halfway point in the heat for a solo spin by the 49 of Pete Cannel. On the restart, Buffington was able to get away while Bourgoine worked his way around Beaulieu for second. At the finish it was Buffington over Bourgoine while Beaulieu rounded out the top three.

Tom Gray was on the pole for the second heat race with the 11 of Steve Miller on his outside. Gray was able to get the lead early, and opened up a bit of a lead on Miller. The heat ran caution free with Gray picking up the win, with the 59 of last week’s winner Reid Lanpher in second and Miller rounding out the top three.

[Photo Gallery] by Chris Roy/RPM Photography

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Brightman and DeGasparre Pick Up First Wins of the Season; Cavallaro Repeats and Lineham Finds Redemption

Published at May 20, 2012 in Seekonk. Closed

Seekonk, MA — Mike Brightman of Acushnet shook off the bad week two he had, and bounced back to pick up his first win of the season in the A.R.C. Pro Stocks. Brightman started third on the grid, and ran there for the first several laps, until Tom Scully Jr and Fred Astle made contact, sending both to the rear. On the restart, Mighty Mike was able to move his Impact Collision Parts Ford past Dick Houlihan, and then slid under polesitter and leader Ken Spencer, Once out front, there was no looking back for the former Late Model Champion.

Kevin Casper had his best run in the Pro Stocks, picking up the second spot. At one point, he fell back to third, when Tom Scully Jr slid by, but was able to move his Phil’s Propane Ford back by the Jr Scully. While he was able to close the distance a bit on Brightman, he was unable to get past. Scully Jr held on for third, while Dave Darling and Ryan Vanasse rounded out the top five. Both Darling and Vanasse had to come from the back after a lap nine spin sent both drivers out of contention.

Five time Late Model Champion Gerry DeGasparre Jr picked up his first win of the season, besting last week’s winner Bobby Pelland III. Exeter’s Mike Marfeo set the early paces, before losing the lead from contact. Dylan Estrella picked up the lead, and set the pace for the restart, but DeGasparre outpaced the North Attleboro native, and put his A-1 Custom Auto Body Chevy out front. Estrella got hung up on the outside, and slid back to fourth, as points leader Dennis Stampfl snuck by as well.

DeGasparre survived a couple of restarts with Pelland lined up outside, and many thought Pelland might be able to repeat, but the A&A Auto Parts Chevy wasn’t strong enough to overtake DeGasparre. Pelland held on for second, with Estrella moving back into third, Bruce Rego fourth with Marfeo making it back into the top five.

[Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto

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Waterford Speedbowl 5/19 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Results

Published at May 20, 2012 in Waterford. Closed

Waterford, CT — Waterford Speedbowl was back in action Saturday night with another round of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing. Picking up victories on the night included Keith Rocco of Meriden, who scorted the win in both the SK Modified® and Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model divisions, while Dan Darnstaedt of Westbrook won the Street Stock race and Ken Cassidy Jr. of Lisbon continued his domination of the Mini Stock division winning his seventh race on the season. The INEX Legends Cars and Bandoleros joined the race program, with Farmington’s Dana Dimatteo and Oakdale’s Derek Debbis winning the respective divisions.

The 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified® race was led to the green flag by Diego Monahan, looking to rebound after three straight weeks of hard wrecks. Monahan took control from the start as Jeff Rocco moved to second position early on. Monahan and Rocco moved out to a healthy lead ahead of a battle for third position among Jeffrey Gallup, Joe Perry, Kyle James and Rob Janovic Jr. Multiple oil-downs and cleanups in the previous race kept the action interesting in the opening laps as several competitors had hair-raising moments.

The action stayed clean and green despite track conditions. Points leader Jeff Pearl dropped off the pace on lap-7, then retired on lap-8 with mechanical issues under the hood. Behind Monahan and Jeff Rocco, James worked himself into third position, Janovic fourth and Keith Rocco to fifth by the time the first caution flew on lap-13 when Tyler Chadwick spun in turn four. While under the caution, heartache for Monahan saw his car lose power and require a push to the pits. Monahan did not return, continuing a string of misfortune.

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