Waterford Speedbowl 6/23 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Results
Waterford, CT — A capacity crowd jammed Waterford Saturday night for the return of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour to the track for the first time since 2006. The popular shoreline oval hosted NASCAR’s oldest race division for the “Mr. Rooter 161” under beautiful, seasonable weather and treated the thousands of fans in attendance to a great night of motorsports. Doug Coby of Milford was the night’s big winner, claiming the 161-lap Richie Evans tribute event.
First time winners were the order of the night in the Speedbowl’s weekly NASCAR Whelen All-American Series races. Hometown driver Rob Janovic Jr. of Waterford scored the win in the track’s SK Modified® feature, Greg Moran Jr. of Preston picked up a career first victory in the Street Stock division and Sean Caron of East Hampton was back in the winner’s circle in the Mini Stock division for the first time since 2010. Each recorded their first wins of the 2012 season. Bruce Thomas Jr. of Groton won the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model division race, the only repeat winner of the season on the night.
The 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All American Series SK Modified® division got things started for the night and saw Jeffrey Gallup take the race lead over the opening laps. The first caution waved on the lap-3 when last week’s winner Tyler Chadwick and Brett Gonyaw were involved in a skirmish down the back chute. Chadwick’s car was left wedged in the wall at the entrance to turn three and was done for the night once removed from the racing surface.
[Photo Gallery] by Crystal Snape
The restart had Gallup back out front however Kyle James was turning up the pressure on the race leader. James was testing the outside groove ahead of a pack of cars that included Jeff Rocco, Tom Abele Jr., Janovic, and Diego Monahan. While James was looking to get a wheel on the outside of Gallup, Rocco filled the hole to James’ inside and the three ran wheel to wheel for the race lead. James was able to pull even with Gallup and be scored the race leader in the outside lane on lap-14 before taking full control on lap-15. Jeff Rocco tried to duplicate the move, however contact between Gallup and Rocco in turn four sent Rocco spinning for the second caution flag of the race. Both drivers resumed from the rear.
The restart pitted James against Janovic, bumped up to second in the exchange. Tom Abele lined up third and when the field rumbled into turn one for the restart, more contact in turns one and two began with Abele getting crossed up, resulting in a traffic jam behind. Wendell Dailey took the brunt of the banging, losing a right front tire on his mount and keeping the race under caution.
The next restart was key for Janovic. He held strong on the outside of James, able to power to the race lead off turn two and become the third leader of the race just before halfway on lap-17. Jeff Pearl moved up to third place out of a pack battling for the top-ten positions to give chase to the top two. On lap-18 Joe Gada took a hard trip into the frontstretch wall after contact in the back half of the top-ten. Shawn Monahan and Joe Perry were also involved, but were able to continue on.
On the restart Janovic drove into turn one in the race lead ahead of James. Pearl advanced to second on the inside lane and the two veterans set sail ahead over the competition. Janovic stretched his lead to several car lengths over Pearl, who held down second ahead of James, Diego Monahan and Abele. Janovic’s lead was erased on lap-26 when Shawn Monahan lost a radiator under the hood of his car, putting fluid down onto the race surface to necessitate the yellow flag.
Janovic saw Pearl to his outside for the restart but quickly resumed his place at the head of the field. Pearl tucked back into second ahead of James but was unable to apply much pressure to the leader, who flexed his muscle by stretching his advantage back to a comfortable lead. Janovic had one more restart to master after Will Schneider spun off the front chute on lap-33 to draw the final caution period.
Janovic was smooth once again on the field’s last chance to disrupt his stellar performance. Pearl was unable to rally a final bid for the win and settled for second. James ran up front all night to take third ahead of Abele and Diego Monahan.
Thomas was back in Victory Lane for the third time of the year at the Speedbowl in a cleanly competed 30-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model feature. Thomas had the superior car, but used patience to pass by race leaders Rich Staskowski and Jeff Smith, the defending division champion. As Thomas positioned himself third behind the top two, he went upstairs to the outside lane and set up shop. He first peeked outside Staskowski on lap-8, but needed until lap-10 to complete the move to take second position and line up behind Smith’s rear bumper. Thomas worked on pulling outside Smith, finally getting there on lap-19. He spent a lap working the outside lane he knows so well to climb his way to the lead.
Thomas had to hold over two restarts for spins in the final 8 laps before racing his way to his third win of the year, cutting into Dillon Moltz’s championship point lead. Joe Curioso grabbed second place at the finish while Staskowski picked up third.
Moran carried on a family tradition of winning ways at the shoreline oval in the 25-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stock race. The third generation racer won his first career race in the division after moving up from the track’s Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday program three seasons ago. Moran dominated a caution-free race, never getting a serious challenge throughout. Phil Evans and Josh Galvin chased Moran to the checkered flag.
Caron snapped Ken Cassidy Jr.’s stranglehold over the Mini Stock division in taking their 25-lap NASCAR All-American Series race win. Cassidy had won six consecutive races in the division, but spent much of the race battling for second outside Bill Leonard. Cassidy was never able to seriously mount a challenge to Caron who raced well ahead of the battle for second position. Caron cruised to an impressive victory. Cassidy took second at the finish line, while Ray Christian III ran up front all race to finish in third.
The next NASCAR racing event on the Speedbowl’s calendar sees the annual mid-season championship event on Saturday, June 30. The traditional holiday weekend event puts the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions to the test of extra-distance races, highlighted by a 100-lapper for the headline SK Modifieds®. The Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models, Street Stocks and Mini Stocks will all compete in special 50-lap races and the SK Light Modifieds and Legends Cars compete in 25-lappers. Time trials will set the starting line up, putting the Speedbowl racers against the clock to determine starting position. Qualifying begins at 4:00pm for the special event, with opening ceremonies and main events set to begin at approximately 6:30pm. Details can be found on Speedbowl.com.
Waterford Speedbowl Saturday 6/23 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Results:
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds® (35-laps): 1. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 2. Jeff Pearl, Salem; 3. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI; 4. Tom Abele Jr., Norwich; 5. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill; 6. Keith Rocco, Meriden; 7. Craig Lutz, Miller Place, NY; 8. Jeffrey Gallup, Ashaway, RI; 9. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., Milford; 10. Shawn Thibeault, Plainville; 11. Jeff Rocco, Wallingford; 12. Ed Puleo, Branford; 13. William Schneider, Northport, NY; 14. Nichole Morgillo, Wallingford; 15. Al Stone III, New Haven; 16. Joe Perry, Ashaway, RI; 17. Shawn Monahan, Waterford; 18. Adam Gada, Bozrah; 19. Joe Gada, Salem; 20. Wendell Dailey, Gales Ferry; 21. Tom Fox, Plainfield; 22. Brett Gonyaw, Manchester; 23. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 24. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill; 25. Eddie LeClerc, Taunton, MA
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models (30-laps): 1. Bruce Thomas Jr., Groton; 2. Joe Curioso, Pawcatuck; 3. Rich Staskowski, Hope Valley, RI; 4. Dillon Moltz, Waterford; 5. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 6. Keith Rocco, Meriden; 7. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 8. Anthony Flannery, East Hampton; 9. Vin Esposito, Seymour; 10. Ed Gertsch Jr., East Haven; 11. Mike Sweeney Jr., Meriden; 12. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill; 13. Anthony Ryan Jr., Danbury
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stocks (25-laps): 1. Greg Moran Jr., Preston; 2. Phil Evans, Uncasville; 3. Josh Galvin, Franklin; 4. Mike Caprio Jr., New Haven; 5. Walt Hovey Jr., Chaplin; 6. Chris Meyer, North Franklin; 7. Joe Arena, Bristol; 8. Corey Hutchings, Salem; 9. Dan Darnstaedt, Durham; 10. Ed Puleo, Branford; 11. Ted Dupre, Clinton; 12. Paul Gaedeke, Southington; 13. Bill McNeil, Preston; 14. Norm Root Jr., Old Saybrook
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Mini Stocks (25-laps): 1. Sean Caron, East Hampton; 2. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 3. Ray Christian III, Norwich; 4. Bill Leonard, Charlestown, RI; 5. Charles Canfield, New Haven; 6. Mark Panaroni, Ivoryton; 7. Jeffrey Cembruch, Wallingford; 8. Joseph Fogarasi, Columbia; 9. Garrett Denton, Hope Valley, RI; 10. Christina Kellerman, Stratford; 11. Chris Garside, Waterford; 12. Dale Sherman, Charlestown, RI; 13. Nick Pappacoda, Branford; 14. Wayne Burroughs Jr., Oakdale; 15. Doug Curry, Groton; 16. Christopher Ivory, Oakdale; 17. Jeffrey Lee, Uncasville; 18. Floyd Chesbro, Griswold; 19. Ian Brew, Wood River Junction, RI
Sources: Brian Darling/Waterford Speedbowl PR