Waterford Speedbowl 9/20 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Results
Waterford, CT (September 20, 2014) – Waterford Speedbowl returned to action after two weeks of wet weather halted its scheduled NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing programs. First time winners for the year were the order of the night as three of the six events saw new faces in the winner’s circle. Diego Monahan of Quaker Hill led the way, picking up the SK Modified® victory in dramatic fashion. Anthony Ryan Jr. of Danbury and Pete Zaikarite of Niantic won the Valenti Auto Mall Late Model and Mini Stock races respectively, joining Monahan as first time winners on the year. Other victories went to Al Stone III of Durham in the Street Stocks, Paul Buzel of Trumbull in the SK Light Modifieds, and Mike Christopher Jr. of Wolcott in an extra-distance INEX Legend Cars race.
Monahan came out on top of a wild SK Modified® race where no less than three competitors had a shot to win over two green-white-checkered flag attempts to complete the race. Monahan battled his brother Shawn and three-time track champion Keith Rocco over a thrilling, rough and tumble final nine laps.
The 35-lap race began with Joe Gada and Monahan on the front row. It didn’t take long for sparks to fly, as Ed Puleo checked up on the back chute as the field worked lap-2 triggering a multi-car incident behind. The contact sent Rocco over Rob Janovic’s car before spinning in turn three, also collecting Bert Marvin, Brent Sweet, and Tommy Vigh Jr. to bring out the first caution flag of the race. Rocco returned after pitting for repairs.
Monahan led while Gada battled Puleo for second for several laps. Gada used the outside lane to make a bid for the lead on lap-22, just as rookie competitor Paul Kusheba drove inside Puleo to move into third position. Monahan fought off Gada’s challenge and Kusheba capitalized, taking second when Gada found himself out of the racing groove in turn four. A spin at the back of the field with 23 laps completed created another yellow flag, setting up a series of four restarts which brought the race to lap-26. Kusheba was a victim of one botched restart attempt, getting spun from contention to lift Shawn Monahan and Rocco into the top three, staging the slugfest to the finish at the front.
The top three of Diego Monahan, Shawn Monahan, and Rocco traded blows the rest of the way with Diego Monahan holding the lead throughout. Rocco made his way past Shawn Monahan into second on lap-28 only to see Monahan fire back and reclaim the position a lap later. Shawn hounded Diego for the next three laps, trying to make an outside run with Rocco tucked closely behind before a yellow flag on lap-33 set up the first attempt to finish the race.
After the restart Rocco made a charge from third coming to the white flag, however a spin behind the leaders saw the yellow flag fly again to keep the race from ending. Rocco got inside Diego Monahan and contact between the two down the frontstretch sent Rocco spinning into turn one, collecting Craig Lutz and Tim Jordan in a grinding wreck. Because the incident happened after the caution flag and before another lap was scored complete, the running order for the restart kept both Monahan brothers on the front row with Rocco third.
The field restarted cleanly and was able to finish the two lap sprint to the checkered flag. Diego Monahan fended off an outside bid by his brother over the final lap, going on to the win, his first since August of 2013. Rocco got past Shawn Monahan out of the final corner to finish second, and Shawn Monahan ended up third. Gada was fourth, and Ted Christopher completed the top-five.
Ryan made an impressive charge, wiring the field to checker the 30-lap Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature. He was never seriously challenged and survived just one yellow flag that slowed the race on lap-3. Bruce Thomas Jr. spun after contact from Jason Palmer, collecting Chris Garside as well as point leader Keith Rocco. When racing resumed, Vin Esposito eventually moved to second position and chased Ryan over the second half of the race but was unable to close in to make a serious bid for the win. Rocco rebounded from the early incident to finish third as he closed in on another division championship.
Stone won his fourth Street Stock race of the year with an impressive run in the night’s 25-lap race. He started the race seventh and was second on lap-9, moving up under green flag racing. Ed Gertsch Jr. showed the way early and Stone was cutting into his cushion out front when the first yellow flag of the race came out on lap-16. Stone bided his time, darting inside of Gertsch on lap-18 before taking over for good on lap-19. A final caution flag came on lap-21, giving Gertsch a final chance at Stone. Stone held back the challenges to claim the win. Moose Douton got past Gertsch in the closing laps to take second and Gertsch finished third. Stone’s win, coupled with a rough race for championship leader Josh Galvin, enabled him to keep his title hopes alive. Stone is second to Galvin in the standings.
Buzel was the benefactor of a late race scuffle at the front of the field in the 25-lap SK Light Modified feature, picking up his second consecutive win in the process. Buzel was third and running with the lead cars of Larry Goss and Randy Churchill Jr. as their battle for the race lead heated up in the final five circuits. Churchill tried to make an outside pass on Goss in turn two on lap-23. Goss bobbled and when he gathered his car up the track, Churchill was forced into the wall to bring out the yellow flag and end his strong run. Buzel lined up outside of Goss for the ensuing restart, raced Goss even to the white flag and was able to narrowly edge ahead through the third and fourth corner to nip Goss by a bumper in a photo finish. Goss ended up second and point leader Corey Barry was third.
Zaikarite picked up his first Saturday night victory in the night’s 25-lap Mini Stock feature. The former Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday champion led the way throughout and pulled ahead to the win. Ray Christian and Doug Curry finished second and third, respectively.
Christopher checkered the night’s special 50-lap INEX Legend Cars feature, winning for the 24th overall time of the year to extend his record number of wins in one season for the division. The win gave Christopher an automatic starting berth in the sanctioning bodies Asphalt Nationals event, held October 16-18 at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He took the lead inside of Dana Dimatteo on the tenth lap, leading comfortably through the final caution flag, which came on lap-40. He bested Dimatteo on the restart, going on to win. Dimatteo finished second and Joey Ternullo was third.
Just one Saturday night event remains before the track’s big Finale Weekend October 4-6. Next Saturday, a seven division program sees the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds, Valenti Auto Mall Late Models, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, and SK Light Modifieds in action. They are joined by the INEX Legend Cars and an appearance by the Mini Cup competitors.
Waterford Speedbowl Saturday 9/20 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Results:
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds® (35-laps): 1. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill; 2. Keith Rocco, Berlin; 3. Shawn Monahan, Waterford; 4. Joe Gada, Salem; 5. Ted Christopher, Plainville; 6. Todd Patnode, Richmond, NH; 7. John Montesanto, North Branford; 8. Brent Sweet, Monroe; 9. Dennis Perry, Ashaway, RI; 10. Adam Gada, Bozrah; 11. Jeff Gallup, Agawam, MA; 12. Ed Puleo, Branford; 13. Wendell Dailey, Gales Ferry; 14. Craig Lutz, Miller Place, NY; 15. Tim Jordan, Plainfield; 16. Zach Aszklar, Wallingford; 17. Paul Kusheba IV, Monroe; 18. Tommy Silva, Waterford; 19. Brad Caddick, Wyoming, RI; 20. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 21. Dominic Cupuano Jr., East Haven; 22. Tom Pinson, Colchester; 23. Robert Goulet, hometown unavailable; 24. Bert Marvin, Colchester; 25. Tommy Vigh Jr., Otisville, NY
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Valenti Auto Mall Late Models (30-laps): 1. Anthony Ryan Jr., Danbury; 2. Vin Esposito, Seymour; 3. Keith Rocco, Berlin; 4. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 5. Bruce Thomas Jr., Groton; 6. Jim Banfield, Glastonbury; 7. Derryck Anderson Jr., Warwick, RI; 8. Joe Gada, Salem; 9. Mike Sweeney Jr., Meriden; 10. Randy Tucker, Millis, MA; 11. Ken Morin Jr., Old Saybrook; 12. Robert O’Connell Jr., Wrentham, MA; 13. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 14. Chris Garside, Waterford
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stocks (25-laps): 1. Al Stone III, Durham; 2. Moose Douton, Waterford; 3. Ed Gertsch Jr., East Haven; 4. Ryan Waterman, Danielson; 5. Greg Moran Jr., Preston; 6. Dwayne Dorr, Ledyard; 7. Jason Chicolas, Sutton, MA; 8. Josh Galvin, Franklin; 9. Phil Evans, Uncasville; 10. Jeff Rocco, Southington; 11. Norm Root Jr., Old Saybrook; 12. Monte Gibbs, Higganum; 13. Steve Barrett, Preston; 14. Ed Puleo, Branford; 15. Nate Appell, Old Saybrook; 16. Brandon Fisher, Plainfield; 17. Jack Aquilina, Oakdale; 18. Gary Stone, Killingworth; 19. Corey Hutchings, Salem; 20. Darrell Carlson, Chester; 21. Dave Yardley, Berlin; 22. Shawn Monahan, Waterford; 23. Billy Hahnel, Uncasville; 24. Jake Bercham, West Greenwich, RI; 25. Scott Sundeen, Sutton, MA; 26. Shawn Gaedeke, Southington
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Mini Stocks (25-laps): 1. Pete Zaikarite, Niantic; 2. Ray Christian III, Groton; 3. Doug Curry, Groton; 4. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 5. Garrett Denton, Hope Valley, RI; 6. Charles Canfield, New Haven; 7. Larry Loomis Jr., Moosup; 8. Wayne Burroughs Jr., Oakdale; 9. Mark Panaroni, Ivoryton; 10. Joe Fogarasi, Columbia; 11. Nick Pappacoda, North Branford; 12. Chris Ivory, Oakdale; DQ- Joe Liskiewicz, Preston; DQ – Dave Trudeau, Mansfield
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Light Modifieds (25-laps): 1. Paul Buzel, Trumbull; 2. Larry Goss, North Windham; 3. Corey Barry, Plainfield; 4. Jeff Fialkovich, Shelton; 5. Cal Therrien, Vernon; 6. Rich Hamman, Tolland; 7. Rick Williams, East Haddam; 8. Victoria Bergenty, Plainville; 9. Crystal Serydynski, Johnston, RI; 10. Chris Ignazio, Colchester; 11. Alan Tirrell, North Stonington; 12. Randy Churchill Jr., Oakdale
INEX Legend Cars (50-laps): 1. Mike Christopher Jr., Wolcott; 2. Dana Dimatteo, Farmington; 3. Joey Ternullo, Middletown; 4. Ryan Lutz, Miller Place, NY; 5. Tim DePizzol, North Franklin; 6. Cory Dimatteo, Farmington; 7. Cornelius Flynn, Hampden, MA; 8. Scott McKnickle, Ledyard; 9. Michael Comforti, Uxbridge, MA; 10. Caterina LaBella, Plainville; 11. Joe Mucciacciaro, Wolcott; 12. Andrew Molleur, Shelton; 13. Scott Limkemann, East Lyme
Sources: Brian Darling/Waterford Speedbowl PR