New London-Waterford Speedbowl 5/9 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Results
Waterford, CT (May 9, 2015) – Auto racing returned to New London-Waterford Speedbowl Saturday night with the second NASCAR Whelen All-American Series program of 2015. Leading the way was Keith Rocco who scored a record-tying 106th career track win after picking up the victory in the Late Model feature. Tim Jordan recorded his first ever SK Modified® win in thrilling fashion, while Chris Meyer ended a winless streak in the Limited Sportsman division. Corey Barry won for the second consecutive week in the SK Light Modified ranks and Ray Christian picked up the Mini Stock feature honors.
An electrifying first career victory went to Jordan in the SK Modified® feature. He outdueled veteran open-wheel racer Ted Christopher for the duration of the night’s 35-lap race. The race began with an opening lap crash in turn four that began amongst the top-five cars. A chain reaction incident happened when the cars of Ed Puleo, Jeffrey Gallup and John Montesanto made contact. Further behind several others became collected including Keith Rocco, who pitted and resumed from the rear. Gallup, Paul Kusheba, and Joe Liskiewicz were all sidelined for the night.
When racing resumed Jordan took control outside of pole sitter Adam Gada to lead lap-2. Puleo followed into second and Christopher moved up to third in the opening laps. Caution waved for the second time on lap-8 for a Diego Monahan spin in turn four.
Jordan had Christopher on his tail following the restart. Christopher moved in and pressed Jordan for several laps, trying to get a wheel to his outside to challenge for the lead. Rob Janovic moved to third and tried to snatch second inside Christopher, keeping Christopher in defense of his runner-up position. Tyler Chadwick had moved to fourth, but Rocco eventually raced his way back into the picture by halfway, finding room outside Chadwick to claim the spot on lap-19 as the race stayed green.
Up front, Christopher dogged Jordan, turning up the pressure on his rear bumper with each lap that clicked away. Jordan hit his marks to retain the top spot to lap-31, when Montesanto spun off the front chute to draw a yellow flag. A four car wreck back in the pack on the ensuing restart set up a final duel on the front row between Jordan and Christopher.
Jordan got the jump leaving Christopher scrambling to recover in the outside lane. Janovic got by Christopher while Jordan streaked to the win over the final laps. Janovic held back a charging Christopher for second place. Janovic was third, Rocco fourth and Chadwick was fifth at the finish. The win was Jordan’s first in the sport since 2010, the year he claimed his second Late Model division title at the Speedbowl.
Rocco picked up the record-tying win in the night’s 30-lap Late Model feature. He did so in convincing fashion, chasing down early leader Anthony Flannery and used a clean pass in the outside lane on lap-7 after starting the race fifth. The race, which ran caution free for the second consecutive week, saw Rocco coast to a 2.5 second margin of victory. Flannery finished second and Jason Palmer was third. Rocco tied the mark of 106 track victories set by Phil Rondeau, who acquired the majority of his wins in the Late Model division over two decades in the 1980s and 1990s. Rocco will chase history next Saturday night.
Barry claimed his second consecutive SK Light Modified victory to begin the year in the division’s 25-lap race. He started the race fifth but worked his way into contention early in the going to challenge early leader Chris Gombos. Gombos led through lap-10 when Barry took command. The two shared slight contact on lap-9 and Gombos actually spun in turn three just after a caution flag waved for another incident behind the leaders on turn two. Gombos was able to hold his lead for the restart, but Barry powered ahead outside him. Barry cruised to the victory from there. Josh Galvin finished second in just his second career start in the division.
Meyer picked up his first win in the Limited Sportsman division since 2013 with a strong performance in the night’s 25-lap feature race. He battled Monte Gibbs early in the going, taking over for good on lap-6. Meyer withstood two restarts the rest of the way to go on to the win. Behind him, a host of competitors battled for podium finishes. Ryan Waterman came away with a hard fought runner-up finish, while Al Stone scored third at the checkered flag.
Christian was the victor in the 25-lap Mini Stock race. He began the race fourth, took the lead early in the going, and endured four caution periods the remainder of the race. He held back a charging Dave Trudeau over the final laps. Trudeau was second and Larry Loomis was credited with third.
The Speedbowl returns next Saturday with a five-division NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing card with another $5 general admission town night. Any residents of towns beginning with letters I through Q will be admitted for five dollars with proof of residency. On Thursday, the second edition of Thursday Night Thunder will hit the track with eight dollar adult general grandstands admission and free grandstands admission for all youth ages 14 and under. More information on the 2015 season can be found online at www.speedbowlct.com.
Unofficial New London-Waterford Speedbowl Saturday 5/9 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Results:
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds® (35-laps): 1. Tim Jordan, Plainfield; 2. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 3. Ted Christopher, Plainville; 4. Keith Rocco, Berlin; 5. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 6. Craig Lutz, Miller Place, NY; 7. Ed Puleo, Branford; 8. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill; 9. Joe Gada, Salem; 10. John Montesanto, North Branford; 11. Adam Gada, Bozrah; 12. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., Milford; 13. Jeff Fialkovich, Shelton; 14. Jake Bercham, West Greenwich, RI; 15. Wendell Dailey, Gales Ferry; 16. Paul Kusheba IV, Monroe; 17. Joe Liskiewicz, Taftville; DQ – Jeff Gallup, Agawam, MA
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Valenti Auto Mall Late Models (30-laps): 1. Keith Rocco, Berlin; 2. Anthony Flannery, East Hampton; 3. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 4. Jeff Rocco, Wallingford; 5. Derryck Anderson Jr., Warwick, RI; 6. Chris Garside, Waterford; 7. Ray Christian III, Groton; 8. Ken Morin Jr., Old Saybrook; DNS – Matt Carlson, Griswold
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Limited Sportsman (25-laps): 1. Chris Meyer, Norwich; 2. Ryan Waterman, Danielson; 3. Al Stone III, Durham; 4. Monte Gibbs, Higganum; 5. Jason Chicolas, Sutton, MA; 6. Greg Moran Jr., Preston; 7. Glenn Colvin, Clinton; 8. Corey Coates, Ledyard; 9. Brandon Fisher, Plainfield; 10. Jon Porter, Canterbury; 11. Jack Aquilina, Oakdale; 12. Tim Morse, Southbury; 13. Phil Evans, Uncasville; 14. Billy Hahnel, Uncasville; 15. Sean Curtis, Stonington; 16. Ed Gertsch Jr., East Haven; 17. William Staves, Windsor Locks
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Mini Stocks (25-laps): 1. Ray Christian III, Groton; 2. Dave Trudeau, Mansfield; 3. Larry Loomis Jr., Moosup; 4. Glen Thomas Jr., West Bridgewater, MA; 5. Pete Zaikarite, Niantic; 6. Doug Curry, Groton; 7. Nick Pappacoda, North Branford; 8. Brad Caddick, Wyoming, RI; 9. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 10. Matt Guertin, Plantsville; 11. Nate Taylor, Wauregan; 12. Sean Caron, East Hartford; 13. Chris Ivory, Oakdale; 14. Wayne Burroughs Jr., Oakdale; 15. Ian Brew, Wood River Junction; 16. Dave Sylvia, Preston; 17. Charles Canfield, East Haven; DQ – Jordan Hadley, Quaker Hill;
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Light Modifieds (25-laps): 1. Corey Barry, Plainfield; 2. Josh Galvin, Oakdale; 3. Calvin Therrien, Vernon; 4. Lloyd Anderson Jr., Wauregan; 5. Rick Williams, Haddam; 6. Chris Gombos, Naugatuck; 7. Alan Tirrell, North Stonington; 8. Nick Riso, Wallingford; 9. Rick Walksi Jr., Norwich; 10. Paul Buzel, Trumbull
Sources: Mike Serluca/New London-Waterford Speedbowl PR