New London-Waterford Speedbowl Thursday Night Thunder 6/25 Results
Waterford, CT (June 25, 2015) – New London-Waterford Speedbowl returned to action with its eighth Thursday Night Thunder program of the year and four feature race winners were recorded on the night, including one first-time victor. T.J. Thompson of Lisbon won for the first time of the year in INEX Legend Cars action, while a trio of drivers won for the third time of the year. Nickolas Hovey of Chaplin claimed his third checkered flag in the INEX Bandoleros, Brian Norman of Clinton won his third Super X-Car race and Dave Gargaro Jr. of Cranston, RI was victorious for the third time this year in the X-Car division.
Thompson won his first INEX Legend Cars feature in just his second outing of the year at the Speedbowl. Thompson was riding in a pack battling for position among the top-five cars over the first half of the 25-lap feature. A spirited battle for the race lead between John O’Sullivan and Cory DiMatteo broke out near halfway, all under green flag conditions. O’Sullivan led since the early going, but DiMatteo marched to the front and took the top spot with an inside move on lap-11. O’Sullivan was not done however, and he was able to counter and get inside DiMatteo in turn one on lap-14. The two ran side-by-side but contact between the cars in turn three sent the field scattering. Both cars spun, and collected others behind. Thompson steered through the wreckage that took out the top three cars and inherited the lead for the ensuing restart. Joey Ternullo a multi-time winner already this season, chased Thompson to the checkered flag. Ternullo could not muster a big enough challenge and finished second. Two-time winner Jordan Churchill was third.
Hovey raced to the checkered flag after surviving a late-race scuffle in the 20-lap INEX Bandolero feature. Hovey trailed Ethan Simmons for most of the race, riding his rear bumper lap after lap waiting for an opportunity to contend for the race lead. That chance came on lap-16 and Hovey dived inside Simmons down the back chute. As the cars entered turn three, they came together and Simmons spun. Hovey was able to drive through the incident and was the new leader for the restart. He held off a charging Hailey Desaulniers over the final laps to take the victory. Ethan Durocher finished third.
The 25-lap eight cylinder Super X-Car feature was bookended by a pair of yellow flags, one on the opening lap and one with just four laps remaining. Norman had taken the lead in the beginning, and he and Todd Taylor stretched out a massive lead over the field by the time the second and final caution flag came out on lap-21. Norman controlled the restart however, romping to this third win of the year. Taylor recorded a best-ever finish by holding on to second. Last week’s winner Marc Shafer was third.
The 25-lap four cylinder X-Car feature was slowed just once, for a spin that took out the opening lap leader Bruce Sperry. Gargaro had taken the top spot from Sperry on lap-3 to be scored as the leader at the time of the caution flag when Sperry met misfortune between turns three and four. When the green flag returned, Gargaro slowly distanced himself from his competition the rest of the way through the checkered flag. Eric Finkbein Jr. finished a solid race to end up runner-up to Gargaro, and Randy Johnston was third.
Unofficial New London-Waterford Speedbowl Thursday Night Thunder 6/25 Results:
INEX Legend Cars (25-laps): 1. T.J. Thompson, Lisbon; 2. Joey Ternullo, Middletown; 3. Jordan Churchill, Lisbon; 4. Andrew Molleur, Shelton; 5. John O’Sullivan III, Salem; 6. Cassandra Cole, Westbrook; 7. Dennis Pantani, Branford; 8. David Lespinasse, Milford; 9. Noah Korner, Canton; 10. Michael Comforti, Uxbridge, MA; 11. Cory DiMatteo, Farmington; 12. Michael Blaskey, Waterbury; DNS – Peter DePizzol, North Franklin
INEX Bandoleros (20-laps): 1. Nickolas Hovey, Chaplin; 2. Haley Desaulniers, Windham; 3. Ethan Durocher, Plainfield; 4. Ethan Simmons, Pawcatuck; 5. Andrew Morin, Old Saybrook; 6. Brendon Tyman, Shelton
X-Cars (25-laps): 1. David Gargaro Jr., Cranston, RI; 2. Eric Finkbein Jr., Manchester; 3. Randy Johnston, Westerly, RI; 4. Wayne Shifflett, Preston; 5. Mark Shepard, Griswold; 6. William Rheaume, Uncasville; 7. C.P. Burdick, Deep River; 8. Christopher Lee, Waterford; 9. Christopher Thomas, Waterford; 10. Andrew Lee, New London; 11. Bruce Sperry, Waterford; 12. Richard Mollo, Seymour; 13. Michael Olsen, Deep River; 14. Kim Bickford, Griswold; 15. Nate Bryington, Webster, MA; 16. Tom Sheehan, Baltic; 17. Craig Tavernier, Moosup; 18. Eddie Loomis, Plainfield; 19. Chuck McDonald, Groton; DNS – Ray Herman, Waterford
Super X-Cars (25-laps): 1. Brian Norman, Clinton; 2. Todd Taylor, North Stonington; 3. Marc Shafer, Groton; 4. Jaysin Beal, Ledyard; 5. Ray Reed, Norwich; 6. Frank Alessio, Colchester; 7. Kevin Moon, Exeter, RI; 8. Shawn Gaedeke, Southington; 9. Scott Bellisle, Wauregan
Sources: Mike Serluca/New London-Waterford Speedbowl PR