Godin Reigns Supreme, Konopka Finds Victory Lane
Thompson, CT — Roger Godin of Spencer, MA continued his domination of the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Pro Stocks recording win number six of the season on Family Fun Night at Thompson International Speedway. Joining in on the fun were repeat winners included Ryan Stone of Branford, CT in the Strictly Stocks and Rich Barry of Central Village, CT in the Mini Stocks. Late Model victory lane saw a new face with Gerry Konopka of Lebanon, CT recording his first victory of the season.
Roger Godin, after being absent from Pro Stock victory lane for two weeks, returned to his familiar spot on the front stretch to claim his sixth win of the season. Joe Perry of Agawam, MA and Bernie Croteau of Monson, MA led the 27-car field to the green flag, however, before the completion of lap one the caution flew for a spin by Liane Lombardi. After a failed attempt at the restart Croteau assumed the lead while Perry was freight trained by a number of cars including Ken Kohler, Steve Ribbe, and Godin. The same fate was handed to Croteau only one lap later. Ribbe made an inside move on Kohler to take the lead on lap eight with Godin following through for second. The top three of Kohler, Ribbe, and Godin distanced themselves from the remainder of the pack.
The leaders encountered lapped traffic during an extended green flag run allowing Ribbe to gain some breathing room over Godin. Ribbe and Godin pulled away from the field while third through seventh positions ran nose to tail. A caution of lap 21 for a spin by Mark Tersian set up the first of several restarts that pitted Ribbe and Godin for the lead. Godin took the lead by a nose but drifted up in turn two giving Ribbe the advantage.
Ribbe, on the outside of the front row with Godin, checked up slightly coming down for the restart on lap 27 and was tapped by George Bessette. The contact sent Ribbe into the wall, collecting Dick Houlihan’s #1. Houlihan received heavy damage. Ribbe was able to continue after a quick trip to the pits for a flat tire.
A three-lap shoot-out for the checkers saw Godin take the win over Phil Rondeau and George Bessette; who made a triumphant return to Thompson after missing several weeks of competition. Godin, with only one point race remaining on the schedule, was able to extend his point lead as both Dick Houlihan and Steve Ribbe encountered problems.
Gerry Konopka has run strong all season long recording a number of top-five finishes. On Sunday night he was able to break into victory lane grabbing a hard-fought first Late Model victory of the season. Konopka took the lead at the start of Late Model main event from his pole starting position. Jeff Plakias of Auburn, MA took second spot from 2000 Champ Lonnie Mecteau on lap six and the lead from Konopka on lap seven. A caution on lap 10 for a spin by Roger Ducharme set up a restart with Konopka and Plakias on the front row.
On the restart Gerry Young, Jeff Plakias, and Lonnie Mecteau went three-wide for the second position behind Konopka. Plakias was shuffled back several spots but fought his way back to resume the lead on lap eleven. A quick caution set up another dual between Plakias and Konopka, contact between the two send Plakias into the wall and ending his bid for the victory. Konopka held on for several more restarts after halfway to record his first win of the season.
Ryan Stone put his Strictly Stock into victory lane for his fifth win of the season. Larry Barnett of Ledyard, CT and Frank Kiser, Jr. of N. Providence, RI ran wheel-to-wheel for the first two laps of the Strictly Stock main event before Kiser established himself as the leader. Ryan Stone followed Kiser through to claim the second position, putting pole sitter Barnett back to third. Leader Frank Kiser made hard contact with the turn four wall bringing out the caution and handing the lead over to Stone.
Top two point men Scott Cook of Uncasville, CT and Tim Taylor of Danielson, CT put on a show behind front-runners Stone, Barnett and Taftville, CT’s Bill McNeil. The heated battled, fueled by only a two-point margin, saw the two run side-by-side for several laps. Taylor came away with the advantage while McNeil had assumed the runner-up spot. Stone, too, withstood a number of late race restarts to hold on for the win ahead of McNeil and Taylor.
Rich Barry had a half a straightaway lead at the checkers to record his second consecutive Mini Stock feature win. Barry led Dennis Coates and the pick-up trucks of George Rego and Joe LeMay to the stripe. Soccer demo honors went to Beattle Chamberland of Moosup, CT and Mark Wetherbee was the Full-Size Demo winner.
Pro Stock Feature Finish: 1.) Roger Godin, Spencer, MA; 2.) Phil Rondeau, Baltic, CT; 3.) George Bessette, Danbury, CT 4.) Dave Bergmann, Rehoboth, MA; 5.) Ken Kohler, Jr., N. Providence, RI; 6.) Dennis Maxfield, Fitchburg, MA; 7.) Norman Wrenn; Nashua, NH; 8.) Chris Magee, Edgartown, MA; 9.) Dave Bitondo, Berkley, MA; 10.) Daryl Stampfl, Norwood, MA.
Late Model Feature Finish: 1.) Gerry Konopka, Lebanon, CT; 2.) Lonnie Mecteau, Plainfield, CT; 3.) Jeff Zuidema, N. Brookfield, MA; 4.) John Falconi, Marlboro, MA; 5.) Scott Bronczyk, N. Grosvernordale, CT; 6.) Woody Pitkat; Stafford, CT; 7.) Marc Palmisano, S. Deerfield, MA; 8.) David Blain, Danielson, CT; 9.) Walt Sutcliffe,Jr, E. Haven, CT; 10.) Jim Peterson.
Strictly Stock Feature Finish: 1.) Ryan Stone, Branford, CT; 2.) Bill McNeil, Taftville, CT; 3.) Tim Taylor, Danielson, CT; 4.) Ed Puleo, E. Haven, CT; 5.) Larry Barnett, Ledyard, CT; 6.) Scott Cook, Uncasville, CT; 7.) Ken Fecteau, Franklin, MA; 8.) Todd Dean, Danielson, CT; 9.) Jeff Hesselton, Auburn, MA; 10.) Norm Beauvais, Jr., Mapleville, RI.
Mini Stock Feature Finish: 1.) Rich Barry, Central Village, CT; 2.) Dennis Coates, Wrentham, MA; 3.) George Rego, N. Dartmouth MA; 4.) Joe Lemay, Millville, MA; 5.) Rod Rixham, Sutton, MA; 6.) Randy Waterman, Danielson, CT; 7.) Chris Gagnon, Moosup, CT; 8.) Roger Larson, Milford, MA; 9.) Cindy Larson, Milford, MA; 10.) David Clark, Plainfield, CT.
Sources: Thompson Speedway PR