Cravenho Wins the Battle, Marquis the War; Perley, Payne, Godin, Berndt, Jenison, and Bronczyk Sunday Victors at the World Series
Thompson, CT — When all was said and done at the 27th Annual Thompson International Speedway Xtra Mart World Series, Jerry Marquis & Mario Fiore had a Modified crown and Tommy Cravenho a series victory. Mark Jenison had the Strictly Stock trophy and Roger Godin, the Pro Stock laurels. Open wheel winners were Joey Payne, Jr. in the NEMA Midgets, Chris Perley in the ISMA Super Modifieds, and Eric Berndt in the Sunoco Modifieds.
Lap 63 saw some tense moments in the Featherlite Modified Series event when Mike Ewanitsko and Tony Hirschman crashed leading the pack, collecting Marquis, Ruggiero, Fuller among others. Ewanitsko suffered a broken arm in the incident. The championship contending crews went to work and got their driver back into the frey. Marquis’ Teddy Bear Pools #44 was none the worse for wear as he methodically picked his way to the front. Front-end suspension damage slowed Ruggiero’s charge, ending his bid for his first Modified Series title. When the checkers flew it was Cravenho taking a narrow victory over the Cretty cars of Mike Stefanik and Ted Christopher. Wearing the crown was Jerry Marquis and veteran car owner Mario Fiore.
Better days for auto racing could not have been had for the 27th Annual Thompson International Speedway Xtra-Mart World Series of Auto Racing.
After two ideal days of racing Sunday saw much of the same. The Non-Qualifiers event for the Featherlite Modified Series was first to take the green with Frank Ruoco and Herb Drugg showing the way. Veteran Bo Gunning moved to the front of the pack while Jim Willis and Tony Ferrante waged a fierce battle for the second and final qualifying spot. When the dust settled on the 25-lapper it was Gunning with the victory and Ferrante holding off charges from Jim Willis and then Jamie Asklar to earn the final transfer spot.
In true Thompson Speedway Strictly Stock style the season finale for the division came right down to the wire. Under starter Bill Long’s checkers Mark Jenison came away with the win by a nose over Lyle Wolfinger. A caution with two laps to go set up the shoot-out between Wolfinger and Jenison who had battle side-by-side for the lead during the latter portion of the event.
Joe Payne, Jr. put on a tremendous show for the fans, coming from last to first, to gain the win in the NEMA Midgets return to the historic oval.
Payne used a lap car as a pick to take the lead from teammate Russ Stoehr with 5-laps to go and never looked back. The victory was the 100th career victory for car owner Gene Angelillo.
Roger Godin of Spencer, MA put an exclamation point on his championship season picking up the win in the Pro Stock marathon holding off the cagey veteran Jim McCallum of Fall River, MA. Godin turned in a respectable eighth place finish in the Sunoco Modified event later in the evening.
Fresh off his third place finish in the Pro Stock feature event the “Rowley Rocket” Chris Perley motored to a commanding victory in the ISMA Supermodified feature. The heated battle was for second with Joe Gosek and Dave McKnight. At the line it was the 2000 champion Gosek claiming the runner-up spot over McKnight, who started scratch on the field from his provisional starting.
Survival was the name of the game in the Sunoco Modified feature event. Eric Berndt not only survived he prospered taking an impressive victory holding of Curt Brainard. Berndt withstood a number of restart to retain the lead and the win, it was the first time he had finished an event at Thompson.
In the final event of the 27th Annual Xtra-Mart World Series at Thompson International Speedway found Scott Bronczyk of N. Grosvenordale, CT in victory lane. It was Bronczyk’s second victory of the season.
Strictly Stock feature finish: 1. Mark Jenison, Warwick, RI; 2. Lyle Wolfinger, Moodus, CT; 3. Scott Cook, Uncasville, CT; 4. Corey Hutchings, Uncasville, CT; 5. Todd Dean, Danielson, CT; 6. John Beetham, Uncasville, CT; 7. Larry Barnett, Ledyard, CT; 8. Jeff Hessleton, Auburn, MA; 9. Jess Gleason, Baltic, CT; Scott Fanning, Smithfield, RI.
NEMA Midget feature finish: 1. Joey Payne, Jr., Hawthorne, NJ; 2. Russ Stoehr, N. Carver, MA; 3. Jim Miller, Weymouth, MA; 4. Phil DiMario, Piermont, NY; 5. Randy Cabral, Plymouth, MA.
Pro Stock feature finish: 1. Roger Godin, Spencer, MA; 2. Jim McCallum, Fall River, MA; 3.Chris Perley, Rowley, MA; 4. Eddie Carroll, Longmeadow, MA; 5. Rick Martin, Westport, MA; 6. Jeff Zuidema, N. Brookfield, MA; 7. Jerry Marquis, Broad Brook, CT; 8. Dick Houlihan, Berkeley, MA; 9. Les Hinkley III, Windsor Locks, CT; 10. Blaine Belz, Moodus, CT.
ISMA Supermodified top-three: 1. Chris Perley, Rowley, MA; 2. Joe Gosek, Oswego, NY; 3. Dave McKnight, Brampton, Ont. Can.
Sunoco Modified feature finish: 1. Eric Berndt, Meriden, CT; 2. Curt Brainard, Canton CT; 3. Eddie Flemke, Jr., Southington, CT; 4. Chuck Docherty, Springfield, MA; 5. Tom Fox, Plainfield, CT; 6. Earl Tucker, Guilford, CT; 7. Chris Osella, Manchester, CT; 8. Roger Godin, Spencer, MA; 9. Ronnie Silk, Norwalk, CT; 10. Zach Sylvester, Lebanon, CT.
Late Model feature finish: 1. Scott Bronczyk, N. Grosvenordale, CT; 2. Scott Foster, Ellington, CT; 3. Jeff Zuidema, N. Brookfield, MA; 4. Woody Pitkat, Stafford, CT; 5. Jeff Hartwell, E. Putnam, CT; 6. Jim Peterson, Monson, MA; 7. Mark Palmisano, S. Deerfield, MA; 8. Jeff Karns, Gales Ferry, CT; 9. Gerry Konopka, Lebanon, CT; 10. Billy Wheeler, Sag Harbor, NY.
Sources: Thompson Speedway PR