The Season Officially Commences at Thompson Speedway with Malave & Hutchings in Victory Lane; Zach Sylvester Earns First Bud Pole
Thompson, CT: A new season, a new ride, and new trophy for Jeff Malave of Manchester, CT. The Sunoco Modified division spent a little time working out the bugs on Saturday night but in the end it was an exciting finish. Malave, who took over the driving responsibilities of the Interstate Diesel #6 for owner Don Bannister, held off the advances of Kerry Malone, Eric Berndt, and Bert Marvin to post the victory in the first of two Sunoco Modified features scheduled for Icebreaker ’03.
Bo Gunning took the lead on lap one and looked as if he would be the season’s first winner. After going three wide for second position, a lap one restart set the front row of Gunning and Malave. With Gunning comfortably out front, there was hot and heavy action behind the leader with a handful of cars dicing for position. Malave, Kerry Malone and Jim Civali ran in a tight pack behind the leader with Bert Marvin and Teddy Christopher, who had marched back into contention after brining out the first caution of the event, close behind.
The complexity of the event all changed on lap 15 when Gunning and Civali made hard contact collecting Christopher. Malave managed to avoid the wreck to take over the top spot. When green flag racing resumed Malave got little breathing room as he headed to the checkers. Coming out of four there was a three-car battle behind the leader with Eric Berndt charging from the fourth position to take second ahead Malone and Bert Marvin.
Corey Hutchings of Uncasville, CT invaded Thompson Speedway in fine style in the 20-lap Late Model event. The Waterford regular led green-to-checker in the caution-free feature. Hutchings redrew the sixth position for the start in Sundays Late Model event.
It may have been considered an upset but it was no surprise that Zachary Sylvester took the pole for the Featherlite Modified Series portion of Icebreaker ’03. The youngster out of Lebanon, CT has a tremendous amount of open-wheel experience. His lap of 18.711 second (122.50 MPH) beat out Chuck Hossfeld, Charlie Pasteryak, John Blewett III, and Nevin George for the Bud Pole.
Sunoco Modified Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Jeff Malave, Manchester, CT; 2. Eric Berndt, Rocky Hill, CT: 3. Kerry Malone, Needham, MA; 4. Bert Marvin, Waterford, CT; 5. Ron Yuhas, Jr., Groton, CT; 6. Bo Gunning, Bethelehem, CT; 7. Stu McCarthy, Oxford, MA; MA; 8. John Sandberg, S. Windsor, CT; 9. Jimmy Dolan, Bethel, CT; 10. Johnny Brouwer, Jr., Groton, CT.
Late Model Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Corey Hutchings, Uncasville, CT; 2. Rick Gentes, Woonsocket, RI; 3. Darrin Stevens, W. Boylston, MA; 4. Ryan Posocco, Stafford Springs, CT; 5. John Falconi, Marlborough, MA; 6. Scott Bronczyk, N. Grosvenordale, CT; 7. Charles Bailey, III, N. Stonington, CT; 8. Todd Dean, Danielson, CT: 9. Paul Heard, Lisbon, CT; 10. Marc Curtis, Jr., Spencer, MA.
Sources: Dale Wolbrink/Thompson International Speedway PR