Hossfeld Grabs FMS Checkers; Fornoro & Berndt Score Open-Wheel Wins; Gentes, Docherty, Boss, & Viens Cool in Icebreaker 03 at Thompson Speedway
Thompson, CT — In the last two weeks it seemed as if the Icebreaker ’03 at Thompson might be the impossible dream but the event, postponed by one week for inclement weather, finally was held under spectacular conditions. On Saturday morning it looked like it would once again be a wash but the sun came out allowing for two action-packed days of racing. Chuck Hossfeld was the star on Icebreaker weekend earning a victory for the Mystic Missile team of Bob & Joan Garbarino of Mystic, CT. John Blewett III from Howell, NJ came home second followed by local hero Charlie Pasteryak.
Drew Fornoro of Newtown, NJ continues to rack up Northeastern Midget Association victories. This time Fornoro did not cross the line first yet he was the victor anyway. It appeared that Bobby Santos III had put the famous #29 into victory lane but post race technical inspection found the Seymour-owned entry to be in violation of the club’s width rule. Santos took a commanding lead early and went on to take the checkers by a sizeable margin over declared winner Fornoro. Young gun Adam Cantor had charged to the front to finish second followed by Randy Cabral, Howie Bumpus and Joey Payne, Jr. Kudos go out to rookie Sean Caisse of Pelham, NH who finished inside the top ten in his first-ever Midget start.
Eric Berndt of Rocky Hill, CT proved to be the car to beat in Sunday Sunoco Modified action as he wired the field. In vast contrast to Saturday night’s event, the Sunoco Modifieds cruised through their second feature of the weekend with only a single caution. In the early going a great battle for the lead was brewing between Berndt and Bo Gunning. Berndt jumped up to the lead from his pole starting position with Gunning in tow. Gunning peaked the nose of the TS Haulers entry inside Berndt’s #54 several times before the caution flew on lap six.
When green flag racing resumed, Berndt assumed his position at the front with little pressure from Gunning. The laps clicked off with the field running in a high-speed freight train. The car on the move in the second half of the event was Matty Adanti, who had picked his way into the seventh position passing the likes of Ted Christopher and John Brouwer along the way. Up front it was all Berndt as he took the victory ahead of Gunning, Bert Marvin, Kerry Malone and Ron Yuhas, Jr.
Chuck Docherty of Springfield, MA jumped from his Sunoco Modified and into his Pro Stock in victorious fashion. Docherty took the lead on lap one of the Pro Stock main event and sat comfortably out front for the remainder. Norm Wrenn had moved from the 14th position into second with ten laps to go and began reeling in the leader. Time ran out for the NH driver; however, and had to settle for second behind Docherty. Former track champion GeGe Gravel finished third followed by Joe Lemay and Dick Houlihan.
Rick Gentes of Woonsocket, RI did himself one better on Sunday. After finishing second in the Late Model feature on Saturday night, he came home with the victory on Sunday. Corey Hutchings and Gentes swapped positions as the previous evenings winners settled for second. Ryan Posocco had a great weekend with a third place finish on Sunday, making it two top fives for the Eagle Leasing crew on the weekend.
The fourth position was the most contested spot on the track in the latter portion of the event. Darrin Stevens, Fred LaForge, Jr. and Jeff Plakias, duked it out for position. The group often went three wide including coming out of turn four heading to the checkers. Stevens came home fourth followed by Plakias and LaForge in sixth.
Fan-favorite Glenn Boss of Danielson, CT proudly carried the American Flag during his victory lap. Boss took the lead on lap 13 to score a popular win in the season opening Limited Sportsman event. Shawn Monahan jumped out to the early lead of the 37-car feature event and in short order headed a three-car breakaway with Boss and Larry Barnett. Through much of the race the trio snaked through lapped traffic nose to tail.
A restart on lap 11 bunched up the field giving yet more cars a shot at the top spot. On lap 13 Boss took lead with Scott Cook and Barnett bearing down on second-running Monahan. Once out front, Boss enjoyed some breathing room ahead of a great battle from second on back. In the end, Monahan hung on for second with Barnett taking over third from Cook in the closing laps. Danny Cates finished in the fifth spot.
Mike Viens of Seekonk, MA picked up where he left off last season. A victory on Icebreaker Sunday made it five in a row in Mini Stock action at Thompson. It looked as if the “Ice Man” would have to settle for the second position but after post-race technical inspection he was declared the winner. Steve Dumas led every lap en route to an apparent victory. In the end top-five honors went to Viens, Andy Publicover, Scott Michalski, Ron Rixham and Brandon Plemons.
Northeastern Midget Association Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Drew Fornoro, Newtown, NJ; 2. Adam Cantor, Dix Hills, NY; 3. Randy Cabral, Plymouth, MA; 4. Howie Bumpus, Lakeville, MA: 5. Joey Payne, Jr., Fairlawn, NJ; 6. Ed Breault, Lincoln, RI; 7. Sean Caisse, Pelham, NH; 8.Pete Pernesiglio, Ronkonkoma, NY; 9. Ben Seitz, Buzzards Bay, MA; 10. Nokie Fornoro, Stroudsberg, PA.
Sunoco Modified Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Eric Berndt, Rocky Hill, CT; 2. Bo Gunning, Bethelehem, CT; 3. Bert Marvin, Waterford, CT; 4. Kerry Malone, Needham, MA; 5. Ron Yuhas, Jr., Groton, CT; 6. Jeff Malave, Manchester, CT; 7. Matty Adanti, Old Saybrook, CT: 8. John Brouwer, Jr., Groton, CT; 9. Ted Christopher, Plainville, CT; 10. Stu McCarthy, Oxford, MA.
Pro Stock Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Chuck Docherty, Sprinfield, MA; 2. Norm Wrenn, Nashua, NH; 3. GeGe Gravel, Groton MA; 4. Joe Lemay, Blackstone, MA; 5. Dick Houlihan, Bridgewater, MA; 6. Mike O’Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 7. Rick Martin, Wesport, MA; 8. David Berghman, Seekonk, MA; 9. Ron Louro, Bristol, RI; 10. Jim McCallum, Fall River, MA.
Late Model Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Rick Gentes, Woonsocket, RI; 2. Corey Hutchings, Uncasville, CT; 3. Ryan Posocco, Stafford Springs, CT; 4. Darrin Stevens, W. Boylston, MA; 5. Jeff Plakias, Feeding Hills, MA; 6. Fred LaForge, Jr., Windsor Locks, CT; 7. Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs, CT; 8. Paul Heard, Lisbon, CT; 9. Charles Bailey III, N. Stonington, CT; 10. Chris Curtis, Rutland, CT.
Limited Sportsman Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Glenn Boss, Danielson, CT; 2. Shawn Monahan, Waterford, CT; 3. Larry Barnett, Ledyard, CT; 4. Scott Cook, Uncasville, CT; 5. Danny Cates, 6. Joe Arena, Kensington, CT; 7. Mike Cavanaugh, Coventry, RI; 8. Ken Fecteau, Franklin, CT; 9. Keith DeSanctis, Monson, MA; 10. Lyle Wolfinger, Moodus, CT.
Mini Stock Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Mike Viens, Seekonk, MA; 2. Andy Publicover, Sudbury, MA; 3. Scott Michalski, Attawaugan, CT; 4. Ron Rixham, Jefferson, MA; 5. Brandon Plemons, Uncasville, CT; 6. Roger Larson, Jr., Milford, MA; 7. Bill Schoeler, Warwick, RI; 8. Bob Smith, Pascoag, RI, 9. Jason Paquette, Norwich, CT; 10. Rod Rixham, Sutton, MA.
Sources: Dale Wolbrink/Thompson International Speedway PR