Berghman Wires Pro Stock 50-Lapper
Thompson,
Jimmy Blewett of
On the restart, John resumed his lead taking brother Jimmy along for the ride. Masse got a run from third making contact with John. Jimmy was able to sneak into the lead with Rocco taking over the second spot. John settled back into the third position. Pitkat charged by Masse with ten laps down.
The top three ran in a high-speed chase of leader Jimmy Blewett. John dogged Rocco for second. At halfway, Rocco made a bid on Jimmy’s lead. Rocco looked as if he would take over the top spot but he could not hold his momentum and both Blewett brothers were able to make their way past putting Jimmy back in the lead. Rocco now had his hands full with Pitkat.
The excitement had settled down as the top-four continued to run nose to tail. Shelly Perry spun in front of the leaders to bring out the caution to set up a six-lap dash to the checkers. On the double file restart, Rocco made it three-wide coming down to take the green. Ji. Blewett squeezed into the top spot over Jo. Blewett and Rocco. Rocco could not maintain his position and lost the third spot to Pitkat.
Pitkat immediately went to work on John Blewett. He moved into the second spot with two to go. He lined up behind the younger Blewett but could not reel in the leader.
Dave Berghman wired the field in the caution-free 50-lap marquee event for the Pro Stock division. A daring pass on the opening lap of the extra-distance race gave Berghman the advantage he would need to score the win. Berghman went three wide exiting turn two to edge out George Bessette and Fred Astle and lead the opening lap. Things settled down as they prepared for the 49 remaining laps. As the green flag laps clicked off the board, the top-five of Berghman, Bessette, Astle, Wrenn and O’Sullivan ran nose to tail.
The first to peek out of line was Astle, who tried the inside groove on Bessette at the halfway marker. This allowed Wrenn and O’Sullivan, who now also ran door-to-door, to catch the battle for the second position. Berghman started to get away from the pack.
Astle was able to make the pass on Bessette and O’Sullivan was able to make the pass on Wrenn. Now it was Wrenn and Bessette vying for position. Wrenn came out on top and was able to maintain the fourth position.
In the closing laps, Astle began to reel in the leader Berghman while the battle for the third spot began to heat up between Wrenn and O’Sullivan. Wrenn advanced the position with ten laps to go. Over the final five laps, Astle could not gain any ground on Berghman in first.
An action-packed Late Model main event culminated with a dramatic finish that found Rick Gentes of Woonsocket, RI, beating Tommy O’Sullivan under the checkers by mere feet. But the drama did not end there. At press time, two cars inside the top-five were set to undergo further technical inspection. Official results will be announced on the track’s official website, www.thompsonspeedway.com as soon as possible.
The opening lap was marred by a melee that ultimately involved 12 cars including O’Sullivan and Mark Jenison. With the race finally underway, Dave Trudeau was the leader. Trudeau quickly extended his lead to a half straight-away over second running R.J. Marcotte.
Just shy of ten laps, things got racy inside the top five when Hartwell got a run on Marcotte to take away the second spot. Gentes came along for the ride. The second caution flew when John Materas hit the outside wall on the backstretch.
The restart pitted Dave Trudeau against Rick Gentes. Trudeau was able to retain his lead. Hartwell ran third followed by Dennis Perry and Mark Jenison. At the crossed flags, the best battle was a three-car battle for the fourth position. Perry held the position but O’Sullivan and
On lap 15, Gentes started to show his hand when he got alongside Trudeau. Gentes would get into the corner better but Trudeau had the upper hand getting out. For many laps the two went door-to-door with neither getting a decided advantage. Finally, with less than seven laps to go Gentes made a successful bid for the lead.
Once Gentes got out front, Hartwell and O’Sullivan made the bid for second a three-car battle. Trudeau ended up hard into the outside wall exiting turn two. Hartwell was put at the tail of the field for his involvement. When green flag racing resumed, Gentes again took control. Not satisfied with second, O’Sullivan made a run on Gentes exiting turn two but settled back in line. He repeated the move in turn four heading to the checkered flag. Gentes appeared to bobble and it was a drag race to the checkered flag with Gentes taking the win by mere feet over Tom O’Sullivan. Mark Jenison settled for third ahead of Perry and Marcotte.
Joe Arena of
DeSanctis ran out to a sizeable lead as Joe Arena had moved his way into the second spot followed by Ed Puleo and a charging Scott Sundeen. At the halfway marker, DeSanctis held a half straightaway advantage over Arena, Puleo, Sundeen and Jess Gleason inside the top-five. With heavy battling back in the pack, Larry Barnett found himself mired deep inside the top ten.
The first caution of the event flew on lap 16 cooling the battle that had heated up between Puleo and Sundeen. The incident, which involved John Berchem and Brian Blaise, also erased the sizeable lead that DeSanctis had built.
Back under green, it was more of the same for DeSanctis, who easily took command once again. Arena resumed his spot in second while Sundeen and Puleo settled things with Sundeen taking over the fourth spot. The battle for fifth found Kevin Reilly, Ernie LaRose, and Larry Barnett scrapping for position.
Although not as large of a lead as he had enjoyed earlier in the event, DeSanctis went unchallenged to his second win of the season. Arena came home second over Sundeen and Puleo. Ramos beat back all competitors to finish inside the top-five.
Roger Larson, Jr. of
On the opening lap, outside pole-sitter Josh Walmsly lost control of his mount to bring out the first caution. On the restart, Roger Larson, Jr. stepped out into the lead over Bart Ramos. Shane Michalski got out of shape in turn three on lap four collecting Glenn Boss. It was the second altercation for Boss during the day. Back under green it was again Larson at the helm.
The battle for the second spot got too close for comfort when contact between Kurt Vigeant and Leo Oliviera opened the door for the point leader Tim Sullivan. Oliviera slipped back into the clutches of Sullivan losing the position. Sullivan reeled in and passed Vigeant a lap later. Larson, who had meanwhile gained a sizeable advantage, watched Sullivan get larger in the mirror lapped after lap.
With two laps remaining Sullivan had caught the leader. On the final lap, Sullivan got alongside Larson in turn two but could not muster up a pass. All Sullivan could do was chase Larson to the checkered flag. Vigeant recovered to finish third. Oliviera and Mike Viens rounded out the top five.
Mike Romano of
Sunoco Modified Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Jimmy Blewett, Howell, NJ; 2. Woody Pitkat, Stafford, CT; 3. John Blewett, Howell, NJ; 4. Keith Rocco, Wallingford, CT; 5. Steve Masse, Bellingham, MA; 6. Harry Rheaume, Oakdale, CT; 7. Danny Cates, Chaplin, CT; 8. Dave Salzarulo, Monson, MA; 9. Brad Vanhouten, Wading River, NY; 10. Dan LaJuenesse,
Late Model Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Rick Gentes, Woonsocket, RI; 2. Tommy O’Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 3. Mark Jenison, Danielson, CT; 4. Conrad Cote, Lisbon, CT; 5. Dennis Perry, Pawcatuck, CT; 6. R.J. Marcotte, Millville, MA; 7. Paul Newcomb, Jr., Plymouth, MA; 8. John Materas, Voluntown, CT; 9. Jim Kiley, Jr, Griswold, CT; 10. Jeff Hartwell, E. Putnam, CT.
Limited Sportsman Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Keith DeSanctis, Monson, MA; 2. Joe Arena, Kensington, CT; 3. Scott Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 4. Ed Puleo, Branford, CT; 5. Kevin Reilly, Plainfield, CT; 6. Ernie Larose, Plainfield, MA; 7. Larry Barnett, Ledyard, CT; 8. Jess Gleason, Lisbon, CT; 9. Tommy Shea, New London, CT; 10. Eric Grant,
TIS Modified Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Roger Larson, Jr., Milford, MA; 2. Tim Sullivan, S. Windor, CT; 3. Kurt Vigeant, Oxford, MA; 4. Leo Oliviera, Raynham, MA; 5. Mike Viens, Seekonk, MA; 6. Bart Ramos, Sterling, CT; 7. Richie Ferriera, Raynham, MA; 8. Cam McDermott, Scituate, RI; 9. Josh Walmsley, Scotland, CT; 10. Steve LaBreck,