Marvin Rolls in Sunoco Mods at Thompson

Thompson, CT — The hot and steamy weather was equaled only by the action on the track at Thompson International Speedway on Thursday night. Bert Marvin of Waterford made a strong statement returning to competition in style by dominating the Sunoco Modified main event. Steve Michalski of Dayville won post-race tech to earn his first victory of the season in the Mini Stock 25-lapper. Fred Astle of N. Westport, MA, scored his long-awaited first win of the 2007 season. Mark Jenison of Danielson continues his impressive 2007 season with his fourth Late Model victory. Kurt Vigeant of Oxford was tops in the TIS Modified division while Ernie LaRose of Plainfield checkered the Limited Sportsman main.

After a one-week hiatus, Bert Marvin came back to Thompson with a vengeance. The veteran grabbed the lead early in the race and went on to dominate the 30-lap feature. On the opening lap, Kerry Malone dove to the inside of a side-by-side battle between pole sitter Dave Salzarulo and Josh Steeves to make it three-wide for the lead. Malone could not keep up his momentum and fell back to third. Marvin meanwhile appeared to be on rails, easily driving to the lead on lap three.

Pitkat had already worked his way into the second spot followed by Malone. John Blewett had his hands full holding off Keith Rocco for fourth. Jimmy Blewett, who got out of shape on the front stretch, had gathered it in and was running alone in sixth ahead of Tommy Cravenho.

Marvin was enjoying a sizeable lead as Pitkat began to feel the pressure from Malone. Rocco got alongside Jo. Blewett and was able to take away the fourth spot as the flagman showed the crossed flags. On the same lap, Ji. Blewett retired to pit road.

Rocco now made it a three car battle for the second spot. Marvin entered lapped traffic as Pitkat, Malone and Rocco ran nose-to-tail. Jo. Blewett was able to reel in the group as well.

Marvin easily maneuvered through lapped traffic, enjoying his half-straightaway lead. Malone made his bid for the second spot on lap 25. He got inside of Pitkat but could not muster up the pass. The bid opened the door for Rocco, who then got alongside Malone. The running order remained unchanged as the first caution of the event flew on lap 25 when Shelly Perry dumped fluid on the front stretch.

Back under green, Marvin easily worked his way out to a solid lead over Pitkat. Malone resumed his defense of third position from Rocco. Jo. Blewett quietly watched from the fourth spot.

While Marvin was running away with the lead, Rocco made a last ditch effort on Malone for third. He got out of shape trying to drive around Malone on the final lap. Rocco slid out of the groove losing positions to both Jo. Blewett and Tommy Cravenho.

The dominating performance ended with Bert Marin in victory lane. Pitkat helped pad his standing in the Whelen All-American National Standing with his runner-up spot. Malone, who sits third in the national standings finished third. John Blewett, and Tommy Cravenho completed the top five.

After a firestorm of disqualifications in the Mini Stock division, Steve Michalski of Dayville was declared the feature winner. It was the Mini Stock division’s night to shine with their annual extra-distance race. The field went 26-cars strong for the 25-lapper. Clyde Caswell took command of the main event relinquishing the lead briefly to Steve Michalski on lap three. A caution flew that involved Rick Blanchard to negate the lead pass for the lead.

On the restart, Romano charged into the second position and immediately went looking for more. Romano and Caswell were even at the stripe to complete lap five but Romano took the lead easily exiting turn two.

Caswell was hanging tight in the second spot despite pressure from Michalski and Brad Caddick. Kenny Stilwell joined the fray as well making it a four-car battle for second. Romano maintained the top spot but could only stretch his lead slightly.

Caswell gave up the runner-up position to Caddick on lap 12. Michalski followed through a single lap later. With six laps to go, Michalski was able to get by Caddick for second while Romano was getting away from the pack.

Romano streaked to the checkers for what appeared to be his second win in as many weeks. Michalski, Caddick, Caswell, and Blanchard crossed the stripe inside the top-five before post race technical inspection shuffled the finishing order. Michalski was awarded the win followed by Leo Defevers, Ron Rixham, Scott Roy, and Chris Williams.

The new kingpin of the Late Model division, Mark Jenison of Danielson, CT, scored his fourth feature win of the 2007 season. In the span of the opening three laps Jim Kiley, Jr., Mark Oliviera, and RJ Marcotte all took a turn at the head of the pack. Marcotte continued to lead as top guns Rick Gentes and Mark Oliviera had made their way into the top three. The two swapped some paint battling for the second spot. Gentes dropped off the pace on lap five with a flat right front to bring out the caution.

On the restart, Jenison used the outside groove to take the lead away from Marcotte. Tommy O’Sullivan lurked behind Marcotte in third. Conrad Cote and Oliviera went side by side for the fourth spot. Cote was able to take the spot away.

At the halfway marker, Jenison continued to lead Marcotte and O’Sullivan. The first caution of the event flew for a spin by Al Mandarino. Jenison immediately took command of the event when it went back to green. The man on the move was Cote. On the restart he grabbed the third spot from O’Sullivan and a few laps later the second spot from Marcotte. With two laps remaining Gentes was back inside the top five and looking to advance

On the final lap, Marcotte got racy looking to take the second spot back from Cote. Cote’s late race surge stuck and retained the second spot behind winner Jenison. Marcotte had to settle for third over O’Sullivan and Gentes. In what has become his trademark, Jenison drove down the front stretch letting out a stream from his onboard fire bottle in celebration.

Fred Astle of N. Westport, MA, turned in a dominating performance to score a popular win in the Pro Stock feature. The competitors had a hard time getting going with two cautions flying before the completion of lap two. They made it well worth the wait; however, as the action behind leader Astle was tremendous throughout the distance of the 30-lap feature.

The first battle found George Bessette trying to hold off the advances of a charging Mike O’Sullivan. Bessette relinquished the third spot making way for a battle for the runner-up spot. Jay Macedonio had to defend his position from a charging Mike O’Sullivan. The duo jockeyed for position lap-after-lap with Macedonio maintaining the position. With only a handful of laps remaining, O’Sullivan got the better of Macedonio to take over the second position.

Astle cruised under the checkers for his first feature win of the season. O’Sullivan charged to the stripe in second. A valiant effort by Macedonio resulted in a podium finish of third. Bessette and Norm Wrenn finished the top five.

Brian Blaise took command of the Limited Sportman feature from the drop of the green flag while deep in the pack Larry Barnett went three wide in search of some running room. Ernie LaRose took over the top spot leaving Blaise to fend off Ed Puleo, Keith DeSanctis and Joe Arena. As the laps clicked off the scoreboard, LaRose continued to lead Puleo, now in second and DeSanctis. The top-three were getting away from the rest of the pack.

With five laps remaining, LaRose entered heavy lapped traffic allowing Puleo and DeSanctis to close in on the leader. He was able to gain a little bit of breathing room when Puleo and DeSanctis got battling side-by-side. Arena ran alone in fourth with a comfortable margin back to Scott Sundeen.

Despite the jockeying for position the running order remained unchanged in the top three as LaRose took down the win over Puleo and DeSanctis. Arena and Sundeen rounded out the top five.

Kurt Vigeant of Oxford, CT, scored his second win of the 2007 season in his Independent Racing Wheels #7 TIS Modified. Mike Viens jumped out to the early lead with Kurt Vigeant taking chase. Vigeant reeled in the leader, who had built up a comfortable lead. After stalking the leader for a pair of laps, Vigeant was able to grab the top spot away when Viens got crossed up exiting turn four on lap nine.

At the halfway marker, last week’s winner Roger Larson, Jr. was shown the consolation flag for smoke pouring off his machine. The first caution of the event flew on lap 12 for a spin by Josh Walmsley. On the restart, it was all Vigeant who immediately distanced himself from a great battle for second between Viens and Glenn Boss.

Boss was able to take over the second spot from Viens but with only two laps remaining could not cut into the sizeable lead that the leader Vigeant had built. At the checkers, it was a commanding win for Vigeant. Boss came home second over Viens, Tim Sullivan, and Shane Michalski.

Sunoco Modified Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Bert Marvin, Waterford, CT; 2. Woody Pitkat, Stafford, CT; 3. Kerry Malone, Needham, MA; 4. John Blewett, Howell, NJ; 5. Tommy Cravenho, Raynham, MA; 6. Keith Rocco, Wallingford, CT; 7. Buddy Charette, Woodstock, CT; 8. Harry Rheaume, Oakdale, CT; 9. Geoff Gernhard, Salem, CT; 10. Danny Cates, Chaplin, CT.

Mini Stock Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Steve Michalski, Dayville, CT; 2. Leo Defevers, Brooklyn, CT; 3. Ron Rixham, Jefferson, MA; 4. Scott Roy, Bloomfield, CT; 5. Chris Williams, Niantic, CT; 6. Oakley O’Connell, Jr., Wrentham, MA; 7. Mike Gorgievski, Auburn, MA; 8. Glynn Roy, Sterling, CT; 9. Steve Romjue, Coventry, RI; 10. John Kelly, Groton, CT.

Late Model Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Mark Jenison, Danielson, CT; 2. Conrad Cote, Lisbon, CT; 3. R.J. Marcotte, Millville, MA; 4. Tom O’Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 5. Rick Gentes, Woonsocket, RI; 6. Jeff Hartwell, Putnam, CT; 7. Dennis Perry, Pawcatuck, CT; 8. Pete Yetman, Peru, MA; 9. Chris Munger, Charlton, MA; 10. Rick Grover, Franklin, MA.

Pro Stock Feature Finish (Top Ten): Fred Astle, Jr,. N. Westport, MA; 2. Mike O’Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 3. Jay Macedonio, Somerset, MA; 4. George Bessette, Danbury, CT; 5. Norm Wrenn, Nashua, NH; 6. Les Rose, Jr., E. Wareham, MA; 7. Steve Desmarias, Westport, MA; 8. Dave Berghman, Seekonk, MA; 9. Carl Eriksen, Jr., Baldwin, NY; 10. Dave Silvia, Warwick, RI.

Limited Sportsman Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Ernie Larose, Plainfield, CT; 2. Ed Puleo, Branford, CT; 3. Keith DeSanctis, Monson, MA; 4. Joe Arena, Kensington, CT; 5. Scott Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 6. Larry Barnett, Ledyard, CT; 7. Jay Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 8. Brian Blaise, Manchester, CT; 9. Kevin Mason, W. Warwick, RI; 10. Tim Taylor, Wauregan, CT.

TIS Modified Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Kurt Vigeant, Oxford, CT; 2. Glenn Boss, Danielson, CT; 3. Mike Viens, Seekonk, MA; 4. Tim Sullivan, S. Windsor, CT; 5. Shane Michalski, Woodstock, CT; 6. Richie Ferreira, Raynham, MA; 7. Leo Oliviera, Raynham, MA; 8. Roger Ducharme, Foster, RI; 9. Cam McDermott, Scituate, MA; 10. Josh Walmsley, Scotland, CT.

Sources: Dale Wolbrink/Thompson International Speedway PR

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