Points, History Grab Spotlight At Speedbowl
Waterford, CT — All of a sudden there are three sizzling point battles at Waterford Speedbowl. Heading into the stretch drive, leaders Rob Janovic Jr. (SK-Modifieds), Dwayne Dorr (Sportsman) and Ken Cassidy Jr. (Mini Stock) are reachable targets.
A red hot Bruce Thomas Jr. continues his quest of the consecutive-win mark in the Late Model division. He is currently two away from the record (five) held by the legendary Phil Rondeau.
The Northeast AllStar Race Truck Series presented by the A.B. Training Center, returns as well for Saturday’s five-division offering. Bill Leonard, a winner at the Nationals, heads up the ARTs entries.
Janovic has a trio of contenders behind him including Shawn Monahan (-18), Dennis Gada (-24) and Jeff Pearl (-44).
The Mini Stock batlle has also heated up, Cassidy leading defending champion Danny Field and Joe Godbout III. They have been the fastest cars throught out the season.
Popular Al Stone III (-48) can still catch Dorr, also a defending champion. “You make a mistake thinking you’re safe,” points out Dorr. “That almost cost me last year.”
The Speedbowl continues to be a very competitive place, last Saturday night’s winners Tom Fox (SKs) and Mark LaJoie (Sportsman) increasing this year’s Whelen All American Series checkered list to 24. “Winning races is still what people come here hoping to do,” says Fox, “and it is not an easy thing to do.”
LaJoie’s outside lane heroics last Saturday is classic testimony to Fox’s evaluation.
After his seventh championship in what is his last season, Gada finds himself surrounded by a trio of proven winners. “There isn’t really a lot of strategy past showing up and running as fast as you can,” says Pearl. “You have to take advantage of whatever there is.”
Field, seeking a division record third straight title, took over the point lead last week, putting the touches on a great comeback. Over the past two years, Field has battled “in the lead” most of the way. Taking the lead as the stretch drive begins is a definite advantage.
Still, Cassidy and Godbout have had the division’s fastest cars throughout the year. The outside lane, a favorite haunt of both, could well prove to be the route to the championship as well.
Waterford Speedbowl Point Standings
SK MODIFEIDS –1. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford, 714; 2. 2. Shawn Monahan, Waterford, 686; 3. Dennis Gada, Salem, 688; 4. Jeff Pearl, Salem, 670; 5. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill, 626; 6. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard, 574; 7. Dennis Charette, Southington, 560; 8. Jeffrey Paul, Ledyard, 558; 9. Don Fowler, Clinton, 5306; 10. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., Milford, 490.
LATE MODELS: 1. Bruce Thomas Jr., Groton, 800; 2. Ernie Bertrand, N.Branford, 688; 3. Larry Goss, N.Windham, 624; 4. Vin Esposito, Seymour, 622; 5.Ed Reed Jr., Waterford, 604; 6. Anthony Macrino, Waterford, 536; 7. Dave Zemke, Guilford, 524 ; 9. Tim Jordan, Norwich, 508; 9. 7. Allen Coates, Ledyard, 488: 10. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill, 470.
SPORTSMAN: 1. Dwayne Dorr, Ledyard, 800; 2. Al Stone III, New Haven, 752; 3. Jim Procaccini, Trumbull, 646; 4. Jack Aquilina, Oakdale, 636; 5. Josh Galvin, Gales Ferry, 594; 6.. Dan Emery, Gales Ferry, 528; 7. Bill Gertsch Jr., East Haven, 504: 8. John Puglisi, Orange, 438; 9. Walter Hovey Scotland, 422; 10. Joe Nogiec, Bristol, 380.
MINI STOCKS: 1. Danny Field, Deep River, 734; 2. (tie). Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; Joe Godbout III, Hope Valley, RI, 726; 4. Phil Evans, Uncasville, 660; 5. Randy Churchill, Norwich, 620; 6. Louis Bellisle, Lisbon, 588; 7. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI, 564; 8. Jack Aquilina, Oakdale, 504; 9. Chris Williams, Niantic, 488; 10. Soup Civardi, Taftville, 412.
LEGENDS: 1. Chris Bakaj, Lebanon, 364; 2. Michael Gervais Jr., Southbury, 360; 3. Mark Bakaj, Lebanon, 334; 4. Jason Palmer, Berlin, 312; 5. Brian Quimette, Chaplin, 298; 6. Danny Field, Deep River, 296; 7. Max Zachem, Preston, 258; 8. Justin Rau, Plantsville, 210; 9. Artie Moran Jr., Preston, 208; 10. Dan Bisignano, Roxbury, 202.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/Waterford Speedbowl PR