Double Down, TVMS 100 Share Speedbowl Agenda
Waterford, CT — Saturday night at Waterford Speedbowl amounts to a double dose of old fashioned, hard-nosed short track racing. The TrueValue Modified Tour Town Fair Tire 100 returns, sharing the busy agenda with the Mohegan Sun Double Down Shoot Out. There will be 260 laps of feature racing.
The ‘Bowl’s four NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions will each run double features, the second lining up in reverse of the lead lap finish of the first. The SK-Modifieds and Late Models will run a pair of 25 lap features while the Sportsman and Mini Stocks are slated for two 15 lappers.
The action begins at 3:45 PM with what many see as the toughest racing around – the TrueValue qualifying races. Two drivers – Jeff Pearl and Kenny Horton – have already earned “guaranteed” spots in the 100 lapper. Both are experienced hands in TVMS action.
Pearl, who has enjoyed stunning success in major events this season at the ‘Bowl, and Horton, who owns the single lap qualifying record, will carry the Speedbowl banner against the TVMS stalwarts. Another large field is expected including Kirk Alexander, Les Hinckley, Louie Mechalides, Dwight Jarvis and Jimmy Kuhn, all in the TVMS point battle.
Chris Pasteryak, Mike Holdridge and Ed Dachenhausen hope to cash in on “Speedbowl experience” as well. All have won at the ‘Bowl in the past.
“We have never really had an uneventful TrueValue race at the Bowl,” said General Manager Bill Roth, “and the fans have always had a ‘homie’ to cheer for. We have been looking forward to this unique doubleheader of pedal-to-the-metal action.”
“You just have to go to the front as fast as you can,” agrees Pearl who will be doing double duty.
There will be no qualifying for the Speedbowl divisions, the cars starting the respective first features by the existing handicap. Mohegan Sun bonus money for a “sweep” – $500 for the SKs, $300 for the Late Models, $200 for the Sportsman and Minis – adds to the excitement.
The Speedbowl’s two sizzling point races command attention as well. SK-Modified leader Rob Janovic Jr. and defending champ Dennis Gada are only 14 points apart. Sixteen points separate Mini Stock leader Ken Cassidy Jr. and Danny Field, the latter going for a third straight crown.
Much is still to be settled in all four divisions as battles rage for spots below the top.
The Mohegan Sun Double-Down/Town Fair Tire 100 kicks off a busy holiday weekend. Sunday’s traditional Big Y World Class Market Back to School Bash features, in addition to four and eight cylinder demos, a School Bus Demo and another round of ‘Speedway Bowling.’
Waterford Speedbowl Point Standings
SK MODIFEIDS –1. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford, 800; 2. Dennis Gada, Salem, 786; 3. Shawn Monahan, Waterford, 750; 4. Jeff Pearl, Salem, 728; 5. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill, 712; 6. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard, 646; 7. Jeffrey Paul, Ledyard, 622; 8. Don Fowler, Clinton, 618; 9. Dennis Charette, Southington, 580; 10. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., Milford, 554.
LATE MODELS: 1. Bruce Thomas Jr., Groton, 898; 2. Ernie Bertrand, N.Branford, 774; 3 Larry Goss, N.Windham, 702; 4.Ed Reed Jr., Waterford, 690; 5. Vin Esposito, Seymour, 680; 6. Dave Zemke, Guilford, 598; 7. Tim Jordan, Norwich, 544; 8. (tie) Anthony Macrino, Waterford, 536; Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill, 536; 10. Allen Coates, Ledyard, 488.
SPORTSMAN: 1. Dwayne Dorr, Ledyard, 892; 2. Al Stone III, New Haven, 844; 3. Jack Aquilina, Oakdale, 712; 4. Jim Procaccini, Trumbull, 694;; 5. Josh Galvin, Gales Ferry, 612; 6. Dan Emery, Gales Ferry, 598;7. Bill Gertsch Jr., East Haven, 504: 8. (tie) John Puglisi, Orange; Walter Hovey Scotland, 446; 10. 10. Joe Nogiec, Bristol, 442.
MINI STOCKS: 1. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon, 850; 2. Danny Field, Deep River, 834; 3. Joe Godbout III, Hope Valley, RI, 872; 4. Phil Evans, Uncasville, 750; 5. Randy Churchill, Norwich, 704; 6. Louis Bellisle, Lisbon, 672; 7. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI, 642; 8. Jack Aquilina, Oakdale, 570; 9. Chris Williams, Niantic, 488; 9. Soup Civardi, Taftville, 480.
LEGENDS: 1. Michael Gervais Jr., Southbury, 448; 2. Chris Bakaj, Lebanon, 416; 3. Jason Palmer, Berlin, 406; 4. Mark Bakaj, Lebanon, 358; 5. Brian Quimette, Chaplin, 352; 6. Ed Field, Deep River, 336; 7. Max Zachem, Preston, 296; 8.Artie Moran Jr., Preston, 290; 9. Dan Bisignano, Roxbury, 260; 10. Justin Rau, Plantsville, 250.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/Waterford Speedbowl PR