Gada Takes Sixth Win, Dorr Clinches Sportsman Title at Speedbowl
Other feature winners were Tim Jordan (Late Model), Jack Aquilina (Sportsman), Phil Evans (Mini Stock), David Syren (X Car), and, Brad Whipple (Faster Pastor).
Janovic and Gada waged an epic side-by-side battle for the majority of the race. With only four circuits remaining, the defending track champion executed an outside move for the lead, cruising home several car lengths ahead of the pack.
“That was just ridiculous,” stated Gada over his efforts to overtake the leader. “I was given almost no room from Janovic tonight. Going into the turns he’d go right and run me up the track. At one point he was blocking so much, I was plowing through the infield dirt. I was surprised that he was driving like that, as he’s supposedly going for a title. I’m kind of disappointed in Rob. He’s ran here for 22 years without a championship, but that’s no way to race.”
Janovic’s take on the race; “My car was really lousy tonight, I’m surprised it took Dennis as long as it did to get around me.”
Todd Ceravolo, Mike Finkeldey, and Matt Gallo completed the top-5.
Janovic retains a 14-point lead over Gada going into next week’s Finale event.
Tim Jordan recorded his fifth victory of the season, narrowly defeating newly-crowned 2007 Late Model champion Bruce Thomas Jr. by a scant margin.
“It’s great to be back in victory lane,” stated the defending Late Model champion who’s last win was recorded in May. “Racing against these guys is what it’s all about, you can’t beat the action at the Speedbowl. This is just plain fun, and we’re looking forward to another run at the championship in 2008.”
Following Thomas was Ed Reed Jr., Vin Esposito, and, Ernie Bertrand.
Jack Aquilina made it five Sportsman victories for the season, narrowly defeating Al Stone III on the last lap
“That was a tough one,” said Aquilina. “I had to pass Al twice, and the second one almost didn’t happen as he’s come on really strong this year. Racing against Al is always a pleasure and it’s a bonus when you can beat a guy like him.”
By virtue of his 7th place finish, Dwayne Dorr clinched the 2007 Sportsman championship, his second in a row.
Coming out on top in a see-saw battle between the top-five cars, it was Phil Evans notching his sixth Mini Stock feature of the season.
“The car was pretty tight on the inside tonight, so I took it up the track,” stated Evans, who’s winning move came via the high-road. “I can’t begin to thank Jeff Miller enough for making this my best-ever season, he’s a great guy to drive for. Things just went well for us from the start of the year.”
The victory makes Evans the all-time winner among the divisions currently active drivers.
Randy Churchill Jr,. Danny Field, Kyle James, and point-leader Ken Cassidy rounded-out the top-five.
David Syren celebrated his second feature of the season in taking down the 20-lap X car race, overtaking early leader James Lynch with only two circuits remaining.
“It feels great to do this in front of a Saturday night crowd,” said the winner, a regular in the Speedbowl’s “Wild N’ Wacky Wednesday” programs. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to get by Lynch, as he pretty much pinched me up against the wall. That’s OK though, it was just good hard racing, and usually he runs me pretty clean.”
Following Lynch was Shawn Salimeno, Dustin Gage, and, Pete Zaikarite.
Brad Whipple of the Seaport Community Church in Groton defeated Edward Hayes of the Resurrection Life Christian Center Church in East Hartford to win the hotly-contested 10-lap “Faster Pastor” special event.
SK MODIFIED (35); 1. Dennis Gada, 2. Rob Janovic Jr,, 3. Todd Ceravolo, 4. Mike Finkeldey, 5. Matt Gallo, 6. Don Fowler, 7. Wendell Dailey, 8. Robert Georgiades, 9. Glenn Pressel III, 10. Mike Sweeney, 11. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., 12. Tom Fox, 13. Bill Benoit, 14. Clifford Fitzgerald III, 15. Keith Rocco, 16. Joe Krawiec, 17. Jeff Paul, 18. Jay Miller, 19. Tyler Chadwick, 20. Jeff Pearl, 21. Kevin Shea, 22. Garrett Kusman.
LATE MODEL (30); 1. Tim Jordan, 2. Bruce Thomas Jr., 3. Ed Reed Jr., 4. Vin Esposito, 5. Ernie Betrand, 6. Dave Zemke, 7. Duane Noll, 8. Rich Duranti, 9. Rich Staskowski, 10. Tom Fox, 11. Terrance O’Brien, 12. Mike Kluczinsky, 13. Larry Goss.
SPORTSMAN (20); 1. Jack Aquilina, 2. Albert Stone III, 3. Norman Root Jr., 4. Walt Hovey, 5. Jim Procaccini, 6. Ken Woodward Jr., 7. Dwayne Dorr, 8. Chuck Rogers, 9. Josh Galvin, 10. Ed Lamb Jr., 11. John Bercham, 12. Tim Fogg, 13. Ed Clark, 14. Mark Burr, 15. Kevin Burr, 16. Mark Charette, 17. Dave Yardley III, 18. Joe Nogiec.
MINI STOCK (20); 1. Phil Evans, 2. Randolph Churchill Jr., 3. Danny Field, 4. Kyle James, 5. Ken Cassidy Jr., 6. Joseph Godbout III, 7. Jack Aquilina, 8. Chuck Rogers, 9. Mark Panaroni, 10. Glenn Colvin, 11. Ben Bargnesi, 12. Lou Belisle, 13. Nate Appell, 14. Andrew Becker, 15. Brandon Plemons, 16. Jeff “Soup” Civardi, 17. Mark Caise, 18. Christina Cunliffe, 19. Chris Lee, 20. Albert “Bo” Norman, 21. Chris Williams, 22. Jeff Miller, 23. Nicholas Pappacoda.
X CAR (20); 1. David Syren, 2. James Lynch, 3. Shawn Salimeno, 4. Dusitin Gage, 5. Pete Zaikarite, 6. Steve LaRose, 7. Rich Hurne, 8.Mike Marvin, 9. Mike Walsh, 10. Wayne Heon, 11. Dale Sherman, 12. Joe Madore, 13. Allen Coates Jr., 14. Buddy Strede, 15. Robert Sease, 16. Art Phillips, 17. Tylor DiFrancesca, 18. Steve Valliere, 19. Jeff Mehienbacher, 20. Dan Madore.
FASTER PASTOR (10); 1. Brad Whipple, Seaport Community Church, Groton, 2. Edward Hayes, Resurrection Life Christian Center Church, East Hartford, 3. Rob Patrick, Gallup Hill Baptist Church, Ledyard, 4. Derrick Stoddard, Third Baptist Church, North Stonington, 5. Bill Hinkley, Shield of Faith Ministries, Plainfield, 6. Chris Thomas, Resurrection Life Christian Center Church, East Hartford, 7. Dolan Simmons, Open Door Baptist Church, Stonington, 8. John Gates, Open Door Baptist Church, Stonington, 9. Dave Munley, Seaport Community Church, Mystic, 10. Curtis Watson, Faith Church Ministries, New Milford, 11. Rick Pressley, Third Baptist Church, North Stonington, 12. Rusty Ward, Quinebaug Valley Alliance Church, Griswold, 13. Frank Spaulding, Open Door Baptist Church, Stonington, 14. Shaun Pillay, Third Baptist Church, North Stonington, 15. Terry Frazier, Third Baptist Church, North Stonington.
Sources: Dave Dykes/Waterford Speedbowl PR