Pitkat Wins Sunoco Mod Night Capper; Rocco Crowned Champ
Thompson, CT — A season packed with racing excitement at Thompson International Speedway came down to the final night with champions crowned in all six NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions. At the night’s end, Woody Pitkat of Stafford made his first appearance in Sunoco Modified victory lane. But, it was Keith Rocco of Wallingford who drove his Bannister Motorsports #6 to a fifth place finish to earn the team their second championship in three seasons.
In Pro Stock action, Mike O’Sullivan of Springfield, MA, scored his second Thompson Pro Stock championship in winning-style taking down Thursday night’s feature win. In similar fashion, Kurt Vigeant of Oxford, MA, capped off his first TIS Modified championship with a feature win in the regular season finale.
John Materas of Voluntown earned his first career Late Model win in a wild main event that also found Rick Gentes of Woonsocket, RI in for the divisional championship. Larry Barnett of Ledyard, scored his fourth Limited Sportsman feature win while a seventh place finish allowed a retiring Keith DeSanctis of Monson, MA, to go out as a champion. Scott Michalski of S. Killingly made it two in a row in Mini Stock competition but it was Mike Romano of Pascoag, RI wearing the crown.
Woody Pitkat of Stafford saved the best for last; earning his lone feature win in the finale. After a 2007 season of consistent finishes, Pitkat was in the running for the track title on the final night. He took the lead just after halfway and withstood heavy pressure from Kerry Malone to score the victory; however it was not enough to catch the point leader Rocco.
An opening lap melee that started with contact in the front row ended with Masse hard into the outside wall in the turn one. Also collected were championship contenders Keith Rocco and Tommy Cravenho as well as Bert Marvin. With the race underway, Geoff Gernhard was the early leader with Josh Steeves coming along for the ride in second.
Steeves made a move on Gernhard to take the lead on lap four with Malone and Pitkat battling hard for the third spot. A pair of laps later, Pitkat was able to race ahead of Gernhard to take over the second spot. Malone put the young driver back to fourth. Meanwhile, Cravenho and Rocco were making their way back to the front. On lap 10, Cravenho was sixth and Rocco eighth.
Up front, Steeves continued to lead Pitkat. Malone ran in second a comfortable margin ahead of Gernhard. On lap 13, Cravenho joined the top five. Rocco mirrored his moves to run in the sixth position. The #0 of Danny LeJeunesse came to rest on the backstretch on lap 14 to bring out the second caution. The restart pitted Steeves against Pitkat for the top spot.
Steeves was up for the challenge and held on to the lead on the race. On lap 16, Pitkat got a run Steeves to take over the top spot. Steeves bobbled after contact with Pitkat; opening the door for Malone. Steeves was shuffled back into third. Cravenho had cleared Gernhard to move into the fourth. Rocco made his first appearance in the top-five on lap 21.
Malone tailed Pitkat lap after lap while Cravenho was getting racy for third. Despite the efforts of both Malone and Cravenho they had to settle back in line. At the checkers, it was Pitkat in for the win over Malone. Steeves edged out Cravenho by inches to finish third. The newly crowned champion Rocco rounded out the top five.
Mike O’Sullivan of Springfield, MA, made it look easy as he cruised to victory in the Pro Stock feature Thursday night, thereby winning his family-owned race team their second Pro Stock track title. After a duel with Jim Banfield and a pair of early cautions, O’Sullivan was the new leader. His closed competition in the championship chase, Norm Wrenn, watched his championship hopes fade after being involved in an opening lap incident. They disappeared when he made hard contact with the turn three wall ending his night and his bid for the title.
Once out front, O’Sullivan stretched his lead over Jeff Zuidema now in the second position. Steve Desmarias was having a career night running in the third position. The best battle was for the fourth spot between Andy Johnson and Jay Macedonio.
Johnson held the spot with Macedonio applying heavy pressure. With ten laps to go, Macedonio was able to take the spot away. With five laps to go he made easy work of Desmarias taking over the third spot. He brought Johnson came along for the ride.
In the uneventful stretch run to the checkers, O’Sullivan screamed to the win a half straightway ahead of runner-up Zuidema. Macedonio came home third followed by Johnson and Desmarias.
John Materas of Voluntown, CT scored his first career feature win in an incredible turn of events in the Late Model main events. The sparks were flying early for the Late Models. They went three-wide for the lead to open the event with Pete Yetman, R.J. Marcotte and Randy Waterman vying for the top spot. Waterman wisely backed out while Yetman bested Marcotte to grab the lead. They were three-wide behind the lead battle as well with Jenison making a bold move on the inside groove to run in third.
There was a great battle deeper in the pack between Jay Stuart and Waterman. After a pair of laps side-by-side, it was Stuart stealing the spot away. Yetman began to stretch his lead as Marcotte had his hands full holding off Jenison. Stuart also joined the frey, pulling up to the bumper of Jenison.
The battle for second really started to heat up at the halfway marker with Marcotte, Jenson and Stuart duking it out. The tight battle allowed the defending champ Palmisano joined the battle as well.
Jenison finally freed himself of Marcotte and went to work cutting down the lead that Yetman had built. Yetman went three wide in lapped traffic while Jenison, Stuart, and Palmisano, who had moved by Marcotte, shaved off some of Yetman’s lead.
With only five laps remaining, Jenison finally fell to the charge of Stuart. A single lap later Jenison relinquished the third spot to Palmisano. With only three laps remaining, the caution flew for a spin by Lance Jenison to set up what would be a wild chase to the checkers.
Palmisano got a great run on the restart immediately moving into the second position. With only a single lap remaining, Palmisano was able to take over the top spot from Yetman. Coming down to take the checkers, contact between Palmisano and Yetman sent the leaders spinning and other scattering. Materas came out of the cloud of dust with his first career win. R.J. Marcotte came home second. The point leader, Gentes, who had been a non-factor in the race, wound up third and with his first championship title in 10 years.
Larry Barnett of Ledyard, CT, scored his fourth win of the season on Thursday night in Limited Sportsman competition. The twists and turns of the feature race were playing havoc on the championship chase. But in the end, despite a few tense moments, Keith DeSanctis of Monson, MA, was crowned the divisional championship in his final year of competition. Earlier in the season, DeSanctis announced his retirement.
Early leader Ed Puleo had checked out on the field when the first caution flew for the point leader DeSanctis, who came to rest in turn four. After getting repairs, DeSanctis rejoined the frey. Racing went back to green with Puleo leading and Larose and Barnett taking chase. The runner-up spot was hotly contested with Barnett finally taking over the second position from Larose. From the second spot, Barnett quickly erased the lead that Puleo had built. Larose immediately fell into the clutches of Sundeen.
The face of the race changed when the leader Puleo spun exiting turn two. Barnett inherited the lead and made the most of his good fortune as he went unchallenged to the checkers. Larose, who came into the night in second in the points, came home in the second position ahead of Jesse Gleason. A hard-charging Scott Sundeen and Joe Arena rounded out the top five. By virtue of his seventh-place finish, DeSanctis was able to take the championship by sixteen points over Larose.
Kurt Vigeant of Oxford, MA left little room for doubt that he was the man in the TIS Modified division. On Thursday night, he did his job by winning the race and stealing the championship from Tim Sullivan. Vigeant jumped out to the early lead of the 20-lapper as Sullivan, who entered the night only 4 points behind, ran within striking distance in third. On lap eight, Sullivan took over the second position from Glenn Boss and began running down Vigeant.
The sizeable lead that Vigeant had gained was erased when the second caution flew on lap 11 when the Sullivan came to rest in turn three. Sullivan was able to rejoin the field after repairs on his machine. On the restart, Vigeant quickly motored out to the lead again. Glenn Boss was now taking chase in second.
Vigeant continued to show the way with Boss and Larson inside the top three. Leo Adams was running in the fifth position while Sullivan was trying desperately to gain ground in his quest for the championship. Sullivan finally freed himself of Adams on the final lap but it was not enough as Vigeant the feature win en route to the championship. Boss finished third ahead of Larson, Sullivan and Adams.
Scott Michalski of S. Killingly took his second win of the season in the Mini Stock finale on Thursday night. The celebration in the Mini Stocks continued for Mike Romano of Pascoag, RI, who scored his first Mini Stock championship. The opening lap of the 20-lap race was marred by an incident that could have had devastating results for the both championship chasers Romano and Brad Caddick. Jeff Moffat got out of shape on the backstretch collecting Caddick and sending Romano sliding through the in field. Both were able to continue.
Things got interesting immediately with the top three going three-wide for the lead on the lap one restart. Jodi Johnson was able to turn back the challenges to resume her place at the head of the pack. A single lap later the #51 of Michalski shot passed Johnson to take over the lead. Johnson started to falter as Mike Gorgievski and Richard Blanchard made easy work getting to the front.
Brad Caddick and Mike Romano had fully recovered from their lap one incident to run inside the top ten. The point leader entering the night, Romano, was able to move ahead of Caddick. A half-lap later, Caddick’s #24 came to rest on the backstretch all but eliminating his shot at all the glory.
Michalski continued to lead through a pair of quick restarts holding off the likes of Blanchard and Ron Rixham. With a proverbial sigh of relief, Romano had started his march to the front. He moved into the sixth spot with only a lap remaining. The chase to the checkers was uneventful for the feature winner Michalski. Blanchard, who received “Most Popular Driver” honors earlier in the night, came home second. Rixham bested Romano, who advanced two positions on the final lap. Steve Michalski rounded out the top five.
Thompson gets back underway this Sunday, September 23, 2007 with the remainder of the Modified Mania II program that was rained out two weeks back. The Whelen Modified Tour will be joined by the True Value Modified Racing Series for an exciting Modified double-header. The race season culminates at Thompson with the annual World Series. For more information contact visit www.thompsonspeedway.com.
Sunoco Modified Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Woody Pitkat, Stafford, CT; 2. Kerry Malone, Needham, MA; 3. Josh Steeves, Webster, MA; 4. Tommy Cravenho, Raynham, MA; 5. Keith Rocco, Wallingford, CT; 6. Bert Marvin, Waterford, CT; 7. Geoff Gernhard, Salem, CT; 8. Steve Masse, Bellingham, MA; 9. Danny Cates, Chaplin, CT; 10. Ricky Shawn, Bradford, CT.
Pro Stock Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Mike O’Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 2. Jeff Zuidema, N. Brookfield, MA; 3. Jay Macedonio, Somerset, MA; 4. Andy Johnson, Rehoboth, MA; 5. Steve Desmarias, Westport, MA; 6. Jim Banfield, S. Glastonbury, CT; 7. Fred Astle, Jr., N. Westport, MA; 8. Dave Silvia, Warwick, RI; 9. George Bessette, Danbury, CT; 10. Carl Eriksson, Deep River, CT.
Late Model Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. John Materas, Volutown, CT; 2. R.J. Marcotte, Millville, MA; 3. Rick Gentes, Woonsocket, RI; 4. Conrad Cote, Lisbon, CT; 5. Dennis Perry, Pawcatuck, CT; 6. Mark Jenison, Danielson, CT; 7. Paul Newcomb, Jr., Plymouth, MA; 8. Jim Kiley, Jr., Griswold, CT; 9. Al Mandarino, Lake Grove, NY; 10. Tony Bodine, Cranston, RI.
Limited Sportsman Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Larry Barnett, Ledyard, CT; 2. Ernie Larose, Plainfield, CT; 3. Jesse Gleason, Lisbon, CT; 4. Scott Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 5. Joe Arena, Kensington, CT; 6. Brian Blaise, Colchester, CT; 7. Keith DeSanctis, Monson, MA; 8. Tim Taylor, Wauregan, 9. Jay Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 10. Chris Bisson, Putnam, MA.
TIS Modified Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Kurt Vigeant, Oxford, MA; 2. Glenn Boss, Danielson, CT; 3. Roger Larson, Jr., Milford, MA; 4. Tim Sullivan, S. Windsor, CT; 5. Leo Adams, Putnam, CT; 6. Shane Michalski, Woodstock, CT; 7. Cam McDermott, Scituate, RI, 8. Roger Ducharme, Foster, RI; 9. Bart Ramos, Sterling, CT; 10. Richie Ferreira, Raynham, MA.
Mini Stock Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Scott Michalski, S. Killingly, CT; 2. Rick Blanchard, Pascoag, RI; 3. Ron Rixham, Jefferson, MA; 4. Mike Romano, Pascoag, RI; 5. Steve Michalski, Dayville, CT; 6. Roger Ducharme, Foster, RI; 7. Jason Paquette, Columbia, CT; 8. Leo Defevers, Brooklyn, CT; 9. Jodi Johnson, Millis, MA; 10. Steve Romjue, Coventry, RI.
Sources: Dale Wolbrink/Thompson Speedway PR