Gada, Reed Capture Little League Night Checkers
Waterford, CT — Six-time champion Dennis Gada came from deep in the pack in winning his third SK feature of the year on Little League Night at the Speedbowl on Saturday evening.
Other Feature winners were Ed Reed Jr. (Late Model), Ed Lamb Jr. (Sportsman), and Raymond Christian III (Mini Stock).
Things started with a bang in the 35-lap SK feature, as before the completion of lap-one, a skirmish in the first-turn deposited several front-runners into the wall including Ron Yuhas Jr., Kenny Horton, Jeff Pearl, and last week’s winner, Keith Rocco. Trouble started when the car of outside pole-sitter Frank Mucciacciaro Jr. seemingly balked at the start. Several competitors involved in the incident were able to return, including Yuhas, Horton, and Rocco. On the restart, Wendell Dailey took the lead momentarily before being passed by Mucciacciaro and several others. Justin Gadosh then moved to the front pressed by Rob Janovic and a fast-moving Dennis Gada. Passing Gaydosh, Gada pulled alongside Janovic executing an outside-pass to take the lead with only three circuits remaining when the caution waved for the final time. In one of the closest SK finishes of 2008, Gada was able to get the advantage on defending champion Janovic. Following was Gaydosh, Ronnie Silk, and Rocco.
In the Late Models, it was Ed Reed taking his second feature of the season. Moving into the lead following a restart after Bruce Thomas Jr. spun early leader Tim Jordon (with Thomas being sent to the rear of the field), Reed distanced himself from a furious battle between Vin Esposito and Ron Yuhas Jr. Having his best run of the season, a surprisingly fast Esposito was able to nip Yuhas for second. Tim Jordan and Bruce Thomas Jr. completed the top-five.
Ed Lamb Jr. became the sixth different Sportsman feature winner of the season in scoring his first-ever main event. Lamb was dogged in the closing laps by veteran Jim Proccaccini, but managed to pull ahead by several car-lengths at the finish. Walt Hovey, Jr., Al Stone III, and Jonathon Avery followed.
In the caution-free Mini Stock feature, rookie Raymond Christian III put on a dominating performance to win the first of his career. Lou Belisle finished second, and rounding-out the top-five was Randy Churchill Jr., Ken Cassidy Jr., and Bill Leonard.
Winning the Little League Night “Home Run Derby” sponsored by www.Sidsvault.com was the team of Little Leaguer Justin Marceau age-10, of Southington, and SK & Late Model driver Ron Yuhas Jr.
Sources: David Dykes/Waterford Speedbowl PR
SK MODIFIED (35); 1. Dennis Gada, 2. Rob Janovic Jr., 3. Justin Gaydosh, 4. Ron Silk, 5. Keith Rocco, 6. Jeff Malave, 7. Todd Ceravolo, 8. Ron Yuhas Jr., 9. Jeff Paul, 10. Tyler Chadwick, 11. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., 12. Roberts Georgiades, 13. Shawn Monahan, 14. Wendell Dailey, 15. Rich Hammann, 16. Glenn Pressel III, 17. Doug Coby, 18. Jay Miller, 19. Jeff Pearl, 20. Frank Ruocco, 21. Mike Sweeney, 22. Kenny Horton, 23. Pete Pavone Jr., 24. Bill Benoit, 25. Clifford Fitzgerald III.
LATE MODEL (30); 1. Ed Reed Jr., 2. Vin Esposito, 3. Ron Yuhas Jr., 4. Tim Jordan, 5. Bruce Thomas Jr., 6. Tom Metcalf, 7. Rich Staskowski, 8. Larry Goss, 9. Ernie Bertrand, 10. Steve Potter, 11. Robert LeBlanc Jr., 12. Jeff Smith, 13. Terrance O’Brien, 14. Bob Andreozzi, 15. Chris Bottge, 16. Dan Holben.
SPORTSMAN (20); 1. Ed Lamb Jr., 2. Jim Procaccini, 3. Walt Hovey Jr., 4. Al Stone III, 5. Jonathon Avery, 6. Nate Appell, 7. Ron Oldham Jr., 8. Mark Cooper, 9. Chuck Rogers, 10. John Puglisi, 11. Joe Nogiec, 12. Kevin Burr, 13. Jack Aquilina, 14. Brandon Plemons, 15. Chris “Moose” Douton.
MINI STOCK (20); 1. Raymond Christian III, 2. Lou Belisle, 3. Randy Churchill Jr., 4. Ken Cassidy Jr., 5. Bill Leonard, 6. Jack Aquilina, 7. Ben Bargnesi, 8. Chris Williams, 9. Kyle James, 10. Ian Brew, 11. Dennis Perry, 12. Jeff “Soup” Civardi, 13. Mark Panaroni, 14. Nick Pappacoda, 15. Sean Caron, 16. Christina Cunliffe, 17. Brad Caddick, 18. Andrew Becker, 19. Albert “Bo” Norman.