Blandina And Gertsch Among Wild N’ Wacky Winners
Waterford, CT — Carl Blandina won the 20-lap Legends feature race at the Waterford Speedbowl Wednesday evening.
Other Feature winners were Jon Porter (Super X Car), Curt D`Addario Sr. (X Car), and Billy Gertsch Jr. (X Modified).
Grabbing a commanding early lead, Blandina resisted the advances of seasoned veterans George Whitney and Max Zachem to capture his career-first main event. A past Modified competitor at the former Riverside Park in Massachusetts, Blandina was ecstatic to wind-up in victory lane. “Tonight we were really running well, and the first-win is always the best,” he said. “I was able to return to racing just recently, and this a great way to start again.” Following Whitney and Zachem was Jay Palmer and Shaun Buffington.
Billy Gertsch Jr. grabbed the lead on lap-3, and dominated the 15-lap X-Modified feature to record his third win of 2008. Rounding-out the top-5 was Richard Durkee IV, Richard “Bubby” Brouwer, Dean Christensen, and Wayne Arute.
In the caution-filled Super-X Car feature, it was Jon Porter recording his third victory of the season. Porter passed Gary Avery midway in the event, capturing the checkers by a wide margin over Goerge Correia, Greg Moran Sr., John Yagmin, and Gary Avery Jr.
In 20-lap X-Car action, John Diamantini led before being passed by Dusting Gage following a restart. Brad Voglesong then took the point, and battled Curt D`Addario Sr. for several laps, the latter pulling-ahead for good with less than eight-circuits remaining. The evening marked D`Addario’s second-consecutive victory. Rounding-out the top-5 was Voglesong, Richard Hurne, Patrick Williams, and John Bowes. Prompting a lengthy red-flag period on lap-thirteen, Thomas Johnston was transported via Life Star helicopter to the hospital for precautionary measures after involvement in a hard crash with Scott Kittel.
John Weaver won the 5-lap Legends Young Lions event, while it was Michelle Cicio claming victory in the Wild N’ Wacky “Toll Booth Race”.
LEGENDS (20); 1. Carl Blandina, 2. George Whitney, 3. Max Zachem, 4. Jason Palmer, 5. Shaun Buffington, 6. Dennis Pantani, 7. Glen Billings, 8. Ryan Morgan, 9. Mike Alcaro, 10. Thomas Gray, 11. Stan Carpenter, 12. Ed Field, 13. Giovanni Giarrantana, 14. Justin Doss, 15. Pete Portante, 16. Kevin Nowak, 17. Matt Maring, 18. John Weaver, 19. Dan McGouren, 20. Paul Forbes, 21. Mike Blaskey, 22. William Hurley.
SUPER X CARS (20); 1. Jon Porter, 2. George Correia, 3. Greg Moran Sr., 4. John Yagmin, 5. Gary Avery Jr., 6. Steve Barrett, 7. James Consalvo, 8. Charles Beal, 9. Al Potter, 10. Daniel Moon, 11. William Schmitt, 12. Kevin Talbot, 13. Ray Phillips, 14. Shawn Perkins, 15. Jared Martin, 16. Derek Canestrari, 17. Ken Downing III, 18. Micheal Maskell II, 19. Rob Corey, 20. Joe Liskiewizz, 21. R.J. Cunningham Jr., 22. Greg Moran Jr.
X CARS (20); 1. Curt D`Addairo Sr., 2. Brad Voglesong, 3. Richard Hurne, 4. Patrick Williams, 5. John Bowes, 6. Dusitn Gage, 7. Bruce Hall, 8. Peter Zaikarite, 9. Buddy Strede, 10. Danny Gervais, 11. John Diamantini, 12. Michael Trask, 13. Dan Madore, 14. Wayne Shifflett, 15. Bobby Broga, 16. David Amspacher, 17. Keith Michaud, 18. Charles Beal, 19. Art Phillips, 20. Michele Cicio, 21. Tylor DiFrancesca, 22. Heather Small, 23. Thomas Johnston, 24. Scott Kittel, 25. Geoff Burdick, 26. Joe Jacobs, 27. Jeff Lee, 28. Joe Madore, 29. Dave Dellasandro, 30. Steve Violette, 31. Chris Garside.
X MODIFIED (20); 1. Bill Gertsch Jr., 2. Richard Durkee IV, 3. Richard “Bubby” Brouwer, 4. Dean Christensen, 5. Wayne Arute, 6. David Flammia Jr., 7. Kevin Shea, 8. Brian Rondeau, 9. David O’Leary, 10. Jeff Parker, 11. W. Robert Gallaer, 12. Barin DiMartino, 13. Rick Williams.
Sources: David Dykes/Waterford Speedbowl PR