Rocco, Coates Among Speedbowl Winners
Waterford, CT — Keith Rocco won the 35-lap SK Modified feature at the Waterford Speedbowl on Saturday evening.
Other feature winners were Allen Coates (American Race Trucks), Mark Cooper (Sportsman), Jeff Mehlenbacher (Mini Stock), Rob Corey (Super-X Car), and Curt D`Addario (X-Car).
Veteran Don Fowler led the charge in the 35-lap SK Modified feature, and stayed there until a series of late-race restarts bunched the field. Jousting with both Jeff Pearl and Keith Rocco, his lead evaporated on lap twenty-three when Rocco bolted into the top spot, followed closely by Pearl. It was Rocco’s second-consecutive and fourth victory of the season. Pearl, Ron Yuhas Jr., Fowler, and defending champion Rob Janovic Jr. followed.
A familiar face entered victory lane in the American Race Truck Garry Hufton Memorial 100, as it was former Speedbowl Late Model and Sportsman champion Allen Coates prevailing. Starting from deep in the pack, Coates took the lead from teammate Scott Gregory on lap sixty-four. Battling with current ARTS point-leader Andy Lindenman for several circuits during the final stages, Coates stole the lead for keeps with only a handful of laps remaining. It marked the first-time that Coates had ever competed in the division. Following Lindeman was Doug Dunleavy, Chris Correll, and Tony Naglieri.
In the 20-lap Sportsman feature, Mark Cooper passed Joe Nogiec on the fifteenth-lap to score his second feature of the season. Returning with a virtually rebuilt car from a hard crash the week before, Cooper battled early with “Grandpa Jim” Procaccini before eventually gaining the edge. Within a few circuits he’d overtaken Nogiec, romping to a commanding victory. Rounding-out the top-5 was Ed Lamb Jr., Josh Galvin, and Procaccini.
In 20-lap Mini Stock action Jeff Mehlenbacher battled early with Jeff “Soup” Civardi before taking the lead on lap fourteen. Surviving several restarts, Melenbacher, a former Wednesday night X-Car champion, notched his first-ever Mini Stock feature less than a car-length ahead of defending champion Ken Cassidy Jr. Finishing in the third-spot, Jeff “Soup” Civardi dedicated the evening to the late Jay Miller, a Speedbowl SK driver that passed-away unexpectedly earlier in the week. Jack Aquilina, and Ray Christian III completed the top-5.
Taking the victory in the 20-lap Super-X main event was Rob Corey. Curtis D`Addario Sr. annexed the 20-lap X-Car event.
Action resumes at the Speedbowl mid-week with Wild N’ Wacky Wednesday. On Saturday, it’s a full slate of action for the NASCAR Whelen All American Series.
Please log-on to www.speedbowl.com for more information.
SK MODIFIED (35); 1. Keith Rocco, 2. Jeff Pearl, 3. Ron Yuhas Jr., 4. Don Fowler. 5. Ron Janovic Jr., 6. Dennis Gada, 7. Tyler Chadwick, 8. Jeff Paul, 9. Doug Coby, 10. Wendell Dailey, 11. Matt Gallo, 12. Wade Mattesen, 13. Mike Sweeney, 14. Dennis Charette, 15. Justin Gaydosh, 16. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., 17. Rich Hammann, 18. Todd Ceravolo.
AMERICAN RACE TRUCK (100); 1. Allen Coates, 2. Andy Lindeman, 3. Doug Dunleavy, 4. Chris Correll, 5. Tony Naglieri, 6. Greg Butler, 7. Derek Chriss, 8. Mike Carrigg, 9. Chris Austill, 10. Jon Zoller, 11. Scott Gregory, 12. Tom Smith, 13. Mike Anzalone, 14. Gee Perry, 15. Al Stone III, 16. Bill Leonard, 17. Richard Brooks.
SPORTSMAN (20); 1. Mark Cooper, 2. Joe Nogiec, 3. Ed Lamb Jr., 4. Josh Galvin, 5. “Grandpa Jim” Procaccini, 6. Ronnie Oldham Jr., 7. Brandon Plemons, 8. Jack Aquilina, 9. Chuck Rogers, 10. John Puglisi, 11. Al Stone III, 12. Walt Hovey Jr., 13. Jonathon Avery, 14. Kevin Burr, 15. Nate Appell, 16. Chris Meyer.
MINI STOCK (20); 1. Jeff Mehlenbacher, 2. Ken Cassidy Jr., 3. Jeff “Soup” Civardi, 4. Jack Aquilina, 5. Ray Christian III, 6. Lou Bellisle, 7. Mark Panaroni, 8. Jackie Wolfram, 9. Nick Pappacoda, 10. Charles Canfield, 11. Jeff Miller, 12. Seab Caron, 13. Phil Evans, 14. Kyle James, 15. Ben Bargnesi, 16. Randy Churchill Jr., 17. Christina Cunliffe, 18. Ian Brew.
SUPER-X CAR (20); 1. Rob Corey, 2. Michael Maskell II, 3. George Correia, 4. Steve Barrett, 5. Gary Avery Jr., 6. Greg Moran Jr., 7. John Yagmin, 8. Greg Moran Jr., 9. James Consalvo, 10. William Schmitt, 11. Al Potter, 12. Mark Boisvert, 13. Charles Beal, 14. Kevin Talbot, 15. Kevin Moon, 16. Thomas Messore, 17. Ray Phillips, 18. Dan Moon, 19. Pete Pollard, 20. Jared Martin, 21. Shawn Perkins, 22. Ken Downing III, 23. Larry Maskell, Jr., 24. Jon Porter, 25. Robert Norman, 26. R.J. Cunniningham.
X-CAR (20); 1. Curt D`Addario, 2. John Bowes, 3. Brad Voglesong, 4. Danny Gervais, 5. Steve Violette, 6. Patrick Williams, 7. Pete Zaikarite, 8. Richard Hurne, 9. Buddy Strede, 10. Chris Garside, 11. Richard Gullage, 12. Dave Dellasandro, 13. Bruce Hall, 14. Dusitn Gage, 15. David Armaspacher, 16. Keith Michaud, 17. Danile Madore, 18. John Diamantini, 19. Geoff Burdick, 20. Heather Small, 21. Arthur Phillips, 22. Tylor DiFrancesca, 23. Dale Sherman, 24. Neal Phillips, 25. Charles Beal, 26. Joe Madore, 27. Michael Trask, 28. Michele Cicio. 29. Gary Smith.
Sources: David Dykes/Waterford Speedbowl PR