Cicconi, Pasteryak Among Winners At Speedbowl’s Wings And Wheels Event
Waterford, CT — Before a packed-house brimming with excitement, “Liquid Lou” Cicconi scored the 50-lap International Super Modified Association portion of the Speedbowl’s Racing Against Cancer Wings & Wheels event. Victorious in the 100-lap True Value Modified Series 100-lap feature was Chris Pasteryak.
Other feature winners were Randy Cabral (Northeastern Midget Association), and Ron Yuhas Jr. (SK Modifieds).
Opening with a bang, the 50-lap International Super Modified Association endured a pair of serious crashes (one prompting a red flag), before the first circuit was completed. After getting underway, it was Dave Shullick Jr, executing a daring outside maneuver to snare the lead passing several cars. Out-front until the nineteenth circuit, Shullick was then overtaken by Mike Ordway Jr. “Liquid Lou” Cicconi was the leader when the second red-flag occurred on lap forty-eight, setting the stage for a 2-lap dash for the checkers. Cicconi got the bite on the restart, prevailing by a comfortable margin over Mike Lichty, Chris Perley, Mike Ordway Jr., and Bobby Santos III. Cicconi also owns a Speedbowl NEMA victory, scoring on opening day in 2007.
“I haven’t been in these cars in a year and I really love running in this division,” stated Cicconi. “I have to thank this team for getting me back into the Supers. I have two cars, but unfortunately finances keep me from running my own operation. I can’t believe how quick these cars are when I’m pitside and watching them run. Sometimes I think to myself that you have to be crazy to run these things because they’re so fast, but I love em’. I really enjoy running against the other ISMA drivers as they’re above-average racers. Hopefully we put-on another great show for the big crowd that showed-up tonight. What can I say, it was just great.”
In True Value Modified Series 100-lap action, it was Kirk Alexander leading until just beyond halfway, when Chris Pasteryak bolted into the top-spot after a restart. The two engaged in a see-saw battle for the lead following the numerous cautions that plagued the second-half of the event, Pasteryak getting the advantage each time. Shelly Perry pounded the first-turn wall on lap ninety-six, evaporating the huge lead that Pasteryak, a former Waterford regular and resident of nearby Lisbon, CT, had so masterfully amassed. The final restart saw the popular second-generation racer again forge-ahead, finishing several lengths ahead of Alexander and Jeff Malave in scoring his first-ever victory in True Value Modified Series competition. Completing the top-5 was Dwight Jarvis and Ted Christopher. Pasteryak joins David Pinkham and Les Hinckley as 2008 TVMS winners at the Speedbowl.
“This is as good as it gets, a packed-house at the Speedbowl,” stated a jubliant Pasteryak to the crowd. “Once the sun went-down, my car really started to work well, and the outside-groove really came-in. I mean the entire night was just great, the crew really made me look good with what they gave me. That last restart when Shelly hit the wall with only 4-laps to go made me a little concerned, but again, I couldn’t have asked for a better situation tonight.”
Popular Randy Cabral notched victory in the 25-lap NEMA Midget feature, his third of 2008 at the Speedbowl. Passing Mike Keeler for the lead with fourteen remaining, Cabral simply checked-out from the competition during an extremely fast-moving event that incurred only one caution period. Following Cabral was Keeler, Joey Payne, Greg Stoehr, and William Wall.
When track announcer Matt Buckler asked Cabral what his “winning secret” was at Waterford, the affable young driver was quick to point-out that without his crew, trips to victory lane would be much-less frequent.
“During the week I did a lot of interviews, and all of them posed the same question. They wanted to know what my “secret” was,” said Cabral. “I’m happy to tell you all that the secret is in my crew. I don’t mind revealing that, because it’s one thing nobody else can have. I’m telling you these guys are the best, and that’s why I’m here again tonight. Winning here is important, I love the place. For years, it seemed like I was chasing a victory at Waterford, always coming-up short. Our recent success here means a lot to me.”
In the evenings 35-lap SK Modified feature, pole-sitter Shawn Monahan immediately took the lead before yielding to a slick outside-move by Ron Yuhas Jr. with twenty-three circuits remaining. Shortly after, Monahan was eliminated for the night after the lapped-car of Kevin Orlando jacked-up the leaders resulting in the first caution. At the green it was again Yuhas, followed by Dennis Gada and defending champion Ron Janovic Jr. Within a few laps the caution again waved when Matt Gallo slammed the third-turn barrier with bone-jarring force. Next to fall victim to the wreckers was past-champion Todd Ceravolo, punted by Rob Summers after getting out-of-shape and spinning. Yuhas dominated the closing laps, finishing a comfortable margin ahead of Janovic, Gada, Doug Coby, and Keith Rocco.
Starting his SK career at the Speedbowl in the late-90’s Yuhas’ last visit to victory lane in the Speedbowl’s headlining division was in 2005. He comes from a family with deep-roots in the sport. His father Ron Sr. once fielded winning cars for Glynn Shafer, one of the legendary drivers of Waterford’s long colorful history.
“The last few weeks the car has been getting better,” stated Yuhas. “It’s been small issues that had kept us out of victory lane up to this point – nobody’s fault. We’re basically a new team with owner Mike Murphy, and a lot of my guys came over also. It’s a good combination. Tonight the car was perfect, we had an awesome motor and it showed. Winning in-front of a crowd like this is just great. I’m not sure of the particulars, but seeing the Speedbowl packed like this is a real shot-in-the-arm for the place. Hopefully, a lot of new people saw how great the racing is here. They did a great job with this event.”
INTERNATIONAL SUPER MODIFIED ASSOCIATION (50); 1. “Liquid Lou” Cicconi, 2. Mike Lichty, 3. Chris Perley, 4. Mike Ordway Jr., 5. Bobby Santos III, 6. Russ Wood, 7. Jeff Abold, 8. Marl Sammut, 9. Brandon Bellinger, 10. J, Scott Martel, 11. Dave McKinght Jr., 12. Justin Belfiore, 13. Bobby Bond, 14. Dave Trytek, 15. Jeff Holbrook, 16. Artie Rousseau, 17. Bobby Haynes Jr., 18. Dave Sanborn, 19. Dave Shullick Jr., 20. Tim Adams, 21. Mike Keeler, 22. Rob Summers, 23. Jamie Timmons, 24. Vern Romanoski, 25. Eric Emhoff.
TRUE VALUE MODIFIED SERIES (100); 1. Chris Pasteryak, 2. Kirk Alexander, 3. Jeff Malave, 4. Dwight Jarvis, 5. Ted Christopher, 6. Rob Summers, 7. Mike Holdridge, 8. John McKennedy, 9. Rob Goodenough, 10. Jack Bateman, 11. Les Hinckley, 12. Vinny Annarummo Jr., 13. Jim Dolan, 14. Ed Dachenhausen, 15. Kenny White Jr., 16. Eddy Spiers, 17. Dale Evonsion, 18. Dave Berube, 19. Joe Doucette, 20. Todd Owen, 21. Butch Perry, 22. Shelly Perry, 23. Shawn Monahan, 24. David Pinkham, 25. Kenny Vogel, 26. Steve Masse, 27. Tony Ricci, 28. Jeff Pearl.
NORTHEASTERN MIDGET ASSOCIATION (25); 1. Randy Cabral, 2. Mike Keeler, 3. Joey Payne, 4. Greg Stoehr, 5. William Wall, 6. Jeff Abold, 7. Adam Cantor, 8. Erica Santos, 9. Andy Shalatz, 10. Jeremy Frankowski, 11. Doug Cleveland, 12. Abby Martino, 13. Lee Bundy, 14. Howie Bumpus, 15. Brian Cleveland, 16. Paul Luggelle, 17. Kelly Ferrell, 18. Jim Peruto, 19. Paul Scally, 20. Lou Cicconi Jr. 21. B.J. Macdonald (DNS).
SK MODIFIEDS (35); 1. Ron Yuhas Jr., 2. Rob Janovic Jr., 3. Dennis Gada, 4. Doug Coby, 5. Keith Rocco, 6. Jeff Paul, 7. Diego Monahan, 8. Tyler Chadwick, 9. Glenn Pressel III, 10. Jeff Pearl, 11. Wendell Dailey, 12. Dillon Moltz, 13. Don Fowler, 14. Pete Pavone Jr., 15. Kevin Orlando, 16. Rich Hammann, 17. Dave Morgenstein, 18. Todd Ceravolo, 19. Rob Summers, 20. Matt Gallo, 21. Shawn Monahan, 22. Mike Sweeney, 23. Wade Mattesen.
Sources: Dave Dykes/Waterford Speedbowl PR