Rocco, Gentes, Michalski & Boss Win Again at Thompson; Macedonio & Puleo Get Season Firsts
Thompson, CT — The win list at Thompson International Speedway saw some familiar names on Thursday Night. Another dominating performance gave Keith Rocco of Wallingford, CT, a handful of wins (5) in the Sunoco Modified division. Rick Gentes of Woonsocket, RI, resumed his late season mastery of the Late Models and Scott Michalski of S. Killingly, CT, continued his hot streak in Mini Stock competition. Glenn Boss of Danielson, CT, turned his luck around with a dominating TIS Modified win. Both Jay Macedonio of Somerset, MA in the Pro Stocks and Ed Puleo of Branford, CT, in the Limited Sportsman division enjoyed their first wins of the season.
Keith Rocco motored by surprise Sunoco Modified championship contender Danny Cates to take the lead near midway and the eventual victory. Cates took the early lead with a stout pack of cars battling from second position on back. When things shuffled out by lap five, Cates continued to lead Ceravolo and Rocco. Jimmy Blewett had made tracks to the front and into the fourth position. Cravenho rounded out the top five.
At lap 10, Ceravolo had his hands full holding off the advances of Rocco. Rocco dove low into turn four trying to get a run on Ceravolo. Rocco drifted up the track taking Ceravolo with him. Blewett peaked low looking to make it three wide. The veteran thought better of it and settled back in line in third. Rocco was able to steal the second position from Ceravolo. Rocco was applying heavy pressure to Cates, who had encountered lapped traffic, when the caution flew for a spinning Carl Oberg. Under the caution, Ceravolo relinquished the third spot to head to pit road. He was not able to continue.
Cates and Rocco went wheel-to-wheel for the first lap of the restart before Cates, relinquished the lead to Rocco. Blewett took chase of Cates but quickly became the hunted. Cravenho made a strong move exiting turn three to get alongside Blewett eventually taking the position away. Both Blewett and Cravenho were able to get by Cates as Rocco was getting away from the field.
Blewett and Cravenho were locked in a heated battle for the second position when both slipped up in the corner. Blewett was able to continue. Cravenho was forced to lift falling back to third. Cravenho gathered it up moving back by Cates once again.
Rocco had checked out on the field to win his fifth victory of the season. Blewett was a distant second followed by Cravenho. Cates settled for the fourth position ahead of Kerry Malone, who quietly came home fifth to extend his point lead.
Pro Stocker Jay Macedonio of Somerset, MA took the lead on lap two and was never headed en route to his first win of the 2008 season. At the drop of the green flag, Jeff Zuidema headed a stout pack of Pro Stocks that included Macedonio, Fred Astle, Jr., Jim Banfield, Dave Berghman, and Jeff Connors. A caution for a spin by Dave Rivard brought out an early race caution to set up a restart. The outside groove proved to be the quick way around for Macedonio, who leapt into the lead. Zuidema continued to fall back losing positions to Astle and Berghman. Macedonio enjoyed some breathing room as Astle and Berghman battled for the second position.
The top three ran nose to tail gaining some distance on fourth place runner Zuidema, who had a mirror full of Mike O’Sullivan and Norm Wrenn. Derek Ramstrom, who had sustained heavy damage in a heat race incident, was the man on the move. He started at the tail end of the field and had made his way into the seventh position before halfway.
The lead pack maneuvered through heavy lapped traffic with relative ease. Zuidema continued to hold off O’Sullivan, who had his hands full with Wrenn. Ramstrom settled back in line. Over the closing laps, Macedonio was extending his lead with Berghman running down Astle.
Macedonio scored his first win of the season in fine fashion over points leader Astle. The win helped Macedonio cut the point margin to only four points heading into the final race of the year. Berghman joined them on the podium. On the final lap, both O’Sullivan and Wrenn were able to get by Zuidema to complete the top five.
Rick Gentes of Woonsocket, RI, found his way through an early melee in the Late Model feature; setting himself up for a great run to victory lane. It was a wild opening to the Late Model feature lap as pole sitter Tommy O’Sullivan got sideways exiting turn four toward the green flag. O’Sullivan was able to regain his composure to head into turn two at the head of the pack. Contact with second running John Materas sent O’Sullivan spinning in front of the pack. A number of cars were involved including Andy Gasper, Jeremy Sadowksi, and Jeff Hartwell. Points leader Jeff Zuidema and Marc Palmisano sustained damage. Each was able to continue to retain their positions in the running order.
On the restart Mark Jenison jumped out to the lead with Zuidema in second. With some damage to his racer, Zuidema fell back several positions including the second position to Gentes. Less than a lap later, Gentes moved by Jenison to take over the top spot. Almost immediately, Jenison fell of the pace dropping to the back of the field. Yetman had taken over second followed by Conrad Cote. A flat tire for Jenison brought out the caution and sent him pit side.
Back under green, Gentes continued to lead. Wayne Coury, Jr., and Palmisano battled for the fourth position behind what was soon to be a battle for the second spot between Yetman and Cote. While Palmisano freed himself of Coury, Cote moved by Yetman for second. Palmisano set sail for Cote while Gentes enjoyed a sizable advantage. Randy Tucker spun on the backstretch to bring out the caution on lap 12.
On the restart Gentes bolted out to the lead once again. Palmisano went to work on Cote. The two went door to door for the lead when Cote went spinning on the halfway lap to bring out the caution. After another caution, Gentes continued lead Palmisano and O’Sullivan. With attrition playing a role, Jenison and Cote were already battling for the fifth position.
With only five laps remaining, Palmisano trailed Gentes by two car lengths. A similar margin separated O’Sullivan in third. Palmisano began to pour it on over the final two laps. Palmisano caught the back bumper of Gentes. The two made slight contact in turn two. A solid Gentes was unphased by the pressure and headed to his third victory of the season. O’Sullivan, Yetman and Cote rounded out the top five.
Ed Puleo of Branford, CT, saved the best for nearly last waiting for the next to last regular point season event to score his first win of the 2008 season. Eric Grant led the way in the early going before giving way to a strong pack of cars inside the top three. It was a three-car battle for the lead between Ed Puleo Scott Sundeen and Jay Sundeen. Puleo showed the way with the Sundeen family in tow under an extended green flag run.
The top-three ran nose to tail at the halfway marker. Joe Arena ran in third ahead of a great battle for position between Grant and Larry Barnett. The elder Sundeen started to pressure Puleo on lap 13. A bobble by Scott opened the door for Jay. The son got along side his father but was unable to make the pass. The battle up front allowed Arena, Grant, and Barnett to catch the lead trio. The lead pack headed toward the final laps with no one stepping out of line.
In the final two laps, with glowing brake rotors, Puleo continued to lead. He headed to the checkers a car length ahead of Scott Sundeen. Jay finished third glued to the bumper of his father. Arena bested Grant to complete the top five.
Scott Michalski of S. Killingly continued his hot streak in the Mini Stock division winning his second in a row and fourth feature event in four weeks. With his runner-up finish, Danny Field earned value points to extend his lead with only a single regular season race remaining.
The early going of the event was marred by multiple cautions including a lap one incident involving championship contender Mike Romano, who spun on lap one to bring out the caution. A tire sheered off of the #85 of Viens, who was running third, sending him violently into the outside wall. A number of other cars were collected including Cosma Casamassa, Robert O’Connell, and Fred Michalski.
After only two green flag laps, Field was solidly inside the top five. Field was on the move and into the third spot on lap four. Last week’s winner Michalski was getting racy going three wide for the second spot with Field, and Steve Michalski. Field came out on top of the battle and of the running order. Scott Michalski immediately began to apply pressure to Field’s lead. He was the new leader by halfway.
Once out front the lead duo of Scott Michalski and Fields began to stretch their lead over a great battle for third between Chuck Rogers and Tim Taylor. Glynn Roy made it a three car battle. Taylor took over third with Roy easily within striking distance. Romano was mired at the tail end of the top ten and looking for racing room. On the final lap, Romano used the outside grove passing three cars in a shot to finally break into the top five.
Michalski went unchallenged to the checkers ahead of Field and Glynn Roy, who continues to turn in good performances in the late stages of the season. Mike Romano salvaged a great night to finish fourth. Eric Bourgeois completed the top five.
Glenn Boss of Danielson, CT, turned in a dominating performance to score his fourth win of the season. With Glenn Boss handily at the head of the pack, things were interesting in the pack with a spin by RJ Marcotte. The race stayed green with John Studley encountering problems as well on the first lap.
Boss had stretched his lead to nearly a straightaway advantage while the battle heated up for the second position. Richie Ferreira held the second spot but with continued pressure from Shane Michalski and Kurt Vigeant. The three cars ran in close pack for several laps before Michalski was able to slide into the second spot. Ferreira lost a hard-fought battle for third to a charging Vigeant. Brian Sullivan joined the fray dogging Ferreira. Sullivan was able to sneak into the fourth position while Vigeant had caught Michalski.
With two laps remaining, Michalski watched his good run come to an end when he rode the outside wall in entering turn three after contact with Vigeant. Vigeant was put to the rear of the field for his involvement in the incident. The resulting caution set up a green white checker restart. Boss was up to the challenge over the final two laps taking the win over Sullivan. Ferreira settled for third over Cam McDermott and Leo Oliveira inside the top five.
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Sunoco Modified: 1. Keith Rocco, Wallingford, CT; 2. Jimmy Blewett, Howell, NJ; 3. Tom Cravenho Jr., Raynham, MA; 4. Danny Cates, Chaplin, CT; 5. Kerry Malone, Needham, MA; 6. Bert Marvin, Waterford, CT; 7. Tim Sullivan, South Windsor, CT; 8. Rick Shawn, Bradford, RI; 9. Josh Sylvester, Lebanon, CT; 10. Woody Pitkat, Stafford, CT.
Pro Stock Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Jay Macedonia, Somerset, MA.; 2. Fred Astle Jr., Westport, MA; 3. Dave Berghman, Seekonk, MA; 4. Mike O’Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 5. Norm Wrenn, Nashua, NH; 6. Jeff Zuidema, North Brookfield, MA; 7. Jeff Connors, Ellington, CT; 8. Derek Ramstrom, West Boylston, MA; 9. Dave Silvia, Warwick, RI; 10. Jim Banfield, Glastonbury, CT.
Late Model Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Rick Gentes, Woonsocket, RI; 2. Marc Palmisano, Hadley, MA; 3. Tommy O’Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 4. Pete Yetman, Peru, MA; 5. Conrad Cote, Lisbon, CT; 6. Mark Jenison, Danielson, CT; 7. Jeff Zuidema, N. Brookfield, MA; 8. Andy Gasper, Andover, MA; 9. Jason Maki, Fitchburg, MA; 10. Mark Oliveira, Blackstone, MA.
Limited Sportsman Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Ed Puleo, Brandford, CT; 2. Scott Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 3. Jay Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 4. Joe Arena, Bristol, CT; 5. Eric Grant, New Milford, CT; 6. Larry Barnett, Ledyard, CT; 7. Jesse Gleason, Lisbon, CT; 8. Paul Palen, Pelham, NH; 9. Gerald Sevigny, Brooklyn, CT; 10. Kevin Bowe, Pawtucket, RI.
Mini Stock Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Scott Michalski, S. Killingly, CT; 2. Danny Field, Deep River, CT; 3. Glynn Roy, Sterling, CT; 4. Mike Romano, Glendale, RI; 5. Eric Bourgeois, E. Haddam, MA; 6. Chuck Rogers, Quaker Hill, CT; 7. Steve Michalski, Brooklyn, CT; 8. Tim Taylor Wauregan, CT; 9. Billy Pomposelli, Chepachet, RI; 10. Scott Jassaume, Danielson, CT.
TIS Modified Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Glenn Boss, Danielson, CT; 2. Brian Sullivan, S. Windsor, CT; 3. Richie Ferreira, Raynham, MA; 4. Cam McDermott, Scituate, RI; 5. Leo Oliveira, Raynham, MA; 6. Brian Tagg, Oxford, MA; 7. Kurt Vigeant, Oxford, MA; 8. Denis Legere, N. Reading, MA; 9. RJ Marcotte, Millville, MA; 10. Shane Michalski, Woodstock, CT.
Sources: Dale Wolbrink/Thompson International Speedway PR