Tom Scully Jr and Chris Pasteryak Headline DAV Fall Classic Winners
Randy Cabral, Rick Martin, Ryan Vanasse and Chris Rioux pick up DAV wins
Seekonk, MA — Tom Scully Jr lead wire to wire in the 100 lap Pro Stock half of the DAV Fall Classic twin bill, picking up the biggest win of his career. It was the sixth win of the season for Tom, earning him over $5,500 for the win, including lap money.
During the Pit Party earlier in the day, the top nine qualifiers redrew for starting positions. Scully, after qualifying second on Saturday, picked the pole position, and never looked back. Monadnock Speedway and Canaan Fair Speedway regular Bryon Baker started on the outside of the front row, but slid back in the opening laps, allowing Les Rose Jr to run second early. Four time Pro Stock champion Rick Martin was running his first Pro Stock event of the season, and moved up into the runner-up position by lap five. While he was following the tire tracks of the East Coast Collision Chevy, Dave Darling and Fred Astle Jr were working their way through the field into the top five.
When the caution came out on lap 31 for Dan O’Brien spinning on the backstretch, Martin starting to have handling problems with his G Lopes Construction Chevy, and headed into the pits. This lined the Johnson Landscaping Chevy of Darling on the outside of the front row, with Astle, Ryan Vanasse and Rose rounding out the top five.
A caution on lap 52 changed the complexion of the race. As the field roared off turn four, Darling and Astle got together, setting off a chain reaction that involved many competitors, eliminating Darling from competition. Astle returned, minus the rear quarter panels and deck lid, and retired several laps later. Les Rose was second, with Bryon Baker, Ken Spencer and Jeff Zuidema rounded the top five on the restart.
Rose lined back on the outside of the front row, but the Hank Zion’s Auto Salvage was no match for Scully. After several laps, the R&F Transport Chevy of Ken Spencer, who was involved in an opening lap incident, had worked himself back into the top three, taking over the second spot from Rose on lap 59. By the time the caution came out on lap 61 for the Brackett Landscaping Irrigation 44 of Jimmy Rosenfield, the field went to a single file restart.
Over the next dozen laps, Zuidema slid past Rose, trying to put the Royal Coach Limousine Chevy at the top of the field. His hands were full, as the Osgood Welding machine of Baker and the Twin State Truck Sales Chevy of Russ Hersey were running on his tail. Over the last ten laps, Hersey was able to slide past Baker for fourth, but ran out of time, as Scully held on for the win over Spencer.
\”This is one race I wanted to win badly,” a tired winner said in Victory Lane. My wife and kids are here. Thanks to Mom and Dad, my crew and everyone who supported us.”
n a similar note, Chris Pasteryak followed suit, leading from green to checker in the 100 lap main event for the True Value Modifieds. In a race that saw only two cautions, the current point leader opened up a little distance going into their final event. “This was a great win.” An exuberant Pasteryak stated in Victory Lane. “I love racing here. I do need to thank Vinnie for this. All those races chasing him to the finish made us do our homework.”
Kevin Iarnnarelli started on the outside of the front row, but slid out of the top four by the 25 lap mark, as Todd Annarummo, making his modified debut in the Levesque Tree Service, and after winning his qualifier on Saturday, showed he was comfortable in the open wheel ranks. After starting third, he quickly moved into the runner up position, but was not able to mount a serious charge on Pasteryak.
Louie Mechalides, the 2008 All-Star Speedway Modified Champion, jumped back behind the wheel of the Turcotte Family “Flying Creamsicle” and quickly moved into the top three. By lap 25, Jack Bateman and Iarnnarelli rounded out the top five.
Pasteryak and Annarummo had opened up a straightaway lead on Mechalides and the rest of the field by lap 42, and started heading through lapped traffic. The Dawley’s Auto Center #15 was on a rail as he continued to dominate.
Defending TVMRD champion Kirk Alexander was trying to work his way through the field, but the long green flag stretch wasn’t helping him, as he was using up his tires as he used the outside and inside lanes to move up. The first caution came out on lap 63, the contact between Bateman and Mechalides put the Turcotte machine through the infield. Bateman headed into the pits with a flat right front tire.
Shelly Perry brought out the second caution on lap 68 when she spun with Joe Doucette in turn one. By this time, Les Hinckley, a former DAV winner had moved into third, with Dwight Jarvis and Mike Holdridge rounding out the top five.
The rest of the event ran trouble free, as second generation racer Chris Pasteryak picked up his second win of the season, beating Todd Annarummo to the stripe by 2.6 seconds. Jarvis, Hinckley and Holdridge rounded out the top five.
Ryan Vanasse used patience, timing and a whole lot of luck in picking up the 50 lap Late Model win. Gerry DeGasparre and Ryan brought the field down for the green, and swapped the lead back and forth over the first two laps. Ryan used a restart on lap two to pick up the lead and hang on for the first held the lead until the fourth caution came out on lap 19, when Bill Bernard got together with Paul Newcomb and Dennis Stampfl.
While they raced for the lead, the defending DAV Late Model winner sat in third, waiting for the right opportunity to strike. Paul Newcomb, Dennis Stange and Mark Anzalone were battling for position behind the top three. Lap 32 saw the sixth caution come out after a restart when several cars got together, including Newcomb.
Using the inside lane, Casper moved past Vanasse into second, and started to close in on DeGasparre, who had just retaken the lead on the previous restart. Casper was using the outside lane to set up the champion, and on lap 46, the Kidd Motorsport Chevy went from the top to the bottom, in a crossover move that would make Harry Gant proud. As he slid underneath the A-1 Custom Auto Body, they started to fight for the lead. As they came off of turn two, the leaders, racing wheel to wheel, started to slide up and down the racetrack. In turn three, DeGasparre tried the same maneuver, only to make contact with the Columbus Oil Chevy, sending Casper into a slide up the racetrack. DeGasparre was penalized for the assist.
Vanasse was handed the lead, but a look to his left front saw his Eagle was deflating. It was a 3 lap shootout, with Anzalone lined up second, with Jon Dickerman, Stange and Stampfl rounding out the top five.
With only a little air in the left front, the Team V Transport Chevy was strong enough to hang on and pick up the 50 lap win. Dickerman and Stampfl were able to slide past Mark Anzalone over the last three laps with Frank Duquette rounding out the top five, Mike Cavallaro, DeGasparre, Kevin Folan, Jeramee Lillie and Dennis Stange rounded out the top ten.
“I knew the left front was low, but I was hoping it would stay up” a delighted Vanasse stated. “I wasn’t sure what was going to happen between Kyle and Gerry, but I knew Gerry wanted this race as much as I do. I just had to wait for something to happen. I need to thank my family. They have supported me this whole time. Joe Donato at East Coast Collision, Dick & Jackie Houle, my wife, brother for keeping me calm out there, and the whole crew.”
Greg Stoehr has won this event twice in his career, and looked for many laps that this might be the day he added a third DAV trophy to his case. Doug Cleveland jumped into the early lead as starter Steve Grant waved the green flag from the track itself, harking back to the early days of NEMA. Cleveland held onto the lead for the first few laps until Stoehr jumped out front. As he started to pull away, Randy Cabral, Bobby Santos III and Jeff Abold were working their way through the traffic. Using the entire width of the track, the midgets spread themselves out around the third mile until the only caution came out on lap 8 when Paul Lugelle spun in turn 4.
Cabral put up a fight on the restart, leading lap 9, but Stoehr battled back and retook the lead on the following circuit. By lap 12, the leaders were dicing in and out of heavy lapped traffic. Abold was coming strong, and was up to third by lap 15. Will Wall had moved into the top 5 by this time.
Using the lapped cars, in true NEMA fashion, Cabral found himself squeezing 3 wide around a lapped car and Stoehr, and picked up the lead on lap 22 and never looked back. Stoehr faded over the last couple of laps and this allowed Abold to pick up second, with Stoehr finishing third. Santos and Wall rounded out the top five. Nokie Fornoro, who started scratch, worked his way up into sixth by the final lap, with Adam Cantor, Chris Leonard, Joey Payne and Erica Santos rounding out the top five.
“This is my favorite track to race at, and I love running here.” A belated Cabral exclaimed. “We always run well here, and I know the Bertrands will give me great stuff.
We went through the car last night after I told them I had a vibration, and it was flawless today. I don’t think I would have gotten by Greg without the lapped traffic, though.”
Rick Martin became a five time DAV Fall Classic winner, as he picked up the Sport Truck 30 lap feature. Jody Tripp jumped out to the early lead, beating Bill Prisco to the line. Martin started outside the top five, but slid his Rick Martin Hobby and Sign Toyota into the runner up spot by lap nine, using the inside lane, and a couple of timely cautions. One up into second, he hounded the Silver Key Lobster Chevy of Tripp. Prisco fell back to third with Steve Dumas and Beth Adams making the top five by lap 10.
Seekonk Sport Truck Champion Mike Cavallaro started in the final row in the Firehouse Motors Chevy, and was running sixth at this time. Using the outside lane, he moved past Beth Adams into fifth, but contact in turn 4 sent the defending truck title holder into the infield on lap11. Martin didn’t seem to have enough on the restart, and Tripp once again took off at the top of the field. Prisco squeezed under Martin and moved back into second, but Martin was able to get back by the Phil’s Propane Chevy several laps later.
The final caution came out on lap 19, and Martin would have another shot at the leader. Tripp once again was the winner of the drag race into turns one and two, and continued to set the pace. But as the last ten laps wore down, the Hydro Stop Roofing Chevy of Tripp started to lose the handles on his #38. Martin made his move with five laps to go, and moved under and by Tripp and into the lead. The 4 cylinder Toyota on this day was mighty, and beat the Chevy V8 to the checker flag for his third straight win in the Sport Trucks, and his fifth DAV trophy overall.
“This race really means the world to me” a joyous Martin stated. “It’s another plaque from Mrs. V, and to have her here today makes it special. I want to thank my father for helping me, and all of the guys on the crew.”
The Street Stocks saw Pawtucket’s Chris Rioux lead green to checker in a hotly contested 30 lap affair. Rioux started on the pole, thanks to his qualifying win on Saturday, and jumped out front early. The first caution came out on lap two, with additional yellows dropped on laps four and six.
Jeff Amaral was the early contender, but started to slide back quickly, and slid out of the top five by lap 5. Paul Lallier was the next up for battle, and held tight for quite a while in the Chaz’s Auto Body machine. While Rioux continued to lead, Dick Cavallaro, Mike Lima and John Gerimia III raced hard inside the top five, swapping positions back and forth. By the time the final caution came out on lap 19, three time and reigning champion Sparky Arsenault had moved into the top five.
Cavallaro used the run on the inside lane on the restart to move his Casey Title Co. #6 into the second spot, and put heavy pressure on Rioux. Arsenault moved into third over the final few laps, as Rioux picked up his first win of the season, making it the biggest of his career. By leading every lap, he totaled more than $1,000 for the win.
“I can’t believe this,” he screamed with delight. “That was great. The car was super today. Sign Designs, RS Equipment, Linwood, everyone who helped me this year, thank you.”
After qualifying was completed on Saturday, the Pure Stocks, Seekonk Youth Racing Association and NEMA Lites ran their main events as part of the DAV Fall Classic weekend.
The Seekonk Youth Racing Association is separated into two groups, separated by speed and experience. The 600 class saw Kyle DeSouza pick up his second win of the season, beating Dave Hutchins to the stripe. Lil Hutch had been involved in an earlier incident, and was able to regain himself to pick up the runner up position. With his determination and drive, he picks up the Ultra-Flex Race Car Bodies $50 savings bond. 2008 SYRA 600 champ finished third with Casey Sanchez, Kaitlyn Donovan and Ashley Kuhn rounding out the top five.
The SYRA 750 champion Dylan Estrella put an exclamation point on his title season, as he picked up his third win of the year in this season ending event. Once out front, Estrella pulled away from the field in his Lamar & Son’s #46. Chris Igo finished second, holding off Frank Perry. Jariah Roderick rounded out the top five.
The Pure Stocks continued to dazzle the fans with their brand of entry level racing. Champion Scott Cestodio capped off an incredible 2008 season, winning the DAV event. Scott was involved in an early incident, sending him to the back of the pack. Working high and low, he was able to move back toward the front, and took the lead away from Randy Moretti after a late race restart. Bob Hinckley followed Cestodio into second, while Bill Chouinard moved into third over the final couple of laps. Moretti hung onto fourth with Mike Vanasse coming home fifth.
The NEMA Lites saw Jesse State pick up the win, dominating over PJ Stergios, Shaun Gosselin, Stephanie Doty and Shawn Torrey.
This event closes out the 2008 racing season. One vent is left on the schedule. The Halloween Happening returns on Saturday November 1, with a costume contest for the kids, Enduro racing, Spectator Drags, Figure Eights and much more. Be sure to check our website for all the information available at seekonksopeedway.com.
Sources: Kevin Boucher/Seekonk Speedway PR