Marc Curtis, Josh Galvin, Ken Cassidy Jr. and Norm Wrenn other Budweiser Modified Nationals Event winners
Waterford, CT — With Ron Yuhas Jr. taking the big payday and the focus of the 13th Annual Budweiser Modified Nationals with his SK-150 win, the Speedbowl support divisions put on great racing of their own for the large Speedbowl crowd and the Scouts that gathered for a night of racing.
The Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model 50-lap feature began with Bruce Thomas Jr. and Tim Jordan taking off from their front row starting spots to pace the field. The pair would distance themselves from the rest of the pack under green flag conditions. Jordan remained on Thomas’ bumper as they opened up a straightaway lead by halfway, looking for any mistake the multi-time winner may make. Jordan shadowed Thomas through lapped traffic while Rich Staskowski raced in third, Marc Curtis fourth and Jeff Smith in fifth.
The first caution waved on lap 34 for a spin by Tom Metcalf. On the restart Jordan ran strong in the outside lane, edging into the lead on lap 36. Thomas was not done in the bottom groove trying to hold ground when the pair made contact, spinning into turn three. Jordan made contact with the wall ending his strong run, and both Vin Esposito and Tony Macrino would also become collected. Curtis and Staskowski were the new front row for the restart. Curtis powered out front, but the red flag was brought out on lap 39 when Esposito and Jimmy Rosenfield hit hard off turn four; both drivers getting out of their mangled racecars under their own power. Curtis cruised to his first career Speedbowl victory over the remaining laps. Staskowski finished second, with Dennis Stampfl third, Smith fourth and Thomas rebounding for fifth.
The Norwich Bulletin Mini Stocks started the evening off with an entertaining 30-lap event. Ken Cassidy Jr. led the first five laps of racing from his pole starting spot before caution on lap five for a single car spin in turn two. Danny Field, Phil Evans and last week’s winner Bill Leonard were making their way to the front of the field when racing resumed. The second caution waved on lap 17 when Chris Correll spun in turn two, setting up a restart between Cassidy and Field, the division’s two champions over the past four years. Cassidy got the jump over Field on the restart, but Field hung tight to the leader and would begin to apply heavy pressure as they reached the final three circuits. The two-time defending division champion Cassidy would hold Field’s advances to take his first victory of the 2009 season, while Evans, Mark Panaroni, and Kyle James rounded out the top five. With the win, Cassidy earned a guaranteed start in the 4-Cylinder Nationals August 2nd at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway.
The Street Stocks closed the race program with a great 30-lap feature of their own. Walt Hovey was out to the early lead with the field behind sorting itself out. The heavy hitters were all lined up in the top by the event’s halfway marker, with Hovey, Al Stone III, Josh Galvin, Ronnie Oldham Jr., Ed Puleo, Mark Cooper, and Brandon Plemons all looking to jockey for real estate on the three eighths-mile shoreline oval. A pair of cautions for Kevin Gambacorta allowed for double file racing to jostle the running order. Galvin looked strong, challenging and passing Hovey in the outside lane for the lead with 10 laps to go. Galvin would go on to the win with Stone making a late race push for second, Hovey took third, Oldham fourth and Puleo in for fifth.
Norm Wrenn checkered his third straight Pro Four Modifieds of New England 25-lap event over Corey Cleary, Rob Richardi, Phil Lausier, and Mark Giordano.
The Speedbowl returns to action twice this week, first with Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday on June 3 with the non-stop action from the Legends Cars, X-Cars, Super X-Cars, and X-Modifieds. The NEATV Truck Series will also be on hand for the Levine Automotive 20-lap feature. Adult pricing is just $7 with all youth 14 and under admitted free.
Saturday June 6th is Little League Night at the Speedbowl presented by www.sids-vault.com. Any youth in their Little League team jersey will be admitted free. Speedbowl drivers will be paired with the local Little Leaguers in a home run derby competition before the feature events. Regular distance NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action for the SK Modifieds, Late Models, Street Stocks, and Mini Stocks will be joined by the Legends Cars. For more information on these and all upcoming events, visit www.speedbowl.com or contact the track office at 860.442.1585.
Speedbowl 5/30 finishers, hometown:
Budweiser Modified Nationals SK Modifieds (150-laps): 1. Ron Yuhas Jr., Groton; 2. Doug Coby, Milford; 3. Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 4. Dennis Gada, Salem; 5. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 6. Mark Bakaj, Lebanon; 7. Jeff Pearl, Salem; 8. Jeffrey Paul, Groton; 9. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill; 10. Frank Ruocco, North Haven; 11. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., Milford; 12. Mike Sweeney, Middletown; 13. Wendell Dailey, Gales Ferry; 14. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 15. Corey Hutchings, Salem; 16. Kevin Shea, Mystic; 17. Joe Perry, Ashaway, RI; 18. Eric Goodale, Riverhead, NY; 19. Ted Christopher, Plainville; 20. Kenny Horton, Guilford; 21. Tom Abele Jr., Norwich; 22. Wayne Arute, Berlin; 23. Don Fowler, Clinton; 24. Rich Hammann, Tolland; 25. Joe Gada, Salem; 26. Justin Gaydosh, Newtown
Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models (50-laps): 1. Marc Curtis, Worcester, MA; 2. Rich Staskowski, Hope Valley, RI; 3. Dennis Stampfl, Norwood, MA; 4. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 5. Bruce Thomas Jr., Groton; 6. Allen Coates, Ledyard; 7. Tony Macrino, Waterford; 8. Duane Noll, Monroe; 9. Larry Goss, N. Windham; 10. Mark Hudson, Norton, MA; 11. Vin Esposito, Seymour; 12. Tom Metcalf, N. Stonington; 13. Tim Jordan, Plainfield; 14. Jimmy Rosenfield, Middleboro, MA; 15. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill
Street Stocks (30-laps): 1. Josh Galvin, Uncasville; 2. Al Stone III, New Haven; 3. Walt Hovey, Chaplin; 4. Ronnie Oldham Jr., Old Saybrook; 5. Ed Puleo, Branford; 6. Brandon Plemons, Uncasville; 7. Steve Barrett, Preston; 8. Mark Cooper, Northford; 9. Ed Lamb, New Haven; 10. Jack Acquilina, Uncasville; 11. Ted Dupre, Westbrook; 12. Kevin Burr, Waterford; 13. Chris Meyer, N. Franklin; 14. Kevin Talbot, Moosup, 15. Jonathon Avery, Quaker Hill; 16. Kevin Gambacorta, Ellington; 17. Greg Moran Jr., Preston; 18. Nate Appell, Westbrook; 19. Jim Bavolacco Sr., Stratford
Norwich Bulletin Mini Stocks (30-laps): 1. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 2. Danny Field, Deep River; 3. Phil Evans, Uncasville; 4. Mark Panaroni, Ivoryton; 5. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI; 6. Glenn Colvin, Clinton; 7. Ian Brew, Wood River Jct., RI; 8. Louis Bellisle III, Lisbon; 9. Sean Caron, Hartford; 10. Nick Pappacoda, N. Branford; 11. Jeff Mehlenbacher, Groton; 12. Charles Canfield, New Haven; 13. Chris Williams, Niantic; 14. Ray Christian III, Norwich; 15. Chris Correll, Old Lyme; 16. Christina Cunliffe, Stratford; 17. Dale Sherman, Charlestown, RI; 18. Greg Moran Sr., Preston; DQ – Bill Leonard, Wood River Jct, RI; DQ – Randy Churchill Jr., Niantic
Pro Four Modifieds of New England (25-laps) top five: 1. Norm Wrenn, Nashua, NH; 2. Corey Cleary, Plymouth, MA; 3. Rob Richardi, Easton, MA; 4. Phil Lausier, Nashua, NH; 5. Mark Giordano, Enfield
Sources: Waterford Speedbowl PR