Palmer Adds to Legends Record; Coates, Williams, Brouwer, Canestrari & Lamartire Also Win
Waterford, CT — The Waterford Speedbowl completed their Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday program with a full card of six events on June 10. Berlin’s Jason Palmer extended his Speedbowl-record winning streak to eight consecutive events in Legends Car action, while Allen Coates padded his career win total by taking in the NEATV Truck Series event. Also reaching Victory Lane were Patrick Williams in the X-Cars, Bubby Brouwer in the X-Modifieds, Alex Canestrari in the Super X-Cars, and Chris Lamartire in the Bandoleros.
The Legends cars were up first for their 20-lap event, and Farmington’s Justin Rau led first six laps when the only caution of the race waved for Dylan Liseo who had spun in turn two. On the restart, Rau again jumped out to the lead. Palmer moved into second on lap eight after starting mid-pack, with George Whitney advancing to third. The bottom lane was open for Palmer to challenge Rau at the event’s halfway mark, and he overtook the lead as the pair reached the backstretch.
The race continued green and Palmer would go on for the win by four car lengths. George Whitney finished second after Rau failed post-race technical inspection. Roger Coss, Carl Blandina, and Mark Esposito all put in season-best efforts to complete the top-five.
Keith Chapman was the early leader of the NEATV Truck Series 20-lap Levine Automotive race, with ‘Hurricane’ Howard Payne applying pressure from behind. Bill Leonard rode in third, while Allen Coates was making steady progress from the rear of the field with Scott Gregory in tow emerging in the back half of the top-five runners. Coates moved to third and had run down the leaders by halfway, all under green flag conditions.
While Payne looked for a route around Chapman, Coates was able to dive under him and race for second. After disposing of Payne, Coates immediately went to work on the leader. After looking low, Coates put a fender outside Chapman and sailed into turn three in the ‘Bowl’s well regarded outside groove to become the new leader as the field completed lap 12. Coates would go on to his third consecutive Series win in a green-to-checkered race. Chapman was able to hold off Payne for second, with Leonard fourth and Gregory fifth. The win was the 67th of Coates’ career at the shoreline oval.
“I haven’t had this much fun since racing my old G-car (Late Model)” said Coates after the win. “We just need more out here – they’re real affordable and a whole lot of fun.”
The X-Car field rolled out 36 cars strong, putting the “wild” in June 10’s Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday program. Onie Pierce led the early laps while the field sorted themselves out going two, three, and even four-wide around the ‘Bowl. The jockeying resulted in a few off-track excursions for some competitors, drawing yellow. A missed shift on the restart allowed the top seven cars to breakaway. The beneficiary was Brad Voglesong who jumped outside the logjam of cars to tag on to the back of the lead pack.
Michael Marvin moved to the lead, with Steve Violette, Patrick Williams, Pete Zaikarite and Voglesong all hot on his tail. The field strung out all the way around the three-eighths mile racing surface, creating the setup for daring maneuvers and tense moments as leaders navigated lapped traffic. Williams had just moved to the lead over Marvin when trouble broke out off turn four directly in front of the leaders. The leaders made contact, with Williams breaking traction into the wet grass and Marvin taking a trip into the turn one aarmco necessitating the caution flag. Williams was able to continue forward momentum and save his car to retain the lead for the restart.
More fireworks occurred on the restart when contact sent Violette spinning across the frontstretch, sending the field into a frenzy and bringing out caution yet again. When racing resumed, the top four distanced themselves from the field and put on a spirited battle for the win. Williams would hold off his teammate Voglesong for the win, while John Bowes and Rich Hurne both challenged in the closing laps but finished third and fourth respectively.
The Super X-Cars showcased their largest field of the early season, with RJ Cunningham taking the lead on the 28-car field from his outside pole starting spot. Ken Dowling moved to the lead on lap four and continued at the point while Alex Canestrari, Mike Maskell, James Consalvo, and Charles Beal had moved in behind the leader as the race reached halfway.
A restart midway through the race brought the field together. Dowling and Canestrari got together out of turn two, with both drivers getting off the track onto the apron but continuing on. Maskell motored around the duo into the lead in an exciting exchange, but Canestrari was not done and gathered himself back to track down and retake the lead. Canestrari would go on to his first career win. Maskell broke loose off turn four allowing Michael Caprio to take second place at the checkered flag, however contact between the two set off a chain-reaction wreck and wild finish under the checkered flag.
The 15-lap X-Modified event saw David Flammia lead over Bubby Brouwer in the early portion of the race. The first caution waved on lap ten when fifth place Jeff Amaral spun in turn two. The field got jammed up on the restart, with a five-car pileup in turn one collected Brian Rondeau, Anthony Burr, Brian DiMartino, Rob Gallaer and Amaral bringing out the red flag. When action resumed, Brouwer got a great restart in the outside lane to cruise to his second consecutive win and extend his points lead.
Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday returns next Wednesday, June 17. Racing gets underway at 7:00pm and is just $7 for adults and free for all youth age 14 and under.
Speedbowl Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday 6/10 finishers, hometown:
Legends Cars (20-laps): 1. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 2. George Whitney, Westbrook; 3. Roger Coss, Lafayette, NJ; 4. Carl Blandina, Milford; 5. Mark Esposito, Easton; 6. Tony Flannery, E. Hampton; 7. Kevin Nowak, Medford, NY; 8. Peter Portante, Plainville; 9. John Weaver, Ashland, MA; 10. Stan Carpenter, Auburn, MA; 11. Mike Beebe, Old Saybrook; 12. Dana DiMatteo, Farmington; 13. Giovanni Giarratana, Newington; 14. Dylan Liseo, E. Hartford; 15. Ed Field, Deep River; 16. Tom Pinson, Colchester; 17. Alessandra Vitelli, Woodbridge; 18. Peter Cirilli, Farmington; 19. Ricky White III, N. Stonington; DQ – Justin Rau, Farmington
NEATV Truck Series (20-laps): 1. Allen Coates, Ledyard; 2. Keith Chapman, Mystic; 3. Howard Payne, Shelton; 4. Bill Leonard, Wood River Jct., RI; 5. Scott Gregory, Westbrook; 6. Mike Anzalone, Griswold; 7. Louis Bellisle III, Lisbon; 8. Daniel Butler, Manchester; 9. Jonathon Zoller, Ayer, MA; 10. Greg Butler Jr., E. Hampton
X-Cars (20-laps): 1. Patrick Williams, Middletown; 2. Brad Voglesong, Middletown; 3. John Bowes, Willington; 4. Rich Hurne, Groton; 5. Onie Pierce, Norwich; 6. Pete Zaikarite, E. Hartford; 7. David D’allesandro, Coventry; 8. Wayne Shifflett, Preston; 9. Daniel Madore, Sterling; 10. Randy Johnston, Westerly, RI; 11. David Amspacher, Groton; 12. Richard Gullage, Rockfall; 13. James Tirrell, Stonington; 14. Mike Trask, Plainfield; 15. Nicole Harris, Groton; 16. Josh Barrie, Voluntown; 17. Michele Cicio, Baltic; 18. Gary Stone Jr., Northford; 19. Wayne Heon, Lisbon; 20. Paul Smith, Clinton; 21. Rick Mollo, Ansonia; 22. Nathan Lloyd, Mystic; 23. Neal Phillips, N. Grosvenordale; 24. Kim Bickford, Griswold; 25. Buddy Strede, Coventry; 26. Steve Violette, Canterbury; 27. Christopher Garside, Waterford; 28. Wilson Tenrreiro, Griswold; 29. Danny Gervais, E. Hartford; 30. Bruce Hall, Ledyard; 31. Arthur Phillips, Norwich; 32. Michael Marvin, Colchester; 33. Dustin Gage, Madison; 34. Shawn Butler, Jewett City; 35. Scott Kittel, Westerly, RI; 36. Steve Poorman, Ledyard; DNS – Devin Widger, Plainville; DNS – Jeffrey Lee, Norwich
Super X-Cars (20-laps): 1. Alex Canestrari, Ledyard; 2. Michael Caprio, New Haven; 3. Mike Maskell III, Quaker Hill; 4. John Yagmin, Tolland; 5. James Consalvo, E. Hartford; 6. Rob Corey, S. Windsor; 7. Jim Lynch, Wood River Jct., RI; 8. Al Potter, Waterford; 9. Kevin Moon, Exeter, RI; 10. Robert Carlson, Rockfall; 11. Charles Beal, Ledyard; 12. Bill Schmitt, Wyoming, RI; 13. Dan Moon, Exeter, RI; 14. Ken Dowling III, Branford; 15. Robert Norman, Clinton; 16. Shawn Perkins, Groton; 17. Mark Boisvert, Uxbridge, MA; 18. Peter Pollard, Old Lyme; 19. Paul Sheldon, Guilford; 20. Chris Bissell, Jewett City; 21. Frank Alessio, Colchester; 22. Jon Porter, Canterbury; 23. Tylor DiFrancesca, Lisbon; 24. Taylor-Marie Moran, Preston; 25. Steve LaRose, Griswold; 26. R.J Cunningham, Clinton; DNS – Dale Treadway, Griswold; DNS – Bruce Lee
X-Modifieds (10-laps): 1. Bubby Brouwer, Waterford; 2. David Flammia, Waterbury; 3. Dean Christensen, Granby; 4. Jeff Amaral, Bristol; 5. David O’Leary, Putnam; 6. Anthony Burr, Wallingford; 7. Brian Rondeau, Blackstone, MA; 8. Rob Gallaer, Sherman; 9. Brian DiMartino, Cromwell
Bandoleros (10-laps): 1. Chris Lamartire 2. Matt Carpenter 3. Dylan Liseo 4. Tyler Chalue
Sources: Waterford Speedbowl PR