N.C. driver Steven Ross wins Legends event; Norman, Brouwer, Williams also victorious
Waterford, CT — Waterford Speedbowl completed another round of Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday racing on a beautiful early summer night for racing. Visiting driver Steven Ross of North Carolina championed the Legends Car event, Robert Norman of Clinton secured his first victory on Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday, while it was points leader Patrick Williams of Middletown winning the X-Car race. Waterford’s Richard “Bubby” Brouwer took the X-Modified race, Preston’s Taylor-Marie Moran won the Women on Wheels event and Andy Carpenter from Massachusetts won in the Bandolero’s.
The Legends Car field came out 26 cars strong in advance of Saturday’s 50-lap national event with Stan Carpenter leading the field to green. Calamity struck on lap one exiting turn two down the backstretch. Multiple cars hopped wheels sliding across the track, but the most severe involved veteran driver Mike Beebe who barrel-rolled several times down the backstretch before his #09 machine came to rest right side up in turn three. Beebe, of Old Saybrook, was shaken up following the incident but was able to walk away.
When racing resumed, 2008 Mountain Speedway (PA) track champion Roger Coss took over at the point. Berlin’s Jason Palmer and Stanfield, NC driver Steven Ross began asserting themselves and made their way to the front by lap six, joining New Jersey native Coss in the top three. Palmer immediately made a bid for the lead on Coss, making his move stick to take over the lead on lap seven. Ross, second in National Legends Car standings, was making his first ever Speedbowl start and duplicated the move a lap later to advance to second. Caution waved on lap nine to set up a restart between the pair, winners of 21 combined Legends Car events this season.
Palmer got the jump on the restart with Ross in pursuit. Tony Flannery, George Whitney, Justin Rau, and Ryan Morgan were all making their way towards the front as green flag racing continued. Ross found room under Palmer to challenge for the lead. Palmer hung tough in the ‘Bowl’s capable outside groove as Ross edged out front. Palmer raced outside Ross, then attempted a crossover move off turn four that was for naught. Caution waved again with just five laps to go.
Ross resumed where he left off out front, with Palmer in pursuit. Palmer continued to look low but could not find the momentum to challenge. Ross went on to the win over Palmer, Whitney, Flannery and Rau.
The Super X-Car 20-lap race got under way with R.J Cunningham of Clinton and Colchester’s Frank Alessio leading the field from their front row starting spots. Caution came out on lap two when Al Potter of Waterford made hard contact with the turn one wall. Two and three wide action was the norm for several laps as competitors in the middle of the field were eagerly looking to advance to the front. Robert “Stormin” Norman moved to the lead leaving behind a several car battle for second when caution slowed the field on lap eight.
At halfway Norman led over Old Lyme’s Peter Pollard, Canterbury driver Jon Porter, Groton’s Shawn Perkins and point leader John Yagmin of Tolland. Porter moved to second and Yagmin into third, while Mike Maskell and last week’s winner Charles Beal also emerged into the top six. Norman stretched out to a four car lead leaving the heavy hitters behind to track him down. Beal looked under Maskell for fifth on lap 16 as the laps continued to run out, completing the pass a lap later.
The race remained green and Norman took his first Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday event win. ‘The Mohawk Man’ John Yagmin passed Porter for second coming to the checkered flag, with Ledyard’s Beal finishing fourth and Quaker Hill native Maskell in fifth.
Richard “Bubby” Brouwer of Waterford stormed to the lead from his outside starting spot when the 15-lap X-Modified event began. As the race moved on, Brouwer led with David Flammia from Waterbury moving into second. Brouwer couldn’t shake Flammia from his rear bumper, while Dean Christensen and Brian Rondeau joined the lead duo. Lapped traffic interfered as the leaders exited turn four with just two laps remaining, with Brouwer moving newcomer Brenden Shea out of the groove and spinning to bring out the caution. Brouwer held on for the win over Flammia, Massachusetts driver Rondeau moved past Christensen for third at the checkers.
The 20-lap X-Car race capped the evening with Middletown drivers Patrick Williams and Brad Voglesong putting on a spirited battle for the win in the latter portions of the event, with Williams coming out on top. The field had trouble getting the race started, defying odds attempting to race five-wide with Norwich’s Onie Pierce tagging the backstretch wall. Several cautions slowed the event. Pete Zaikarite of East Hartford finished in third behind teammates Williams and Voglesong, with Groton’s Rich Hurne finishing fourth and Steve Violette of Canterbury returning to finish the event fifth.
Andy Carpenter of Massachusetts won the 10-lap Bandolero event, his second in the last three events. The Bandolero race car is an affordable, turn-key “spec” machine great for racers of all ages and for youth to start off their racing careers. For more information please visit www.600racing.com.
Taylor-Marie Moran of Preston won the Women on Wheels eight cylinder car event.
For more information, please visit www.speedbowl.com or contact the track office at 860.442.1585.
Speedbowl Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday 7/15 finishers, hometown:
Legends Cars (20-laps): 1. Steven Ross, Stanfield, NC; 2. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 3. George Whitney, Westbrook; 4. Tony Flannery, E. Hampton; 5. Justin Rau, Farmington; 6. Ryan Morgan, Mystic; 7. Christian Pedersen, New Canaan; 8. Dana DiMatteo, Farmington; 9. Allessandro Vitelli; 10. Giovanni Giarratana; 11. William Munro, N. Branford; 12. Dennis Pantani, Branford; 13. Stan Carpenter, Auburn, MA; 14. Greg Dicanio, Seabird, NY; 15. Tom Pinson, Colchester; 16. Troy Talman, Oxford; 17. Angelo Belsito, Auburn, MA; 18. Carl Blandina, Milford; 19. Arthur Maurero, Baltic; 20. Roger Coss, Lafayette, NJ; 21. Ricky White, N. Stonington; 22. Peter Portante, Plainville; 23. Michael Blaskey, Bethany; 24. Ed Field, Deep River; 25. John Beatty, Merrick, NY; 26. Mike Beebe, Old Saybrook
Super X-Cars (20-laps): 1. Robert Norman, Clinton; 2. John Yagmin, Tolland; 3. Jon Porter, Canterbury; 4. Charles Beal, Ledyard; 5. Mike Maskell III, Quaker Hill; 6. Shawn Perkins, Groton; 7. Peter Pollard, Old Lyme; 8. Ken Downing III, Branford; 9. James Consalvo, E. Hartford; 10. Frank Alessio, Colchester; 11. Taylor-Marie Moran, Preston; 12. Mark Boisvert, Uxbridge, MA; 13. Kevin Moon, Exeter, RI; 14. Robert Carlson, Rockfall; 15. Tylor DiFrancesca, Lisbon; 16. Paul Sheldon, Guilford; 17. James Maher, Shelton; 18. Chris Bissell, Jewett City; 19. Rob Corey, S. Windsor; 20. Jim Lynch, Wood River Jct, RI; 21. R.J Cunningham, Clinton; 22. Steve LaRose, Griswold; 23. Dan Yagmin, Wethersfield; 24. Rodney Iannotti, Hope Valley, RI; 25. Al Potter, Waterford; DQ – Alex Canestrari, Ledyard; DNS – Dan Moon, Exeter, RI
X-Cars (20-laps): 1. Patrick Williams, Middletown; 2. Brad Voglesong, Middletown; 3. Pete Zaikarite, E. Hartford; 4. Rich Hurne, Groton; 5. Steve Violette, Canterbury; 6. Dan D’addario, Columbia; 7. Randy Johnston, Westerly, RI; 8. Daniel Madore, Sterling; 9. Dustin Gage, Madison; 10. Wayne Shifflett, Preston; 11. Gary Stone Jr., Northford; 12. Nicole Harris, Groton; 13. David D’allesandro, Coventry; 14. James Tirrell, Stonington; 15. Bill Giles, Stratford; 16. Wayne Heon, Lisbon; 17. Geoffrey Burdick, E. Lyme; 18. Arthur Phillips, Norwich; 19. Aaron Hillbush, Norwich; 20. Kim Bickford, Griswold; 21. Rick Mollo, Ansonia; 22. Michael Marvin, Colchester; 23. Wilson Tenrreiro, Griswold; 24. Robert McCollough, Johnston, RI; 25. Devin Widger, Plainville; 26. Paul Smith, Clinton; 27. Curt D’addario Sr., Columbia; 28. Chris Garside, Waterford; 29. Danny Gervais, E. Hartford; 30. Bruce Hall, Ledyard; 31. John Bowes, Willington; 32. Josh Barrie, Voluntown; 33. Jeffrey Lee, Norwich; 34. Onie Pierce, Norwich; 35. Michele Cicio, Baltic; 36. Shawn Butler, Jewett City
X-Modifieds (15-laps): 1. “Bubby” Brouwer, Waterford; 2. David Flammia Jr., Waterbury; 3. Brian Rondeau, Blackstone, MA; 4. Dean Christensen, Granby; 5. David O’Leary, Putnam; 6. Brian Dimartino, Cromwell; 7. Brenden Shea, Mystic; 8. Rich Schlegel, Griswold
Bandoleros (10-laps): 1. Andy Carpenter; 2. Matt Carpenter; 3. Chris Larmatire; 4. Tyler Chalue; 5. Nick Matera
Women on Wheels – 8 cylinder (10-laps): 1. Taylor-Marie Moran, Preston; 2. Kathy Civardi, Ledyard; 3. Kim Bickford, Griswold; 4. Wendy Gesick, Old Saybrook; 5. Shay Canestrari, Ledyard
Sources: Waterford Speedbowl PR