Speedbowl Crowns its 2009 Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday Champions
Waterford, CT — Waterford Speedbowl capped its popular Wild ‘n Wacky season with the annual awards presentation at the speedway grounds on Wednesday evening. The race teams of Jason Palmer, John Yagmin, Patrick Williams, Dean Christensen and Tyler Chalue were honored for their championship efforts.
The 2009 season was another of fiercely competitive races week after week, with 31 different drivers tasting victory lane between the Legends Car, Super X-Car, X-Car, X-Modified, and Bandolero divisions. Several were first time winners. A hit with fans for its affordability and action-packed nature, Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday completed its ninth year of mid-week mayhem at the ‘Bowl. The addition of the Bandolero class, offering youth an entry level and affordable racing option, plus the HDRA 100 foot spectator drags to the Wild ‘n Wacky schedule became instant hits.
The Legends Car season was an epic one for Berlin’s Jason Palmer. He rolled to 12 victories in 15 events including the first six weeks, dominating the series. It was the third consecutive Wednesday Legends Car championship for the twenty-one year old competitor. The only drivers to stop Palmer from reaching the winners circle were rookie Tony Flannery of East Hampton, who ended up runner-up in the standings and collected two wins, and visiting North Carolina hotshoe Steven Ross. Palmer had some memorable battles in several feature events, making the winning move in the final laps or some instances, the final corner.
The continuation of the youth movement in the Legends Car series was evident, with several newcomers improving week by week. The future of the division and racing is bright with drivers such as Flannery who at fifteen years of age also scored 11 top-fives. Seventeen year old Giovanni Giarratana of Newington finished third overall in the standings after a consistent season in which he placed five top-five finishes. Alessandro Vitelli, Dana DiMatteo, William Munro, and Dave Garbo were just some of the other teens new this season who improved and found success as the weeks wore on. Veterans Carl Blandina, Dennis Pantani, George Whitney and Ed Field all battle-tested the youngsters and ended up with top results in the season standings.
The Super X-Car battle wasn’t over until the final event. In a competitive season with eight different winners in 16 races, nobody was a dominant car. John Yagmin from Tolland used a consistent season in which he picked up one win, the least of the champions, but rode 12 top-fives to beat out James Consalvo of East Hartford by 42 points. The one commonly known as “The Mohawk Warrior” for sporting his trademark mohawk hair style captured his second division title in three years. He also won the title in 2007.
Charles Beal of Ledyard picked up five wins and finished third in the Super X season. Other feature winners were Rob Corey of South Windsor, Ken Downing of Branford, Alex Canestrari of Ledyard, and Robert Norman of Clinton. Rookies Frank Alessio and Steve LaRose both won two events as impressive newcomers, with LaRose winning top rookie honors with his fourth place finish in the standings.
The X-Car class saw teammates Patrick Williams and Brad Voglesong of Middletown finish atop the point standings, with Williams interrupting Voglesong’s two straight division titles en route to taking down his first crown. Williams led the division with four wins and had 12 top-fives in 16 events. The margin of victory was a scant 18 points at the final tally. John Bowes of Willington had a strong season winning three events, finishing just 20 points back.
The X-Car division was once again very competitive, with frequent three and four-wide battles necessary to sort through a field regularly 30-plus deep. Nobody won more than four races (Williams) and eight different drivers captured a victory. Other feature winners during the year were Curt D’addario Sr., Pete Zaikarite, Dan Madore, Devin Widger, and Onie Pierce. Gary Stone Jr. of Northford was the Rookie of the Year in the division, placing ninth.
The X-Modified season was one of persistence and perseverance for veteran competitor Dean Christensen of Granby. He scored four wins in 15 events to best David Flammia of Waterbury by just four points in a battle that went to the final checkered flag. Flammia also won four events, “Bubby” Brouwer of Waterford won three races and finished third, and Paul French of Andover came on strong late to win two races and place fourth overall. Brian Rondeau and Rob Gallaer also visited the winners circle.
The Bandolero class came to the Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday season just after the year began and showed growth during the summer. Several out-of-state drivers took to the shoreline oval to compete and it was Tyler Chalue of Dudley, Massachusetts coming out on top winning two races. He bested fellow Massachusetts driver Matt Carpenter by 34 points. Drivers from Rhode Island, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut and as far as Nova Scotia competed.
Nicole Harris of Groton was the X-Car Women on Wheels champion, and in the full size Super X-Car Women on Wheels it was multi-time champion Kathy Civardi and Taylor-Marie Moran both of Preston sharing the honors.
For full season standings, and more information please visit www.speedbowl.com.
Final 2009 Waterford Speedbowl Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday standings, hometown:
(Feature wins in parenthesis)
Legends Cars (top-ten):
1. Jason Palmer, Berlin, 740 – (12);
2. Anthony Flannery, East Hampton, 608 (2); – Rookie of the Year
3. Giovanni Giarratana, Newington, 544;
4. Carl Blandina, Milford, 538;
5. Dennis Pantani, Branford, 528;
6. Roger Coss, Lafayette, NJ, 466;
7. Alessandro Vitelli, Woodbridge, 444;
8. Ed Field, Deep River, 426;
9. George Whitney, Westbrook, 420;
10. Dana DiMatteo, Farmington, 352
Additional Feature Winners:
Steven Ross, Stanfield, NC (1)
X-Cars (top-ten):
1. Patrick Williams, Middletown, 654 – (4);
2. Brad Voglesong, Middletown, 636 – (2);
3. John Bowes, Willington, 634 – (3);
4. Rich Hurne, Groton, 586;
5. (tie) Wayne Shifflett, Preston;
Randy Johnston, Westerly, RI, 490;
7. Daniel Madore, Sterling, 460 (1);
8. Mike Trask, Plainfield, 386;
9. Gary Stone, Norhtford, 380; – Rookie of the Year
10. Michael Marvin, Colchester, 368
Additional Feature Winners:
Curt D’addario Sr., Columbia (2)
Pete Zaikarite, East Hartford (2)
Onie Pierce, Norwich (1)
Devin Widger, Plainville (1)
Super X-Cars (top-ten):
1.John Yagmin,Tolland, 680 – (1);
2. James Consalvo, East Hartford, 638;
3. Charles Beal, Ledyard, 606 – (5);
4. Steve LaRose, Griswold, 588 – (2); – Rookie of the Year
5. Rob Corey, South Windsor, 500 – (3);
6. Al Potter,Waterford, 476;
7. Mike Maskell III, Quaker Hill, 464;
8. Ken Downing III, Branford, 462 – (1);
9. Shawn Perkins, Groton, 454;
10. Michael Caprio, New Haven, 434
Additional Feature Winners:
Frank Alessio, Colchester (2)
Alex Canestrari, Ledyard (1)
Robert Norman, Clinton (1)
X-Modifieds (top-ten):
1. Dean Christensen, Granby, 702 – (4);
2. David Flammia Jr., Waterbury, 698- (4);
3. Richard “Bubby” Brouwer, Waterford, 480 – (3);
4. Paul French, Andover, 368 – (2);
5. Brian Rondeau, Blackstone, MA, 346 – (1);
6. David O’Leary, Putnam, 308;
7. (tie) Rob Gallaer, Sherman – (1);
Brenden Shea, Waterford, 310;
9. Rich Schlegel, Griswold, 264;
10. Jeff Amaral, Bristol, RI, 210
Bandoleros (top-ten):
1. Tyler Chalue, Dudley, MA, 506 – (2);
2. Matt Carpenter, Auburn, MA, 472 – (1);
3. Chris Lomartire, 418 – (3);
4. Andy Carpenter, Auburn, MA, 406 – (2);
5. Nick Matera, Warwick, RI, 374;
6. Jordan Churchill, Lisbon, 252;
7. Ryan Mackintosh, Amherst, Nova Scotia, 100 – (2);
8. Daniel Stolte, Northbridge, MA, 98 – (1);
9. Dylan Duhaime, Loudon, NH, 88;
10. Dylan Liseo, East Hartford, 46
Women on Wheels – X-Car Champion:
1. Nicole Harris, Groton, 192
Women on Wheels – Super X-Car Co-Champions:
1. (tie) Kathy Civardi, Preston
Taylor-Marie Moran, Preston, 98
Sources: Waterford Speedbowl PR