Paul & Jordan split SK Mod and Late Model 100-lap races, Oldham takes Street Stocks and Bellisle wins Mini Stocks; Yuhas, Plemons and Field join Thomas as Track Champions
Waterford, CT — The Waterford Speedbowl Finale saw the final races for the four weekly NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions on Sunday. Track champions were crowned in three of them, with Ron Yuhas Jr., Brandon Plemons and Danny Field etching their names into the Speedbowl record book joining Bruce Thomas Jr. as the 2009 champions. Winning the races were Jeff Paul in the 100-lap SK Modified event, Tim Jordan in the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model 100-lapper, while Ron Oldham Jr. and Louis Bellisle III won the 50-lap Street Stock and Norwich Bulletin Mini Stock races.
Joe Perry and Dennis Charette led the 27-car SK Modified field and championship chase to green for their 100-lap event. The fireworks started off turn four of lap one when Tom Abele Jr., who started third, and Charette made contact. That crossed the pair up in front of a stacked field behind, resulting in an 11-car pig pile entering turn one.
All eyes were on points contenders Ron Yuhas Jr. and Keith Rocco. Heads up driving helped them from getting collected in the incident, as cars literally scattered in every direction around them. Dennis Gada, Jeff Pearl, Allen Coates and Matt Gallo were among those headed pit side in need of repair but able to continue on the lead lap of the race.
The restart proved no better, as Abele and Janovic came together off turn four coming to the green flag, ending with Abele’s car at rest against the turn one wall after making race ending contact with the wall. Once green, Jeff Paul of Ledyard moved inside of Perry to take over at the front. Racing only went a few laps before something broke on Pearl’s car, sending the Salem driver hard into the turn one wall on lap seven.
When the green returned, only one more lap was able to be completed before caution flew again for a single car spin. That lap proved key however, as Rocco used a bump and run move on Paul to take over the lead off turn two on lap 10.
Rocco resumed at the front with Paul and Janovic giving chase. Yuhas moved around the outside of Perry for fourth and closed in on the top three. Caution on lap 26 for a spin by Charette slowed what was the first look at how the race for the win and championship would shape up. Rocco had pressed early to get out front, with Yuhas in tow looking all over Janovic for third.
Rocco lead through lap 38 when Paul, challenging outside, capitalized on a slip by Rocco to reclaim the top spot. Paul stretched out his lead as Rocco began backing up, something appearing to go away on his machine. Caution came out on lap 47 when Shawn Solomito spun off the backstretch. Rocco used that opportunity to duck in to the pits for service on what turned out to be a broken panhard bar. The championship hunt turned when the race returned green with Rocco still in the pits as his team made the repairs.
Paul reclaimed the lead when the action returned with Yuhas in second, Dennis Gada moving to third, and Janovic battling Mark Bakaj for fourth. Yuhas pressed Paul at the front. Gada sat three cars back in third. Further back, Bakaj took fourth but Janovic looked to take it back. Those two came together in turn four with 20 laps remaining to bring out caution.
That was the final restart Paul needed to master. He did, going on to his third victory of the season. Yuhas settled for second, good enough to clinch his first track title in his 10th season competing at the track. He lept over Rocco in the standings, who ended up placing 17th, 24 laps off the lead lap. Dennis Gada, Allen Coates, and Matt Gallo all rebounded from the lap one incident to claim third through fifth in the race.
Rich Staskowski of Hope Valley, Rhode Island took the early race lead to pace the 100-lap Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models until Tim Jordan took over on the outside on lap 21. After a few early cautions, the field settled in for a long distance run of green flag competition through the race’s mid-stages.
During that run, Dennis Botticello of Suffield moved to second on lap 27 looking primed to challenge Jordan at the front. Tom Metcalf of North Stonington, competing in Bruce Thomas Jr.’s championship #35, also looked strong coming through to third as on lap 34. Staskowski was hanging with the top runners in fourth.
Botticello began to fade after halfway as the race stayed under green, losing the handles on the #03. First he dropped second to Metcalf on lap 72, then Staskowski took third from him a lap later. Mark Bakaj of Lebanon was making steady progress through the field and into the top five when caution finally waved on lap 83 to stop the long run. Pawcatuck’s Joe Curioso spun in turn two, resetting the field.
With 12 laps remaining trouble struck the lead pack as Metcalf, Bakaj and Botticello got together in turn three, eliminating Botticello. But the race belonged to Jordan. He went on to his third win of the year over Ernie Bertrand of North Branford, Bakaj, Jeff Smith of Old Lyme and Metcalf.
The division points title was already wrapped up for Groton’s Bruce Thomas Jr., his third consecutive in the division.
Chris Meyer of North Franklin led the Street Stock field to green for a very competitive 50-lapper. Four championship contenders entered the race just 24 points apart, led by Uncasville’s Brandon Plemons.
Meyer jumped to the lead in the early going while the field behind jockeyed for position behind. Ron Oldham Jr., third in the standings beginning the race, was the first contender to assert himself. He moved into the top three on lap 12, ducking underneath Ed Puleo. The first caution waved on lap 13 for a spin in turn four.
Preston’s Greg Moran Jr. moved out front past Meyers on lap 15. Oldham sat in third waiting to pounce. Meanwhile, Plemons was riding in fifth with Hovey hot on his tail in traffic. Stone was mired back in the back half of the top ten fighting the field.
Oldham pulled out to take second spot on lap 16, and quickly moved to Moran’s bumper. He wasted no time pressuring the leader when caution waved for another single car spin in turn four on lap 18. Oldham continued to torch his way to the front, wrestling the lead away from Moran on the restart with an outside move. The restart also enabled Plemons and Hovey to progress to third and fourth, offering little separation in the points hunt. Plemons ducked under Moran on lap 23 to take second two laps shy of the halfway point. Caution waved again for fluid on the racetrack after a two car incident.
When the action got back to green, Oldham checked out. Plemons pushed forward into second, and Hovey took third. Hovey and Moran began an intense battle for the position, first with Hovey getting bounced out of the groove back to seventh. Their battle allowed Steve Barrett and Ed Puleo to climb to third and fourth. Hovey rebounded back to fifth using a three wide maneuver a lap later. The pair made some more contact before settling in.
Up front Oldham was on cruise control. He went uninterrupted to his fourth win of the year by seven lengths over Plemons and Barrett. Ed Gertsch Jr. of East Haven, making his first start of the year, was strong to take fourth and the checkered. Ed Puleo was fifth. After his win, Oldham dedicated his win in memory of Dickie Mills, an intrical part of his start in racing.
With his strong run and second place finish, Plemons clinched his first Street Stock division title and second overall at the Speedbowl. He was also the 2002 Mini Stock champion.
The Norwich Bulletin Mini Stocks kicked off Sunday’s progam with their 50-lap race. Jeff Mehlenbacher of Groton used his outside front row starting position to lead the first seven laps when the first caution waved for a single car spin off turn four. Chris Williams of Niantic bolted to the race lead following the restart, taking over at lap eight and holding the position through two restarts. Points contender Louis Bellisle III of Lisbon moved in to challenge advancing into the second position.
The complexion of the points race turned downhill for Rhode Island’s Kyle James, second in the standings entering the event. On lap 14 he got collected in an incident with fellow Rhode Island native Bill Leonard and Ken Cassidy Jr. of Lisbon while battling for the third position. James resumed after pitting with damage.
Bellisle moved to the lead at lap 15 taking over from Williams. Throughout several caution periods plaguing the race, points leader Danny Field of Deep River stayed free and clear of the trouble. He steadily picked off cars to move to Bellisle’s bumper by lap 27. He would not challenge for the win however, riding in second through the checkered flag to capture his third division championship.
Bellisle won the race and finished second in the standings. Williams was third in the race, Sean Caron of Hartford fourth, and Leonard was fifth. James came back for sixth and placed third in the final standings.
Earlier in the day, Most Popular Driver awards were presented to Ryan Morgan in the Legends Cars, Danny Field in the Norwich Bulletin Mini Stocks and Al Stone III in the Street Stocks. Tim Jordan was fan choice in the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models, and Joe Perry in the SK Modifieds.
Just one event remains on the Speedbowl’s 2009 calendar, Saturday October 24’s annual Smacktoberfest with demo derbies, trailer race, HDRA 100 foot spectator drags and more planned. For more detailed information and event schedule, or for more information on event rules, please visit www.speedbowl.com or contact the track office at 860.442.1585.
Official Speedbowl 10/11 finishers, hometown:
SK Modifieds (100-laps): 1. Jeff Paul, Ledyard; 2. Ron Yuhas Jr., Groton; 3. Dennis Gada, Salem; 4. Allen Coates, Ledyard; 5. Matt Gallo, Kensington; 6. Joe Perry, Ashaway, RI; 7. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 8. Dennis Charette, Southington; 9. Mark Bakaj, Lebanon; 10. Joe Gada, Salem; 11. Shawn Monahan, Quaker Hill; 12. Glenn Colvin, Clinton; 13. Henry Stampfl, Norwood, MA; 14. Dean Christensen, Granby; 15. Jeffrey Gallup, Agawam, MA; 16. Bob Georgiades, East Hampton; 17. Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 18. Shawn Solomito, Islip, NY; 19. Bill Gertsch Jr., East Haven; 20. Wendell Dailey, Gales Ferry; 21. Walt Hovey Jr., Chaplin; 22. Kevin Crisman, Oakdale; 23. Frank Mucciacciaro, Milford; 24. Jeff Pearl, Salem; 25. Tom Abele Jr., Norwich; 26. Don Fowler, Clinton; 27. Glenn Pressel III, Gales Ferry; DNS – Kevin Shea, Mystic
Final Standings following 10/11 event (top-ten): 1. Yuhas, 882; 2. Rocco, 858; 3. Paul, 808; 4. Janovic, 804; 5. Gada, 794; 6. Pearl, 744; 7. Tyler Chadwick, 636; 8. Dailey, 562; 9. Perry, 550; 10. (tie) Hutchings; Charette, 534
Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models (100-laps): 1. Tim Jordan, Plainfield; 2. Ernie Bertrand, North Branford; 3. Mark Bakaj, Lebanon; 4. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 5. Tom Metcalf, North Stonington; 6. Marc Curtis, Worcester, MA; 7. Rich Staskowski, Hope Valley, RI; 8. Jeff Miller, Westbrook; 9. Duane Noll, Monroe; 10. Mark Hudson, Norton, MA; 11. Matt Bettencourt, East Taunton, MA; 12. Dennis Botticello, Suffield; 13. Dennis Stampfl, Norwood, MA; 14. Joe Curioso, Pawcatuck; 15. Robert Leblanc Jr., Norwalk; 16. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill; 17. Robert Woods Jr., Manchester; DNS – Larry Goss, North Windham
Final Standings following 10/11 event (top-ten): 1. Thomas, 802; 2. Staskowski, 764; 3. Smith, 712; 4. Bertrand, 652; 5. Vin Esposito, 626; 6. Hudson, 596; 7. Jordan, 494; 8. Goss, 488; 9. Botticello, 404; 10. Leblanc, 358
Street Stocks (50-laps): 1. Ron Oldham Jr., Old Saybrook; 2. Brandon Plemons, Uncasville; 3. Steve Barrett, Preston; 4. Ed Gertsch Jr., East Haven; 5. Ed Puleo, Branford; 6. Walt Hovey Jr., Chaplin; 7. Josh Galvin, Uncasville; 8. Jim Procaccini, Trumbull; 9. Chris Meyer, North Franklin; 10. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill; 11. Norm Root Jr., Old Saybrook; 12. Shawn Monahan, Quaker Hill; 13. Ted Dupre, Westbrook; 14. John Berchem, West Greenwich, RI; 15. Jack Aquilina, Oakdale; 16. Mat Burr, Quaker Hill; 17. Nate Appell, Westbrook; 18. Al Stone III, New Haven; 19. Greg Moran Jr., Preston; 20. Jonathon Avery, Quaker Hill; 21. Kevin Talbot, Moosup; 22. Kevin Burr, Waterford; DNS – Jim Bavolacco Sr., Stratford
Final Standings following 10/11 event (top-ten): 1. Plemons, 890; 2. Oldham, 878; 3. Hovey, 874; 4. Stone, 834; 5. Puleo, 768; 6. Barrett, 738; 7. Dupre, 650; 8. Galvin, 578; 9. Meyer, 560; 10. Moran, 550
Norwich Bulletin Mini Stocks (50-laps): 1. Louis Bellisle III, Lisbon; 2. Danny Field, Deep River; 3. Chris Williams, Niantic; 4. Sean Caron, Hartford; 5. Bill Leonard, Wood River Junction, RI; 6. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI; 7. Chuck Rogers, Quaker Hill; 8. Jeff Mehlenbacher, Groton; 9. Chris Correll, Old Lyme; 10. Ken Lyke III, Orange; 11. Nick Pappacoda, N. Branford; 12. Charles Andrade Jr., Westbrook; 13. Charles Canfield, New Haven; 14. Ben Bargnesi, Norwich; 15. Alan Hall Jr., North Haven; 16. Christina Cunliffe, Stratford; 17. Greg Moran Sr., Preston; 18. Dale Sherman, Charlestown, RI; 19. Ian Brew, Wood River Junction, RI; 20. Mark Caise, Gales Ferry; 21. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 22. Jeff Cembruch, Wallingford; 23. Ryan Cipows, Seymour; 24. Mark Panaroni, Ivoryton; 25. Trevor Michalski, Danielson; 26. Phil Evans, Uncasville; DNS- Al Stone III, New Haven
Final Standings following 10/11 event (top-ten): 1. Field, 856; 2. Bellisle, 836; 3. James, 830; 4. Cassidy, 750; 5. Pappacoda, 628; 6. Brew, 620; 7. Moran Sr., 576; 8. Caron, 544; 9. Mehlenbacher, 534; 10. Williams, 526
Sources: Waterford Speedbowl PR