Jeff Paul Wins First Waterford SK Modified Race of Season; Brian Andronaco a First Time Winner in Late Models
Galvin, Bellisle & Frissora among Speedbowl Winners
Waterford, CT — A competitive night of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing took place Saturday night at Waterford Speedbowl with Ledyard driver Jeff Paul claiming his first win of the year in the SK Modifieds®, snapping Keith Rocco’s three race winning streak in the division. Eighteen year old Brian Andronaco of Wilton was a first time winner, wiring the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model event. Josh Galvin of Franklin became the first repeat winner of the year in the Street Stocks and Louis Bellisle of Griswold recorded his first Norwich Bulletin Mini Stock win of the season. Anthony Frissora of Massachusetts won the visiting Allison Legacy Series tour race.
Todd Ceravolo of Gales Ferry was the early leader in the SK Modified® 35-lap affair. He and second place Joe Perry checked out over the field which battled intensely behind in the opening laps. Rob Janovic Jr. moved low under Diego Monahan for the third spot on lap six, leaving Jeff Pearl to challenge Monahan for fourth. Keith Rocco was advancing through the top ten when trouble in the back half of the field saw Frank Mucciacciaro Jr. and Adam Gada get together to draw the first caution on lap nine.
Ceravolo restarted strong and took over at the point. Janovic moved by Perry for second and Pearl moved by into third. Perry settled into fourth over Rocco, but the five-time winner wasted no time moving outside and past Perry to secure the fourth spot. Rocco challenged the outside of Pearl for third position two circuits later on lap 14 and the two went to battle for several laps. That culminated with the pair making contact between turns three and four as the field worked lap 18. As Rocco jumped under Pearl in turn four, with contact sending both cars towards the infield. The field stacked up behind as Rocco got into the infield and re-entered the track in turn one collecting the cars of Perry, Justin Gaydosh and Tyler Chadwick. Rocco and Pearl both resumed from the rear.
That restart was the event’s final. Janovic challenged outside Ceravolo for the lead when the green flag waved. As Ceravolo fended off Janovic through turn two, the bottom lane opened for Paul to throw his machine under both cars from his third place position. He scooted to the race lead using a heads up move. Tom Abele moved to second and Ron Yuhas Jr. emerged into third as the laps wound down and the green flag racing continued. Kyle James was in fourth and Ceravolo settled into fifth.
In the closing circuits Yuhas pulled out of line and went outside Abele for second, securing the spot with just two laps to go. A hard charging Yuhas reeled in Paul but ran out of time to challenge for the win. Paul picked up his first win of the year over Yuhas in a quickly paced race. Abele was third while James and Ceravolo held on to their top five finishes at the checkered flag.
The Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models put on a great green-to-checkered 30-lap event that saw Andronaco lead from his pole starting position. Rich Staskowski and Jeff Smith settled in behind the leader. From the early laps both Tim Jordan and defending champion Bruce Thomas Jr. used the outside lane to move their way through the field and battle for a top-five spot in the running order. Thomas was the first to reach the top three, moving to Jeff Smith’s bumper for the third position by lap 10.
The middle third of the race saw Andronaco lead comfortably over Staskowski, while Jordan began challenging Thomas on the low side at halfway on lap 15. The pair put on a great battle for the fourth spot for several laps while the leaders stayed in line ahead. On lap 22 the two touched, with Jordan backing out to gather his machine which allowed Thomas to get away. Ahead of that action, Smith challenged Staskowski on the low side. That battle gave Thomas opportunity to look outside for the third position with just five laps to go.
While those the three cars battled hard for the second and third spots in an exciting final five laps, Andronaco cruised to a well deserved win, his first career victory at the track. Staskowski was able to fend off his challengers to finish second, Thomas third and Smith in fourth. Jordan was fifth.
The 25-lap Street Stock race saw Ed Puleo in command of the event from the green flag, leading over Ronnie Oldham and Josh Galvin during the opening laps. Behind the top three the field was fiercely battling for position. Steve Barrett, Al Stone III and defending champion Brandon Plemons were locked in a battle for fourth.
Puleo continued to maintain a five car length lead over Oldham as the racing stayed under green through halfway on lap 13. Stone claimed fourth over Barrett and Galvin began to close in slowly on Oldham in second, reaching his rear decklid on lap 15. The first caution waved that lap for a two car spin off turn two, setting up a restart with ten laps remaining.
Oldham powered into the lead when racing resumed, immediately racing to a several car length lead. Puleo slipped back, moving Stone to second momentarily before he dropped off the pace on lap 17. Galvin ultimately moved to second before another caution waved, setting up a critical restart between he and Oldham with just four laps to go.
Galvin challenged outside and moved to the race lead when the green resumed. He cleared Oldham with just two laps to go and pulled ahead. Oldham tried to look for an opening over the final two laps, but Galvin nailed the win to become the first repeat winner in seven Street Stock events held this season. Oldham was second, Steve Barrett got third at the stripe, winning a three way battle for the spot. He nipped points leader Walt Hovey Jr. by inches with Plemons tight behind in fifth.
Trouble on lap one slowed the Norwich Bulletin Mini Stock race with several competitors spinning in turn three, resulting in Christina Kellerman’s machine behind towed from the racing surface. Ray Christian III led once the race got underway cleanly, holding the top spot over Charles Canfield. Christian however had trouble shaking the field loose from his back bumper.
Canfield ducked low intent on taking over the lead from Christian, eventually doing so on lap nine. The top ten cars were tightly packed together with several two and three wide battles taking place. Dan Field and Ken Cassidy Jr. were both at the back of that pack trying to fight their way through it when the third place car of Ian Brew spun off turn two on lap 12. That brought out the caution flag and slowed the hotly contested battle among the top half of the field.
The second half of the race clicked off in rapid fashion. Bellisle and Mark Panaroni raced their way to the top two positions, then put on a classic short track battle that endured much of the remaining laps. The pair raced side-by-side with Panaroni challenging outside Bellisle lap after lap, but never able to pull ahead.
Bellisle went on to the exciting win over Panaroni in second. Behind them, point leaders Dan Field and Ken Cassidy Jr. staged their own war for the third spot, with Field coming out on top after several laps side by side. Rounding out the top five was Glenn Colvin.
The Allison Legacy Series was on hand for a 25-lap event. Anthony Frissora of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts led the race through the first half of the event over Paul Tuthill and James Logan. Frissora was in control through several restarts, including two red flag situations during the race. He hung on for the win. Tuthill was second at the finish after losing the position briefly` to Logan during the final third of the race. Logan finished third.
The Speedbowl kicks off a special week for Memorial Day Weekend with four events in five days. It all starts with Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday on May 26. Then on Friday, May 28 it’s Holeshot Drag Racing Association 100 foot drags and car cruise at The Show and Go at the ‘Bowl. Next Saturday night the Speedbowl welcomes the return of the ISMA Supermodifieds for their first New England event of 2010. They will compete in a special 50-lap race, along with the SK Modifieds®, Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models, Street Stocks and Norwich Bulletin Mini Stocks. on Sunday, May 30 its 97.7 WCTY Memorial Day Madness with demo derbies, ski race, wacky Speedbowl trailer race, and more.
More information on all these events is available online at Speedbowl.com or by calling the track info line at 860.442.1585.
Saturday 5/22 Results and standings:
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds® (35 laps): 1. Jeff Paul, Ledyard; 2. Ron Yuhas Jr, Groton; 3. Tom Abele Jr, Norwich; 4. Kyle James, Ashaway; 5. Todd Ceravolo, Gales Ferry; 6. Mark Bakaj, Lebanon; 7. Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 8. Joe Gada, Salem; 9. Rob Janovic Jr, Waterford; 10. Shawn Solomito, Islip; 11. Dennis Charette, Southington; 12. Jeff Pearl, Salem; 13. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill; 14. Glen Pressel III, Gales Ferry; 15. Adam Gada, Bozrah; 16. Peter Pavone, Southbury; 17. Jeffrey Gallup, Agawam; 18. Frank Mucciaciarro Jr, Milford; 19. Joe Perry, Ashaway; 20. Justin Gaydosh, Newton; 21. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 22. Mike Sweeney, Middletown
Standings after seven events (top-ten): 1. Rocco, 341; 2. Yuhas, 325; 3. Janovic, 256; 4. Paul, 249; 5. Monahan, 246; 6. Charette, 240; 7. Chadwick, 234; 8. Pearl, 222; 9. Abele, 200; 10. Gaydosh, 198
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models (30 laps): 1. Brian Andronaco Jr, Wilton; 2. Richard Staskowski, Hope Valley, RI; 3. Bruce Thomas Jr., Groton; 4. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 5. Tim Jordan, Plainfield; 6. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 7. Vin Esposito, Seymour; 8. Joe Curioso, Mystic; 9. Dennis Botticello, Suffield; 10. Jeffrey Paul, Ledyard; 11. Ernie Bertrand, North Branford; 12. Richard Duranti, Quaker Hill
Standings after four events (top-ten): 1. Jordan, 200; 2. (tie) Smith, Staskowski, 166; 4. Thomas, 161; 5. Esposito, 160; 6. Botticello, 158; 7. Andronaco, 157; 8. (tie) Bertrand, Paul, 154; 10. Palmer, 152
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stocks (25 laps): 1. Josh Galvin, Franklin; 2. Ronnie Oldham Jr., Westbrook; 3. Steve Barrett, Preston; 4. Wal Hovey Jr., Chaplin; 5. Brandon Plemons, Uncasville; 6. Mark Cooper, Northford; 7. Phil Evans, Uncasville; 8. Jack Aquilina, Oakdale; 9. Norm Sears, Andover; 10. Kevin Talbot, Moosup; 11. Chris Kvaka, Stratford; 12. Chris Meyer, North Franklin; 13. Nate Appell, Westbrook; 14. Scott Young, Willimantic; 15. Al Stone III, New Haven; 16. Ed Puleo, Branford; 17. Greg Moran Jr., Preston; 18. Kevin Burr, Waterford .
Standings after seven events (top-ten): 1. Hovey, 324; 2. Plemons, 290; 3. Stone 285 4. Oldham, 283; 5. Barrett, 282; 6. Galvin, 274; 7. Sears, 265; 8. Puleo, 263; 9. Meyer, 239; 10. Aquilina, 222
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Norwich Bulletin Mini Stocks (25 laps): 1. Louis Bellisle III, Griswold; 2. Mark Panaroni, Ivoryton; 3. Danny Field, Deep River; 4. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 5. Glenn Colvin, Clinton; 6. Sean Caron, East Hampton; 7. Charles Canfield, New Haven; 8. Ed Field, Deep River; 9. Ian Brew, Wood River Junction, RI; 10. Chris Williams, Waterford; 11. Steve Violette, Canterbury; 12 .Chuck Rogers, Quaker Hill; 13. Jeffrey Cembruch, Wallingford, 14. Ray Christian III, Noank; 15. Greg Moran Sr., Preston; 16. Jeff Mehlenbacher, Groton; 17. Nick Pappacoda, North Branford; 18. Ryan Cipows, Seymour; 19. Christina Kellerman, Stratford; 20. Jack Aquilina, Oakdale; 21. Ben Bargnesi, Norwich
Standings after seven events (top-ten): 1. D. Field, 331; 2. Cassidy, 327; 3. Caron, 297; 4. Williams, 265; 5. Violette, 246; 6. Bellisle, 235; 7. Canfield, 232; 8. Brew, 216; 9. Mehlenbacher, 206; 10. Moran, 196
Allison Legacy Racing Series (25 laps): 1. Anthony Frissora, Shewsbury, MA; 2. Paul Tuthill, Washingtonville, MA; 3. James Logan, Dighton, MA; 4. Emily Packard, Monteplier, VT; 5. Melissa Fifield, Wakefield, MA; 6. Billy Barrett, Millis; 7. T.J. Jeski, Dracut, MA; 8. Kyle Podiac, Bennington, VT; 9. Samantha Dellarocco, North Branford; 10. Sean Murphy, Maynard, MA; 11. Devin O’Connell, Madison; 12. Nicolai Perreault, Northfield, MA; 13. Troy McNeal, Fichburg, MA; 14. Peter Portante, Plainville; 15. Eric Bourgeois, East Haddam; 16. Brad Zahensky, Bow, NH
Sources: Waterford Speedbowl PR