Polewarczyk Takes Caution-Filled Shriners Late Model 75 Lapper
Seekonk, MA — A visiting Joey Polewarczyk took the car he had sold to Kyle DeSouza and drove it to a convincing win in the Rhode Island Shriner’s Late Model 75-lap feature Saturday night. It was the second longest late model race run at Seekonk, the longest being the 100-lapper in August of 2000. It was also an extended race, running to an hour and 15 minutes with 14 cautions. Ryan Vanasse, Mark Curtis (visiting for the event from Worcester, MA), Kyle Casper and Tyler Thompson finished out the top 5.
The winning vehicle was originally owned by the Hudson, New Hampshire driver in the ACT (American-Canadian Tour) before being purchased last winter by DeSouza. Already numbered 88, the same number DeSouza was running on the evening, it was tattooed “88MA” for the event. Polewarczyk had to work his way forward from the 11th starting spot, low on the 6th row, through a host of Late Model hotshots.
Colby Fournier and Tyler Thompson made up the front row for the 75-lap start; Thompson jumped the start on the first try, bringing the field back. It was the first of three cautions called in the first ten laps, led by Randy Burr and Thompson. With Thompson leading Jonathan Dickerman on lap 13, Mike Cavallaro’s car began to smoke out of the right rear side, sending him around in turn two. Cavallaro headed pit side and was out of the race after 12 laps. Burr also pitted but returned.
Once again underway, Thompson was again at the front with Dickerman contesting Vanasse trying to get in underneath. Vanasse took second and went low on Thompson, only to have Hyannis native Rick Shinn go around in turn 2. The restart saw Vanasse working on Thompson’s outside while Dickerman and Matt Breault went at it behind them. Polwewarczyk was keeping pace right behind them with Kyle Casper, DeSouza and Dennis Stange in pursuit. On the backstretch, Vanasse went to the lead, leaving Thompson to duke it out with Matt Breault.
On lap 20, Vanasse led Breault while Polewarczyk was out to take third from Thompson. He secured that position before a Bill Bernard loop on the front stretch brought out the next caution. In the lineup, he was low in the second echelon behind Vanasse. Breault and Vanasse were fully engaged at the restart and Polewarczyk was watching for any opportunity. Breault got hung to the outside and Polewarczyk followed Vanasse into second. Breault wasn’t prepared to grant the position without a bloodbath and went after Polewarczyk.
However, Shinn went hard into the turn 3 wall and cars scattered. Caution came out and the He red flag was thrown, but not before Breault spun to the infield, in turn 3. Crews and the ambulance responded to Shinn’s car, which was midway between the infield and the wall between turns three and four. The crowd held its breath until, after several minutes, Shinn appeared from his car and walked under his own power to the waiting ambulance for a medical check. Later, in the pits, with the twisted front end of his car open to scrutiny, he acknowledged the probability that it would end the season for him. On the positive side, Rick was walking and had a few bruises but was in good shape.
Burr was towed to the pits while the cleanup went on, but was able to return to competition.
Vanasse and Polewarczyk dueled through three more caution restarts with Vanasse holding the edge each time. On lap 30, Bob Pelland III, Breault, and Dennis Stampfl tangled, with Stampfl back end being torn from the car. Pelland and Bill Bernard had to be pulled apart by the wrecker crews. Again Vanasse and Polwewarczyk were at war on the restart, and now Kyle Casper was right behind them, hungry for an opportunity. Dickerman and Thompson were bickering over 4th place. Mark Anzalone and Gerry DeGasparre spun coming out of turn 4. DeGasparre was able to pull away, but Anzalone was dead in the water. Pelland returned to the pits to secure body metal which had been flying in the wind and DeGasparre went in for repairs.
Casper had been able to get a nose past Polewarczyk in the previous lap, and he restarted second, outside Vanasse with Polewarczyk third.
Vanasse edged Casper on the restart and Polewarczyk locked himself to Vanasse’s tail as Casper fell back alongside. Thompson, the visiting Mark Curtis and Dickerman followed.
Bob Hussey spun in lap 39 but the race continued as he recovered and kept moving. Polewarczyk was pacing Vanasse in lap 45, with Casper following about 8 cars back. Vanasse increased his lead to 3 cars over Polewarczyk by lap 50. Hussey, among a group of cars being lapped, spun in front of the two leaders, who put their own cars into a spin to avoid a crash, bringing out another caution. Officials determined that the leaders were not accident cars, and set them back in front for the restart.
Vanasse and Polewarczyk were the front row with Casper and Thompson behind them. Curtis and Jimmy Rosenfield were the third row followed by Dickerman and DeGasparre.
Vanasse and Polewarczyk were contesting on the restart when Casper spotted enough room underneath and dived in, making the front row a three-wide contest. After a lap, Vanasse elected to back out of the middle and left Casper side-by-side with Polewarczyk. They raced that way until debris in turn two brought out the yellow on lap 56. Casper held the pole and they again battled side-by-side, but Casper slid up and Polewarczyk took an edge over the start-finish line. In the next lap, DeSouza was off the track in turn two, and the restart saw Polewarczyk on the pole. Casper held the outside. Curtis was in the second row with Thompson on his shoulder. Vanasse and DeGasparre were the next row. With 8 laps remaining, Polewarczyk took the lead on the restart after a two-lap battle with Casper. He began to forge a longer lead over the field, as Vanasse, 4 cars back, was trying to pass Dickerman.
Polewarczyk had a straightaway lead by lap 64. Vanasse was finally past Dickerman and setting his sights on Casper. He nudged underneath into second, but Curtis was still ahead, a straightaway behind the leader.
Vanasse caught and worked under Curtis, but Polewarczyk was still a straightaway ahead and the laps were winding down. The race ended two laps later in that order with Polewarczyk, Vanasse, Curtis, Casper and Thompson making up the top 5.
The winner was complimentary in victory lane, thinking DeSouza for letting him run the car. “I’ve gotta thank Ryan. We had a great race going. I’ve got to thank him for letting me run this car.”
Curtis, the other visitor, was also happy after his third place finish. The Worcester resident said, “This is an awesome place. Great to run here. We’ll be back to run regularly.” Unfortunately, Curtis’s machine failed post-race inspection, and was disqualified from the finishing order. This moved DeGasparre into the top five finishing order.
Order of Finish: 1: Joey Polewarczyk; 2: Ryan Vanasse; 3: Kyle Casper; 4: Tyler Thompson; 5: Gerry DeGasparre, Jr.; 6: Jimmy Rosenfield; 7: Dennis Stange; 8: Jonathan Dickerman; 9: Mark Anzalone; 10: Randy Burr; 11: Robert Hussey; 12: Kyle DeSouza; 13: Robert Pelland III; 14: Matt Breault; 15: Colby Fournier; 16: Frank Duquette; 17: Dennis Stampfl; 18: Bill Bernard; 19: Rick Shinn; 20: Mike Cavallaro; 21: Kevin Folan
CAVALLARO TAKES TRUCKS
Seekonk native Mike Cavallaro romped home to his second win, after rejoining the Sport Tucks division just before midseason. The divisional multi-champ, who has been campaigning in the Late Model division this season, opened his evening with a big effort — probably the high point as he was eliminated from the 75-lap Late Model feature by a crash after completing just 12 laps.
Cavallaro plugged his way up from mid-pack, starting 11th, 5 rows back of pole sitter Jariah Roderick.
The latter led off the race by leaping into the lead ahead of outside pole Michelle Dumas of Quincy. Fall River’s Ron Cornell followed Roderick under Dumas for second, while Mashpee driver Mike Ronhock dueled with Dumas for third, nabbing the spot. It was all for naught as Anna Gregoire from Hyannis went around off turn 4 to bring out the caution. As the flag flew, Blackstone, MA driver Eric Boyko spun off turn 3 into the infield. All before the first lap was complete, resetting the entire 25 laps.
As the initial green flag fell for the second time, Roderick jumped again to the lead and Cornell again ducked under Dumas to second. Ronhock looking for his same advantage, lost traction, had his back end kick out and had to save it. This broke the pack around him and he settled in at mid-pack. Gregoire’s truck quit on the backstretch, sending her to the pits for quick repairs. And lap one had been completed.
The histrionics were not complete, as the second restart last less than a lap. Roderick jumped to the lead and was pushing hard into turn 4, when his truck’s rear veered around to the front sending the pack scattering. New Bedford’s Lenny Guy was caught in a sandwich, sending him careening off the side of Roderick’s truck right in front of the starter’s stand. The force of the hit tore the rear two-thirds of Roderick’s pickup bed from the vehicle and sent Guy down to the infield with a flat right front tire. Guy limped to the pits for a new shoe while the track crew labored to hang Roderick’s body back on the frame and tow him from the field. Billy Clarke also was pushed to the pits. The night was over for Roderick and Clarke, but Guy returned with a new tire.
On the restart, Cornell leapt off the grid into first place to lead N. Providence’s Dane Saritelli, Dumas and Ed Gannon. In lap 5, Gannon got up into Saritelli, who spun in turn one. Lap 5 restart had Gannon outside Cornell, but North Attleboro’s Dylan Estrella nosed down under Cornell for the lead but settled for second, followed by Jim Hawkins, Cavallaro and Cornell. Dumas’ truck was not running well and stalled while she was trying to exit the track bringing out yet another caution.
The lap six restart had Cornell and Gannon back on the front row with Estrella and Rick Martin. Cavallaro was in the low side behind them with Fall Riverite John Paiva on his shoulder. Gannon jumped on the throttle for the lead, but a little too quick. On the retry, Cornell got out ahead of Gannon with Estrella following, pinning Gannon outside. Rick Martin and Cavallaro got into a battle over fourth spot, while Paiva and Russ Borges hung to their backs.
Estrella got underneath and into the lead; forcing Cornell high and he took an express ride backwards. Cavallaro ducked under Gannon for second and a looped car in turn two brought another restart on lap 9. This time Cornell had Cavallaro on his right hand on the front row with Gannon and Martin at their backs.
Cavallaro went right to the front as the green flag fell and it was three wide for second place between Gannon, Estrella and Martin. Estrella elected to drop back out of the middle, leaving Gannon and Martin at each other’s throats. Gannon pulled ahead into second with Martin on his tail followed by Estrella and Paiva and Cornell managed to hold on for sixth, being chased by Ronhock.
Cavallaro quickly sought insurance in a two-car lead on lap 12, with the group chasing him.
By lap 15, he had full command with the field stretching out: Gannon, Martin, Estrella, and Paiva. Cornell had been bested by Borges, Ronhock and Ted Berube and now lay in ninth position.
The leader was running hard as the laps began to wind without the yellow. Gannon and Martin were 3 cars back in full pursuit, well ahead of the pack, as Estrella began falling off. Paiva was holding off strong pressure from Borges at the head of the pack.
Martin got under Gannon for second on the twenty-second circuit, and two laps later, Cavallaro went under the white flag, 5 lengths to the good. At the finish, he held the win by 4 cars over Martin. Gannon, Estrella and Paiva completed the top 5.
Order of Finish: 1: Michael Cavallaro; 2: Rick Martin; 3: Ed Gannon; 4: Dylan Estrella; 5: John Paiva; 6: Russ Borges; 7: Ted Berube; 8: Michael Ronhock; 9: Lenny Guy; 10: Dane Saritelli; 11: Ronny Cornell; 12: Robert Andreozzi; 13: Darrel Church; 14: Jim Hawkins; 15: Eric Boyko; 16: Anna Gregoire; 17: Casey Sanchez; 18: Michelle Dumas; 19: Jariah Roderick; 20: Billy Clarke; 21: Joseph Gardner; 22: Dan Leach
Rey Lovelace inherits Street Stock Win.
Sparky Arsenault battled his way up from mid-pack of a 26-car field of Street Stocks at Seekonk, Saturday night, for 20 laps of clawing, biting, kicking and punching action before he could finally settle into the lead with just 5 laps remaining. It wasn’t a comfort ride for the Attleboro, MA driver after that, as Coventry’s Flyin’ Ryan Lineham was just behind and working on Rey Lovelace, who had led most of the distance. It was Arsenault’s night to wear the laurels; however, as the two antagonists spent the final five laps working on each other for position as Arsenault came home with a 2 car lead.
Lovelace, from Cranston, went from the starting pole to the lead, leaving outside pole sitter Crystal Serydynski in charge of second. Fall River’s Patrick Delaney nabbed third and Gerard Berthelette ducked under Craig Pianka into fourth.
By lap 3, Lovelace was working a 5-car lead over Serydynski, with Berthelette, Michael Mitchell, Arsenault, Ray Negley and Kenny Kohler in tow. But on lap 7, Berthelette appeared to have a tire going down, and he headed for the pit area on lap seven. One rotation later saw Chris DeMoura erupt in a dense cloud of smoke in the fourth turn, and he went to the infield. Cars coming through the smoke were momentarily blinded and contact within the cloud saw John Geremia spinning, coming to a stop on the front stretch near the wall, facing backwards. He received a push start and went back into action.
The restart saw Lovelace again running away from Crystal Serydynski, who got caught in the fast lane back on the outside. Delaney moved into second and behind him Arsenault began combat with Michael Mitchell for the third spot. Arsenault won the duel, going to third, with Mitchell, Lineham, Negley and Scott Serydynski.
Lovelace continued, holding off Delaney, Arsenault, Mitchell and Lineham, who was trying to go high around Mitchell. On lap 15, Brian Spillane went around in turn four, losing a piece of body metal. The lap 14 restart saw a brief conflict between Lovelace and Delaney, but Kohler’s car died in the first turn, again bringing out the caution. The duo sparred again on the re-restart, with Lovelace leaving Delaney to shoot it out with a charging Arsenault. Arsenault shouldered Delaney and set his sights on the leader while Lineham pounced on Delaney. Negley and Scott Serydynski were working hard behind them.
Arsenault chose the outside and he and Lovelace began open track warfare for the lead and were exchanging salvos side-by-side, but a car spun to the infield to bring out the final caution of the race. The lap 20 restart had Arsenault outside Lovelace with Lineham down low in the second row and Delaney on his shoulder. Negley and Dennis Dupuis made up third row on the grid. Arsenault was able to edge ahead of Lovelace then take full control of the lead with the dangerous Lineham third. Negley and Delaney were bare knuckles for fourth.
Arsenault went out to a two-car lead by lap 23 while Lineham went after Lovelace with a vengeance, but couldn’t find a way around. Behind them Scott Serydynski was trading paint with Negley, working hard for fourth. Arsenault closed out the 25-lapper, running under the checkered flag 1.02 seconds ahead of Lovelace, followed by Lineham, Negley, and Serydynski, who slid nearly sideways across the line from contact with Negley.
Arsenault failed post race tech, disqualifying him from the finishing order. This gave Lovelace his first win of the season, and bumped the field up one position each.
Order of Finish: 1: Rey Lovelace; 2: Ryan Lineham; 3: Ray Negley; 4: Scott Serydynski; 5: Michael Mitchell; 6: Dennis Dupuis; 7: Michael Lema; 8: Chris Beaulieu; 9: Steve Axon; 10: Scott Bruneau; 11: Mark Henshaw; 12: Patrick Delaney; 13: Crystal Serydynski; 14: Chris Rioux; 15: Tony Oliveira; 16: Scott Cestodio; 17: Craig Pianka; 18: John Geremia III; 19: Brian Spillane; 20: Tyler Jarvenpaa; 21: Gary Boutelle; 22: Ken Kohler; 23: Greg Perry, Jr.; 24: Gerard Berthelette; 25: Chris DeMoura
DARLING TAKES HOME PRO STOCK WIN
David Darling of Rehoboth took his time getting to the front of the caution-laden Pro Stock feature, and then held of hard-charging Fred Astle, from whom he had taken the lead. Astle pulled alongside Darling twice during post-race cool down and at the start-finish line to exchange dialog. It had been a heated race for all drivers and Rick Martin had earlier exchanged words with Mike Brightman. The end of July had brought cooler temperatures, but not tempers on this evening.
Rob Murphy led off on the pole and battled Tom Scully, Jr. off the starting line for the foremost position. Scully took the front on the backstretch with Murphy on his tail and Ryan Vanasse in third. Jeramee Lillie and Astle were contesting fourth behind them.
On lap 4, Martin and Jake Vanada tangled in turn two and went around. Brightman was sent to the rear for the assist on the spin, and it was at this point that Martin pulled up to exchange words.
On the restart, Scully and Murphy dueled at the front while Astle tried to get underneath them but the way was not clear. Scully edged into the lead on lap 5, but Vanada went into the infield, bringing out the caution.
The restart saw Scully take the lead over Murphy again, who was assailed by Astle. On lap 6, it was Scully, Murphy, Astle, Ryan Vanasse, Darling and Ken Spencer making up the top 5. By lap 8, the wily Vanasse had threaded his way to second ahead of Murphy and Astle. Darling was moving toward Astle’s outside while Spencer, Dick Houlihan, Lillie and John Dabrowski pursued.
Scully worked through the clean air with Vanasse, Astle, Darling, Spencer and Murphy strung behind him. On lap 15, Vanasse, with Astle on his tail, went after Scully’s position. Darling was 4 cars back and Spencer a car behind him. Scully held on through lap 20, when Astle made a move for Vanasse’s second slot. The leaders were encountering lapped traffic and the starter was showing the blue flag to a group of cars. Brightman, about 4 cars ahead of the leaders, looped his car between turns 3 and 4. Scully and Astle spun to avoid a crash and the rest of the pack scattered.
. The restart went back to lap 24, where Astle had edged Vanasse for second, giving him the outside pole on Scully. As the flag fell, the two were at each other for the lead. Scully edged a nose on Astle, but in turn 4, Vanasse got his nose in under Scully, creating a 3-wide contest for the lead with Scully the meat in the sandwich between Vanasse and Astle. Astle would not give ground, but Scully nosed ahead again with Vanasse charging hard below him. Finally, Scully’s car wiggled on the track and he fell off. At the same moment, Astle charged forward into the lead.
But Murphy looped it on lap 29, bringing out the caution. Astle held the pole and Scully was on his shoulder. Darling and Kenny Spencer held the second row with Houlihan and Kyle Casper behind them. Astle and Scully dueled side-by-side with Darling low behind them until Astle went to the front, Darling following on his tail and leaving Scully hung on the outside. He settled in for third with Spencer, Houlihan and Casper behind him.
Lillie suddenly slowed in turn 4 and collected Mike Brightman, who spun coming out of turn 4. Lillie was disqualified for the incident, and went around the track, debating with trackside officials, to no avail. He rejoined the pack but was given the crossed-blue flag indicating he was no longer being scored and finally retired his car to the pits.
Astle and Darling fought on the restart with Astle gaining the front with Scully, Spencer and Houlihan behind them. Dabrowski went around in turn two, with just one lap completed. Again, Astle edged Darling on the restart. Scully tried underneath, but could not find the room. Murphy, Brightman, Philip Meany and Dabrowski got together in turns 3 and 4, calling another yellow and sending Dabrowski to the pits after 32 laps completed.
This time, Darling won the shootout at the waving of the green, taking the lead on the backstretch and shutting the door.
Vanasse and Murphy got into each other, with Vanasse brushing the wall and Murphy coming away with his passenger side pushed in. Houlihan made several circuits of the track dragging a great deal of right side body metal which turned out to not be from his 41 car. Vanasse returned to the war without his nose. The restart on turn 34 had Darling and Astle on the front row, Scully and Spencer behind them. Darling went back to the lead, leaving Astle stuck on the outside with Scully closing on Darling. But a gap opened and Astle was able to get down inside.
Astle made the best of his efforts to retake the lead, going to the outside and spent the last three laps working the outside to no avail. Darling came home with the win, Astle finished second followed by Scully, Spencer, and Rick Martin.
Astle spun in front of Darling after the checkers in turn one and stopped his adversary to share some choice words. Darling repaired to the start-finish line but Astle dropped by alongside to complete the conversation before retiring to the pits.
It had been a Pro Stock evening of intemperate tempers all around.
Order of Finish: 1: David Darling; 2: Fred Astle; 3: Tom Scully, Jr.; 4: Ken Spencer; 5: Rick Martin; 6: Craig Weinstein; 7: Dick Houlihan; 8: Kyle Casper; 9: Ryan Vanasse; 10: Philip Meany; 11: Mike Brightman; 12: Paul Reichert; 13: Rob Murphy; 14: John Dabrowski; 15: Jeramee Lillie; 16: Kevin Casper; 17: Michael Medeiros; 18: Jake Vanada
Sources: Kevin Boucher/Seekonk Speedway PR