Chadwick wins second SK Mod race of season while Joey Pole wins Nutmeg State 100 ACT race; Stone, Moran and Rocco other winners on night
Waterford, CT — Waterford Speedbowl hosted competitors from across New England and New York for the Nutmeg State 100 ACT Late Model Tour on Saturday night. In addition four divisions of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series were in action. Joey Polewarczyk Jr. of Hudson, New Hampshire won an exciting ACT Tour race, beating out Brian Hoar over an exciting final five laps. Tyler Chadwick of Ledyard won his second SK Modified® race of the year surviving multiple restarts on his way to victory. Al Stone III of New Haven came out on top of a wild conclusion to the Street Stock race, and Keith Rocco of Wallingford took the checkered flag in an equally exciting finish in the A.B. CDL Driver Training Center Truck event. Preston’s Greg Moran Sr. won his first Norwich Bulletin Mini Stock race of the year to round out the night’s racing.
The 35-lap SK Modified® race saw Jeff Paul bolt from third to first by turn three on the opening lap. Trouble behind the leaders saw Tucker Reynolds Jr., Diego Monahan, Glenn Pressell, Todd Ceravolo, Adam Gada and Joe Gada all get out of shape into turn one to draw the first caution flag with just a lap in the books.
Paul was back out front when the green flag returned with Chadwick coming up to second. Another caution waved on lap 4 for a spin in turn one involving Jeff Gallup and Mike Sweeney. Chadwick challenged the outside of Paul after the restart, trying to hang with the leader. Ron Yuhas Jr., Keith Rocco and Jeff Pearl raced their way into the top five to join the top two. Chadwick was able to edge ahead into the lead over Paul on lap 7.
Further back the jockeying for position sent Doug Coby around in turn one as he battled just outside the top five. Several drivers took evasive action to avoid Coby’s machine and caution was back out on lap 8.
One more lap was complete before caution again was put out as Rocco and Pearl had contact for fourth headed into turn three. Those two got out of shape and collected several others, with many headed to the pit area for repairs. Ceravolo was done for the night after the incident, with Rocco and Pearl resuming from the rear. Another crash off turn two on lap 10 sidelined Joe Gada and Sweeney.
Racing went back green for just four laps when Monahan spun from the top ten in turn four, sending Pearl airborne and crashing into the tire barrier in turn four. Chadwick led over Yuhas when racing went green. Rob Janovic was third with Paul and Tom Abele Jr. holding the top five positions as the race moved past halfway. Racing stayed clean with the best battle on the speedway for seventh as Rocco pestered Monahan for the spot for several laps. Finally, Rocco was able to make the move inside Monahan on lap 33 to take the spot.
Up front Chadwick closed it out to take his second win of the season. Yuhas, Janovic, Paul and Abele completed the top five.
Nate Appell battled with Greg Moran Jr. for the lead in the 25-lap Street Stock race in the opening five laps. Moran powered by Appell in the outside lane to take sole possession of the race lead. Defending champion Brandon Plemons spun around in turn one on lap 6, getting tagged by both Norm Sears and Jay Stuart to bring out caution around the speedway. All headed pit-side for repairs.
Puleo restarted to the outside of Moran and promptly took over the race lead, moving out to a two car length lead before caution came out for a spin in turn two by Matt Doyon on lap 10. Puleo remained at the front with Al Stone coming to second position over Walt Hovey, dropping Moran to fourth and Appell to fifth as the race reached 10 laps remaining.
The leaders remained in that order through the final laps to set up the wild finish. Stone had a look inside Puleo for the lead as they raced under the white flag. He inched his way alongside Puleo’s into turn three with Hovey close behind. The two battled off turn four headed to the checkered flag, slipping sideways. They made contact, sending Stone sideways across the finish line in first to take the win. Hovey, the points leader, was turned hard into the frontstretch wall at the checkered flag but managed to finish second. Moran snuck through the carnage to finish in third over Appell. Josh Galvin was fifth. Puleo dropped all the way to 10th before crossing the line.
After two early caution flags, Moran controlled the pace of the 25-lap Norwich Bulletin Mini Stock race ahead of a battle for second that saw Steve Violette holding on over Ken Cassidy Jr., Bill Leonard and Danny Field. Cassidy took that spot on lap 8 and stared ahead to a half straightaway advantage Moran had built up. Leonard, Field and Panaroni followed by Violette and held the top five positions as the halfway point of the race came out on lap 13.
Leonard has his hands full holding back Field in the second half of the race. Chris Williams had raced by Panaroni and joined Field in the battle for third. Trouble just behind that action saw Louis Bellisle and Sean Caron get tangled in turn four crashing hard into the wall, eliminating both from the race. That brought out caution on lap 19 to erase Moran’s advantage.
Moran got a good restart over Cassidy, who had to hold back Leonard before going after the win. Cassidy closed to Moran’s bumper to duel over the final lap in a two-car race for the win. Moran held his line over the final lap to take the win, his first of the season. Cassidy, Leonard, Williams and Field rounded out the top five finishers.
A torrid battle took place for the top spot over the second half of the 25-lap A.B. CDL Driver Training Center Truck race between Howard Payne, Allen Coates and Keith Rocco. The trio put on a dazzling battle for the lead with each in contention for the win over the closing 10 laps. Payne held the lead over the first half of the race, with Coates challenging and finally making his way by to the inside on lap 18. Rocco immediately got around Payne and challenged inside of Coates, but didn’t have the handling to power by the inside.
The veteran Coates held off Rocco by working the outside lane to perfection. Rocco got loose under Coates between turns one and two on lap 28, allowing Payne a window of opportunity. He made a maneuver to the bottom of both leaders exiting turn two. Payne reclaimed the lead with the move. With the white flag waving, Rocco was just off Payne’s right side and Coates regrouped to close in on Payne’s rear bumper setting up another wild dash to the checkered flag.
Coates and Payne made contact, also involving Rocco. As Payne was spinning off turn four, the #90 of Coates went over the front of Payne’s truck but over the checkered flag first. Payne’s truck then shot across the track into the wall. Rocco snuck past to cross the line in second ahead of Payne. Coates was disqualified from his win for aggressive driving, giving the win to Rocco. Payne was credited with second, and Vin Esposito was third.
Racing returns to the Speedbowl three times this coming week, first with Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday where the point battles are coming down to the wire as two events remain. ‘Show & Go’ features spectator drags Friday night, and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing returns next Saturday. Information on these events is available at Speedbowl.com
Saturday 8/21 Results and standings:
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds® (35-laps): 1. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 2. Ron Yuhas Jr., Groton; 3. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 4. Jeffrey Paul, Ledyard; 5. Tom Abele Jr., Norwich; 6. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI; 7. Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 8. James Monahan, Quaker Hill; 9. Doug Coby, Milford; 10. Joe Perry, Ashaway, RI; 11. Tucker Reynolds Jr., Westbrook; 12. Adam Gada, Bozrah; 13. Jeff Pearl, Salem; 14. Mike Sweeney, Meriden; 15. Joe Gada, Salem; 16. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., Milford; 17. Todd Ceravolo, Gales Ferry; 18. Jeffrey Gallup, Agawam, MA; 19. Glen Pressell III, Gales Ferry
Unofficial Standings after eighteen events (top-ten): 1. Rocco, 854; 2. Yuhas, 803; 3. Janovic, 720; 4. Chadwick, 716; 5. Paul, 669; 6. Pearl, 594; 7. Abele, 564; 8. J. Gada, 530; 9. Monahan, 516; 10. James, 492
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stocks (25-laps): 1. Al Stone III, New Haven; 2. Walt Hovey Jr.; Chaplin; 3. Greg Moran, Jr.; 4. Nate Appell, Westbrook; 5. Josh Galvin, Franklin; 6. Ronald Oldham Jr., Westbrook; 7. Brandon Plemons, Uncasville; 8. Norman Root Jr., Old Saybrook; 9. Mark Cooper, Northford; 10. Ed Puleo, Branford; 11.Chris Kvaka, Stratford; 12. Scott Young, Willimantic; 13. Paul Gaedeke, Southington; 14. Norm Sears, Andover; 15. Matthew Burr, Quaker Hill; 16. Matthew Doyon, Salem; 17. Kevin Talbot, Moosup; 18. Jay Stuart, Preston
Standings after seventeen events (top-ten): 1.Hovey, 774; 2. Stone, 746; 3. Puleo, 708; 4. Galvin, 676; 5. Plemons, 673; 6. Sears, 672; 7. Barrett, 532; 8. Appell, 530; 9. Moran, 526; 10. Oldham, 509
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Norwich Bulletin Mini Stocks (25-laps): 1. Greg Moran Sr., Preston; 2. Kenneth Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 3. Bill Leonard, Wood River Jct, RI; 4. Chris Williams, Waterford; 5. Danny Field, Deep River; 6. Nick Pappacoda, North Branford; 7. Mark Panaroni, Ivoryton; 8. Ben Bargnesi, Norwich; 9. Charles Canfield, New Haven; 10. Steve Violette, Canterbury; 11. Jeffrey Cembruch, Wallingford; 12. Dale Sherman, Charlestown, RI; 13. John Kelly, New London; 14. Christina Kellerman, Stratford; 15. Louie Bellisle III, Griswold; 16. Sean Caron, East Hampton; 17. Alan Hall Jr., North Haven; 18. Ian Brew, Wood River Jct, RI
Standings after seventeen events (top-ten): 1. Field, 785; 2. Cassidy, 750; 3. Caron, 697; 4. Bellisle, 648; 5. Williams, 595; 6. Brew, 579; 7. Moran Sr., 571; 8. Canfield, 510; 9. Violette, 492; 10. Pappacoda, 464
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series A.B. CDL Driver Training Center Trucks (25-laps): 1. Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 2. Howard Payne, Shelton; 3. Vin Esposito, Seymour; 4. Bill Leonard, Wood River Jct; 5. Brandon Warren, Chicopee, MA; 6. Jonathan Zoller, Ayer, MA; 7. Corey Coates, Ledyard; 8. Allen Coates, Ledyard
Standings after eight events (top-ten): 1. A. Coates, 444; 2. Payne, 423; 3. Leonard, 370; 4. C. Coates, 318; 5. Rocco, 268; 6. J. Warren, 236; 7. Chris Correll, 226; 8. Keith Chapman, 168; 9. James Wray, 142; 10. Greg Butler Jr., 126
Nutmeg State 100 ACT Tour (100-laps) results: 1. Joey Polewarczyk Jr., Hudson, NH; 2. Brian Hoar, Williston, VT; 3. Brent Dragon, Milton; 4. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 5. Mark Lamberton, Mooers Forks, NY; 6. Jeff Zuidema, North Brookfield, MA; 7. Brad Babb, Windham, ME; 8. John Donahue, Graniteville, VT; 9. Randy Potter, Groveton, NH; 10. Bruce Thomas Jr., Groton; 11. Austin Theriault, Fort Kent, ME; 12. Jean-Paul Cyr, Milton, VT; 13. Glen Luce, Turner, ME; 14. J.R. Baril, Haverhill, MA; 15. Cris Michaud, East Montpelier, VT; 16. Joey Laquerre, East Montpelier, VT; 17. Dave Paya, Milton, VT; 18. Jeffrey Paul, Ledyard; 19. Richard Staskowski, Hope Valley, RI; 20. T.J. Watson, Cundy’s Harbor, ME; 21. Dennis Stampfl, Norwood, MA; 22. Mark Hudson, Norton, MA; 23. Jimmy Linardy, Malden, MA; 24. Tim Jordan, Plainfield; 25. Barry Gray, Belchertown, MA; 26. Ron Yuhas Jr., Groton; 27. Joe Curioso, Mystic
Sources: Waterford Speedbowl PR