Ceravolo repeats in SK Mods; Esposito and Puleo return to Winner’s Circle, Panaroni claims first of year; Stoehr and State claim NEMA memorial races
Waterford, CT — Waterford Speedbowl was in action for another round of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing on Saturday evening, completing six main events on the night. Todd Ceravolo of Gales Ferry finally bit the bad luck bug a week ago, then dominated again to take his second consecutive SK Modified® feature win. Seymour’s Vin Esposito won his second Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature on the year. Ed Puleo of Branford led throughout to win his fifth Street Stock race of 2010, while Mark Panaroni of Ivoryton checkered the Norwich Bulletin Mini Stock race, his first of the season. Russ Stoehr of Lakeville, MA won a 35-lap NEMA Midget memorial race and Jesse State of New Hyde Park, NY was the victor in the NEMA Lite event.
The 35-lap SK Modified® race saw Joe Perry race to the lead ahead of Tom Abele Jr. and Kyle James on the opening circuit. Jeff Paul jumped out of line to the outside groove early to challenge the top three. Ceravolo joined Paul in the outside lane and raced outside Ron Yuhas Jr.
Paul briefly took third away from James while Ceravolo took fifth from Yuhas by lap-5. James battled back a lap later also enabling Ceravolo to move to fourth ahead of Paul. Caution waved on lap-9 for Jeff Gallup who spun in turn three.
Ceravolo was a man on the move on the restart, first racing outside James for third and challenging Abele for second. The two came together, giving James a lane to dive under both to second. Ceravolo recovered for third ahead of Abele. Yuhas was still in fifth as the race reached lap-15.
Ceravolo came from third following a lap-18 restart, powering inside both James and then Perry for the race lead down the back chute. Keith Rocco came from nowhere through the top five into second position, leaving Perry and James to battle for third. James grabbed that spot on lap-23. Another single car spin by Joe Gada brought the field back to yellow on lap-26.
Ceravolo and Rocco were matched on the front row for the restart. Ceravolo rocketed back to the lead but Joe Perry spun in turn three sending the field scattering for a caution on lap-27.
A hard wreck on lap-28 saw Tyler Chadwick and Nichole Morgillo crash into the backstretch wall collecting both Joe and David Gada to bring out the yellow and red flags.
After the cleanup, Ceravolo was back out front. James took second from Rocco but mechanical failure set in on his car on lap-30 ending his great run. The field avoided the faltering James machine to continue under green. Ceravolo cruised to his second consecutive win. Rocco was second with Rob Janovic finishing third. Yuhas and Doug Coby ran side-by-side to the checkered flag for fourth, with Yuhas taking that spot by a bumper.
A multi-car melee at the start of the 30-lap Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature saw polesitter Brian Andronaco Jr. get out of shape coming to the green flag. The field behind took evasive action resulting in Ernie Bertrand spinning from fourth position across the track, collecting several cars including point leader Tim Jordan. Jordan resumed at the tail of the field after a brief visit to the pit area.
Jeff Paul and Esposito were the new front row for the second start of the race. Paul momentarily raced to the lead, however Esposito held tough in the outside lane to move ahead on lap-5. Jeff Smith followed suit with Bruce Thomas Jr. and Rich Staskowski next in line to move ahead of Paul by lap-10. The running order up front remained the same when the caution waved on lap-17 for Paul who lost the handles on his car, slipping back through the pack before spinning in turn one.
Esposito controlled the restart, leaving behind a battle for second between Smith and Thomas. Thomas won that duel and stared ahead to a five length gap to the leader. The laps counted off with Thomas barely able to cut into Esposito’s advantage, but Mike Lindquist spun to bring out caution on lap-29 and reset the field.
Esposito got the jump with Smith re-taking second from Thomas. Caution waved again for Paul and Lindquist when they got together in turn one on lap-33. Esposito held on through the final restart to grab the win, his second on the season. Thomas was able to take second ahead of Smith. Jordan rebounded from his early race troubles for fourth, with Staskowski fifth.
The Street Stocks got the night started with a 25-lap event that saw Puleo take the early lead and never look back. Two early cautions with just one lap in the books slowed the race and kept the competition on edge.
When racing got into a groove, Puleo led over Norm Sears and Josh Galvin. Point leader Walt Hovey ran fourth in a borrowed ride with Shawn Monahan rounding out the top five as the race reached lap-5. Further back Al Stone, winner of four straight races, was making his way through the top ten.
Hovey grabbed third from Galvin with an inside move on lap-7. Puleo opened up a breather over Sears at two car lengths while Hovey pressured Sears for second. Stone cleared the second pack of cars and began tracking down the leaders as the race stayed green through lap-10.
Hovey moved inside Sears for second on lap-12. As Sears tried to regroup on Hovey, Galvin was able to take advantage and race under Sears to take over third before Sears could settle back into rhythm.
With Hovey in second, he slowly reeled in Puleo until he was on the leader’s bumper with two laps to go. Hovey could not contend and Puleo cruised to his fifth win on the season, but first since July 17. Hovey maintained his advantage in the points over Stone with his second place finish. Galvin and Stone got around Sears by the checkered flag to round out the top-five.
Louis Bellisle and Panaroni put on an entertaining battle at the front of the Norwich Bulletin Mini Stock field from the drop of the green flag. Panaroni used the outside lane to inch his way ahead of Bellisle and into the race lead for good on lap-8.
Meanwhile, Chris Williams had come to third ahead of Ben Bargnesi and Ken Cassidy Jr. They continued to occupy the top-five positions at halfway. Williams raced outside Bellisle to challenge for second position when Dale Sherman spun on to bring out the yellow flag.
Panaroni got a great restart to remain out front. Williams and Cassidy found their way by Bellisle but three cars came together in turn three on lap-14. Ian Brew, Chuck Rogers and Christina Kellerman were all able to continue on.
A multi-car accident on lap-17 collected several including Bellisle, knocking him to the pits for repair. Panaroni continued to restart strong and raced out to a comfortable advantage. Cassidy took second from Williams on lap-18 continuing his late-season surge. Panaroni could not be caught, going on to the win. Cassidy took his fourth straight podium finish with second, cutting Danny Field’s lead to 3-points in the standings. Williams, Sean Caron and Field completed the top-five finishers.
Stoehr ended up the fitting victor in a special 35-lap NEMA Midget event in memoriam of legendary car owners Gene and Marilyn Angelillo. Stoehr drives for the family.
The race began with Randy Cabral racing like he was shot from a cannon, rim-riding the top of the track past the field and into the race lead by lap-2. He moved out to a commanding lead over the opening 20 laps, at some points greater than a half-track ahead of a battle for second between Erica Santos, Jeff Abold and Stoehr who had to make his way through the field.
The turning point of the race came when Cabral’s engine began to misfire on lap-26. The huge lead may have been enough to hold on, however caution waved for a spin in turn four on lap-28. On the restart Santos and Stoehr drove by the ailing Cabral machine. Santos held the lead through two additional cautions before Stoehr made an inside pass on the restart of lap-30. From there, Stoehr cruised to victory. Santos finished in second ahead of Abold.
State dominated the 20-lap NEMA Lite event for the win.
The Speedbowl is in action with NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action next Saturday night, September 18th for ECC Night, supporting local high school athletics. The SK Modifieds® will be joined by the A.B. CDL Drive Training Center Truck Series, Street Stocks and Norwich Bulletin Mini Stocks under the NASCAR weekly racing series. The Legends Cars and Bandolero’s will also see racing action. More information is available at Speedbowl.com.
Saturday 9/11 Results and standings:
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds® (35-laps): 1. Todd Ceravolo, Gales Ferry; 2. Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 3. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 4. Ron Yuhas Jr., Groton; 5. Doug Coby, Milford; 6. Jeff Pearl, Salem; 7. Tucker Reynolds Jr., Westbrook; 8. Jeffrey Paul, Ledyard; 9. Jeffrey Gallup, Agawam, MA; 10. Joe Perry, Ashaway, RI; 11. Tom Abele Jr., Norwich; 12. Joe Gada, Salem; 13. Ron D’Alessandro, East Hartford; 14. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI; 15. Nichole Morgillo, Yalesville; 16. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 17. Dave Gada, Bozrah; 18. Glen Pressell III, Gales Ferry; 19. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., Milford
Standings after twenty-one events (top-ten): 1. Rocco, 982; 2. Yuhas, 917; 3. Janovic, 858; 4. Chadwick, 821; 5. Paul, 793; 6. Pearl, 722; 7. Abele, 672; 8. J. Gada, 640; 9. Ceravolo, 568; 10. Perry, 558
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models (30-laps): 1. Vin Esposito, Seymour; 2. Bruce Thomas Jr., Groton; 3. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 4. Tim Jordan, Plainfield; 5. Richard Staskowski, Hope Valley, RI; 6. Ernie Bertrand, North Branford; 7. Mark Cooper, Northford; 8. Jeffrey Paul, Ledyard; 9. Michael Lindquist, Sandy Hook; 10. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 11. Brian Andronaco Jr., Wilton; 12. Richard Duranti, Quaker Hill.
Standings after thirteen events (top-ten): 1. Jordan, 613; 2. Smith, 578; 3. Esposito, 556; 4. Staskowski, 539; 5. Bertrand, 528; 6. Thomas, 507; 7. Paul, 483; 8. Andronaco, 461; 9. Palmer, 452; 10. Dennis Botticello, 310
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stocks (25-laps): 1. Ed Puleo, Branford; 2. Walt Hovey Jr., Chaplin; 3. Josh Galvin, Franklin; 4. Al Stone III, New Haven; 5. Norm Sears, Andover; 6. Brandon Plemons, Uncasville; 7. Norman Root Jr., Old Saybrook; 8. Ronald Oldham Jr., Westbrook; 9. Jack Aquilina, Oakdale; 10. Christopher Meyer, North Franklin; 11. Gregory Moran Jr., Preston; 12. Chris Kvaka, Stratford; 13. Nate Appell, Westbrook; 14. Mathew Burr, Quaker Hill; 15. Matthew Doyon, Salem; 16. Shawn Monahan, Waterford
Standings after twenty events (top-ten): 1. Hovey, 906; 2. Stone, 900; 3. Puleo, 827; 4. Sears, 808; 5. Plemons, 799; 6. Galvin, 772; 7. Oldham, 637; 8. Moran, 622; 9. Appell, 618; 10. Meyer, 605
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Norwich Bulletin Mini Stocks (25-laps): 1. Mark Panaroni, Ivoryton; 2. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 3. Chris Williams, Waterford; 4. Sean Caron, East Hampton; 5. Danny Field, Deep River; 6. Greg Moran Sr., Preston; 7.Nick Pappacoda, North Branford; 8. Ian Brew, Wood River Jct, RI; 9. Joe Godbout III, Hope Valley, RI; 10. Jeffrey Cembruch, Wallingford; 11. Steve Violette, Canterbury; 12.Ben Bargnesi, Norwich; 13. Chuck Rogers, Quaker Hill; 14. Louie Bellisle, Griswold; 15. Alan Hall Sr., North Haven; 16. Christina Kellerman, Stratford; 17. Dale Sherman, Charlestown, RI; 18. Charles Canfield, New Haven; 19. Bill Leonard, Wood River Jct, RI; 20. Phil Evans, Uncasville
Standings after twenty events (top-ten): 1. Field, 911; 2. Cassidy, 908; 3. Caron, 809; 4. Bellisle, 738; 5. Williams, 707; 6. Moran, 693; 7. Brew, 683; 8. Violette, 600; 9. Pappacoda, 580; 10. Canfield, 576
NEMA Midgets (35-laps): 1. Russ Stoehr, Lakeville, MA; 2. Erica Santos, Franklin, MA; 3. Jeff Abold, Penniville, NY; 4. Joe Payne, 5. Jim Miller, Weyouth, MA; 6. Randy Cabral, Plymouth, MA; 7. Greg Stoehr, Lakeville, MA; 8. John Zych, Liverpool, NY; 9. Mike Horn, Ashland, MA; 10. Adam Cantor, Dix Hills, NY; 11. Brit Anderson, Branford; 12. Chris Leonard, Pelham, NH; 13. Keith Botelho, Attleboro, MA; 14. Barry Kittridge, Marlboro, MA; 15. Brian Cleveland, Billerica, MA; 16. Anthony Marvuglio, MA; 17. Chris Deritis, Philadelphia, PA; 18. Paul Scally, Raynham, MA; 19. Lee Bundy, Kennebunkport, ME; 20. Matt O’Brien, Cheshire, CT; 21. Todd Bertrand, Ashland, MA; 22. Mike Luggelle, Enfield
NEMA Lites (20-laps): 1. Jesse State, New Hyde Park, NY; 2. Carl Medeiros Jr., Westport, MA; 3. Ryan Bigelow, East Hampton; 4. Jim Santa Maria, Burlington; 5. Paul Bigelow, Berlin; 6. Anthony Nocella, Woburn, MA; 7. Randy Cabral, Plymouth, MA; 8. Ed Leclerc, Taunton, MA; 9. Andy Barrows, New Ipswich, NH; 10. Joey Mucciacciaro, Wolcott; 11. Lanson Fornoro, Stroudsburg, PA; 12 Bethany Viets, Manchester;13.Dave Rose, Swanzey, NH; 14 . Jake Smith, Stroundsburg, PA