James takes first in SK Modifieds® while Rocco takes track championship; Jordan, Plemons and Williams claim victories; Coates and Payne split Truck features
Waterford, CT — A full evening of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing was held at Waterford Speedbowl Saturday night, with six races on tap including twin 20-lap features for the A.B. CDL Driver Training Center Truck division on Truck night. Kyle James of Ashaway, RI drove a great race to claim his first career SK Modified® win. Keith Rocco of Wallingford used a third place finish to clinch the division track championship and finish off his sensational season. Tim Jordan of Plainfield won his fourth Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature. Brandon Plemons of Uncasville was the Street Stock winner, his second checkered flag of the year. Waterford native Chris Williams won the Norwich Bulletin Mini Stock feature, another second time winner in 2010. Allen Coates of Ledyard and Howard Payne of Shelton split the A.B. CDL Driver Training Center Truck races.
The 35-lap SK Modified® feature had James and Tyler Chadwick racing for control at the drop of the green flag, with James taking the top spot. Caution waved on lap-2 when dirt was kicked up on the racing surface as Dennis Charette got off course in turn four.
James led through two restarts before Rob Janovic Jr. rocketed his way to third over Joe Perry. Janovic immediately went to work on Chadwick who had tucked in second position behind James. Rocco got around the outside of Perry for fourth to join the chase up front. James stretched his lead over the three-way battle for second between Chadwick, Janovic and Rocco to seven lengths when caution on lap-10 erased his advantage.
[Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto
Janovic was under Chadwick on the restart, getting by into second position on lap-12 as James resumed his lead. Chadwick quickly dropped in line into third ahead of Rocco. Perry and Tucker Reynolds Jr. got together off turn two to jam the field up on lap-13, resulting in two cars further back in the field coming to rest in turn three for another caution flag.
Janovic and Rocco were a potent combination in the outside lane on the restart. Janovic stayed glued to James’ outside, while Rocco got around the outside of Chadwick into third. James bobbled off turn four of lap-15 giving Janovic momentum to power to the race lead. Rocco went outside James for second and spent four laps there before Janovic slipped up the track in turn two on lap-19. That enabled James to shoot past both Rocco and Janovic in one sweeping move to retake the top spot in an exciting exchange among the leaders. Caution on lap-21 slowed the great racing for a spin in the back of the field.
Rocco pushed James ahead of Janovic on the restart. Janovic had just hung on to his second position, muscling ahead of Rocco when contact saw Chadwick go around in turn three, also sending Jeff Pearl spinning to the infield for caution. Janovic was a casualty during the break headed to the pits with a fluid leak on his car, dropping him from his great run.
James continued to hold the lead on the restart with Rocco now to his outside. James prevailed and Yuhas moved in to challenge Rocco for second, taking that spot on the bottom of the track. Shawn Monahan moved by Reynolds into fourth as the race reached the final 10 circuits.
Yuhas closed in to James’ bumper for the final two laps. Rocco made it a three-car race for the win. James held the bottom lane and did a masterful job throughout the night, going on to take his first career win in the division in his first season behind the wheel of a Modified. Yuhas was second ahead of Rocco in third. Monahan and Reynolds rounded out the top-five.
Rocco’s third place finish was enough to clinch the 2010 division championship over Yuhas, his first championship in the SK Modified® division at the track. Rocco was the 2004 Sportsman (Street Stock) division champion. Yuhas was the defending champion.
Jeff Paul led the first four laps of the 30-lap Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature before giving way to Jordan. Jordan used the inside lane to race up to third position in the opening laps before going outside Rich Staskowski for second on lap-3. Paul bobbled exiting turn four on lap-4 to give Jordan opportunity to race to the outside for command of the race.
Jordan completed the pass on lap-5, bringing Bruce Thomas Jr. with him into second. Staskowski went around Paul for third two laps later to make it a three car breakaway out front. Ernie Bertrand moved into fifth as the race settled in and remained green through halfway.
On lap-23 newcomer Robert Pelland got out of shape, nearly spinning out of turn four ahead of the leaders but everyone continued on after a tense moment. Thomas was catching Jordan little by little and just when it appeared Thomas would run out of time, Staskowski spun from third exiting turn four to bring out caution on lap-27 and reset the field.
Jordan got a great restart to edge ahead of Thomas. Thomas dug hard looking for room in the outside lane, to no avail. Jordan won his fourth race of the year. Thomas was second. The battle for third coming to the checkered flag culminated with Paul claiming the spot ahead of a spinning Jeff Smith, Joe Curioso and others. Ernie Bertrand claimed fourth with Smith crossing the stripe backwards in fifth. Jordan stretched his point lead over Smith to 48-points headed into the final Saturday night Showdown.
The 25-lap Street Stock race got started with Chris Meyer as the early leader, but he gave way to Plemons following a restart on lap-8 after Ed Puleo lost an engine, sending Walt Hovey Jr.’s car spinning into the turn one wall to bring out caution.
Meyer’s run up front ended on lap-10 when he got out of shape down the back chute and into the grass to bring out the yellow flag. Plemons led a Stone-Galvin battle for second when racing resumed, with Stone taking that position and looking to close in on the leader. Galvin settled into third and Sears battled for fourth ahead of a surging Hovey. Hovey worked the outside groove to perfection to eventually take that spot on lap-17.
Up front Stone was on Plemons’ bumper for the final five circuits. Further back Hovey was all over Galvin for third. He dove outside with two laps to go to challenge for a podium finish. Stone exhaus
ted every lane trying to pull alongside Plemons, but it was the defending division champion taking his second win on the season. Stone was second. Galvin nipped Hovey at the line for third position. Sears rounded out the top-five finishers. Hovey takes a slim 13-point advantage over Stone into the final Saturday night race.
Charles Canfield was out front early in the 25-lap Norwich Bulletin Mini Stock feature before caution waved on lap-7 for Alan Hall Jr. Only one lap was completed on the restart before Nick Pappacoda lost control in the outside lane off turn four, sending Greg Moran Sr. atop his machine with both cars coming to rest against the barrier in turn one.
Canfield had to contend with Louis Bellisle on two additional restarts, but he fended off the veteran both times. Behind the top two Williams, Sean Caron and Mark Panaroni all ran tight behind. Ken Cassidy Jr. joined the top-five to make it a six-car battle at the head of the field
Williams got by Bellisle’s inside on lap-15, then went to Canfield’s outside looking for the race lead. Caron advanced to third with Cassidy coming to fourth as Bellisle faded in the outside lane. Williams was able to go around Canfield’s outside on lap-19, finally snatching the lead away. Caution waved when Bellisle and Ian Brew came together in turn four on lap-20.
Williams never looked back on the restart, cruising to his second win of the year. Caron took second and Panaroni third at the finish as Canfield slipped back. Bill Leonard finished fourth and Cassidy rounded out the top-five. Cassidy takes a 55-point lead into the final Saturday night event over Dan Field.
Coates took the first of the twin-20 lap A.B. CDL Driver Training Center Truck features, taking the lead from Howard Payne and cruising to his eighth victory of the year in a caution-free race. Keith Rocco got by Payne for second at the finish, with Payne running strong for third.
In the second race, Payne led from start-to-finish to take the win. He had to master a restart with two laps remaining to beat out Bill Leonard and Doug Dunleavy Jr.
The Speedbowl returns for the final Saturday night of the season next Saturday night, October 2nd. NASCAR Whelen All-American Series points champions will be crowned in the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models, Street Stocks, Norwich Bulletin Mini Stocks and A.B CDL Driver Training Center Trucks. The SK Modifieds® and Legends Cars will also race and make it a six-division night. More information is available at Speedbowl.com.
Saturday 9/25 Results and standings:
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds® (35-laps): 1. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI; 2. Ron Yuhas Jr., Groton; 3. Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 4. Shawn Monahan, Waterford; 5. Tucker Reynolds Jr., Westbrook; 6. Nichole Morgillo, Yalesville; 7. Dennis Charette, Southington; 8. Todd Ceravolo, Gales Ferry; 9. Joe Perry, Ashaway, RI; 10. Joe Gada, Salem; 11. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 12. Tom Abele Jr., Norwich; 13. Jim Larsen, East Hartland; 14. Jeff Peal, Salem; 15. Jeffrey Gallup, Agawam, MA; 16. Mike Sweeney, Meriden; 17. Wendell Dailey, Gales Ferry; 18. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., Milford; 19. John Montesanto, North Branford; 20. Dennis Chavaras, Plainville; 21.Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 22. Rich Hammann, Tolland; 23. Glenn Pressell III, Gales Ferry .
Standings after 23 events (top-ten): 1. Rocco, 1,076; 2. Yuhas, 1,020; 3. Janovic, 902; 4. Chadwick, 871; 5. Paul, 817; 6. Pearl, 788; 7. Abele, 712; 8. J. Gada, 700; 9. Perry, 636; 10. Ceravolo, 626
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model: 1. Tim Jordan, Plainfield; 2. Bruce Thomas Jr., Groton; 3. Jeffrey Pearl, Ledyard; 4. Ernie Bertrand, North Branford; 5.Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 6. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 7. Joe Curioso, Mystic; 8. Vin Esposito, Seymour; 9. Brian Andronaco Jr., Wilton; 10. Richard Staskowski, Hope Valley, RI; 11. Mark Cooper, Northford; 12. Robert Pelland, Cranston, RI; 13. Richard Duranti, Quaker Hill; 14. Kevin Folan, Attleboro, MA.
Standings after fourteen events (top-ten): 1. Jordan, 668; 2. Smith, 620; 3. Esposito, 592; 4. Bertrand, 572; 5. Staskowski, 571; 6. Thomas, 555; 7. Paul, 529; 8. Andronaco, 495; 9. Palmer, 492; 10. Curioso, 328
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stocks (25-laps): 1. Brandon Plemons, Uncasville; 2. Al Stone III, New Haven; 3. Josh Galvin, Franklin; 4. Walt Hovey Jr., Chaplin; 5. Norm Sears, Andover; 6. Nate Appell, Westbrook; 7. Michael Caprio, New Haven; 8. Greg Moran Jr., Preston; 9. Norman Root Jr., Old Saybrook; 10. Matthew Burr, Quaker Hill; 11. Jack Aquilina, Oakdale; 12. Scott Young, Willimantic; 13. Ed Puleo, Branford; DQ. Ronald Oldham Jr., Westbrook; DQ. Chris Meyer, North Franklin
Standings after 22 events (top-ten): 1. Hovey, 1,005; 2. Stone, 992; 3. Puleo, 895; 4. Plemons, 876; 5. Sears, 870; 6. Galvin, 866; 7. Moran, 698; 8. Appell, 672; 9. Oldham, 671; 10. Meyer, 643
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Norwich Bulletin Mini Stocks (25-laps): 1. Chris Williams, Waterford; 2. Sean Caron, East Hampton; 3. Mark Panaroni, Ivoryton; 4. Bill Leonard, Wood River Jct, RI; 5. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 6. Charles Canfield, New Haven; 7. Nick Pappacoda, North Branford; 8. Phil Evans, Uncasville; 9. Steve Violette, Canterbury; 10. Louie Bellisle, Griswold; 11. Ian Brew, Wood River Jct, RI; 12. Randy Churchill, Oakdale; 13. Christina Kellerman, Stratford; 14. Charles Beal, Ledyard;15. Jeffrey Cembruch, Wallingford; 16. Kathy Civardi, Noank; 17. Glenn Colvin, Clinton; 18. Alan Hall Jr., North Haven; 19. Dale Sherman, Charlestown, RI; 20. Greg Moran, Sr., Preston; 21. Chuck Rogers, Quaker Hill
Standings after 22 events (top-ten): 1. Cassidy, 966; 2. D. Field, 911; 3. Caron, 895; 4. Bellisle, 814; 5. Williams, 810; 6. Brew 759; 7. Moran, 729; 8. Violette, 668; T-9. Pappacoda, 646; T-9. Canfield, 646;10. Panaroni, 589
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series A.B. CDL Driver Training Center Trucks Race #1 (20-laps): 1. Allen Coates, Ledyard; 2. Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 3. Howard Payne, Shelton; 4. Bill Leonard, Wood River Jct, RI; 5. Keith Chapman, Mystic; 6. Corey Coates, Ledyard; 7. Doug Dunleavy Jr., Bridgewater; 8. Jonathan Zoller, Ayer, MA; 9. Doug Dunleavy Sr., Bridgewater; 10. Anthony Naslieri, Lindenhurst, NY.
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series A.B. CDL Driver Training Center Trucks Race #2 (20-laps): 1. Payne; 2. Leonard; 3. Dunleavy Jr.; 4. A. Coates; 5. Rocco; 6. Zoller; 7. Chapman; 8. C. Coates; 9. Dunleavy Sr; 10. Naslieri
Standings after 13 events (top-ten): 1. A. Coates, 644; 2. Payne, 596; 3. Leonard, 544; 4. C. Coates, 489; 5. Rocco, 448; 6. Chapman, 340; 7. Zoller, 250; 8. J. Warren, 236; 9. Correll, 226; 10. Wray, 218
Sources: Waterford Speedbowl PR