Pearl claims final Saturday night victory in SK Mods; Thomas, Puleo, Cassidy, Coates and Flannery others in Victory Lane; Rocco, Jordan, Stone, Cassidy, Coates and Flannery 2010 Saturday Champions
Waterford, CT — Waterford Speedbowl completed its final Saturday night points race of 2010 with six feature events including all five NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions in action. It was also Cystic Fibrosis Night at the track, raising awareness and funds for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Jeff Pearl of Salem dominated the SK Modifieds® to roll to his third win on the year. Bruce Thomas Jr. of Groton won the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature, with Plainfield’s Tim Jordan taking the championship. In the Street Stocks Ed Puleo of Branford won his sixth race of 2010. New Haven’s Al Stone III claimed the Street Stock championship after a wild race for the points contenders. Ken Cassidy Jr. of Lisbon clinched the Norwich Bulletin Mini Stock title in style, picking up his fifth win of the year. Allen Coates of Ledyard did the same in the A.B. CDL Driver Training Center Truck division, winning the race and title. Anthony Flannery of East Hampton finished the Saturday night season on a high note by taking yet another Legends Cars win.
The thunder rolled when the SK Modifieds® took to the track for their 35-lap feature. Tyler Chadwick bolted from his outside pole position into the race lead down the back chute of lap-1. Pearl motored around the outside of Glenn Pressell for second, with Rob Janovic Jr. following suit into third place by lap-3.
Pearl closed in on Chadwick and wasted no time diving to his inside entering turn one on lap-5, becoming the new race leader down the backstretch. Trouble on lap-7 saw Ron Yuhas Jr. making contact with the backstretch wall, then coming to rest in turn three. Diego Monahan was also involved and joined Yuhas in the pits under the race’s only caution period.
Pearl was back out front following the restart, slowly extending his lead over Chadwick and Janovic. Further back Pressell and Joe Perry held the fourth and fifth positions while Keith Rocco, the division champion for 2010, was picking cars off one at a time after starting the race deep in the field following a hard wreck in qualifying.
The field got in an extended run of green flag racing to the checkered flag with Pearl checking out. Chadwick was solidly in second ahead of Janovic. Rocco pressed ahead moving his way up to fourth position by lap-29.
Pearl’s lead over Chadwick was shrinking as the race reached the final five laps. Lapped traffic ahead looked to be a possible factor for the final two laps. Pearl’s lead was enough to secure his third victory on the year. Chadwick was second over Janovic, Rocco and Pressell. The win was the 34th of Pearl’s career, good for second all-time in the division ahead of Ted Christopher. Rocco already secured the championship.
Brian Andronaco Jr. raced to the early lead in the 30-lap Bob Valenti Auto Mall feature ahead of a battle for second between Jason Palmer and Rich Staskowski. Staskowski got by the inside of Palmer and closed in on the leader by lap-5. Action from third through tenth position was tight including three-wide racing involving Jordan, the championship contender.
Staskowski got a run to the inside of Andronaco through turns three and four to take command of the race on lap-8. Palmer moved in on Andronaco for second when the first caution waved on lap-12 as Ernie Bertrand spun exiting turn two from the fourth position.
Staskowski and Andronaco battled for the lead when racing resumed. Just behind the top two, Thomas and Tim Jordan were in the mix battling side by side. Andronaco began to fade, allowing Staskowski to get away in the lead and bringing Thomas to second. Those two pulled away from a great battle for third that raged on for laps between Andronaco, Jordan and Palmer.
Thomas rode in the shadows of Staskowski at the front, but he was unable to find the groove to pull alongside. The battle for third was taken by Palmer. Caution waved again when Joe Curioso spun in turn two on lap-26 to give the leaders a final chance to race for the win.
Staskowski faltered on the start while Thomas prevailed. The three-time track champion went on to his fourth win on the year to close out a tough-luck season. Staskowski hung on for second and Palmer ran well all night to take third. Andronaco and Jordan rounded out the top five.
Jordan’s fifth place finish wrapped up the championship, his second in the Late Model division. He was also the 2006 champion.
Championship implications were on the line for the 25-lap Street Stock race between Walt Hovey Jr. and Stone. The race got started with Greg Moran Jr. in the early lead, while Brandon Plemons raced Norm Sears for second. Just as Plemons took that spot on Sears’ inside, Stone moved in to challenge Sears for third but lost control, spinning into turn three to bring out caution on lap-2.
Hovey’s title aspirations got a scare on the restart when Moran went around in turn two in front of the field. Hovey dropped to the apron and infield to miss the spinning Moran and continue on unscathed. Caution waved to keep the race slowed.
The next restart was Hovey’s undoing. Contact between he and Sears as they battled for fourth position sent Hovey bouncing through the infield and off other cars. When the dust settled Hovey’s machine had to be towed to the pits. The damage was severe enough to eliminate Hovey for the night and threaten his points lead over Stone.
Stone’s was vaulted back to consideration for the title when racing went back to green. He raced in mid-pack until Josh Galvin lost a rear tire ahead of him, causing Stone to make contact with Galvin damaging his machine. Everyone continued on and the race stayed green.
During all that action Ed Puleo raced to the lead looking stout over Plemons. Dave Trudeau held third over Sears. Moran was back up to fifth. Puleo went on to the win, his sixth of the year. Plemons was second. Sears took third over Trudeau at the checkered flag. Moran secured fifth.
Stone was able to nurse his machine to a seventh place finish, enough to nip Hovey for the division championship by 7-points unofficially. A title would be Stone’s second, following up his 2008 Street Stock title.
The excitement started at the drop flag of the 25-lap Norwich Bulletin Mini Stock feature as three wide action at the front of the field started immediately in turns one and two. Chuck Rogers held the lead while the battle for second broke out between Charles Canfield, Nick Pappacoda and Cassidy. Cassidy wasted no time using the outside lane to steamroll past them all to the lead by lap-3.
Cassidy opened up a large lead as the race stayed under green over the first half of the race. Behind him, Canfield would challenge Rogers for second position but tucked back in line. Bill Leonard raced his way around the outside of both to move into second and try to track down Cassidy out front. The first caution waved on lap-18 when Louis Bellisle spun in turn one while battling just outside the top-five.
Cassidy controlled the restart over Leonard. They both checked out over the pack behind which saw Chris Williams work the outside lane through traffic. He took third from Rogers on lap-21. Mark Panaroni was in Williams’ tire tracks and took fourth from Rogers on lap-23.
Cassidy went on to win his fifth race on the season and clinch the division championship in convincing fashion. It was Cassidy’s third career Mini Stock crown. He was also the 2007 and 2008 champion. Leonard, Williams, Panaroni, and Ian Brew rounded out the top-five in the race.
The A.B. CDL Driver Training Center Truck division saw a great battle between Howard Payne and Bill Leonard over the first several laps. Payne ran the bottom of the track with Leonard mastering the high line to swap the lead back and forth multiple times a lap.
Behind those two Allen Coates and son Corey Coates ran side by side for third. Allen took the spot and closed in on the lead two. Lapped traffic broke up the great battle for the lead, giving Coates room to challenge for the lead. He went around Leonard on lap-8 and wasted no time closing in on Payne. Coates found room to pull alongside and around Payne a lap later to take over the race lead.
From there Coates cruised to his ninth win on the season and 80th career win at the Speedbowl. He secured his second consecutive title in the Trucks and sixth overall at the track. Coates was also a three-time Late Model and one-time Street Stock champion. Finishing behind Coates in the race were Payne, Leonard, Corey Coates and Jonathon Zoller.
The 20-lap Legends Cars race saw four lead changes over the opening six laps of the race to ultimately put Flannery out front. Dana Dimatteo followed Flannery, already the division champion, to second with Alessandro Vitelli and Ed Field racing in the third and fourth positions just behind the leaders.
At halfway Dimatteo peeked outside Flannery looking to challenge the dominant driver in the division this season. That gave Vitelli the opportunity to briefly look under Dimatteo and for Flannery to momentarily get away.
Dimatteo fended off Vitelli and looked to close back in on Flannery. He was back to work on the leader’s rear bumper on lap-16. Just as the leaders had taken the white flag a lapped car spun across the track in turn three to bring out the first caution flag in the race.
Flannery got a great restart to take the victory, his 10th in a row on Saturday nights. It was also his 20th win of the year overall at the Speedbowl. Dimatteo, Vitelli, David Garbo Jr. and Field completed the top-five.
The Speedbowl closes the 2010 race season next week with Finale Weekend being held October 8-10. In all 10 divisions of racing will take to the shoreline oval including the 14th annual Budweiser Modified Nationals SK-150. The ACT Late Models will also go 150-laps. An Outlaw Mini Stock and Outlaw Stock race are also on tap. The full schedule of events for the weekend is available on Speedbowl.com
Saturday 10/2 Results and standings:
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds® (35-laps): 1. Jeff Pearl, Salem; 2. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 3. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 4. Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 5. Glenn Pressell III, Gales Ferry; 6. Joe Gada, Salem; 7. Joe Perry, Ashaway, RI; 8. Tom Abele Jr., Norwich; 9. Jim Larsen, East Hartland; 10. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI; 11. Frank Mucciacciaro, Milford; 12. Robert Georgidas, East Hampton; 13. Tucker Reynolds Jr., Westbrook; 14. Brent Sweet, Monroe; 15. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 16. Ron Yuhas Jr., Groton; 17. James Monahan, Quaker Hill; 18. Mike Sweeney, Meridan; 19. Dave Gada, Bozrah.
Unofficial Final Standings (top-ten): 1. Rocco, 1,120; 2. Yuhas, 1,040; 3. Janovic, 948; 4. Chadwick, 919; 5. Pearl, 843; 6. Paul, 817; 7. Abele, 748; 8. J. Gada, 740; 9. Perry, 674; 10. James 657
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model: 1.Bruce Thomas Jr., Groton; 2. Richard Staskowski, Hope Valley, RI; 3. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 4. Brian Andronaco Jr., Wilton; 5.Tim Jordan, Plainfield; 6. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 7. Ernie Bertrand, North Branford; 8. Jeffrey Paul, Ledyard; 9. Vin Esposito, Seymour; 10. Joe Curioso, Mystic; 11. Bill Bernard, Holliston, MA; 12. Mark Cooper, Northford; 13. Larry Goss, North Windham; 14. Richard Duranti, Quaker Hill; 15. Ron Yuhas Jr., Groton
Unofficial Final Standings (top-ten): 1. Jordan, 710; 2. Smith, 660; 3. Esposito, 626; 4 Staskowski, 619; T-5. Thomas, 610; 6. Bertrand, 610; 7. Paul, 565; 8. Andronaco, 539; 9. Palmer, 538; 10. Curioso, 360
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stocks (25-laps): 1. Ed Puleo, Branford; 2. Brandon Plemons, Uncasville; 3. Norm Sears, Andover; 4. Dave Trudeau, Mansfield; 5. Greg Moran Jr., Preston; 6. Jack Aquilina, Oakdale; 7. Al Stone III, New Haven; 8. Chris Meyer, North Franklin; 9. Norm Root, Old Saybrook; 10. Paul Coutu, Canterbury; 11. Joey Fernandez, Weymouth, MA; 12. Scott Young, Willimantic; 13. Ronald Oldham Jr., Westbrook; 14. Josh Galvin, Franklin; 15. Paul Gaedeke, Southington; 16. Matthew Burr, Quaker Hill; 17. Walt Hovey Jr., Chaplin; 18. Matthew Doyon, Salem; 19. Shawn Monahan, Waterford; 20. Nate Appell; 21. Michael Caprio, New Haven
Unofficial Final Standings (top-ten): 1.Stone III, 1030; 2. Hovey, 1,023; 3. Puleo, 950; 4. Plemons, 924; 5. Sears, 916; 6. Galvin, 890; 7. Moran, 740; 8. Oldham, 697; 9. Meyer, 679; 10. Appell, 672
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Norwich Bulletin Mini Stocks (25-laps): 1. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 2. Bill Leonard, Wood River Jct, RI; 3. Chris Williams, Waterford 4. Mark Panaroni, Ivoryton; 5. Ian Brew, Wood River Jct, RI; 6. Chuck Rogers, Quaker Hill; 7. Charles Canfield, New Haven; 8. Sean Caron, East Hampton; 9. Nick Pappacoda, North Branford; 10. Phil Evans, Uncasville; 11. Steve Violette, Canterbury; 12. Greg Moran Sr., Preston; 13. Eric Bourgeois, East Haddam; 14. Louis Bellisle, Griswold;15. Alan Hall Jr., North Haven; 16. Christina Kellerman, Stratford; 17.Charles Beal, Groton; 18. Dale Sherman, Charlestown, RI;19. Jeffrey Cembruch, Wallingford; 20. Kathy Civardi, Noank; 21. Douglas Curry, Groton; 22. Glen Thomas Jr., Groton
Unofficial Final Standings (top-ten): 1. Cassidy, 1,021; 2. Caron, 931; 3. Dan Field, 911; 4. Williams, 856; 5. Bellisle, 838; 6. Brew, 801; 7. Moran, 757; 8. Violette, 698; 9. Canfield, 684; 10. Pappacoda, 680
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series A.B. CDL Driver Training Center Trucks (25-laps): 1. Allen Coates, Ledyard; 2. Howard Payne, Shelton; 3. Bill Leonard, Wood River Jct, RI; 4. Corey Coates, Ledyard; RI; 5. Jonathan Zoller, Ayer, MA; 6. Doug Dunleavy Jr., Bridgewater; 7. Jesse Birden, Newton
Unofficial Final Standings (top-ten): 1. A. Coates, 699; 2. Payne, 644; 3. Leonard, 590; 4. C. Coates, 533; 5. Rocco, 448; 6. J. Chapman, 340; 7. Zoller, 292; 8. J. Warren, 236; 9. Correll, 226; 10. Wray, 210
Legends Cars (20-laps): 1.Anthony Flannery, East Hampton; 2. Dana Dimatteo, Farmington; 3. Alessandro Vitelli, Woodbridge; 4. David Garbo Jr., Stonington; 5. Ed Field, Deep River; 6. Joey Mucciacciaro, Wolcott; 7. Troy Talman, Oxford, MA; 8. Nick Ladyga, Voluntown; 9. Dennis Pantani, Branford; 10. Peter Cirilli, Farmington; 11. Stan Carpenter, Auburn, MA; 12. Kyle Rogers, Waterbury; 13. Carlo Blandina, Milford; 14. Daniel Butler, Manchester; 15. Richard Erlandson, Moodus
Unofficial Final Standings (top-ten): 1. Flannery, 565; 2. Vitelli, 436; 3. Dimatteo, 422; 4. Field, 414; 5. Garbo, 362; 6. Mucciacciaro; 7. Giarratana, 301; 8. Belsito, 296; 9. Rogers, 286; 10. Campbell, 280
Sources: Waterford Speedbowl PR