Alessio, Thomas, Martin and Limkemann victorious; Legends Cars feature suspended by weather
Waterford, CT — Waterford Speedbowl was able to beat Mother Nature most of the night however was unable to complete the full Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday race program Wednesday night. Four of the five races scheduled were able to be completed before a heavy rain shower forced race officials to postpone the final feature event. Glen Thomas Jr. of Groton won his second consecutive X-Car feature to open the season, Frank Alessio of Colchester was the winner in the Super X-Car race and defending division champion Taylor Martin of Windham, NH returned to the winner’scircle in the Bandolero feature. East Lyme’s Scott Limkemann took his first checkered flag at the Speedbowl, winning the Wacky Flagpole race.
The Legends Cars race was suspended on lap-7 after the rains came while under caution.
The Legends Cars feature rolled out after a brief shower temporarily dampened the track. Once the field came back out to race their event, pole sitter Ed Field led the race during the opening laps. Alessandro Vitelli moved to Field’s back bumper, threatening him to challenge for the race lead. As the two battled up front Joe Mucciacciaro lost an engine on his car, putting liquid down on the race surface to bring out the caution flag on lap-7. Under caution the skies opened up, forcing track management to suspend the remainder of the event. The final 13 laps will be resumed next Wednesday night, May 25.
[Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto
Martin used the early laps of a caution-free 20-lap Bandolero feature to track down race leader Joey Ternullo. Ternullo was out to the early lead, stretching his distance over the field to several car lengths. Martin was able to close in and challenge Ternullo as the race approached halfway.
Martin used the inside lane to pull alongside, and eventually ahead of Ternullo at lap-10. From there the defending champion opened up a comfortable advantage, going on to her first Wednesday win of the year.
Ternullo and last week’s winner Rachel Forte completed the top-three finishers.
Thomas had to work harder for his second consecutive 20-lap victory in the X-Cars than a week ago. He started deep in the pack and overcame two early caution periods and several two, three and four-wide battles as he navigated his way through the pack.
Scott Limkemann was the early leader through the opening laps. He yielded briefly to Chris Garside, but took back over following a restart on lap-5.
Patrick Williams moved into contention and the past track champion used the inside lane to take the lead from Garside on lap-9.
Thomas had asserted himself through traffic, reaching second position on lap-10. He then looked outside the race leader Williams, able to edge his way alongside and into the race lead on lap-13. Williams remained in contention for three more laps, staying to Thomas’ inside. On lap-16 Thomas finally cleared Williams to go on to the victory. Williams, Randy Johnston, Pete Zaikarite and Garside finished second through fifth.
The 20-lap Super X-Car race appeared headed for a green-to-checkered flag run, but caution with three laps remaining set the stage for a great finish. Ken Downing III had emerged as the race leader over the extended green flag run, however Alessio moved in to close quarters ready to strike. Alessio had just moved under Downing for the race lead and spent two laps to his inside before the lone caution flag came out on lap-17 for a spin in turn three.
On the restart, Downing resumed his lead. Alessio had to tuck in behind Downing on the track, then raced back to his inside coming to the white flag. He powered by Downing through turns one and two, on to the checkered flag. Behind Alessio it was Downing, Mike Maskell, Jim Boyle and Peter Pollard rounding out the top-five finishers.
Limkemann proved master of the front stretch ‘Flagpole’ on his way to the Wacky Race victory for the X-Cars. He had to beat out the challengers over the opening laps around the flagpole obstacle, then kept a smooth steady pace over the final laps to the victory.
Wild ‘n Wacky will return next Wednesday night for a 5-division race program, including a 20-lap Legends Cars feature plus completion of the suspended Legends Cars event from May 18. For more information about Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday and the calendar of events, please visit www.speedbowl.com or contact track offices at 860.442.1585.
Waterford Speedbowl 5/18 Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday Results:
Legends Cars (20-laps): suspended after 7 laps. Remainder to be completed 5/25 Wild ‘n Wacky race event.
Bandolero’s (20-laps): 1. Taylor Martin, Windham, NH; 2. Joey Ternullo, Middletown; 3. Rachel Forte, Douglas, MA; 4. Jacob Urch, West Suffield; 5. Andrew Molleur, Shelton; 6. Jordan Churchill, Lisbon
Super X-Cars (20-laps): 1. Frank Alessio, Colchester; 2. Ken Downing III, Branford; 3. Mike Maskell, Quaker Hill; 4. Jim Boyle, East Windsor; 5. Peter Pollard, Old Lyme; 6. Dan Moon, Exeter, RI; 7. Bill Reiman, New Haven; 8. Robert Norman, Clinton; 9. Ed Ryan, Preston; 10. Bob Onofrio; 11. R.J. Cunningham, Clinton; 12. Shawn Butler, Jewett City; 13. John Bennett, Ledyard; DQ – Shawn Perkins, Salem
X-Cars (20-laps): 1. Glen Thomas Jr., Groton; 2. Patrick Williams, Middletown; 3. Randy Johnston, Westerly, RI; 4. Pete Zaikarite, Niantic; 5. Chris Garside, Waterford; 6. Brad Voglesong, Middletown; 7. Mike Trask, Planfield; 8. Scott Limkemann, East Lyme; 9. David Amspacher, Uncasville; 10. David Lloyd, Mystic; 11. Christopher Lee, Uncasville; 12. Kim Bickford, Griswold; 13. Kristie Hamel, Jewett City; 14. Onie Pierce, Norwich; 15. Geoffrey Burdick, East Lyme; 16. Wayne Shifflett, Preston; 17. C.P. Burdick, Deep River; 18. Jeremy Bourbeau, Taftville; 19. Robert Butler, Norwich; 20. Christopher Ivory, Oakdale; 21. Richard Mollo, Seymour; 22. John Bowes, Willington; 23. Armand Banks, Charlestown, RI; DNS – Javier Rivera, Willimantic
X-Car Flagpole race: 1. Scott Limkemann, East Lyme; 2. Christopher Lee, Uncasville; 3. Brad Voglesong, Middletown; 4. Kim Bickford, Griswold; 5. Kristie Hamel, Jewett City
Sources: Waterford Speedbowl PR