Preece Dominant in Sunoco Modified Feature; Douton Takes Limited Sportsman Extra-Distance Race; Gelinas, Materas, McDermott and Field among Thompson Winners
Thompson, CT — On the 71st anniversary of its first race, Thompson International Speedway hosted 95 race cars in the 6 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions. Ryan Preece of Berlin, CT scored his first career Sunoco Modified victory. Chris “Moose” Douton took a borrowed ride to victory lane in the extra-distance Limited Sportsman event. Larry Gelinas posted his first victory of the season in Super Late Model action.
John Materas of Voluntown, CT continued his early season success with his second win of the year in the Late Models. Cam McDermott of Scituate, RI earned his first win of the year in the TIS Modifieds. Danny Field of Deep River, CT notched his third win on the season in the Mini Stocks.
Ryan Preece led pole to pole to score his first victory of the season in the caution-free 30-lap Sunoco Modified feature. Danny Cates and Ryan Preece were on the front row for the green flag, Preece controlled the event from when he took the lead off turn 2 and was never headed. Keith Rocco tried to advance on the low line past Todd Ceravolo but was kept at bay. Ted Christopher, whose car was repaired after a broken tie rod in the heat race, was up to fifth by lap 12.
[Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto
At the halfway juncture, Ryan Preece was still in command with Danny Cates in second. Ceravolo, Rocco and Christopher rounded out the top-5. Preece’s advantage over the field was some seven car lengths in his favor. On lap 18, Rocco found his opportunity to overtake Ceravolo. Ceravolo would have no part in it and used a crossover move to go back by Rocco on the next circuit. Ted Christopher was now in the mix as he got under Rocco to gain the fourth position. Christopher continued his advance past Ceravolo on lap 21 off of turn 4. With 7 circuits to go, Preece led the remainder of the event to score the win. Danny Cates was second, followed by Christopher, Ceravolo and Rocco.
Chris “Moose” Douton borrowed Jesse Gleason’s ride for the night and paid a visit to victory lane in the 40-lap XTRA/MART Limited Sportsman event. Douton’s regular car was sidelined with a blown head gasket. The opportunity to drive the Gleason Bros. No. 81 paid dividends with his first win of the season. Art Moran, III led from the pole and quickly took charge of the early stages of the race. The first caution slowed the field at lap 15 when William Wall’s car spun in turn 3 in a pack of 5 cars. After the restart, Steve Kenneway spun around on lap 15 in turn 3. Also collected were Kevin Mason, Corey Fanning and Larry Barnett. The next restart saw Art Moran’s hopes of victory end with a flat tire. Moose Douton had the door open off turn 2 for a pass on lap 16 to get 2nd place. Diego Monahan was up to 5th place after starting in the back.
At the halfway mark, Shawn Monahan continued to show the way with Douton, Arena, Diego Monahan and Chicolas running in the top-5. The caution fell on lap 24 for a spin by the Mike Palin in turn 2. The next restart setup the final dash to the finish. Shawn Monahan held the lead until turn 3 on lap 25 when Douton challenged him. Douton pulled away off turn 2 on lap 26 and survived another restart to lead the rest of the way. William Wall recovered from an earlier spin to earn second. Scott Sundeen, Joe Arena and Kevin Mason rounded out the top-5.
Larry Gelinas of Buxton, ME held off a determined Derek Ramstrom to claim the 30-lap Super Late Model checkers. The caution-free feature appeared to be all Gelinas in the early stages of the event as he rocketed off turn 2 on the first lap to take the lead from Jeff Connors. Derek Ramstrom advanced past Connors on the third lap to take second. Beginning on lap 10, Ramstrom steadily erased Gelinas’ sizeable advantage. With five laps to go, Ramstrom looked low to try and get a run past Gelinas but was not able to make it work. Gelinas was able to secure the victory over Ramstrom, Connors, Mike O’Sullivan and Jim Banfield.
Former track champion John Materas prevailed in a duel with Tommy O’Sullivan to claim his second win of the season in the 25-lap Late Model feature. Wayne Coury, Sr. led from his pole starting position and drove away from the field until the first caution on lap 5 when Mike Scorzelli and Mark Oliveira got together in turn 1. Oliveira’s machine was too damaged to continue. Tommy O’Sullivan flanked Coury for the restart. O’Sullivan kept pace with Coury and prepared a challenge on lap 10 to try and get by. Two laps later, O’Sullivan was able to gain the lead from Coury. John Materas had advanced to third from his sixth starting position. Materas battled door to door with O’Sullivan for the lead on lap 22. On lap 23, Materas got the advantage off turn 4 on the bottom lane and led the remainder of the event. O’Sullivan was second, with Coury, Falconi and Gentes completing the top-5 finishers.
Cam McDermott gained his first win of the season in the 20-lap Thompson Modified feature. Ryan Morgan took the early lead from his pole starting position. Jason Sundeen ran second with McDermott in third place. With Morgan at the point, McDermott moved up to third place off of turn 2 on lap 6. On lap 9, Sundeen looked to get past Morgan on the low groove but lost momentum off of turn 2.
At the halfway mark, Morgan was the leader followed by McDermott, Sundeen, John Studley and R.J. Marcotte. While McDermott and Morgan battled, Sundeen attempted to pass both of them in turn 2. He got loose after contact and dropped back to third. McDermott was able to take the lead on the 13th circuit and opened up his lead. McDermott scored the victory over Morgan, Sundeen, Studley and Marcotte.
Danny Field captured his third victory of the young season in the 15-lap Monster Mini Stock feature. Tim Higgenbotham took an early lead from the outside pole. At the halfway mark, Higgenbotham continued to lead with Chad Baxter, Tyler Poulin and Lloyd Anderson, Jr. making up the top-4. One circuit later, Baxter took over the lead.
Danny Field was moving up quickly from his 12th starting position to take 3rd place by lap 10. Field was up to 2nd place by lap 11. The first caution of the event flew on lap 13 when Roger Ducharme’s car hit the infield wall on the front stretch. This set up a green-white-checkered finish for the Mini Stocks. Bill Leonard had advanced to third. Another caution fell when Craig Phillips crashed off turn 2. Danny Field got the edge on the last restart of the race. Field nailed down his third-consecutive victory over Baxter, Leonard, Eric Bourgeois and Tyler Poulin.
Sunoco Modified Feature (Top Ten) Finish: 1. Ryan Preece, Berlin, CT; 2. Danny Cates, Chaplin, CT; 3. Ted Christopher, Plainville, CT; 4. Todd Ceravolo, Gales Ferry, CT; 5. Keith Rocco, Meriden, CT; 6. Rick Shawn, Bradford, RI; 7. Rick Shawn, Bradford, RI; 8. Carl Oberg, Sutton, MA; 9. George Wilkinson; 10. Shelly Perry, Westerly, RI.
Super Late Model Feature Finish: 1. Larry Gelinas, Buxton, ME; 2. Derek Ramstrom, Worcester, MA; 3. Jeff Connors, Ellington, CT; 4. Jeff Connors, Ellington, CT; 5 . Mike O’Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 6. Jeff Hartwell, E. Putnam, CT; 7. Scott Rotherforth, Glastonbury, CT.
Late Model Feature (Top Ten) Finish: 1. John Materas, Voluntown, CT; 2. Tommy O’Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 3. Wayne Coury, Sr., Milford, CT; 4. John Falconi, Oakham, MA; 5. Rick Gentes, Woonsocket, RI; 6 . Damon Tinio, Mendon, MA; 7. Philip Rondeau, Baltic, CT; 8. Mike Scorzelli, Malta, NY; 9. Jeremy Sadowski, Voluntown, CT; 10. Randy Tucker, Millis, MA.
Limited Sportsman (Top Ten) Finish: 1. Christopher Douton, Waterford, CT; 2. William Wall, Shrewsbury, MA; 3. Scott Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 4. Joe Arena, Bristol, CT; 5. Joe Arena, Bristol, CT; 6. Jason Chicolas, Sutton, MA; 7. Larry Barnett, Moosup, CT; 8. Michael Malbaurn, Sterling, CT; 9. Michael Malbaurn, Sterling, CT; 10. Paul Coutu, Sebastian, FL.
Thompson Modified Finish: 1. Cam McDermott, Scituate, RI; 2. Ryan Morgan, Mystic, CT; 3. Ryan Morgan, Mystic, CT; 4. John Studley, Framingham, MA; 5. John Studley, Framingham, MA; 6. Glenn Boss, Danielson, CT; 7. John Lowinski-Loh, Jr., Milford, MA;8. Chad Labastie, Uxbridge, MA; 9. Denis Legere, N. Reading, MA.
Mini Stock Feature (Top Ten) Finish: 1. Danny Field, Deep River, CT; 2. Chad Baxter, Pascoag, RI; 3. Bill Leonard, Bradford, RI; 4. Eric Bourgeois, Moodus, CT; 5. Tyler Poulin, Pascoag, RI; 6. Tim Higginbotham, N. Dighton, MA; 7. Tim Armstrong, Uxbridge, MA; 8. Brent Gleason, Norwich, CT; 9. Leo Defevers, Brooklyn, CT; 10. Michael Viens, Seekonk, MA.
Sources: Nicholas Teto/Thompson International Speedway PR