Staskowski and Cassidy visit Victory Lane before fog rolls in; Russ Wood captures ISMA Supermodified feature
Waterford, CT (May 28, 2011) – Waterford Speedbowl completed three of five scheduled events on Saturday evening before heavy fog rolled in, forcing the end of the ISMA Supermodified race three laps shy of its scheduled distance, and the postponement of the remaining two feature events. In racing action, Rich Staskowski of Hope Valley, RI picked up the victory in the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature, his first on the season.
Defending Mini Stock champion Ken Cassidy raced to his 27th career division win, his second victory on the year. In ISMA Supermodified action Russ Wood of Pelham, NH was the winner in a crash marred race, shortened to 47 laps. The final three laps were halted after the fog was too thick to continue.
The 35-lap SK Modified® feature scheduled for the night will be made up on the June 18 race program, while the scheduled 25-lap Street Stock race will be made up on June 11. Each division will compete in double features on those nights.
The 50-lap ISMA Supermodified feature was cut short by three laps when dense fog moved in over the speedway. Russ Wood, the leader at the time of the final caution, was declared the winner. Wood survived a wild feature that was plagued by cautions and red flags. The race was able to complete 21-laps of uninterrupted green flag racing with Ben Seitz dominating the action during the run. Amid the intensifying fog, Seitz actually made contact with the backstretch wall before coming to rest in turn three on lap-47, setting up the final caution period when series officials declared the event complete. Following Wood at the checkered flag were Chris Perley and former NASCAR champion Johnny Benson Jr.
A caution free 30-lap Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature, the second consecutive in as many weeks, began with Staskowski in the early lead over Jeff Smith and Bruce Thomas Jr. Last week’s winner Anthony Flannery raced into the top four, moving inside Jason Palmer by lap-5. Out front Smith was content riding behind Staskowski, occasionally testing the inside groove looking for racing room. Thomas was a car behind Smith, while Flannery was trying to make up ground on the top-three, who had opened up a several car length advantage by the time the race reached halfway on lap-15.
Vin Esposito was up to the fifth position ahead of Marc Curtis after the halfway mark. The pack of cars they led trailed Flannery by nearly a straightaway as green flag racing dominated the action. The battle for position from fifth on back allowed the lead cars the distance to comfortably maneuver for the top four spots.
Smith continued to trail Staskowski’s bumper as the race moved to the final ten circuits. Thomas tried the outside of Smith on lap-22, but started to lose the handles on his car. He slipped back into the grips of Flannery for third position as they hit lap-25. Out front, Smith turned up the pressure on Staskowski. He was on the leader’s bumper desperately looking for a way around the inside of Staskowski as the laps ran down. With the white flag in the air Smith tried one final effort out of turn four, but could not make a serious bid.
Smith hung on to second over Thomas, with Flannery and Esposito completing the top-five finishers.
Sean Caron narrowly held the race lead during the first portion of the 25-lap Mini Stock race. He was under fire from several competitors from the drop of the green flag, including Charles Canfield who rode in second.
Ray Christian was looking fast in third and Cassidy rode in fourth place.
Christina Kellerman was fifth, but a challenge for the spot by Jeff Cembruch crossed up both competitors as they raced into turn one on lap-9.
Both saved their cars, but Cembruch ultimately came to rest on the apron of the track and drew the first caution of the race.
On the restart the top four positions changed hands. Canfield was all over Caron’s bumper giving the leader a mirror full of action, allowing outside lane a chance to advance. Christian was the first to power around both Canfield and Caron to move into the race lead. Meanwhile Canfield had to make a great save off turn four while Cassidy challenged for position to his outside, but able to continue on. The new running order by lap-11 was Christian out front followed by Cassidy, who also used the outside lane to move up, followed by Caron and Chris Williams.
Caution returned on lap-12 for Phil Evans when he spun in turn one reset the field again.
The top two held their positions over the next three laps before Caron got loose out of turn four on lap-14, spinning from third place and collecting several others. Among those caught up were Christina Kellerman and Williams, who made hard contact with the frontstretch barrier. All drivers were ok following the incident.
Cassidy got around Christian on the restart after two laps battling side-by-side. Christian didn’t let Cassidy out of his sights, staying within three car lengths as the race was inside its final five laps. Behind the two leaders, Bill Leonard and Glenn Colvin had a great battle for third over the remaining circuits. While Cassidy moved on to the win, his second of the season, Christian took home his best finish on the year in second. Colvin got around Leonard for third at the white flag, with Brew finishing fifth.
On Sunday night, Memorial Day Madness takes over featuring Demo Derbies, Speedbowl Trailer Race, Ski Race and more all capped off by an aerial fireworks display with spectator gates opening at 6:00pm, and the smashing starting at 7:00pm. All the information for each event is available at Speedbowl.com.
ISMA Supermodifieds Results (after 47-laps, called by weather): 1. Russ Wood, Pelham, NH; 2. Chris Perley, Rowley, MA; 3. Johnny Benson Jr., Cornelius, NC; 4. Mark Sammut, London, Ont.; 5. Mike Lichty, Innerkip, Ont.; 6. Joe Scanlon, Salem, NH; 7. Jeff Locke, Raymond, NH; 8. Ben Seitz, Bourne, MA; 9. Paule White; 10. Danny Lane, Essex, MA; 11. Chris Deritis, Philadelphia, PA; 12. Bobby Magner, Oswego, NY; 13. Justin Belfiore, Ipswich, MA; 14. Rob Summers, Vernon; 15. Eddy Witkum, Westford, MA; 16. Jamie Timmons, North Andover, MA; 17. Danny Bowes, Byfield, MA; 18. Timmy Jedrzejek, Independence, OH; 19. Dave Duggan Jr., Milford, NH; 20. Eric Lewis, Solvay, NY; 21. Brandon Bellinger, Las Vegas, NV; 22. Eric Emhoff, Union
Waterford Speedbowl 5/28 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series official results:
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds® (35-laps): postponed to June 18
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models (30-laps): 1. Rich Staskowski, Hope Valley, RI; 2. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 3. Bruce Thomas Jr., Groton; 4. Anthony Flannery, East Hampton; 5. Vin Esposito, Seymour; 6. Brian Andronaco Jr., Wilton; 7. Marc Curtis, Worcester, MA; 8. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 9. Joe Curioso, Pawcatuck; 10. Seth Duval, Ashford; 11. Mike Sweeney Jr., Meriden; 12. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill; 13. Mark Cooper, Northford
Standings after seven events: 1. Smith, 323; 2. Thomas, 320; 3. Staskowski, 317; 4. Andronaco, 307; 5. Curioso, 290; 6. Esposito, 289; 7. Flannery, 279; 8. Palmer, 240; 9. Sweeney, 212; 10. Cooper, 202
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stocks (25-laps): postponed to June 11
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Mini Stocks (25-laps): 1. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 2. Ray Christian III, Groton; 3. Glenn Colvin, Clinton; 4. Bill Leonard, Bradford, RI; 5. Ian Brew, Wood River Junction; 6. Gerald Young Jr., Jewett City; 7. Nick Pappacoda, North Branford; 8. Phil Evans, Uncasville, 9. Ben Bargnesi, Norwich; 10. Doug Curry, Groton; 11. Christina Kellerman, Stratford; 12. Dale Sherman, Charlestown, RI; 13. Garrett Denton, Hope Valley, RI; 14. Daniel J. McGouran, Westerly, RI; 15. Charles Canfield, New Haven; 16. Sean Caron, East Hampton; 17. Chris Williams, Waterford; 18. Jeff Cembruch, Wallingford; DNS – Brian Norman, Clinton; DNS – Joseph Fogarasi, Columbia
Standings after seven events: 1. Leonard, 321; 2. Colvin, 309; 3. Evans, 283; 4. Brew, 280; 5. Cassidy, 278; 6. Christian, 276; 7. Cembruch, 269; 8. Williams, 255; 9. Kellerman, 230; 10. Canfield, 226
Sources: Warterford Speedbowl PR