Szegedy, Rocco and McDermott Win Thursday Night Thunder at Thompson
Thompson, CT — Todd Szegedy took the lead in the Tour Type Modifieds at Thompson International Speedway Thursday night for the second and final time at lap 25. The Bethel, Conn. native pulled away from Ted Christopher in the final laps and put an exclamation point on a battle that lasted almost the entire race distance.
Christopher established his dominance out front in the early laps of the 40-lap feature. Ryan Preece kept the pressure on, however, as he looked high and low for a way around the No. 36. Despite Preece’s challenges, Christopher was able to keep his place on the point. Szegedy became a factor at lap five as he moved in on a tight nose-to-tail run that was interrupted by caution at lap nine. The cleanup for the accident, which involved Shelly Perry and Renee Dupuis, brought out the red flag.
Christopher shot by Preece when the race restarted at lap nine, but it was all Szegedy in turn two as he drove by for the lead. Eric Goodale went around in turn two and collected Lou Mechalides bringing out the second caution of the night.
[Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto
Szegedy proved it was no fluke as he flew to the front when the race resumed. Christopher closed the distance on Szegedy by lap eleven as Mike Stefanik and Preece got in on the action. Christopher began to challenge for the lead at lap 14 and finally found his hole in turn two at lap 15 and settled into the lead by turn four.
Christopher’s work was not done as Szegedy continued his challenges with a patient Stefanik close behind. Szegedy reclaimed the point when he used the bottom groove to drive by Christopher in turn four of lap 25. Szegedy pulled away to a ten car length advantage while the battle for second place heated up. With two laps remaining, Preece used the outside groove on turn two to pass Christopher for the second spot, but it was Christopher who took the runner-up position at the checkers.
In the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, National Champion Keith Rocco of Wallingford, CT drove to victory lane in the Sunoco Modified Feature for his second win of the season. The victory put Rocco, who is the divisions first repeat winner this season, in the early season point lead.
Danny Cates took the lead at the start of the event with pressure from Ryan Preece through turns one and two. Cates was able to pu ll away when Preece shifted his attention to the challenges of Rocco, who took over the second spot in turn three on lap two.
Rocco was patient and let the field settle in before making his move on Cates on the backstretch at lap 17. Rocco shot by for the lead, and continued to extend his lead lap after lap until the checkers dropped.
Cam McDermott of Scituate, RI scored his second consecutive win in the 20-lap Thompson Modified feature after taking the lead from Jason Sundeen on lap nine.
Ryan Morgan took the early lead after starting from the pole, but lost a side-by-side battle to Glenn Boss on lap two. Sundeen and Boss turned up the heat at lap five with Sundeen taking over the point in turn three at lap six. Sundeen, McDermott, and Boss ran nose-to-tail for several laps before McDermott went deep into turn three for the lead.
Boss remained glued to McDermott’s bumper until lap 15 when McDermott was able to put a couple of car lengths between the two.
In Late Model action, Rick Gentes of Woonsocket, RI showed patience to win the feature as his car got better and better in the 25-lap event.
Philip Rondeau shot past Tommy O’Sullivan and Gentes at the drop of the green to take the point on the first lap. O’Sullivan retaliated and got underneath Rondeau coming off turn four on the second circuit to put his No. 16 machine out front.
O’Sullivan led the charge until lap 15 when Gentes took the low line to drive by O’Sullivan in turns three and four.
A caution on lap 19 tightened up the field with John Meteras beside Gentes for the restart. Gentes shot to the front with John Falconi taking over the second spot. John Materas quickly moved into the runner-up spot and put pressure on Gentes for the lead in the closing laps. Gentes was followed to the checkers by Materas and Falconi.
Shawn Monahan of Waterford, Conn. held off Larry Barnett in the XTRA/MART Limited Sportsman feature to take the checkered flag. Monahan took the lead at lap two and never looked back.
Art Moran, III and Tom Shea brought the field of Limited Sportsman’s to the green and commenced an intense battle that lasted an entire circuit. The duo ran door-to- door until Moran settled in the lead at the line. On lap two, however, something broke on Moran’s machine and collected Shea bringing out the caution.
Diego Monahan and Shawn Monahan brought the field back to green with Monahan taking the point. The two drivers battled it out through two more restarts with Monahan commanding the pace every time. Larry Barnett won a battle with Bill McNeil for the third spot before McNeil spun his No. 44 in turn four and brought out the final caution.
Monahan went unchallenged in the last five circuits of the 20-lap feature while Barnett moved into the runner-up spot for the checkers.
Danny Field of Deep River, Conn. continued his dominance in the Monster Mini Stocks 15-lap feature with his fourth win of the season.
Steve Romjue took the early lead, but it was all Mike Viens after he used the low groove to take the lead in turn three. Caution flew at lap seven putting Veins together with Tyler Poulin for the drop of the green. The two swapped the lead before Field moved into the picture at lap 18.
Field went underneath Veins on lap 10 and claimed the lead coming off turn two. As Field pulled away, the battle came down to the second spot. Veins was able to hold off a fast-approaching Bourgeois at the checkers.
TOUR-TYPE MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH: 1. Todd Szegedy, Bethel, CT; 2. Ted Christopher, Plainville, CT; 3. Ryan Preece, Berlin, CT; 4. Mike Stefanik, Coventry, RI; 5. Steven Reed, Jackson, NJ; 6. Rick Gentes, Woonsocket, RI; 7. Russell Perry, Ashaway, RI; 8. Renee Dupuis, Hebron, CT; 9. Richard Savary, Canton, MA; 10. David Bitondo, Ashby, MA.
SUNOCO MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH: 1. Keith Rocco, Meriden, CT; 2. Danny Cates, Chaplin, CT; 3. Ted Christopher, Plainville, CT; 4. Ryan Preece, Berlin, CT; 5. Rick Fuller, Auburn, MA; 6. John Catania, Agawam, MA; 7. Carl Oberg, Sutton, MA; 8. George Wilkinson, Pawcutuck, CT; 9. Todd Ceravolo, Gales Ferry, CT.
THOMPSON MODIFIEDS FEATURE FINISH: 1. Cam McDermott, Scituate, RI; 2. Glenn Boss, Danielson, CT; 3. Jason Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 4. Ryan Morgan, Mystic, CT; 5. John Studley, Framingham, MA; 6. Brian Tagg, Oxford, MA; 7. John Lowinski-Loh, Jr., Milford, MA; 8. R.J. Marcotte, Millville, MA; 9. Chad LaBastie, Uxbridge, MA; 10. Denis Legere, N. Reading, MA.
LATE MODEL FEATURE FINISH: 1. Rick Gentes, Woonsocket, RI; 2. John Meteras, Voluntown, CT; 3. John Falconi, Oakham, MA; 4. Philip Rondeau, Baltic, CT; 5. Mike Scorzelli, Malta, NY; 6. Tommy O’Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 7. Damon Tinio, Mendon, MA; 8. Randy Tucker, Millis, MA; 9. Ryan Waterman, Danielson, CT; 10. Jeremy Sadowski, Voluntown, CT.
LIMITED SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH: 1. Shawn Monahan, Waterford, CT; 2. Larry Barnett, Ledyard, CT; 3. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill, CT; 4. Scott Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 5. Joe Coates, Groton, CT; 6. Jesse Gleason, Lisbon, CT; 7. Chris Douton, Waterford, CT; 8. Joe Arena, Bristol, CT; 9. Scott Young, Willimantic, CT; Joe Plonski, Worcester, MA.
MONSTER MINI STOCKS FEATURE FINISH: 1. Danny Field, Deep River, CT; 2. Mike Viens, Seekonk, MA; 3. Eric Bourgeois, Moodus, CT; 4. Tyler Poulin, Pascoag, RI; 5. Steve Michalski, Brooklyn, CT; 6. Joe Baxter, Pascoag, RI; 7. Tim Armstrong, Uxbridge, MA; 8. Leo Defevers, Brooklyn, CT; 9. Louis Bellisle III, Lisbon, CT; 10. Brent Gleason, Norwich, CT.
Sources: Penny Aicardi/Thompson International Speedway PR