Rocco returns to Victory Lane with SK Modified® win; Palmer picks up first career win; Stone, Colvin other NWAAS winners
Waterford, CT — Waterford Speedbowl was back in action Saturday night with a 6-division NASCAR Whelen All-American Series race program. In total, seven feature events were completed on the night including a pair of Street Stock features. Defending track and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champion Keith Rocco of Wallingford returned to Victory Lane, picking up the checkered flag in the night’s SK Modified® feature. Jason Palmer of Berlin picked up a career first win in the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model division. The two Street Stock feature races were swept by defending champion Al Stone III of New Haven. Glenn Colvin of Clinton won the Mini Stock race.
Other winners on the night included Paul Luggelle of Holbrook, MA and Dana Dimatteo of Farmington in their respective NEMA Lite and Legends Cars features.
Rocco led the SK Modified® field to the green flag in their 35-lap feature looking to end a string of finishes outside the top-five, including two 17th place finishes. Nichole Morgillo, Kyle James, Jeff Pearl and Tyler Chadwick raced to the top-five positions behind Rocco in the opening laps. James was the first to pull out of line, challenging Morgillo’s outside on lap-3. After three laps of pursuit, James moved into the position for good in turn three. Pearl followed suit and was in third when the field completed lap-7.
James quickly chased down the lead Rocco briefly gained over the field and looked ready to mount a challenge. Pearl ran alone in third while Rob Janovic Jr. and Chadwick made up the top-five as the race moved past halfway continuing under green flag conditions. The first caution finally slowed the torrid pace on lap-21 when Diego Monahan cut a left front tire and stopped on the track in turn three.
Rocco got a great jump over James on the restart. Pearl filled the gap to James’ inside and the pair spent five-laps battling for the spot before Pearl finally pulled ahead. Rocco was slowly able to stretch his advantage over Pearl as the race wore on.
The interruption on lap-21 proved to be the only one in a cleanly competed event. Rocco checked out to the win by several lengths over Pearl at the checkered flag. He wired the field for his fifth win on the year and cut into Pearl’s point lead. James held off Janovic to take third position with Chadwick finishing in fifth.
The 30-lap Bob Valenti Auto Mall race saw Palmer out front from the initial green flag. He led an early battle for second position between Joe Curioso and Vin Esposito. Esposito came out ahead while Anthony Flannery and Jeff Smith were racing tight for position behind the top three. Great racing was on display throughout the field, including a challenge by Esposito for the lead. He raced outside Palmer, edging his way into the lead on lap-9. Esposito held the top spot over the next several laps.
Following a caution flag on lap-17, two restart attempts were called back by track officials. Esposito was assessed a penalty for restarting improperly, turning the lead back over to Palmer. Ray Parent was running strong in his first Speedbowl appearance, racing as high as second position behind Palmer. Flannery moved to Parent’s inside to battle for the runner-up spot, eventually coming out on top after Parent made slight contact with the frontstretch wall on lap-23. The final caution flag was out on lap-24 when multiple cars came together in turn four.
Palmer was able to beat Flannery on the final restart, giving the former Legends Cars champion his first career win in the Late Model division. Flannery hung on to his car over the final laps to finish in second. Bruce Thomas Jr. rallied over the second half of the race to claim third, while Smith and Parent completed the top five finishers.
Brandon Plemons took the lead to start the first 25-lap Street Stock race, held over from the May 28 race program. He was in front of a tight battle over the opening laps that included last week’s winner Chris Meyer, Stone, Steve Barrett and others. They singled out in that order chasing Plemons. By lap-10 Stone had been testing the outside lane on Meyer for second, to no avail. Caution waved on lap-11 for cars stranded at opposite ends of the Speedbowl following two single car spins on the speedway.
Plemons resumed his lead over the pack with the green flag back in the air. A three-lap sprint saw Stone and Meyer go door-to-door for second position, with Ed Puleo and Corey Hutchings duplicating that battle for fourth. Caution waved on lap-14 when Barrett spun in turn four.
Stone challenged Plemons in the restart, powering ahead in the outside lane. Puleo followed suit using the top groove and the pressure was on Plemons for second. Meyer ducked low to make it a three-wide battle for the spot, with Meyer ultimately coming out ahead. He tracked down the three-length lead Stone opened up as the race moved to its final five circuits. Meyer tried multiple moves over those laps, including a final last ditch effort in turn one. Stone went on to the win, his second of the year, ahead of Meyer and Puleo in an entertaining feature.
In the nightcap event for the Street Stocks, Nate Appell was the early race leader before contact with Plemons sent both drivers to the rear of the field during caution on lap-6. Puleo and Stone were on the front row for the restart and put on a show for the Speedbowl fans for the remainder of the race. Meyer and Galvin inserted themselves into the mix as well in what turned out as a four car race for the win.
Following a string of caution flags over the middle of the race, Galvin was the first to break up the Puleo and Stone battle for the lead. After a lap-12 restart Puleo pushed high, opening the bottom lane for Galvin. Galvin was able to get by Stone and challenge the leader, however Puleo was able to fight him off. Several laps of a chess match on the race track were slowed by another caution on lap-17.
Puleo led over Galvin, who could not make the outside groove work enabling Stone and Meyer to charge back into the picture. Stone was back up to second position then raced his way inside Puleo, refusing to back down. Stone completed the move on lap-20 then went on to his second win of the night. Puleo, Meyer, Galvin and Plemons finished out the top-five at the checkered flag. By virtue of his pair of wins, Stone clawed back into a tie with Puleo in the championship point lead.
The 25-lap Mini Stock feature saw Garrett Denton storm out to a lead over the first half of the race under the green flag. Behind Denton, Jeff Cembruch occupied second position before Charles Canfield raced by his inside on lap-7. Once Canfield opened the door, Colvin also moved by Cembruch into third. Ken Cassidy was on the move, racing into the top five and eventually past Cembruch for fourth position on lap-10.
Canfield was able to charge ahead in the open track, catching Denton. He eased his way underneath the leader on lap-13, then pulled ahead as they completed lap-14 to be scored as the new leader. Colvin was right behind Canfield every step of the way. Cassidy joined the top two after he disposed of Denton on lap-16. Caution finally came out on lap-18 when Christina Kellerman and Dale Sherman spun in tandem between turns one and two.
Colvin took advantage of the ability to line up even on the outside Canfield. He raced outside the leader when racing resumed and was scored the race leader on lap-20. When caution waved again on lap-21, Colvin was able to restart from the inside lane. That was the difference over the final laps, as Colvin could not be deterred. Cassidy took second from Canfield on the restart but was unable to put a serious bid on Colvin, who got away for the win, his second on the year. Canfield got out of shape on the final lap, yielding his podium run in the process. Following Colvin and Cassidy across the stripe were Chris Williams, Denton and Ray Christian.
Luggelle picked up the win in the visiting 25-lap NEMA Lite Series race. He stormed through the field to track down early leader Lanson Fornoro, who had built up a sizeable lead. Fornoro was the victim of a tire going down over the middle portion of the race, which ran caution-free. Once in the lead, Luggelle cruised on to a half-track victory. A barn burner battle for second position was waged over the duration of the race, with Anthony Nocella besting Ryan Bigelow at the checkered flag.
Waterford Speedbowl 6/25 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series unofficial results:
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds® (35-laps): 1. Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 2. Jeff Pearl, Salem; 3. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI; 4. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 5. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 6. Tucker Reynolds Jr., Westbrook; 7. Tom Abele Jr., Norwich; 8. Glenn Pressel III, Gales Ferry; 9. Nichole Morgillo, Wallingford; 10. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., Milford; 11. Brent Sweet, Monroe; 12. Adam Gada, Bozrah; 13. Dennis Gada, Salem; 14. Ted Christopher, Plainville; 15. Wendell Dailey, Gales Ferry; 16. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill; 17. Randy Churchill Jr., Oakdale; DNS – Joe Perry, Ashaway, RI
Standings after ten events: 1. Pearl, 430; 2. Rocco, 407; 3. Janovic, 400; 4. Chadwick, 398; 5. Abele, 386; 6. James, 378; 7. Pressel, 353; 8. Morgillo, 334; 9. Reynolds, 326; 10. Perry, 308
NASCAR Whelen All-American Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models (30-laps): 1. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 2. Anthony Flannery, East Hampton; 3. Bruce Thomas Jr., Groton; 4. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 5. Ray Parent, Tiverton, RI; 6. Rich Staskowski, Hope Valley, RI; 7. Brian Andronaco Jr., Wilton; 8. Dennis Botticello, Suffield; 9. Joe Curioso, Pawcatuck; 10. Ernie Bertrand, Branford; 11. Mike Sweeney Jr., Meriden; 12. Ed Gertsch Jr., East Haven; 13. Vin Esposito, Seymour; 14. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill; 15. Robert Barcsansky Jr.; 16. Mark Cooper, Northford
Standings after nine events: 1. Thomas, 421; 2. Smith, 413; 3. Staskowski, 405; 4. Andronaco, 389; 5. Curioso, 364; 6. Esposito, 357; 7. Flannery, 355; 8. Palmer, 331; 9. Sweeney, 276; 10. Cooper, 254
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stocks Race #1 (25-laps held over from 5/28/11): 1. Al Stone III, New Haven; 2. Chris Meyer, North Franklin; 3. Ed Puleo, Branford; 4. Brandon Plemons, Uncasville; 5. Josh Galvin, Franklin; 6. Michael Caprio, New Haven; 7. Corey Hutchings, Salem; 8. Norm Root Jr., Old Saybrook; 9. Charles Beal, Ledyard; 10. Nate Appell, Westbrook; 11. Ed Gertsch Jr., East Haven; 12. Steve Barrett, Preston; 13. Jack Aquilina, Oakdale; 14. Paul Gaedeke, Southington; 15. Chris Kvaka, Stratford; 16. Scott Young, Willimantic; 17. Walt Hovey Jr., Chaplin; DNS – Ernie Larose, Moosup
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stocks Race #2 (25-laps): 1. Al Stone III, New Haven; 2. Ed Puleo, Branford; 3. Chris Meyer, North Franklin; 4. Josh Galvin, Franklin; 5. Brandon Plemons, Uncasville; 6. Steve Barrett, Preston; 7. Nate Appell, Westbrook; 8. Chris Kvaka, Stratford; 9. Paul Gaedeke, Southington; 10. Ed Gertsch Jr., East Haven; 11. Walt Hovey Jr., Chaplin; 12. Jack Aquilina, Oakdale; 13. Charles Beal, Ledyard; 14. Norm Root Jr., Old Saybrook; 15. Scott Young, Willimantic; 16. George Miller, Colchester; 17. Corey Hutchings, Salem; 18. Michael Caprio, New Haven
Standings after ten events: 1. (tie) Stone, Puleo, 481; 3. Meyer, 433; 4. Galvin, 432; 5. Plemons, 394; 6. Barrett, 384; 7. Root, 353; 8. Beal, 300; 9. Appell, 288; 10. Kvaka, 238
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Mini Stocks (25-laps): 1. Glenn Colvin, Clinton; 2. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 3. Chris Williams, Waterford; 4. Garrett Denton, Hope Valley, RI; 5. Ray Christian III, Preston; 6. Ian Brew, Wood River Junction, RI; 7. Christina Kellerman, Stratford; 8. Phil Evans, Uncasville; 9. Nick Pappacoda, North Branford; 10. Jeffrey Cembruch, Wallingford; 11. Ben Bargnesi, Norwich; 12. Daniel McGouran, Westerly, RI; 13. Jeff Mehlenbacher, Groton; 14. Charles Canfield, New Haven; 15. Sean Caron, East Hampton; 16. Joey DeGregorio, East Haven; 17. Dale Sherman, Charlestown, RI; 18. Jeffrey Lee, Uncasville
Standings after ten events: 1. Colvin, 460; 2. Cassidy, 413; 3. Brew, 404; 4. Williams, 389; 5. Evans, 389; 6. Christian, 378; 7. Cembruch, 377; 8. Canfield, 340; 9. Bill Leonard, 335; 10. Kellerman, 326
Legends Cars (20-laps): 1. Dana Dimatteo, Farmington; 2. Alessandro Vitelli, Woodbridge; 3. Dylan Izzo, Monroe; 4. Troy Talman, Oxford, MA; 5. Peter Cirilli, Farmington; 6. Joey Mucciacciaro, Wolcott; 7. Nicholas Sowa, 8. Angelo Belsito, Auburn, MA; 9. Dave Garbo Jr., Stonington; 10. Calvin Therrien, Vernon; 11. Taylor Martin, Windham, NH; 12. Kyle Rogers, Waterbury; 13. Joseph Parker, Weymouth, MA; 14. Zachary Latham, Meriden; 15. Richard Erlandson, Moodus; 16. Kyle Hardwick, Chaplin; 17. Ed Field, Deep River; 18. Giovanni Giarratana, Newington; DQ – Nick Ladyga, Voluntown; DNS – Paul Kusheba IV, Monroe
Standings after five events: 1. Dimatteo, 245; 2. Giarratana, 207; 3. Vitelli, 202; 4. Kusheba, 193; 5. Mucciacciaro, 166; 6. Field, 148; 7. Belsito, 146; 8. Martin, 144; 9. (tie) Talman, Izzo, 142
NEMA Lites (25-laps): 1. Paul Luggelle, Holbrook, MA; 2. Anthony Nocella, Woburn, MA; 3. Ryan Bigelow, East Hampton; 4. Brandon Igo, Wilbraham, MA; 5. Vince Jacobs, 6. Seth Carlson, Brimfield, MA; 7. Anthony Marvuglio, East Bridgewater, MA; 8. Andy Barrows, New Ipswich, NH; 9. David Moniz, Fairhaven, MA; 10. Carl Medeiros Jr., Westport, MA; 11. Jim SantaMaria, Burlington; 12. Lanson Fonoro, 13. Jack McKeon
Sources: Waterford Speedbowl PR