Janovic Ends SK Modified® Draught, Snaps Rocco Win-Streak; Helliwell Wins 50-lap Late Model Feature; Stone, Cassidy and Richardi Also Victorious
Waterford, CT — Waterford Speedbowl successfully beat the weather forecasters and Mother Nature, getting a five-division program in against looming weather. In NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action, Rob Janovic Jr. of Waterford snapped a draught that dated back to August of 2009 to score his first win of the season in the SK Modified® division. In a special 50-lap Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature, Wayne Helliwell Jr. of Dover, NH took down the win. Al Stone of New Haven won his second consecutive and fifth Street Stock race of the year, while defending track champion Ken Cassidy Jr. won his sixth Mini Stock feature on the year. Rob Richardi Jr. of North Easton, MA won the night’s visiting Pro Four Modifieds of New England feature.
Janovic started the 35-lap SK Modified® feature in third position, quickly moving up to second position in the opening lap behind Nichole Morgillo. Janovic wasted no time in his pursuit of the lead, diving underneath Morgillo on lap-3 in turn one to successfully take over command. Further back, the field made contact down the back chute with Diego Monahan receiving suspension damage. As Monahan slowed, caution waved on lap-4 as Glenn Pressel spun from the top-five in turn two.
Janovic took off into the lead on the restart with Morgillo settling into second. Tyler Chadwick was up to third fending off Keith Rocco, in pursuit of a record sixth straight Modified victory at the track. Kyle James was also in the mix, racing in tight quarters underneath Rocco, who continued to try and work Chadwick for third. James held his groove, eventually dropping Rocco back to fifth position as the race stayed under the green flag.
Janovic stretched his lead to as much as a half straightaway ahead of a tight battle for second that saw Morgillo receiving pressure from Chadwick. James was on Chadwick’s bumper waiting for a chance to advance. Green flag racing prevailed through lap-20 when Harry Rheaume spun to bring out the yellow flag, resetting the field for a restart.
Janovic again pulled out ahead of Morgillo when racing was back underway. Morgillo was left to battle with Chadwick who filled the gap to her inside following the restart. Chadwick was able to get by, putting Morgillo back to third. James pressured the outside of Morgillo, moving past into third position when caution waved again for Rheaume on lap-24 for a spin on the front chute.
That proved to be the final restart Janovic needed to nail, which he did. He beat Chadwick to turn one, then held on for a lap as Chadwick tried to mount a challenge. He could not, eventually dropping in line behind the leader for the final green flag run. James was third looking strong. Morgillo held fourth ahead or Rocco, who turned up the heat over the final laps for the position. While Janovic went unchallenged to the win, Chadwick and James crossed the stripe in second and third position. Morgillo kept Rocco at bay to take fourth over him at the checkered flag.
The 50-lap Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature had trouble getting underway, as three early caution periods kept the action to a minimum over the opening three circuits. Two cautions were for minor spins involving Larry Goss, however the third yellow flag flew when contact among the top-five saw several competitors come together. The most serious of the contact involved Brian Andronaco, whose night ended in the turn four tire barrier. A host of other competitors went pit side for repairs including points leader Bruce Thomas Jr., Jeff Smith, Vin Esposito, Dennis Botticello and Rich Staskowski.
When racing settled in following the string of cautions, rookie Anthony Flannery was at the head of the pack. Flannery raced ahead of a charging Helliwell , who was on his bumper in second position by lap-4. They ran that way until lap-7 when another caution was displayed for a spin on the front chute. Helliwell went to work on the restart. He raced outside Flannery for a lap then traded the outside groove in search of room to the leader’s inside. Helliwell found the room in turn one, taking over for good on lap-11. The race ran caution free through lap-25 when Thomas, who had worked his way back up to fifth position after the early altercation, was spun as his car dropped off the pace dramatically.
Helliwell restarted like a well tested veteran over Flannery at lap-25, then through two additional brief caution periods on laps-33 and 35. Over the green flag racing during that span, Flannery was able to stay with Helliwell. Behind the leaders, Smith worked his way back up to the top-five, racing with Joe Curioso for third position a half straightaway back. Flannery was a half car behind Helliwell in a stretch of racing that nearly went through the checkered flag. The leaders had taken the white flag when behind them, Mike Sweeney spun and made contact with the turn four wall to halt the action and set up a green-white-checkered finish.
Helliwell again got away from Flannery on the restart, leaving him to contend with Curioso for second over the final sprint. Helliwell went on to the victory in his first start at the track this season by two lengths over Flannery, who held on over Curioso to claim second. Behind Curioso, Smith and Jeffrey Paul completed the top-five.
A great battle for the race lead early in the 25-lap Street Stock feature was underway over the opening seven laps between Steve Barrett and Chris Meyer. While Barrett raced the bottom of the track, Meyer was able to race to his outside to stay even with and edge ahead into the lead by the time the yellow flag waved on lap-7. Brandon Plemons got bounced out of fourth position, spinning in turn three for the caution.
Meyer was scored as the leader, restarting to Barrett’s inside on the front row. Stone was in third when racing resumed, quickly advancing past Barrett to second on lap-10. Caution was back out on lap-13 for a spin by Nate Appell between turns three and four.
Stone used the opportunity to line up outside Meyer to race into the lead on the restart. He slowly pulled ahead of Meyer and by lap-15, Meyer was desperately trying to hang on underneath Stone, to no avail. Stone survived a final caution on lap-21 when points leader Ed Puleo spun in turn two, however was not challenged on the final restart. He beat out Meyer, Barrett, Plemons and Mike Caprio to the checkered flag.
In the 25-lap Mini Stock feature, Ray Christian emerged as the race leader using his outside pole starting position. He opened up a several car length lead ahead of a battle for second that saw Jeff Mehlenbacher holding off Ian Brew and a hard-charging Cassidy. Behind that pack, points leader Glenn Colvin was also on the move. The great racing was interrupted by the yellow flag when Mehlenbacher spun in turns one and two on lap-9, scattering the field. Hard contact was made by rookie Garrett Denton with others getting collected.
The running order for the restart was Christian, but Cassidy and Colvin lined up behind the leader looking ready to mix things up. They did just that, with all three leaders making contact under green flag racing as they exited turn four to complete lap-11. Christian and Colvin became tangled together, eventually coming to rest in turn two with the caution flag waving.
After the jam session, the running order for the lap-11 restart was Cassidy followed by Jeff Cembruch, Brew and Phil Evans occupying the top-four positions. With the field back under green, Cassidy spent a lap fighting off Cembruch to his outside before resuming his lead at a comfortable advantage. Evans was on the move, using the outside lane to advance his way by Brew, then challenge Cembruch for second. Evans took the spot on lap-15 but stared ahead to a half straightaway advantage behind Cassidy. That was erased on lap-17 when caution waved for Charles Canfield, who failed to heed the black flag.
Cassidy had to contend with Evans on the final restart of the race. Evans hung with Cassidy for a few laps, but could not keep up the torrid pace of Cassidy. Cassidy went on to the win, closing the gap in the points with Colvin. Behind Cassidy, Cembruch took second at the finish with Brew third over Evans, who faded slightly as mechanical trouble set in over the final laps. Colvin rallied to finish fifth.
In the 25-lap Pro Four Modifieds of New England race, Tyler Anderson appeared to have the field covered. He led the bulk of the event and distanced himself from a great battle for second position between Andy Major, Rob Richardi Jr., and Phil Lausier. A late caution that set up a green-white-checkered finish proved as Anderson’s undoing. He faulted on the restart getting loose, allowing Richardi to scoot by. Richardi hung on over the final lap as Anderson tried to rally back before settling for second. Major finished third.
Next Saturday the Speedbowl is in action for the 4th annual Wings and Wheels open-wheel extravaganza, featuring the cars and stars of the ISMA Supermodifieds, the Valenti Modified Racing Series, NEMA Midgets and the Speedbowl’s very own NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds®. Pit gates open at 12:00pm, with practice getting underway and grandstands opening at 1:00pm. Qualifying on the evening begins at 5:00pm, with main events set to post at 7:00pm. The Speedbowl’s other NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions have the evening off from racing. More details are available by visiting Speedbowl.com.
Waterford Speedbowl 8/6 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series results:
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds® (35-laps): 1. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 2. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 3. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI; 4. Nichole Morgillo, Wallingford; 5. Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 6. Tom Abele Jr., Norwich; 7. Jeff Pearl, Salem; 8. Joe Perry, Ashaway, RI; 9. Glenn Pressel III, Gales Ferry; 10. Vinny Anglace, Beacon Falls; 11. Adam Gada, Bozrah; 12. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., Milford; 13. Randy Churchill Jr., Oakdale; 14. Harry Rheaume, Oakdale; 15. Paul Tommasino, Meriden; 16. Wendell Dailey, Gales Ferry; 17. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill; 18. Jeff Rocco, Wallingford
Standings after fifteen events: 1. Rocco, 669; 2. Pearl, 630; 3. Chadwick, 604; 4. Janovic, 601; 5. James, 598; 6. Abele, 562; 7. Morgillo, 510; 8. Pressel, 509; 9. Perry, 460; 10. Tucker Reynolds Jr., 392
NASCAR Whelen All-American Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models (50-laps): 1. Wayne Helliwell Jr., Dover, NH; 2. Anthony Flannery, East Hampton; 3. Joe Curioso, Pawcatuck; 4. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 5. Jeffrey Paul, Groton; 6. Vin Esposito, Seymour; 7. Ed Gertsch Jr., East Haven; 8. Larry Goss, North Windham; 9. Mark Cooper, Northford; 10. Mike Sweeney Jr., Meriden; 11. Dennis Botticello, Suffield; 12. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill; 13. Rich Staskowski, Hope Valley, RI; 14. Bruce Thomas Jr., Groton; 15. Brian Andronaco Jr., Wilton
Unofficial Standings after fourteen events: 1. Smith, 646; 2. Thomas, 642; 3. Staskowski, 605; 4. Curioso, 564; 5. Esposito, 554; 6. Flannery, 545; 7. Andronaco, 509; 8. Jason Palmer, 483; 9. Sweeney, 442; 10. Duranti, 366
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stocks (25-laps): 1. Al Stone III, New Haven; 2. Chris Meyer, North Franklin; 3. Steve Barrett, Preston; 4. Brandon Plemons, Uncasville; 5. Michael Caprio, New Haven; 6. Ed Puleo, Branford; 7. Josh Galvin, Franklin; 8. Nate Appell, Westbrook; 9. Ryan Morgan, Mystic; 10. Charles Beal, Ledyard; 11. Paul Gaedeke, Southington; 12. Kevin Burr, Waterford
Standings after fifteen events: 1. Puleo, 723; 2. Stone, 711; 3. Galvin, 658; 4. Meyer, 653; 5. Plemons, 600; 6. Barrett, 568; 7. Appell, 482; 8. Caprio, 447; 9. Beal, 432; 10. Norm Root Jr., 353
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Mini Stocks (25-laps): 1. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 2. Jeffrey Cembruch, Wallingford; 3. Ian Brew, Wood River Junction, RI; 4. Phil Evans, Uncasville; 5. Glenn Colvin, Clinton; 6. Chris Williams, Waterford; 7. Nick Pappacoda, Branford; 8. Christina Kellerman, Stratford; 9. Sean Caron, East Hampton; 10. Doug Curry, Groton; 11. Dale Sherman, Charlestown, RI; 12. Jeffrey Lee, Uncasville; 13. Daniel McGouran, Westerly, RI; 14. Charles Canfield, New Haven; 15. Jeff Mehlenbacher, Plainfield; 16. Garrett Denton, Hope Valley, RI; DQ � Ray Christian III, Groton
Standings after fifteen events: 1. Colvin, 686; 2. Cassidy, 650; 3. Williams, 611; 4. Cembruch, 587; 5. Evans, 575; 6. Brew, 560; 7. Christian, 518; 8. Canfield, 510; 9. Kellerman, 494; 10. Pappacoda, 467
Pro-4 Modifieds of New England (25-laps): 1. Rob Richardi Jr., North Easton, MA; 2. Tyler Anderson, Nashua, NH; 3. Andy Major, Brookfield, MA; 4. Dan Meservey, West Chatham, MA; 5. Phil Lausier, Hudson, NH; 6. Dick DuBois, East Brookfield, MA; 7. Stan Mertz, Whitinsville, MA; 8. Casey Ouelette, East Granby; 9. Mark Charette, Wolcott; 10. David Richardi, North Easton, MA; 11. Tim D’Amico, West Haven; 12. Derek Robbie, Bellington, MA; 13. Mark Giordano, West Haven
Sources: Waterford Speedbowl PR