Garbo wins Legends Cars; Morin and Forte share Bandolero races; Ryan, Marvin and Hamel round out winners
Waterford, CT — Another Wild ‘n Wacky race program was completed Wednesday evening at Waterford Speedbowl highlighted by great racing. Dave Garbo Jr. of Stonington returned to the winner’s circle, continuing his red-hot winning streak in the Legends Cars. Scoring victories in twin Bandolero features on the night were Ken Morin Jr. of Old Saybrook and Rachel Forte of Douglas, MA. Ed Ryan of Preston was the Super X-Car winner, Michael Marvin of Colchester won the night’s X-Car feature and Kristie Hamel of Jewett City claimed the night’s Wacky Race.
The 20-lap Legends Cars race went caution-free for the first time all summer in a lightning-quick feature. Carl Blandina was the early leader ahead of Troy Talman and Joey Mucciacciaro. Mucciaccaro slipped by the inside of Talman on lap-3 to take over second position. Garbo was on the move from the drop of the green flag, coming from eighth starting position to challenge the inside of Talman for third position on lap-4.
Garbo darted by Talman then went to the outside Mucciacciaro on lap-5. He made the move stick to claim second, immediately tracking down Blandina still using in the outside groove. Garbo raced outside the leader on lap-6 and was scored as the third leader of the event as they crossed the stripe.
Once in the lead, Garbo raced out to a convincing lead. With Garbo showing the way, Mucciacciaro got around Blandina for second position as Blandina began to fade back through the top-five. Dana Dimatteo was advancing his way through the lead position, with he and Talman waging an intense battle for third position over the next few circuits. Dimatteo finally got by Talman’s inside on lap-12 after first trying the outside groove to no avail.
Over the final laps Dimatteo was able to catch Mucciacciaro in second, however was unable to put on a maneuver over the final lap. Ahead was Garbo all alone in the lead, taking the checkered flag. Mucciacciaro and Dimatteo finished in second and third while Angelo Belsito and Talman completed the top-five.
Morin was stout from the drop of the green flag in the first of two 20-lap Bandolero features on the night. Defending champion Taylor Martin started the race from the pole and led the opening four laps before she gave way to Morin who used the inside lane to take over. Nicholas Sowa took second from Martin a lap later however Martin battled back and the two swapped second position three times before Sowa ended up with the spot on lap-9.
Morin moved out to a five length lead, demonstrating his ride as one of the strongest cars in the field. Sowa and point leader Rachel Forte ultimately raced for second position over the middle of the race as Martin faded to fourth, while Daniel Stolte and Jordan Lamothe hooked up to run down the leaders and join the mix. Caution finally slowed the action for the only time of the race on lap-17 when Jordan Churchill spun in turn four.
Morin owned the restart, while Sowa was settled back into second with racing back underway. Stolte moved up to challenge Forte for third position, making the move under her on the white flag lap. While Morin eased to the checkered flag, Sowa and Stolte were next while Forte led a trio of cars across the stripe in a three-way battle for fourth. Lamothe took fifth.
In the second Bandolero feature, Jordan Churchill held the lead before being overtaken by Lamothe on lap-4. The first of four cautions waved on lap-5 for a spin in turn four. The restart set the stage for another lead change, with Sowa racing to the inside of Lamothe to take command. Morin was again in contention after the green flag returned challenging Lamothe for second. Forte and Joey Ternullo made it a five-car battle out front. That was interrupted by a six-car accident on lap-8 which involved nearly the entire second half of the field in turn two.
Following the clean up, Morin and Stolte ended up in the battle for second position behind Sowa as Lamothe was booted back from the spot. Forte was also looking strong taking a look outside Stolte for third by lap-15. He got away from Forte long enough to look inside Morin for second through turns three and four on lap-16, but those two got together and crossed up sending Stolte spinning out of third position and drawing the caution flag.
When racing went back to green, Morin and Forte teamed. up to drive around the outside of Sowa into the top two positions on lap-18. Forte gave a last lap effort to make a move on Morin, but fell short. The field crossed the stripe in order as Morin, Forte and Sowa, however after post-race inspection Forte was awarded the win. Ternullo, Lamothe, Dimatteo, and Stolte were scored as the top-five following the race.
Bill Reiman was out front in the 20-lap Super X-Car feature over the first half of the event. With Reiman in the lead a jam-packed battle for second raged behind him. Ken Downing, Dan Moon, Frank Alessio and a host of others all were in the early running for the spot. The top-five stayed tight through lap-9 when the first caution waved for Tylor DiFrancesca who had been leaking on the racing surface.
The restart brought Moon alongside Reiman for the restart. When the green flag was displayed, Moon got tangled up crossing down into third place runner Ken Downing. A fracas ensued behind with the caution remaining out over the field.
Ryan was now in contention after the dust settled, racing to Downing’s inside once the race successfully got back underway. He took that spot then was able to race to Reiman’s inside on lap-12 to take the race lead. From there, Ryan cruised to his second win of the season. Behind Ryan, Ken Cassidy Sr. and Mike Maskell swapped second position no less than three times over the final four circuits with Cassidy narrowly taking the spot at the finish. Mark Boisvert and Jon Porter completed the top-five.
Marvin was the first to break-free of the early traffic in the 20-lap X-Car race, carrying that momentum all the way to the winner’s circle for his first win of the year. Marvin was in third behind early leaders Melissa Clavette and David Amspacher. Marvin disposed of Amspacher on lap-3 then tracked down Clavette. He went around her outside on lap-4, going on to pull away over the pack that battled behind.
Caution waved for the first time for Javier Rivera as he lost a tire, stopping on the front chute on lap-12 to reset the field. Marvin was not phased after the green flag was back over the field, going on to the win, his first on the year. Scott Limekemann claimed second while Curt D’addario took third in an infrequent appearance. Brad Voglesong finished fourth after racing as high as second over the final laps. Shawn Stula finished fifth.
Hamel was a popular winner in the night’s Wacky Race, outlasting the field of competitors in a bout of Musical Cars. She beat out Chuck McDonald in the final round to the delight of the crowd.
For more information about Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday and the calendar of events, please visit www.speedbowl.com or contact track offices at 860.442.1585.
Waterford Speedbowl 8/10 Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday Unofficial Results and Standings:
Legends Cars (20-laps): 1. Dave Garbo Jr., Stonington; 2. Joey Mucciacciaro, Wolcott; 3. Dana Dimatteo, Farmington; 4. Angelo Belsito, Auburn, MA; 5. Troy Talman, Oxford, MA; 6. Carl Blandina, Milford; 7. Ed Field, Deep River; 8. Nicholas Lascuola, Brockton, MA; 9. Dennis Pantani, Branford; 10. Peter Cirilli, Farmington; 11. Arthur Marrero, Baltic; 12. Taylor Martin, Windham, NH; 13. Scott McNickle, Ledyard; 14. Nicholas Sowa, Middletown; 15. Christopher Kearney, Ellington; 16. Dylan Izzo, Westport; DNS – Dan Butler, Waterford
Bandoleros Race #1 (20-laps): 1. Ken Morin Jr., Old Saybrook; 2. Nicholas Sowa, Middletown; 3. Daniel Stolte, Northbridge, MA; 4. Rachel Forte, Douglas, MA; 5. Jordan Lamothe, Woodstock; 6. Cory Dimatteo, Farmington; 7. Taylor Martin, Windham, NH; 8. Joey Ternullo, Middletown; 9. Jacob Urch, West Suffield; 10. Jordan Churchill, Lisbon; 11. Alan Eastman, Fishers Island, NY; 12. Corey Comeroski, Lebanon; 13. Derek Debbis, Oakdale; 14. Jacob Perry, Pawcatuck; DNS – Rene Morgillo, Niantic
Bandoleros Race #2 (20-laps): 1. Forte; 2 Ternullo; 3. Lamothe; 4. Dimatteo; 5. Stolte; 6. Martin; 7. Comeroski; 8. Morgillo; 9. Perry; 10. Eastman; 11. Debbis; 12. Churchill; 13. Urch; DQ � Morin; DQ – Sowa
Super X-Cars (20-laps): 1. Ed Ryan, Preston; 2. Ken Cassidy Sr., Lisbon; 3. Mike Maskell, Quaker Hill; 4. Mark Boisvert, Uxbridge, MA; 5. Jon Porter, Canterbury; 6. Ken Downing III, Branford; 7. Robert Norman, Clinton; 8. Dan Moon, Exeter, RI; 9. Peter Pollard, Old Lyme; 10. Jim Boyle, East Windsor; 11. Bill Reiman, Southington; 12. Kevin Moon, Exeter, RI; 13. Frank Alessio, Colchester; 14. Tylor DiFrancesca, Lisbon; 15. Eric Finkbein, Columbia; DNS -Dan Butler, Waterford
X-Cars (20-laps): 1. Michael Marvin, Colchester; 2. Scott Limkemann, East Lyme; 3. Curt D’addario Sr., Columbia; 4. Brad Voglesong, Middletown; 5. Shawn Stula, Colchester; 6. John Bowes, Willington; 7. Jeremy Bourbeau, Taftville; 8. Christopher Ivory, Oakdale; 9. Pete Zaikarite, Niantic; 10. Mike Trask, Plainfield; 11. Scott Bellisle, Griswold; 12. Danny Gervais, East Hartford; 13. Christopher Garside, Waterford; 14. Wayne Shifflett, Preston; 15. Melissa Clavette, Bozrah; 16. Richard Mollo, Seymour; 17. Randy Johnston, Westerly, RI; 18. Robert Carlson, Rockfall; 19. David Lloyd, Mystic; 20. Josh Barrie, Voluntown; 21. Michele Cicio, Baltic; 22. Kim Bickford, Griswold; 23. Chuck McDonald, Groton; 24. Kristie Hamel, Jewett City; 25. Christopher Lee, Uncasville; 26. David Amspacher, Uncasville; 27. Javier Rivera, Willimantic; 28. Larry Loomis, Plainfield; DNS � Onie Pierce, Norwich
Wacky X-Car Musical Cars: 1. Kristie Hamel, Jewett City; 2. Chuck McDonald, Groton; 3. Robert Carlson, Rockfall; 4. Brad Voglesong, Middletown; 5. Kim Bickford, Griswold; 6. Scott Limkemann; 7. Richard Mollo, Seymour
Sources: Waterford Speedbowl PR