Garbo takes third straight in Legends action; Morin, Johnston, Alessio and Moon others to notch victories
Waterford, CT — Ideal summer weather was overhead as the Speedbowl returned with another round of Wild ‘n Wacky racing on Wednesday evening, treating the crowd to great racing action. Dave Garbo Jr. of Stonington continued his scorching summer in Legends Cars action with his third consecutive win. Ken Morin Jr. was back in the winner’s circle for a second consecutive week in the Bandoleros, while it was Frank Alessio of Colchester winning in the Super X-Cars for the third time on the season. Randy Johnston of Westerly, RI checkered his second X-Car feature of the year, and Dan Moon of Exeter, RI won the night’s Wacky race.
Garbo came out on top of yet another 20-lap Legends Cars feature Wednesday. While he started outside the top-five, two early cautions in the first three laps gave Garbo opportunity to advance his position. He had already raced his way into the lead outside Carl Blandina before the next caution waved for Blandina and Ed Field who tangled on the back chute on lap-3, with both veterans giving up positions in the top-three.
The restart pitted Garbo against Joe Mucciacciaro, with Garbo powering back into the race lead. First-time Speedbowl visitor Dennis Lambert of North Carolina, in a team car to Garbo’s, raced into second position by lap-5. Those two pulled out to a several car length lead by the time caution waved again on lap-12 for newcomer Christopher Kearney who spun at the tail of the field in turn two, just ahead of the leaders.
Garbo and Lambert teamed up again following the restart, going on unchallenged to the top two podium finishes. The win was Garbo’s third in a row and sixth in the past seven events. Lambert took down second in his first appearance while point leader Dana Dimatteo was third. Troy Talman and Angelo Belsito completed the top-five, continuing solid seasons for both.
The 20-lap Bandolero feature was an exciting one with many intense battles throughout the race for the future stars of racing. Jacob Urch rocketed out to the early race lead, running away from the competition over the first half of the race.
While Urch was out front the field behind was very competitive. Joey Ternullo executed a three-wide maneuver from the outside lane to take third place from both Taylor Martin and Andrew Molleur. Cory Dimatteo, Jordan Churchill, points leader Rachel Forte, Nicholas Sowa and Morin joined Martin and Molleur were all locked in a very entertaining battle for position behind the top three. Two, three and four wide battles were taking place around the speedway as the pack raced in close quarters. Caution finally slowed the action on lap-11 when Alan Eastman spun in turn two.
Sowa, Morin and Forte had been able to make their way through the pack to be in contention for the restart, joining the top three of Urch, Jordan Lamothe and Ternullo. Morin was the biggest benefactor of the caution, using the opportunity with the field bunched up ahead to race his way through to the lead on lap-12. From there, Morin pulled out to a lead he would not give up the rest of the way. Sowa finished second, while Urch took third completing a solid effort. Forte and Ternullo finished fourth and fifth.
The Super X-Car feature had Kevin Moon out front in the opening circuits before he gave way to Alessio, who made an inside move on lap-4 to take command. Alessio, rebounding from consecutive weeks of wrecks, was unmatched over the remainder of the 20-lap race.
The only caution flag came out on lap-6 when Dan Moon and R.J. Cunningham got together in turn four. Alessio wasn’t challenged on the restart attempt, the only of the race. Ken Cassidy Sr. raced to second place, coming out on top of a three-wide battle for the position. Bill Reiman was holding Jon Porter off for third, while Peter Pollard stormed through the field to come into contention for the spot as well.
While Alessio cruised to his third win on the Wednesday season, Cassidy held off a hard charging Porter for second. Reiman hung on to fourth position ahead of Pollard at the checkered flag.
In X-Car action to conclude the night, Randy Johnston bolted to the lead after a lap-1 restart aligned him in second for the restart. He moved by Onie Pierce then built up a straightaway cushion over the next several laps in a race that went uninterrupted from green to checkered flags.
While Johnston was in the clear out front, Pete Zaikarite looked impressive in climbing to second position. Curt D’addario was the next to battle through the traffic and rise to third position. Both Zaikarite and D’addario looked ready to contend with Johnston for the win, however the caution flag needed to erase the leader’s advantage would not come.
Johnston took down the win, his second on the year. He closed within 3 marks of the championship points lead. Zaikarite completed his best run in weeks to take second, with D’addario taking down third. Shawn Stula held off Chris Garside over the closing laps to finish in fourth, with Garside taking fifth.
Dan Moon won another Wacky Flagpole race, his second on the season.
Waterford Speedbowl 8/17 Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday Results and Standings:
Legends Cars (20-laps): 1. Dave Garbo Jr., Stonington; 2. Dennis Lambert, Indian Trail, NC; 3. Dana Dimatteo, Farmington; 4. Troy Talman, Oxford, MA; 5. Angelo Belsito, Auburn, MA; 6. Joey Mucciacciaro, Wolcott; 7. Nicholas Lascuola, Brockton, MA; 8. Carl Blandina, Milford; 9. Dennis Pantani, Branford; 10. Peter Cirilli, Farmington; 11. Nicholas Sowa, Middletown; 12. Max Zachem, Preston; 13. Arthur Marrero, Baltic; 14. Taylor Martin, Windham, NH; 15. Richard White, North Stonington; 16. Scott McNickle; 17. Christopher Kearney, Ellington; 18. Matthew Pappa, Nassau, NY; 19. Michael Blaskey, Bethany; 20. Ed Field, Deep River
Bandoleros (20-laps): 1. Ken Morin Jr., Old Saybrook; 2. Nicholas Sowa, Middletown; 3. Jacob Urch, West Suffield; 4. Rachel Forte, Douglas, MA; 5. Joey Ternullo, Middletown; 6. Jordan Lamothe, Woodstock; 7. Cory Dimatteo, Farmington; 8. Jordan Churchill, Lisbon; 9. Andrew Molleur, Shelton; 10. Alan Eastman, Fishers Island, NY; 11. Taylor Martin, Windham, NH; 12. Corey Comeroski, Lebanon; 13. Jacob Perry, Pawcatuck; 14. Rene Morgillo, Niantic
Super X-Cars (20-laps): 1. Frank Alessio, Colchester; 2. Ken Cassidy Sr., Lisbon; 3. Jon Porter, Canterbury; 4. Bill Reiman, Southington; 5. Peter Pollard, Old Lyme; 6. Jim Boyle, East Windsor; 7. Mike Maskell, Quaker Hill; 8. Ed Ryan, Preston; 9. Kevin Moon, Exeter, RI; 10. Ken Downing III, Branford; 11. Robert Norman, Clinton; 12. Dan Moon, Exeter, RI; 13. R.J. Cunningham, Durham; 14. Mark Boisvert, Uxbridge, MA; 15. Dan Butler, Waterford; 16. Bo Norman, Clinton
X-Cars (20-laps): 1. Randy Johnston, Westerly, RI; 2. Pete Zaikarite, Niantic; 3. Curt D’addario Sr., Columbia; 4. Shawn Stula, Colchester; 5. Chris Garside, Waterford; 6. Jeremy Bourbeau, Taftville; 7. Brad Voglesong; 8. John Bowes, Willington; 9. Michael Marvin, Colchester; 10. Wayne Shifflett, Preston; 11. Onie Pierce, Norwich; 12. Scott Bellisle, Griswold; 13. Mike Trask, Plainfield; 14. Melissa Clavette, Bozrah; 15. Christopher Lee, Uncasville; 16. Javier Rivera, Willimantic; 17. Richard Mollo, Seymour; 18. Danny Gervais, East Hartford; 19. Robert Carlson, Rockfall; 20. David Lloyd, Mystic; 21. Josh Barrie, Voluntown; 22. Larry Loomis, Plainfield; 23. Kristie Hamel, Jewett City; 24. Kim Bickford, Griswold; 25. Christopher Ivory, Oakdale; 26. Scott Limkemann, East Lyme
Wacky Super X-Car Flagpole Race: 1. Dan Moon, Exeter, RI; 2. Peter Pollard, Old Lyme; 3. Bill Reiman, Southington; 4. Kristie Hamel, Jewett City;
Sources: Waterford Speedbowl PR