Rocco doubles up in SK Mods and Late Models; Stone, Colvin, French win NWAAS features; Smith, Puleo, Colvin, French win track championships
Waterford, CT — Waterford Speedbowl closed out its 2011 racing season on Sunday, running the final six feature events as part of Finale Weekend. Scoring wins in 50-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series races were Keith Rocco of Wallingford who took down the win in both the SK Modified® feature and Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature, Al Stone of New Haven in the Street Stocks and Glenn Colvin of Clinton in the Mini Stocks. Paul French of Andover won the 25-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Light Modified feature and Dave Garbo Jr. of Stonington won the day’s 25-lap Legends Cars feature.
Claiming track championships from Sunday’s results included Colvin and French in the SK Light Modifieds and Mini Stocks, respectively. Colvin’s championship was his second in the division, joining his 2004 division title. Jeff Smith of Old Lyme was the Bob Valenti Auto Mall champion and Ed Puleo of Branford was the Street Stock division champion. Smith, Puleo and French clinched their first titles at the track.
The 50-lap SK Modified® was brought to the green flag by Frank Mucciacciaro and Glenn Pressel. The pair battled side-by-side for control of the race for the first lap and a half before Muccicciaro came away with the lead on lap-2, bringing Randy Churchill to second place by Pressel on lap-3. Shawn Solomito and Jeff Pearl also made their way by Pressel who slipped back in the outside lane. Tyler Chadwick raced to fifth position and Rocco up to sixth and the top-six singled out.
Rocco immediately went to work outside Chadwick, taking fifth place on lap-5. He then went outside Pearl a lap later, clearing fourth position and was outside Solomito for third on lap-7. Chadwick jumped to Pearl’s outside to claim fifth. Rocco was clear of Solomito and continued a march towards the front racing to Churchill’s outside on lap-8, moving to second. Caution waved on lap-10 when Todd Owen made hard contact in the turn one wall. Jeff Pearl also spun across turn two and the field regrouped.
Rocco lined up to Mucciacciaro’s outside for the restart, taking command when the race went back to green. Caution was back out on lap-14 when Pressel spun exiting turn two down the back chute. The running order following the caution period shuffled out as Rocco, Chadwick, Rob Janovic, Nichole Morgillo and Mark Bakaj making up the early top-five. Caution was back out over the speedway when both Joe Perry and Chris Correll spun in turn one on lap-18. When racing returned, only one more lap was completed before a multi-car incident on lap-19 stacked up several cars in the back half of the field in turn four.
Up front the order remained unchanged once racing picked up back up. Chadwick was testing the grooves to the high and low side of Rocco but did not pose an immediate threat. Kyle James then Solomito spun in tandem off turn two on lap-24 to keep the racing action from an extended run.
Chadwick was getting pressure from Janovic for second position when racing went back under the green flag. Ryan Preece was up to fifth position after starting deep in the field, spending four laps Morgillo’s tail before moving to her inside for fourth position on lap-29. Chadwick had finally fought off Janovic for second when caution was back out for a two car spin in turn two.
Rocco continued to set the pace over each restart. Chadwick ducked in line in second position following the lap-29 restart, with Preece looking to Janovic’s outside for third position momentarily. He couldn’t make a move stick and dropped back to Janovic’s rear bumper. The final caution waved on lap-34 when Perry spun again, this time on the back chute.
Rocco again got the jump over Chadwick to turn one. Janovic was again challenging to Chadwick’s inside after the restart while Preece moved into fourth place ahead of Morgillo. Pearl and Bakaj battled side-by-side for sixth. On lap-36 Chadwick had again wrestled his second place position from Janovic, while Preece was looking to Janovic’s outside on lap-37. There was nothing doing for Preece and the top-five stretched out single file. The race would finish without further delay and the top-five came across the finish line in order, while Pearl won the battle for sixth. The win was Rocco’s 13th of the year, a record for number of wins in the division in a season.
The 50-lap Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature had Anthony Flannery showing the way from his pole starting position. He opened up a sizeable lead over the first twenty laps of the race. Behind Flannery, Jason Palmer held second position and pulled out over a battle for third between Joe Curioso and Dennis Botticello. The pair swapped that position twice before Curioso moved past on lap-11. They ran in order through lap-22 when Beryl Herman spun in turn two to bring out the first caution period.
Under caution, championship contenders Jeff Smith and Bruce Thomas Jr. ducked to the pits for adjustments. Rocco joined them in the pits. Heartbreak for Flannery set in as, while running pace laps under caution, his car caught fire and came to rest in turn three, drawing the red flag. Flannery’s afternoon was finished after running strong early.
The restart had Palmer and Curioso on the front row, with Palmer leading the field back to turn one when things got back underway. The second caution waved when Joe Mullen and Dillon Moltz spun in turn two on lap-26, narrowly missing collecting Smith in the process.
Rocco made the heads up move following the ensuing restart. He moved to second when he made a three-wide move under a Curioso-Botticello battle for second position behind Palmer. Thomas used the hole made by Rocco to move to third place on lap-29. The final yellow flag was brought out on lap-32 when Moltz spun again in turn two.
Things heated up for the lead after the next restart. Rocco was to Palmer’s outside, however Palmer was able to hold his line to keep the lead. Rocco and Thomas both tested the water in the outside lane over the next few circuits, staying tight behind Palmer.
On lap-37 Rocco made the outside bid, moving off Palmer’s right rear through turns one and two. Thomas filled the gap on the inside below Rocco, then dove under Palmer exiting turn two down the backstretch. Thomas emerged with the lead in turn three and Rocco also got around Palmer to line up behind Thomas in second. They raced nose to tail until lap-43 when Rocco found room to Thomas’ inside down the front chute into turn one. Rocco completed the pass, going on to his first division win at the track. Thomas finished second while Palmer took third. Jeff Smith used a fourth place finish to sew up his first career track championship by 10-points over Thomas at the final tally.
The 50-lap Street Stock race saw Tommy Silva lead lap-1, however he turned the race lead over to Josh Galvin who raced his way by in the outside lane on lap-10. Stone was behind Galvin, racing by Silva’s outside to second place on lap-11. The lead changed hands again when Stone continued to use the outside lane to fast track his way by Galvin to take command.
Once in the lead, Stone had to master three restarts over the middle portion of the race. The final waved on lap-26. Stone beat out Corey Hutchings to turn one on the final restart to move back into the lead. Josh Wood found room under Hutchings to move into second position on lap-28. Behind them Brandon Plemons and Ed Puleo were locked in a battle for fourth, eventually taken by Plemons.
The final stretch of racing had Stone on cruise-control out front, Wood maintaining second, Hutchings lined up third with Plemons tracking down the pair from fourth. Puleo remained comfortably in fifth. Plemons slipped by Hutchings’ inside on lap-43, and the top five raced through to the checkered flag. The win was Stone’s eighth on the year, however Puleo’s fifth place finish enabled him to capture his first championship at the track by 12-points over Stone.
The 50-lapper for the Mini Stocks had Sean Caron showing the way before Nick Pappacoda took over from Caron on lap-16. Caron remained second, while Charles Canfield, Jeffrey Cembruch and Ken Cassidy Jr. made up the top-five. Caution waved for the first time on lap-20 when Christina Kellerman spun in turn one to slow some great racing.
Caron was able to battle his way back to lead the next three laps after the restart while outside Pappacoda. Pappacoda remained focused and retook the lead on lap-24 and Canfield, Cassidy and Colvin each slipped by Caron. Cassidy took second on lap-29 and two laps later raced by Pappacoda into the lead on lap-31.
Following a lap-40 restart, Cassidy led Pappacoda however Colvin and Mark Panaroni were asserting themselves into the mix. Pappacoda’s fine run ended on lap-46 when he spun from second position in turn two.
After a final restart on lap-47, Panaroni charged up the outside of Cassidy to take control. Panaroni led the sprint through the checkered flag, while Colvin was able to sneak ahead of Cassidy with two laps to go. That proved a pivotal move as Panaroni’s car failed to meet spec with an illegal header on his machine. That gave the win to Colvin, his third of the year. Canfield ended up in second, while Cassidy finished third. The win solidified Colvin’s lead in the points, lifting him to his second division title. Colvin also won the division in 2004.
The 25-lap SK Light Modified feature had Bubby Brouwer leading from the drop of the green flag from the pole starting position. French settled into second position with David Webb third. Victoria Bergenty battled Corey Larson for fourth over the opening laps. French had just begun to reel in Brouwer when caution waved for the first time on lap-9 when Greg Moran Sr. spun off the front chute.
Webb spun from third on the restart as the green flag was displayed to keep the caution out, and when the green was finally back out Brouwer had French glued to his outside. French was challenging in the outside groove, finally overtaking Brouwer on lap-11 down the back chute. Bergenty got to Brouwer’s inside to take over second on lap-14. Something was amiss on Brouwer’s car as he slowed in the outside lane allowing Chris Correll and Bob Charland also by. Caution waved when a three car wreck in turn four brought out the red flag on lap-15.
French survived a final caution on lap-15 when Correll, his challenger in the points title, cut a right front tire in turn four making contact with the wall. French raced to turn one ahead of Bergenty when racing resumed. From there, he cruised to his fourth win of the year to claim the division championship, his first at the track.
Troy Talman jumped out to the lead in the 25-lap Legends Cars feature, which kicked off Sunday’s action. Garbo moved up through the top-five into second position in the opening laps, racing ahead of a battle for third between Dylan Izzo and Paul Kusheba. Garbo made his move to the inside of Talman on lap-5 in turn three, coming out of turn four as the new race leader. The first caution waved before lap-7 was completed when pole sitter Kyle Hardwick spun exiting turn two, with division newcomer Kaz Grala making contact getting airborne down the backchute. His car settled back on all four wheels as the yellow flag waved.
Garbo was in control on the restart, racing to turn one in sole possession of the lead. Behind Garbo, a three-wide battle for third fourth position broke out between Talman, Izzo and Dennis Lambert who was slicing his way through the field. John O’Sullivan spun in turn four on lap-8 to return the race under caution.
Once the race resumed the field went through to the checkered flag. Garbo got the jump to turn one again, cruising to the win. Lambert got by Dana Dimatteo in the closing laps to finish second. Dimatteo, the division champion, was third. Kusheba and Izzo completed the top-five.
Waterford Speedbowl Saturday 10/9 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Results:
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds® (50-laps): 1. Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 2. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 3. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 4. Ryan Preece, Berlin; 5. Nichole Morgillo, Wallingford; 6. Jeff Pearl, Salem; 7. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill; 8. Mark Bakaj, Lebanon; 9. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., Milford; 10. Tom Abele Jr., Norwich; 11. Randy Churchill Jr., Oakdale; 12. Glenn Pressel III, Gales Ferry; 13. Joe Gada, Salem; 14. Joe Perry, Ashaway, RI; 15. Harry Rheaume, Uncasville; 16. Bob Charland, Stafford Springs; 17. James Larsen, East Hartland; 18. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill; 19. Wendell Dailey, Gales Ferry; 20. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI; 21. Adam Gada, Bozrah; 22. Shawn Solomito, Islip, NY; 23. Chris Correll, New London; 24. John Bergenty, Plainville; 25. Todd Owen, Somers; 26. Greg Moran Sr., Preston
Final Standings: 1. Rocco, 1043; 2. Pearl, 960; 3. Janovic, 957; 4. Chadwick, 915; 5. Abele, 851; 6. James, 834; 7. Pressel, 756; 8. Morgillo, 752; 9. Perry, 706; 10. Mucciacciaro, 560
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models (30-laps): 1. Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 2. Bruce Thomas Jr., Groton; 3. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 4. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 5. Dennis Botticello, Suffield; 6. Dillon Moltz, Waterford; 7. Joe Curioso, Pawcatuck; 8. Brian Andronaco Jr., Wilton; 9. Joe Mullen, Clinton; 10. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill; 11. Beryle Herman, Middletown, NY; 12. Anthony Flannery, East Hampton; 13. Ryan Morgan, Mystic
Final Standings: 1. Smith, 917; 2. Thomas, 907; 3. Rich Staskowski, 833; 4. Curioso, 794; 5. Flannery, 777; 6. Palmer, 729; 7. Andronaco Jr., 726; 8. Vin Esposito, 624; 9. Mike Sweeney, 570; 10. Duranti, 550
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stocks (25-laps): 1. Al Stone III, New Haven; 2. Josh Wood, Palmer, MA; 3. Brandon Plemons, Uncasville; 4. Corey Hutchings, Salem; 5. Ed Puleo, Branford; 6. Ted Dupre, Westbrook; 7. Ed Gertsch Jr., East Haven; 8. Chris Meyer, North Franklin; 9. Joe Arena, Bristol; 10. Michael Caprio, New Haven; 11. Bill McNeil, Niantic; 12. Norm Root Jr., Old Saybrook; 13. Walt Hovey Jr., Chaplin; 14. Katie Brice, Manchester; 15. Ken Woodward Jr., New Haven; 16. Jack Aquilina, Oakdale; 17. Greg Moran Jr., Preston; 18. Josh Galvin, Franklin; 19. Steve Barrett, Preston; 20. Thomas Stirk, West Haven; 21. John Blake, North Haven; 22. Mat Doyon, Preston; 23. Tommy Silva, Groton; 24. Charles Beal, Ledyard; 25. Nate Appell, Westbrook; 26. Eric Bourgeios, Moodus; DQ – Dave Trudeau, Mansfield
Final Standings: 1. Puleo, 1046; 2. Stone, 1034; 3. Meyer, 964; 4. Galvin, 938; 5. Plemons, 878; 6. Barrett, 780; 7. Caprio, 673; 8. Appell, 658; 9. Beal, 574; 10. Root, 451
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Mini Stocks (25-laps): 1. Glenn Colvin, Clinton; 2. Charles Canfield, New Haven; 3. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 4. Ray Christian III, Groton; 5. Sean Caron, East Hampton; 6. Phil Evans, Uncasville; 7. Jeff Mehlenbacher, Plainfield; 8. Nick Pappacoda, Branford; 9. Joey DeGregorio, East Haven; 10. Garrett Denton, Hope Valley, RI; 11. Christina Kellerman, Stratford; 12. Jeffrey Cembruch, Wallingford; 13. Dave Sylvia, Preston; 14. D.J. McGouran, Westerly, RI; 15. Doug Curry, Groton; 16. Ken Woodward Jr., New Haven; 17. Ryan Cipows, Seymour; 18. Chris Williams, Niantic; 19. Jeffrey Lee, Uncasville; 20. Ian Brew, Wood River Junction, RI; 21. London Minta, Clinton; DQ – Mark Panaroni, Ivoryton
Final Standings: 1. Colvin, 1015; 2. Cassidy, 966; 3. Evans, 884; 4. Williams, 878; 5. Brew, 810; 6. Cembruch, 807; 7. Christian, 757; 8. Canfield, 729; 9. Pappacoda, 722; 10. Kellerman, 688
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Light Modifieds (25-laps): 1. Paul French, Andover; 2. Victoria Bergenty, Plainville; 3. Bob Charland, Stafford Springs; 4. Bubby Brouwer, Waterford; 5. Paul Tommasino, Meriden; 6. Chris Ignazio, Colchester; 7. Greg Moran Sr., Preston; 8. Corey Larson, Bolton; 9. Chris Correll, New London; 10. Rich Schlegel, Griswold; 11. Jeff Parker, Waterford; 12. Steve Skenyon, South Windsor; DQ – David Webb, New Milford; DQ – Zach Aszklar, Wallingford
Final Standings: 1. French, 344; 2. Correll, 307; 3. (tie) Moran, Larson, 262; 5. Brouwer, 244; 6. Ignazio, 216; 7. Webb, 211; 8. Alan Benincaso, 182; 9. (tie) Bo Gunning, Bergenty, 162
Legends Cars (20-laps): 1. Dave Garbo Jr., Stonington; 2. Dennis Lambert, ; 3. Dana Dimatteo, Farmington; 4. Paul Kusheba IV, Monroe; 5. Dylan Izzo, Monroe; 6. Troy Talman, Oxford, MA; 7. Joe Mucciacciaro, Wolcott; 8. Nicholas Lascuola, Brockton, MA; 9. Cory Dimatteo, Farmington; 10. Dennis Pantani, Branford; 11. Kyle Rogers, Waterbury; 12. Ed Field, Deep River; 13. Taylor Martin, Windham, NH; 14. David Johnson, Arlingham, MA; 15. Arthur Marrero, Baltic; 16. Daniel Stolte, Northbridge, MA; 17. Richard Erlandson, Moodus; 18. John O’Sullivan, Salem; 19. Kyle Hardwick, Chaplin; 20. Jordan Churchill, Lisbon; 21. Kaz Grala, Westboro, MA; DNS – Joseph Parker, Weymouth, MA
Final Saturday Standings: 1. DiMatteo, 557; 2. Kusheba, 486; 3. Garbo, 438; 4. Talman, 414; 5. Izzo, 386; 6. Mucciacciaro, 384; 7. Rogers, 336; 8. Field, 332; 9. Alessandro Vitelli, 320; 10. (tie) Angelo Belsito, Hardwick, 286
Sources: Waterford Speedbowl PR