Preece Debuts with WMT Pole at Thompson; McDermott, Sundeen & Baxter Score Saturday World Series Victories; Lafayette & Lindeman Share Truck Series Honor; Cardile Lite Winner; Meservey Tops in Pro-Fours; Outlaw Victors Gentes, O’Sullivan & Fournier
Thompson, CT — A raining Friday could not dampen the spirits of fans and competitors on hand for Day #2 of the 38th Annual World Series of Speedway Racing presented by Sunoco. Following a full day of practice and qualifying, Saturday night included ten (10) feature events.
In Whelen Modified Tour Time Trials, Ryan Preece of Berlin, CT, made his debut in the Flamingo Racing #16 turning a lap at 18.634 seconds at a speed of 129.747 miles per hour to earn the Coors Light Pole Award. Doug Coby of Milford, CT, and Ted Christopher of Plainville, CT, rounded out the top three in qualifying. Championship contenders Ronnie Silk, Norwalk, CT, qualified eighth while Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, CT, will start Sunday’s event from the fourth position.
In Thompson regular weekly divisions it was Scott Sundeen scoring the victory in the Limited Sportsman division; Cam McDermott of Scituate, RI, in the TIS Modifieds; and Chad Baxter of Pascoag, RI, in the Mini Stocks. Scoring Outlaw division victories were Rick Gentes of Woonsocket, RI (Late Models), Mike O’Sullivan of Springfield, MA (Street Stocks) and Richard Fournier of Warwick, RI (Mini Stocks).
[Saturday Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto
[Sunday Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto
Frank Cardile of Bolton, CT, capitalized in the Sunoco Lite Main event to score the victory. Jason Lafayette of Somers, CT, opened up the World Series feature festivities with a victory in the N.E. Trucks Series on Saturday night. Andy Lindeman of Poestenkill, NY, led green-to-checker to win the companion Truck Series Shootout. Dan Meservey, Jr. of W. Chatham, MA, earned the victory in the Harry Kourafas Memorial event for the Pro-Four Modifieds.
Scott Sundeen of Douglas, MA, turned back all challengers in a caution-marred main event for the Limited Sportsman. Sundeen of Douglas, MA, had to unseat divisional champion Chris Douton to run in the top spot in the Limited Sportsman feature event. A wreck in turn two for Jason Galvin necessitated the caution on lap eight. On the restart, Sundeen had his hands full with Douton. A multi-car incident in turn three slowed the action once again. Another attempt at green was stalled by an incident on the front stretch. Under the caution, second-running Douton headed into the pit area for service. He was not able to rejoin the field. Sundeen was pitted against Jesse Gleason on the lap 11 restart.
Larry Barnett had come from deep in the field to run in third. Barnett and Gleason were locked in a heated battle for second. Barnett had the momentum to take over second. Sundeen enjoyed several car lengths over Barnett. Gleason ran in third ahead of a fast-approaching Puleo. Al Stone joined the fray; making it a three-car battle for third.
Over the final laps, Sundeen could not shake Barnett. Gleason, in turn, kept step with Barnett. After a late race caution, Stone headed to pit road with apparent mechanical problems. In the end, it was Sundeen taking down the victory. Barnett settled for second over Gleason. Puleo and Kevin Mason completed the top five.
Cam McDermott of Scituate, RI, capped off a championship season with a World Series victory. McDermott passed Jay Sundeen for the win; not on the track, but in tech to score the win. Youngster Ryan Morgan led the opening laps of the 20-lapper while second-running Jay Sundeen and 2011 division champion Cam McDermott battled for position. Sundeen was able to hold off the champ and then made tracks to the front. Sundeen was the new leader on lap three. McDermott followed through relegating Morgan to third. Glenn Boss was able to get by Morgan to run in third. Sundeen was able to stretch his advantage over McDermott. Boss reeled in McDermott but could do little by way of making a pass. Morgan headed to pit road.
Sundeen continued to stretch his advantage during the extended green flag run. He held a half-straight away advantage when he cruised under the checkers. In post race technical inspection, Sundeen’s car was found to be in violation of the rules and was disqualified from the event. McDermott was awarded the victory. Boss finished second. Payton Henry finished a distant third followed by Chad LaBastie and Danny Gamache, Jr.
Chad Baxter of Pascoag, RI, scored his second win of the season in the Mini Stocks. Louie Bellisle, III, took advantage of his front-row starting spot to lead the main event. Bellisle immediately ran out to a comfortable lead over Brent Gleason, Travis Jurcik, Mike Gorgievski and Eric Bourgeois. A potentially good run came to an end for Jurcik on lap two when his mount went up in smoke in turn four; bringing out the caution on lap two.
A pair of cautions set up a heated battle for the top spot between Bellisle, Gorgievski, Bourgeois, and C. Baxter. Bellisle held the point but with persistent pressure from Gorgievski. After some bumper tag, Gorgievski set his car to the outside of Bellisle. On lap seven, Gorgievski lost the handle on his mount exiting turn four; losing several positions. Free of Gorgievski, C. Baxter, who had passed Bourgeois, began his assault on the leader Bellisle.
C. Baxter got along side of Bellisle coming to the stripe on lap 16. He made the pass look easy taking the lead on the front stretch. A fully recovered Gorgievski had passed both Gleason and Bourgeois to run third. On the white flag lap, Bellisle made a last ditch effort to steal his lead back; to no avail. C. Baxter easily held back the advances to score the victory. Bellisle had to settle for second. Gorgievski, Bourgeois and Gleason completed the top-five.
The elder statesmen of the Sunoco Lite Modified division showed their prowess on Saturday night. Frank Cardile of Bolton, CT, edged out Earl Pelletier to score the World Series victory. Cardile held off serious advances from Zachary Asklar in the opening laps to gain the lead. Asklar was relentless in his pursuit. While the two went wheel-to-wheel for the top spot, Jay Goff was able to get in on the action.
On lap five, Asklar got the break he needed and motored into the lead. Goff came along for the ride relegating Cardile to third. Cardile immediately fell into the clutches of Dylan Kopec. Goff continued his march to the front taking over the top spot on lap seven. A determined Asklar came back on Goff.
The battle erupted when Goff and Asklar made contact exiting turn two. Goff made hard contact with the inside wall on the backstretch. Asklar was collected by Kyle Spencer. Both Asklar and Spencer were able to continue. Cardile was once again the leader on the restart. Cardile gained a five-car length advantage while Earl Pelletier and Kopec duked it out for second. Kopec watched his good night come to an end when his car dropped off the pace on the backstretch. Cardile stretched his advantage over Pelletier and now third running Dylan Liseo.
Over the final five laps Pelletier was able to run down Cardile. On the final lap, Pelletier was glued to the back bumper of Cardile. Liseo was also in striking distance. Pelletier got up the rear tire of Cardile as they exited turn four. But that was the extent of his advancement as Cardile took down the victory. Pelletier settled for second over Liseo. Asklar was able to come back to finish fourth. Tony Santangelo completed the top five.
A mid-race caution proved to be the catalyst that Dan Meservey, Jr., of W. Chatham, MA, needed to score the victory in the Harry Kourafas, Jr. Memorial for the Pro-Four Modifieds. Frank Perry jumped out to the early lead in the 20-lapper. In the opening laps, Perry was able to stretch his advantage. As the race approached halfway, Dan Meservey, Jr., Brian Vincent, and Norm Wrenn began to cut into that advantage.
The first yellow of the event flew at lap 10 after contact between Vincent and Wrenn sent Vincent spinning. Wrenn was placed at the rear of the field for his action. On the restart, Perry faltered allowing Meservey to take over the lead. A hard-charging David Richardi had worked his way into second. The lead duo quickly got away from the pack. A caution on lap 13 could not slow the duo down. Back under green, the two edged ahead again. Perry continued to run in third followed by Phil Lausier while earlier combatants Vincent and Wrenn battled for the fifth spot.
Over the final laps, Meservey had walked away from D. Richardi. Richardi enjoyed a sizeable advantage over a developing battle between Perry, Lausier, Wrenn, and Vincent. Meservey went unchallenged to the checkers. D. Richard came home second followed by Perry, Lausier, and Wrenn inside the top-five.
Jason Lafayette of Somers, CT, capitalized on a mistake by the early leader to take the lead and the victory in the N.E. Truck Series feature event. Nate Bubello jumped to the early lead while a three-car battle brewed for the second spot between Jason Lafayette, Andy Lindeman and Duane Noll. The three waged a heated battle for several laps; allowing Gee Perry to join the fray. A bobble by Bubello opened the flood gates. Lafayette grabbed the top spot bringing Lindeman, Knoll and Perry along for the ride. Lafayette withstood the pressure from Noll to grab the win. Noll settled for second followed by Lindeman, Perry, and Bubello.
Andy Lindeman took the top honors in the second Truck Series event that pitted the New England Truck Series regulars against the Long Island contingent out of Riverhead Raceway. In this companion Truck Series race it was familiar faces making a bid for the top spot. Lindeman held the top spot while Lafayette and Roger Turbush applied repeated pressure. A great battle was brewing for the third spot as well. Michael Power held the position with Bert Ouellette and Frank Dumicich, Jr., taking chase.
On lap 16, Powers had trouble, making hard contact with the outside wall in turn three to bring out the caution. On the single file restart, Lindeman rocketed out to the lead once again. Turbush was able to grab the second spot away from Lafayette. Ouellette headed to pit road with a problem with only a few laps to go. Turbush and Lafayette duked it out for second allowing Lindeman to gain some breathing room. Lindeman went on to take the victory over Turbush and Lafayette. Dumicich Sr. and Dumicich, Jr. rounded out the top-five.
Rick Gentes of Woonsocket, RI, continued his strong hold on the Outlaw Late Model division with his fourth win in the last five World Series events. Jerry DeGasparre, Jr. rocketed past Gentes after the initial start to take command of the Outlaw Late Model event. In pursuit of the top spot, Gentes was relentless in his pursuit of DeGasparre. The two ran nose-to-tail lap-after-lap. Damon Tinio had his hands full with Marc Curtis for the third spot. Jeramee Lillie was gaining ground as the two battled.
Contact between Tinio and Curtis sent Tinio’s #45 into the wall. Curtis was penalized for his involvement. Gentes had something for DeGasparre on the ensuing restart. Gentes put his #70 in the top on lap ten. Once out front, Gentes easily motored away from DeGasparre. Lillie began to make his presence known in third; catching the back bumper of DeGasparre.
Gentes ran away from the field to score his third-straight Outlaw Late Model victory. DeGasparre came home second over Lillie and Curtis. Thompson Sunoco Modified regular Danny Cates made a rare Late Model appearance to complete the top five.
A battle between brothers was the deciding factor in the Outlaw Street Stock event with Mike O’Sullivan of Springfield, MA, taking the victory. The opening lap of the Outlaw Street Stock main was full of excitement. The leader Andrew Durand was sliding in front of the pack. It was three wide for second and the # 8 of Ryan Bell went up in flames. When things settled down it was the Thompson Late Model champion Tommy O’Sullivan with the lead. Sean Foster dogged O’Sullivan from second. The lead duo continued to run nose to tail as Mike O’Sullivan, brother the leader and Super Late Model ace at Thompson, tried to real in the leaders as they entered lapped traffic.
A single-car incident found the caution flying on lap 12. When the green flew again T. O’ Sullivan held back Foster. M. O’Sullivan got a great run to steal second from Foster. A little brotherly love found some contact between the O’Sullivan Brothers. Big Brother Mike was the new leader while Tommy got shuffled back to third. Foster, now second, tried in vain to catch Mike. Mike O’Sullivan took home the win. Foster came home second. Tommy O’Sullivan had to settle for third. Ryan Lineman and Josh King completed the top five.
Richard Fournier of Warwick, RI, led only the final lap and only by a few inches to take the win in the Outlaw Minis. Waterford regular Phil Evans set sail at the head of the pack; quickly working his way out to a half straight-away advantage. Behind the leader, Chris Williams, Joe Kendall, Eric Bourgeois, and Richard Fournier ran together in a tight pack. Beth Adams caught the pack. Williams slid up the track coming off turn four on lap 11 to shake up the running order. Fournier meticulously picked his way through to move into second. Kendall had his hand full with Bourgeois for third. Adams pressured Williams.
Evans watched as his sizable lead dissipated once Fournier was free of the pack. On lap 17, he had erased the gap completely. On lap 18, Fournier was glued to the back bumper. On lap 19, he got alongside Evans. The duo went door-to-door on the backstretch.
The two made contact exiting turn four. The machines got locked together. With smoke pouring off the #12 the two cars slowed with the remainder of the pack bearing down. Fournier was awarded the win. Evans was scored second. Kendall had closed in third. Bourgeois and Williams completed the top five.
Qualifying was held earlier in the day for the International Super Modified Association (ISMA) and the North Eastern Midget Association (NEMA). Earning heat race victories for ISMA was Chris Perley of Rowley, MA, Jeff Locke of Raymond, NH, and Ben Seitz of Bourne, MA. In NEMA qualify it was John Zych, Jr., of Liverpool, NY, and Mike Horn of Ashland, MA, scoring victories.
The crown jewel of the Thompson Speedway schedule continues on Sunday with features for the NASCAR All-American Series Sunoco Modifieds, Late Models and Super Late Models. The NEMA championship will be decided with a 25-lapper. An ISMA Supermodified will be crowned following their 50-lapper. The Whelen Modified Tour will conclude the weekend of activities with a 150-lapper with the championship on the line. All the action gets underway at noon with pre-race festivities. For a complete schedule visit thompsonspeedway.com or call 860.923.2280.
N.E. Trucks Series Feature #1 Finish: 1. Jason Lafayette, Somers, CT; 2. Duane Noll, Monroe, CT; 3. Andy Lindeman, Poestenkill, NY; 4. Gee Perry, Granby, CT; 5. Nate Bubello, Holliston, MA; 6. Bert Ouellette, Dayville, CT; 7. Craig Cashman, Marlboro, NH; 8. Derek Chriss, Averill Park, NY.
Pro-Four Modifieds (Top Ten) Feature Finish: 1. Dan Meservey, Jr., W. Chatham, MA; 2. David Richardi, N. Easton, MA; 3. Frank Perry, Holbrook, MA; 4. Phil Lausier, Hudson, NH, 5. Norm Wrenn, Nashua, NH; 6. Brian Vincent, W. Warwick, RI; 7. Tyler Anderson, Nashua, NH; 8. Jim Darlington, Foxboro, MA; 9. Eric McGovern, N/A; 10. Mark Giordano, W. Haven, CT.
Mini Stock (Top Ten) Feature Finish: 1. Chad Baxter, Pascoag, RI; 2. Louie Bellisle, III, Versailles, CT; 3. Mike Gorgievski, Auburn, MA; 4. Eric Bourgeois, Moodus, CT; 5. Brent Gleason, Norwich, CT; 6. Joe Baxter, Pascoag, RI; 7. Alicia Thatcher, Pascoag, RI; 8. Mike Viens, Seekonk, MA; 9. Roger Ducharme, Foster, RI; 10. Tim Armstrong, Uxbridge, MA.
N.E. Trucks Series (Top Ten) Feature #2 Finish: 1. Andy Lindeman, Poestenkill, NY; 2. Roger Turbush, Riverhead, NY; 3. Jason Lafayette, Somers, CT; 4. Frank Dumicich, Sr., East Quogue, NY; 5. Frank Dumicich, Jr., East Quogue, NY; 6. Dave Koenig, Freeport, NY; 7. Nate Bubello, Holliston, MA; 8. Erin Dumicich, East Quogue, NY; 9. Keith Rotzi, Islip Terrace, NY; 10. Bert Ouellette, Dayville, CT.
TIS Modifieds Feature Finish: 1. Cam McDermott, Scituate, RI; 2. Glenn Boss, Danielson, CT; 3. Payton Henry, Willington, CT; 4. Chad LaBastie, Uxbridge, MA; 5. Danny Gamache, Jr., Manville, RI; 6. Ryan Morgan, Mystic, CT; 7. J.P. Lowinski-Loh, Jr., Milford, MA. DQ-Jay Sundeen, Douglas, MA.
Sunoco Lite Modifieds (Top Ten) Feature Finish: 1. Frank Cardille, Bolton, CT; 2. Earl Pelletier, 3. Dylan Liseo, E. Hartford, CT; .4. Jamie Asklar, Wallingford, CT; 5. Tony Santangelo, Middlefield, CT; 6. Victoria Bergenty, Plainville, CT; 7. Ronnie Williams, Tolland, CT; 8. Harry Wheeler, Stafford, CT; 9. Dylan Kopec, Palmer, MA; 10. Kyle Spencer, Montgomery, MA.
Limited Sportsman (Top Ten) Feature Finish: 1. Scott Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 2. Larry Barnett, Moosup, CT; 3. Jess Gleason, Lisbon, CT; 4. Ed Puleo, Branford, CT; 5. Kevin Mason, W. Warwick, RI; 6. Ray Downing, Jr., Clinton, CT; 7. Leo Adams, Putnam, CT; 8. Lloyd Anderson, Jr., Wauregan, CT; 9. Tom Shea, New London, CT; 10. Bill McNeil, Stonington, CT.
Outlaw Mini Stock (Top Ten) Feature Finish: 1. Richard Fournier, Warwick, RI; 2. Phil Evans, Uncasville, CT; 3. Joe Kendall, Winchendon, MA; 4. Eric Bourgeois, Moodus, CT; 5. Chris Williams, Waterford, CT; 6. Beth Adams, W. Swanzey, NH; 7. Roger Ducharme, Foster, RI; 8. Tim Smith, Hope Valley, RI; 9. J.T. Surprenant, Central Village, CT; 10. Neil Anderson, Pawtucket, RI.
Outlaw Late Model (Top Ten) Feature Finish: 1. Rick Gentes, Woonsocket, RI; 2. Jerry DeGasparre, Jr., Pawtucket, RI; 3. Jeramee Lillie, W. Warwick, RI; 4. Marc Curtis, Worcester, MA; 5. Danny Cates, Chaplin, CT; 6. Tyler Thompson, Somerset, MA; 7. Rob Visconti, Lindenhurst, NY; 8. Ryan Waterman, Danielson, CT; 9. Damon Tinio, Mendon, MA. DNS-Bill Ahern, Billerica, MA.
Outlaw Street Stock (Top Ten) Feature Finish: 1. Mike O’Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 2. Sean Foster, Ellington, CT; 3. Tommy O’Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 4. Ryan Lineman, Coventry, RI; 5. Josh King, Vernon, VT; 6. Kevin Gambacorta, Ellington, CT; 7. Andrew Durand, Chicopee, MA; 8. Michael Taschereau, W. Warwick, RI; 9. Andy Brooks, Jr., Winchendon, MA; 10. Jesse Hinze, Farmington, CT.
Sources: Dale Wolbrink/Thompson International Speedway PR