Speedbowl Late Model division ready to roll in 2012
Waterford, CT — With backing once again from The Valenti Family of Dealerships, the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model division is ready for another season of competition at the Waterford Speedbowl with as active an offseason for entries as in recent memory.
Three-time Speedbowl champion Keith Rocco nailed the win in the 50-lap season final for the division at Finale Weekend in October and looks to carry that momentum into 2012. Rocco hopes to run as often as possible in the Fearn #1 entry after putting in a lot of offseason work on the duo’s program. They’ll be ready at Budweiser Blastoff Weekend.
An owner-driver combination that began at Finale Weekend is teaming up in 2012 looking to build momentum. Waterford native Dillon Moltz will compete in his first Speedbowl season behind the wheel of the Mark Cooper #28. The entry will be one of few Toyota Camry bodied racecars in the northeast. Moltz, a Stafford Motor Speedway Late Model success, has competed on a limited basis at the ‘Bowl during special Late Model events and SK Modified® races and seeks his first victory at the track.
Moltz adds to a division that also brings Mystic’s Ryan Morgan to weekly competition in 2012. Morgan is a former Legends Cars competitor at the Speedbowl, picking up seven wins in the division. Morgan has also competed in the Thompson Modified division the past two seasons. Morgan joins former Legends standouts Jason Palmer and Anthony Flannery to make the move to the Speedbowl’s ACT legal Late Model division over the past two seasons.
A talented driver with numerous Speedbowl wins under his belt also eyes a ‘Bowl return. 2003 Street Stock division champion Ed Gertsch Jr. has filed entry in the Greg Butler #85. Gertsch is no stranger to Speedbowl victory lane picking up 26 wins in the Street Stocks. Gertsch has stayed active behind the wheel and in the pits with several Street Stock and Late Model teams at both the Speedbowl and Stafford Motor Speedway over recent seasons.
Yet another young newcomer to the division for 2012 is Anthony Ryan Jr. Ryan, a graduate of the Allison Legacy North Racing Series, anticipates a learning curve with the move to heavier and more powerful Late Models but is enthusiastic about the challenge. Ryan is no stranger to the ‘Bowl however, having taken competitive laps in several Allison Legacy events at the shoreline oval.
The new group joins division veterans such as defending champion Jeff Smith, three-time champion Bruce Thomas Jr., Rich Staskowski, Brian Andronaco Jr., Mike Sweeney, Joe Curioso and Rich Duranti. The Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model competitors begin their quest for the title at Budweiser Blastoff Weekend March 30 through April 1.
Sources: Waterford Speedbowl PR