Waterford Speedbowl 6/16 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Results
Waterford, CT — Ideal weather conditions finally blessed Waterford Speedbowl and the track put on a briskly paced and hotly contested night of motorsports on Whelen Engineering Night at the speedway Saturday. Scoring NASCAR Whelen All-American Series victories on the night included Tyler Chadwick of Ledyard, winning his third SK Modified® race of the year and Dillon Moltz of Waterford who took down his second consecutive victory in the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model race. Other winners included Ken Cassidy Jr. of Lisbon who picked up another win in the Mini Stocks and Josh Galvin of Franklin who took down his first checkered flag of the year in the Street Stock division. Vin Esposito of Seymour won the New England Truck Series feature.
Diego Monahan led a healthy field of ground pounders to the green flag in the 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified® feature. The inside lane was the place to be in the opening laps as several competitors used that groove to make their way into the top five. Jeff Gallup picked up on Monahan's rear bumper in second place but with just three laps complete Jason Ferreira spun out of turn four, collecting Larry Goss to draw the event's first caution flag.
Monahan was quick to resume his lead over Gallup once back underway. Gallup was receiving pressure from Tom Abele Jr. who found room to take over second on lap-7. Keith Rocco was making early moves up into the top three, following Abele by Gallup using the outside to take third position.
The action was fast and furious as Monahan set a strong pace out front. Abele was trying to track the leader down but had company in the name of Rocco, who glued himself to Abele's rear bumper by lap-12. Behind the top three the action was intense among a tight pack of cars making up the remainder of the top-ten. Gallup was among them, but he drew the second caution flag when he got crossed up at the front of that pack in turn four with 13 laps complete.
Monahan had Abele to his outside for the restart while Rocco and Chadwick lined up in row two. Only one more lap was completed back under green before Adam Gada spun at the back of the field for the next caution on lap-14. The outside lane inched ahead during the lone green flag lap, showing Abele scored as the race leader for the next restart. Monahan was forced to line up second, with Chadwick now in third and Rocco to his outside in fourth.
Abele and Chadwick pulled out into the top spots when the green resumed as Monahan couldn't make his machine work in the high line. Rob Janovic Jr. snatched third away from Monahan while Rocco eventually got in line behind Janovic, taking fourth position and keeping Monahan trapped up high.
Out front, Abele's lead was growing ahead of a battle that was brewing for second as Janovic draped Chadwick's rear bumper over the next several laps. Rocco stayed in the mix from the fourth spot, eventually sailing outside Janovic on lap-26. That move stuck and Rocco had Janovic cleared for third position. Just as Rocco was winding up to challenge Chadwick for second, caution came out for the final time on lap-28 when William Schneider slid across the track out of turn two, bringing Nichole Morgillo and Al Stone to a halt to avoid contact. The restart pulled the field back to Abele, putting Chadwick to his outside.
With the green flag in the air, Abele was unable to shake Chadwick loose from his side. Chadwick stayed on the top of the track and worked his way into the race lead. He eventually took full command and held the preferred line to pull out to some breathing room over Abele. That was short lived however, as Janovic used the outside to first fight past Rocco for third, then around Abele into second. With just three laps remaining, Janovic set his sights on Chadwick. Jeff Pearl was making some late race noise, also finding the top of the track to his liking to progress into third on lap-33 after getting around both Rocco and Abele.
Janovic got to Chadwick's rear bumper on the final lap, stalking the leader for the final circuit to the checkered flag. Janovic couldn't find a groove to make a serious bid and placed second for the second consecutive week while Chadwick marched to his third win of the year. Pearl finished in third while Kyle James wrestled fourth away from Abele at the finish. Chadwick's win lifted him into the point lead ahead of Pearl by just two points.
Anthony Flannery took the lead on lap-1 to show the way in the 30-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature. Flannery held down the top spot ahead of Moltz and Rocco in the opening half of the race which went caution free. The top three appeared content to feel out their cars in the early going before Vin Esposito brought out the first yellow flag when he spun between turns three and four on lap-15.
Flannery resumed his lead on the restart. Moltz was back in second but defending champion Jeff Smith tangled with Jason Palmer in turn three on lap-17 to return the race to caution. Both drove away after contact with the wall and pitted for repairs.
The next restart was a different outcome then the first, as Moltz was able to stay to Flannery's outside. He spent three laps there before finally taking the lead on lap-20 by surging ahead of Flannery. With Moltz showing the way caution was back on lap-21 for Mike Sweeney Jr. who spun out of turn four.
Moltz was in control on the ensuing restart, plus two additional restarts over the next two laps as the Late Models had trouble staying clean. Moltz beat both Flannery and Rocco on successive restarts to drive ahead and lead the final seven laps to claim his second consecutive win and fourth overall on the year to pad his lead in the points hunt. Moltz is in his first year competing at the Speedbowl regularly. Rocco took second while Flannery finished in third.
Greg Moran Jr. showed the way in the 25-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stock race until he was the cause of the first yellow flag on lap-7 when his car began smoking and dropping fluid on the track. He retired from the race under caution, handing the lead over to Michael Caprio.
Caprio battled with Galvin momentarily before getting away into the lead and out to a comfortable lead. Galvin settled into second position, staring ahead to a five length lead Caprio had built up. During a long green flag run Galvin began to slowly reel the leader back into his grips.
Chris Meyer and Norm Root were battling for third position, eventually won out by Meyer. Corey Hutchings fought his way through the field to emerge in fourth position. By the time Meyer was up to third, Caprio and Galvin were well ahead however.
Galvin found room inside of Caprio on lap-18, pulling even and eventually ahead into the race lead for good on lap-19. With no further cautions, all Meyer and Hutchings could do was set chase on the lead two and hope for the best. Their time ran out and Galvin had picked up his first win of the season. Caprio held on to take home second position while Meyer finished third.
Cassidy's route to Victory Lane in the 25-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Mini Stock feature was not an easy one. Doug Curry led lap-1 but youngster Garrett Denton was on the move in the early going, rising through the top-five into second position behind Curry on lap-6. The caution flag came out for the first time on lap-7 when Sean Caron took a slide through the turn three grass and came to rest just off the apron of the track in turn four.
The restart enabled Denton to motor out ahead of Curry for the lead. Jeff Cembruch was another on the move advancing to second position. Cassidy entered the top-five on lap-10, then clawed his way up to fourth by lap-14. The top four ran single file while the rest of the field jockeyed for track position in a tight pack behind.
Denton's three car-length lead was slowly being chipped away by Cembruch and not far behind, Cassidy was into third past Curry and closing in on the lead pair. The lead trio tightened up and by lap-16 it became a three car race for the win. Just as Cassidy was sizing up for a way around Cembruch, Dale Sherman spun in turn four and collected Chris Garside to return the race under the caution flag on lap-19.
The final restart saw Denton pull out ahead of Cembruch, who was left to battle Cassidy for second. The top three cars remained in close company of eachother as Denton could not muster any breathing room over second and third. Cassidy fought to Cembruch's inside, eventually taking second and looking for a way past Denton. The handles began to go away on Denton's car, leaving Cassidy the daylight he needed to find an inch underneath the leader. On lap-23, Cassidy pulled even and into the race lead, going on the victory. It was his ninth in ten division races this year, and sixth consecutive, a record for the division.
French led every lap in the 25-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Light Modified feature but had to avoid a wreck on the initial green flag. The incident sent several competitors out of shape, knocking both Tyler Jackson and Shayne Prucker out of the race. Once the field got started, they ran caution free to the checkered flag.
French built up a large lead ahead of Jason Ferreira and Corey Barry. Barry had the better car, eventually taking over second from Ferreira after pressing hard for the spot. Once Barry was clear of Ferreira he began to slice into French's lead under the long green flag run. The question became if Barry would have enough time or not, however in the final five laps Barry slipped out of turn two while trying valiantly to tack down French. He gathered his car up, but enabled French get away to the checkered flag unfettered. Barry finished second with Chris Correll third.
In the visiting New England Truck Series, a pair of Speedbowl veterans battled for the victory. Esposito led the duration of the 25-lap feature but was chased the entire way by Duane Noll. Both have previous Late Model division experience at the 'Bowl. Two cautions for minor spins slowed Esposito's pace. It was his first win in the Truck Series.
Next Saturday June 23, the Speedbowl hosts the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour for the Mr. Rooter 161. Anticipation continues to build around the special Richie Evans tribute race. Pit Gates open for NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour teams only at 10:30am. Grandstand gates open for Mr. Rooter 161 practice, which begins at 1:30pm. The pit gates open for the weekly NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions at 2:45pm ahead of their practice, which begins at 3:30pm. Time Trials to set the starting lineup for the Mr. Rooter 161 take the green flag at 5:00pm. Main events begin at 6:30pm beginning with the SK Modified® race. The Mr. Rooter 161 expected post time is 8:30pm.
Waterford Speedbowl Saturday 6/16 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Results:
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds® (35-laps): 1. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 2. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 3. Jeff Pearl, Salem; 4. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI; 5. Tom Abele Jr., Norwich; 6. Keith Rocco, Meriden; 7. Jeff Rocco, Wallingford; 8. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill; 9. Joe Gada, Salem; 10. Ed Puleo, Branford; 11. Joe Perry, Ashaway, RI; 12. Nichole Morgillo, Wallingford; 13. Al Stone III, New Haven; 14. Jeff Gallup, Agawam, MA; 15. William Schneider, Northport, NY; 16. Wendell Dailey, Gales Ferry; 17. Brent Sweet, Monroe; 18. Tyler Jackson, Milford; 19. Adam Gada, Bozrah; 20. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., Milford; 21. Brett Gonyaw, Manchester; 22. Craig Lutz, Miller Place, NY; 23. Alan Benincaso, Westport; 24. Jason Ferreira, Lowell, MA; 25. Larry Goss, North Windham; 26. Paul French, Andover; 27. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models (30-laps): 1. Dillon Moltz, Waterford; 2. Keith Rocco, Meriden; 3. Anthony Flannery, East Hampton; 4. Bruce Thomas Jr., Groton; 5. Rich Staskowski, Hope Valley, RI; 6. Vin Esposito, Seymour; 7. Ed Gertsch Jr., East Haven; 8. Mike Sweeney Jr., Meriden; 9. Derryck Anderson Jr., Warwick, RI; 10. Anthony Ryan Jr., Danbury; 11. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 12. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 13. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stocks (25-laps): 1. Josh Galvin, Franklin; 2. Mike Caprio Jr., New Haven' 3. Chris Meyer, North Franklin; 4. Corey Hutchings, Salem; 5. Bill McNeil, Preston; 6. Dan Darnstaedt, Durham; 7. Norm Root Jr., Old Saybrook; 8. Scott Young, Willimantic; 9. Ted Dupre, Westbrook; 10. Joe Arena, Bristol; 11. Paul Gaedeke, Southington; 12. Kaitlyn Brice, Manchester; 13. Ritt Shawn, Westerly, RI; 14. Walt Hovey Jr., Chaplin; 15. Greg Moran Jr., Preston; DNS – Phil Evans, Uncasville
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Mini Stocks (25-laps): 1. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 2. Jeff Cembruch, Wallingford; 3. Garrett Denton, Hope Valley, RI; 4. Michael Fogarasi, Columbia; 5. Sean Caron, East Hampton; 6. Ray Christian III, Preston; 7. Mark Panaroni, Ivoryton; 8. Wayne Burroughs Jr., Oakdale; 9. Nick Pappacoda, North Branford; 10. Doug Curry, Groton; 11. Charles Canfield, New Haven; 12. Bill Leonard, Charlestown, RI; 13. Ian Brew, Wood River Junction, RI; 14. Christopher Ivory, Oakdale; 15. Jeffrey Lee, Uncasville; 16. Floyd Chesbro, Griswold; 17. Chris Garside, Waterford; 18. Dale Sherman, Charlestown, RI; DNS � Joseph Liskiewicz, Taftville
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Light Modifieds (25-laps): 1. Paul French, Andover; 2. Corey Barry, Plainfield; 3. Chris Correll, Quaker Hill; 4. Jason Ferreira, Lowell, MA; 5. Larry Goss, North Windham; 6. Alan Benincaso, Westport; 7. Rob Gallaer, Sherman; 8. Frank Scimeca, Bay Shore, NY; 9. Chris Ignazio, Colchester; 10. Tyler Jackson, Milford; 11. Shayne Prucker, Stafford Springs; DNS – Corey Larson, Bolton
New England Truck Series (25-laps): 1. Vinny Esposito, Seymour; 2. Duane Noll, Monroe; 3. Corey Coates, Ledyard; 4. Jason Lafayette, Somers; 5. Tom Metcalf, North Stonington; 6. Bert Ouellette, Dayville; 7. Nate Bubello, Holliston, MA; 8. Daniel McGouran, Westerly, RI; 9. Glen Noll, Naugatuck; 10. John Brand, Long Beach, NY; 11. Mike Ledoux
Sources: Waterford Speedbowl PR