Waterford Speedbowl 6/30 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Results
Waterford, CT — The mid-season Speedbowl.com 300 was completed Saturday night at Waterford Speedbowl putting six divisions in action for a total of 300 laps of great feature racing. The special event provided the track’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions with extra-distance races including the annual 100-lap SK Modified® thriller. Tyler Chadwick of Ledyard was the night’s big winner, picking up the trophies in the SK 100 for his fourth win of the year. Jason Palmer of Berlin recorded his first win of the year in the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models while Walt Hovey Jr. of Chaplin took down his second Street Stock race of the season. Bill Leonard of Charlestown, RI scored his first Mini Stock division win and Matt of Nassau, NY won his eighth Legends Cars race of the year at the Speedbowl.
Qualifying for all the divisions was held via time trials, with new track records being set in three divisions. Keith Rocco set a new fast mark in the SK Modifieds®, posting a quick time of 14.058 seconds during qualifying. That was just .003 seconds quicker than the previous fast time, set by Kenny Horton in 2007 and matched by Ted Christopher in 2010. Rocco also broke the track record in the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model division posting a 15.146 second lap. Corey Hutchings bested the previous Street Stock division effort, using a 17.184 second lap to set the new record. Sean Caron was fastest in the Mini Stocks with a 17.456 second lap.
After a redraw, Tom Abele Jr. and Jeff Pearl led a strong 28-car to the green flag in the SK 100. The field had trouble getting underway as two caution periods on the initial green flag kept the open-wheel action under wraps.
When the race settled in, Abele took the lead as Kyle James, Doug Coby, Chadwick and Rob Janovic Jr. made up the early top-five. Todd Ceravolo’s car slowed drastically on the track on lap-19 drawing a caution flag to push his car from the racing surface mechanical woes. The restart was critical for Abele, as James was eventually able to power his way into the race lead to Abele’s outside by lap-24.
Chadwick moved to second while Jeff Rocco, Coby, and Keith Rocco became the new top-five following a lap-29 restart that saw Abele drop back in the outside lane. The next move among the leaders came on lap-40 when Keith Rocco snatched fourth away from Coby with a move to his inside. Ahead, James and Chadwick teamed up to stay out of the grips of the Rocco brothers who lined up third and fourth. Chadwick was beginning to turn up his pressure on James when caution was back out on lap-48 when Abele looped his car exiting turn two in a single car spin.
Chadwick challenged James on a lap-54 restart, making an outside bid with a strong restart. Chadwick led James out of turn two down the back chute to become the third and final race leader of the event on lap-55. Coby’s night ended on lap-56 when he suddenly lost pace of the leaders, triggering a jam behind him that had Adam Gada and Frank Mucciacciaro spinning in turn three. During the caution, point leader Jeff Pearl was on pit road for adjustments before resuming from the rear of the field.
James tried to regain his lead outside Chadwick on two additional restarts however Chadwick was able to keep a well handling car ahead on the bottom of the track. The two leaders continued to pace the field as positions behind changed hands. Keith Rocco, Jeff Rocco, Janovic and Craig Lutz were all in the mix with eyes on a podium finish.
Keith Rocco was looking for a late race rally, trying to muscle under James on lap-75 for second. James kept him at bay to hold the spot for the next several laps. Rocco again tried a power move underneath James into turn one on lap-84 with the two making contact. James went around to bring out the caution with Rocco being penalized to the rear for overaggressive driving. The restart saw Chadwick on the front row with Janovic and Lutz behind him, and Pearl and Abele battling back through the field after their mid-race hiccups to show back in the top-five.
Chadwick continued his strong run by picking up where he left off. Janovic was able to maintain Chadwick’s pace and even look for a way around by testing different grooves through the corners, however was unable to get a wheel on the leader. Janovic chased Chadwick through the checkered flag but it was Chadwick who would pick up the win, his fourth of the year. Janovic continued his hot streak with a second place finish. Lutz ran a strong race all night to turn some heads and place third, while Pearl maintained his points lead with fourth. Abele finished in fifth.
The special 50-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature belonged to Palmer. He bided his time in a battle for second position with Joe Curioso while early race leader Rich Staskowski raced ahead of the two by three car lengths. Palmer smoothly took second from Curioso to line up second to Staskowski following a brief lap-9 caution flag. Palmer stayed glued to Staskowski’s outside before easing into the lead using the top lane on lap-13.
Palmer mastered one final restart after a lap-20 caution period before the field rattled off the final 30 laps. During the final run Palmer stretched his lead to several car lengths ahead of Moltz, showcasing a superior car. The win was Palmer’s first of the year and saw him finish well ahead of the point leader Moltz. Ray Parent ran a strong race over the final green flag run to place third.
Hovey wound up in Victory Lane in the 50-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stock feature. Hovey was a benefactor of a tangle between leaders Josh Galvin and Corey Hutchings on lap-44. The two traded blows at the front of the field before Hutchings went spinning from the race lead after contact from Galvin, who was penalized to the rear of the field. Hovey led the final six laps while both Galvin and Hutchings stormed back into podium finishes to claim second and third after a wild conclusion to the race. The win was Hovey’s second of the 2012 season.
In the 50-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Mini Stock feature, Leonard took over command from Nick Pappacoda on lap-5 in what was an opening 29-lap green flag run. A multi-car incident collected several cars in turns three and four to draw the caution period. Leonard had to fight back Ray Christian on the restart and then sprinted to a lap-38 yellow flag, the race’s final delay. Back under green, Leonard kept Ian Brew to his outside in order to race to his first checkered flag of the year. Brew was able to keep points leader Ken Cassidy Jr. in his mirror to claim second ahead of Cassidy at the finish.
Barry wound up the victor in the 25-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Light Modified race. He was the benefactor of a wreck between race leaders Tyler Jackson and David Webb. They came together down the back chute following a lap-15 restart. Webb’s car came to rest atop Jackson’s against the turn three wall. Barry was third behind the incident, and inherited the lead for the next restart.
Barry had to earn victory however, as Larry Goss got the jump on the restart ahead of him. Barry had to fight back and battle the outside lane of the Speedbowl to ride to his triumph. He passed Goss for good on lap-19, then went unchallenged the rest of the way to win. Goss was second and Paul French finished third.
Pappa cruised to his eighth Speedbowl Legends Cars division win of the year, and third in the track’s Saturday series for the division. He took the lead on lap-2 with a three-wide maneuver to the inside of brothers Cory and Dana Dimatteo to wrestle the lead away. Pappa is the national point leader in the division’s Pro division class.
Waterford Speedbowl Saturday 6/30 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Results:
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds® (100-laps): 1. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 2. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 3. Craig Lutz, Miller Place, NY; 4. Jeff Pearl, Salem; 5. Tom Abele Jr., Norwich; 6. Joe Gada, Salem; 7. Nichole Morgillo, Wallingford; 8. Keith Rocco, Meriden; 9. Jeff Rocco, Wallingford; 10. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI; 11. Adam Gada, Bozrah; 12. Joe Perry, Ashaway, RI; 13. Ed Puleo, Branford; 14. Shawn Thibeault, Plainville; 15. Al Stone III, New Haven; 16. Wendell Dailey, Gales Ferry; 17. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill; 18. Richard Brooks, Groton; 19. Corey Coates, Ledyard; 20. Shawn Monahan, Waterford; 21. Doug Coby, Milford; 22. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., Milford; 23. Brett Gonyaw, Manchester; 24. Will Schneider, Northport, NY; 25. Todd Ceravolo, North Stonington; 26. Randy Churchill Jr., Oakdale; 27. Chris Correll, Quaker Hill; 28. Jeffrey Gallup, Feeding Hills, MA
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models (50-laps): 1. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 2. Dillon Moltz, Waterford; 3. Ray Parent, Tiverton, RI; 4. Keith Rocco, Meriden; 5. Rich Staskowski, Hope Valley, RI; 6. Brian Andronaco Jr., Wilton; 7. Joe Curioso, Pawcatuck; 8. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 9. Anthony Flannery, East Hampton; 10. Ed Gertsch Jr., East Haven; 11. Mike Sweeney Jr., Meriden; 12. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill; 13. Anthony Ryan Jr., Danbury; 14. Bruce Thomas Jr., Groton
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stocks (50-laps): 1. Walt Hovey, Chaplin; 2. Josh Galvin, Franklin; 3. Corey Hutchings, Salem; 4. Phil Evans, Uncasville; 5. Ted Dupre, Westbrook; 6. Mike Caprio Jr., New Haven; 7. Norm Root Jr., Old Saybrook; 8. Greg Moran Jr., Preston; 9. Dan Darnstaedt, Durham; 10. Bill McNeil, Preston; 11. Jim Bavolacco Sr., Stratford; 12. Kaitlyn Brice, Manchester; 13. Joe Arena, Bristol; 14. Chris Meyer, North Franklin; 15. Paul Gaedeke, Southington; DNS – Patrick Delaney, Fall River, MA
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Mini Stocks (50-laps): 1. Bill Leonard, Charlestown, RI; 2. Ian Brew, Wood River Junction, RI; 3. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 4. Ray Christian III, Norwich; 5. Garrett Denton, Hope Valley, RI; 6. Sean Caron, East Hampton; 7. Mark Panaroni, Ivoryton; 8. Jeffrey Cembruch, Wallingford; 9. Nick Pappacoda, Branford; 10. Joseph Fogarasi, Columbia; 11. Phil Evans, Uncasville; 12. Doug Curry, Groton; 13. Wayne Burroughs Jr., Oakdale; 14. Chris Garside, Waterford; 15. Joseph Liskiewicz, Taftville; 16. Dale Sherman, Charlestown, RI; 17. Jeffrey Lee, Uncasville; 18. Christopher Ivory, Oakdale; 19. Floyd Chesbro, Griswold; 20. Christina Kellerman, Stratford
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Light Modifieds (25-laps): 1. Corey Barry, Plainfield; 2. Larry Goss, North Windham; 3. Paul French, Andover; 4. Chris Ignazio, Colchester; 5. Cam McDermott, Scituate, RI; 6. Jason Ferreira, Lowell, MA; 7. Alan Benincaso, Westport; 8. Tyler Jackson, Milford; 9. David Webb, New Milford; 10. Corey Larson, Bolton; DNS – Chris Correll, Quaker Hill
INEX Legends Cars Saturday Series (25-laps): 1. Matt Pappa, Nassau, NY; 2. Dylan Izzo, Westport; 3. Paul Kusheba IV, Monroe; 4. Cory Dimatteo, Farmington; 5. Dana Dimatteo, Farmington; 6. Peter Cirilli, Farmington; 7. Kyle Hardwick, Chaplin; 8. Calvin Therrien, Vernon; 9. Joey Ternullo, Middletown; 10. Stephen Kopcik, Newtown; 11. Kyle Rogers, Waterbury; 12. Nicholas Sowa, Middletown; 13. Richard Erlandson, Moodus; 14. Arthur Marrero, Baltic; 15. Scott McNickle, Ledyard; 16. Christopher Kearney, Ellington; 17. John O’Sullivan, Salem
Sources: Waterford Speedbowl PR