Waterford Speedbowl 7/14 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Results
Waterford, CT– 
Waterford Speedbowl returned to action Saturday evening with another round of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing after a week hiatus for the track’s summer break. The spotlight was on the track’s INEX Legend Cars division as it competed in a special 50-lap feature presented by Big Y World Class Markets. Matt Pappa of Nassau, NY was the big winner, scoring the INEX Legend Cars race victory by coming out on top of a final lap duel. Keith Rocco of Meriden scored two wins on the night in NASCAR action, scoring both the SK Modified® and Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model features. Josh Galvin of Franklin won the night’s Street Stock race and Mark Panaroni of Ivoryton picked up the victory in the Mini Stock feature. The Bandolero race was won by Ken Morin Jr. of Old Saybrook.
Rocco reached the front in a hurry in the night’s 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series feature. Rookie competitor Al Stone led the opening lap before giving way to Joe Perry. Rocco made moves early to place himself in the top-three runners by lap-4. Rocco first went by the inside of Joe Gada then Perry two laps later to race into the lead. The first caution slowed the race on lap-10 when division newcomer Eddie LeClerc spun in turn four. One lap later, LeClerc spun in the same spot to bring out the second caution flag.
Keith Rocco led twin brother Jeff Rocco to the restart into turn one. Kyle James raced underneath Jeff Rocco to take second position with Tyler Chadwick looking to join the top-three, finding room to Jeff Rocco’s inside. Rocco held off the charge and settled into third as Chadwick tucked in line fourth. Gada rounded out the top-five ahead of a battle for sixth that saw contact result in cars further back in the pack stacking up in turn three, sending Rich Brooks spinning for the third caution on lap-12.
James lined up to Keith Rocco’s outside for the restart, but the result was the same with Rocco’s lead back to a car length into turn one. Chadwick once again challenged Jeff Rocco and momentarily took over third position on lap-13, but Rocco stormed back to his inside on lap-14 to reclaim the spot. A lengthy run of green flag racing saw the field single out by halfway. Rob Janovic Jr. was making moves to race into the top-five, while points leader Jeff Pearl was at the back half of the top-ten trying to make progress.
Out front, Keith Rocco’s lead was over a half straightaway ahead of James. Jeff Rocco was on James’ bumper in third while Janovic glued himself to Chadwick’s bumper for fourth position. Caution finally returned back over the speedway on lap-31 when Brett Gonyaw spun off turn two, coming to rest just off the apron of the track in turn three.
The field had trouble on the restart as Gonyaw got crossed up exiting turn two with Jeff Gallup having nowhere to go, making contact with the backstretch wall for the final caution flag. The last restart saw Rocco jump back out ahead over James. Cars behind the leaders got crossed up, shuffling the order to put Jeff Rocco back in second position while Janovic moved up to third. James was able get in line fourth and they raced in that order to the checkered flag. Chadwick rounded out the top-five. Rocco’s win was his sixth of the year, but first since May 19. Janovic’s finish lifted him to the point lead in the championship standings over Pearl, who finished ninth.
Rocco was equally impressive in the 30-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model race. Ed Gertsch Jr. opened the race by taking the lead over defending champion Jeff Smith and Anthony Flannery. Flannery moved to Smith’s inside on lap-2 to take second position, leaving room for Rocco to follow suit and get to Smith’s inside on lap-3. Rocco got by Flannery to move to second on lap-5, just before the first caution flag waved on lap-6 when Duane Noll spun in turn two.
The restart saw Rocco line up to Gertsch’s outside. He spent one lap there before taking the lead as the field completed lap-7. Bruce Thomas Jr. found his way through the top-five to move in on Rocco’s bumper on lap-8. Rocco and Thomas moved out to a comfortable lead over the field with Thomas trying to chase down the leader. Behind them, Flannery occupied third position as the race moved past halfway.
Thomas stayed within striking distance of Rocco, but could not seriously challenge before he received a break on lap-23 when recent winner Jason Palmer spun out of turn four to bring out the second caution flag.
Rocco was strong on the restart and resumed his lead. Thomas had a final opportunity come his way in the final stages after Noll spun in turn two again as the leaders were racing to the white flag. The green-white-checkered restart saw Rocco pull ahead yet again to take his third win in the division of 2012. Thomas finished strong in second while Flannery pulled down third. Point leader Dillon Moltz was fourth and Gertsch finished in fifth.
The 25-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stock feature was controlled by Galvin once he made his way to the lead. Dan Darnstaedt and Joe Arena were at the front of the field to start the race before a quick caution on lap-2 when Greg Moran Jr. had mechanical failure under the hood of his machine. Galvin moved up to third position while Darnstaedt and Arena raced side-by-side for the lead for several laps after racing returned to the shoreline oval. Once Darnstaedt had Arena cleared for the lead, Galvin picked up his pursuit of Arena for second. He took that spot on lap-8 before a lap-10 caution flag was out for Paul Gaedeke and Dan Butler, who came together at the rear of the field and spun exiting turn four.
Galvin was able to race to Darnstaedt’s outside to take command following the restart. Galvin pulled out to a multiple length lead over a battle for second that broke out. Walt Hovey ended up getting around Darnstaedt on lap-16 for second. Chris Meyer used the same maneuver to get past Darnstaedt for third on lap-19. No further caution periods delayed Galvin from taking his second win of the year, and second in four weeks. Hovey, Meyer, Darnstaedt and Mike Caprio Jr. completed the top-five.
The 25-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Mini Stock feature had Wayne Burroughs Jr. taking the lead outside Christopher Ivory on lap-1. Garrett Denton looked to move to second outside of Ivory on lap-2 but contact saw Denton go wide exiting turn four. Several cars filled the hole to Denton’s inside and the field raced four wide down the front chute. The field settled back into three-wide racing by turn one, with everyone sorting out the mayhem to keep the race under green to the delight of fans. The first caution came out with four laps complete when Jeff Cembruch spun into turn one, getting tagged by Ray Christian sending others spinning to avoid. After pitting, both Christian and Cembruch would resume.
On the restart, Panaroni took the lead outside of Burrioughs. Once in the lead, Panaroni looked stout and would not be threatened. Ian Brew moved to second with division point leader Ken Cassidy Jr. racing up to third behind him. The second and final caution flag was displayed on lap-15 when Christian and Denton came together on the front stretch sending Denton into the infield grass to a stop.
The restart had Panaroni back into the lead ahead while Cassidy and Brew took up a battle for second. Cassidy made a move to Brew’s inside work to his advantage, able to take the spot and then give chase to Panaroni. Panaroni proved too much, as Cassidy could simply not track down the leader. Panaroni went on to the three car length win, his first of the year. Cassidy, Brew, and Bill Leonard finished second through fourth, while Cembruch rallied from his earlier incident to finish in fifth.
Pappa dueled with Dave Garbo Jr. for the bulk of the 50-lap INEX Legend Cars race. Garbo started on the pole however it was Nick Ladgya getting by his outside over the first half lap. Pappa started third, however got by Garbo and Ladyga both by the time they reached the flagstand to complete lap-1. Garbo eventually got by Ladgya for second and the field raced to lap-8 before Joey Mucciacciaro had something go away on his car, giving up fifth position and coming to a halt just off the track in turn four to draw the first yellow flag of the race.
Pappa was out front over Garbo on the restart. As the field behind was racing for position and continuing to sort out the running order, Dylan Izzo lost an oil line down the back chute on lap-11. Oil was put down on the racing surface causing Izzo to lose control and make hard contact into the turn three wall. Behind him several other cars piled in on the slick track, including Kyle Rogers, Calvin Therrien, Joey Ternullo and others. The red flag came out for the cleanup, which lasted several minutes.
Garbo had a run to Pappa’s outside when the green flag came back out. Garbo drove into turn three hard looking for the race lead, however encountered the site of the previous accident which allowed Pappa to get away back in front. Garbo got in line behind him ahead of Dana Dimatteo who was third ahead of Ladyga. Off turn four on lap-15 Ladyga got into the back of Dimatteo then into the outside wall. A shower of sparks trailed his car into turns one and two as he slowed to bring out the next caution flag which was the last of the race.
The final 35-lap run to the checkered flag saw Pappa and Garbo check out ahead of the others. They pulled out to a commanding advantage to set up a two-car shootout. Dimatteo ran by himself in third while point leader Paul Kusheba was in a borrowed ride holding down fourth. Giovanni Giarratana rounded out the top-five which raced in order for several laps.
Over the final five laps remaining Garbo appeared to have a better handling car. The leaders had some lapped traffic to navigate through and Garbo continued to chase Pappa as they worked through it. Pappa was slowing his corner exit protecting the low groove. Garbo applied pressure and got to Pappa’s inside in turn four headed to the white flag. The pair raced even under the flag stand for a final lap shootout. The two were door-to-door through turns one and two, but Pappa surged ahead off the corner down the back chute to hold back Garbo’s last lap charge. Garbo had to settle for second at the checkered flag after a valiant effort. Dimatteo, Kusheba and Giarratana finished in order behind the top two. With the win, Pappa earned a guaranteed starting spot in October’s Legend Cars Nationals event held at Atlanta Motor Speedway, representing the Speedbowl.
Waterford Speedbowl Saturday 7/14 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Results:
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds® (35-laps): 1. Keith Rocco, Meriden; 2. Jeff Rocco, Wallingford; 3. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 4. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI; 5. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 6. Joe Gada, Salem; 7. Tom Abele Jr., Norwich; 8. Ed Puleo, Branford; 9. Jeff Pearl, Salem; 10. Joe Perry, Ashaway, RI; 11. Adam Gada, Bozrah; 12. Glenn Pressel III, Gales Ferry; 13. Brett Gonyaw, Manchester; 14. Nichole Morgillo, Wallingford; 15. Al Stone III, Durham; 16. Wendell Dailey, Gales Ferry; 17. Brent Sweet, Monroe; 18. Eddie LeClerc, Taunton, MA; 19. Jeff Gallup, Feeding Hills, MA; 20. Craig Lutz, Miller Place, NY; 21. Rich Brooks, Groton; 22. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill; DNS – Shawn Monahan, Waterford; DQ – Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., Milford
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models (30-laps): 1. Keith Rocco, Meriden; 2. Bruce Thomas Jr., Groton; 3. Anthony Flannery, East Hampton; 4. Dillon Moltz, Waterford; 5. Ed Gertsch Jr., East Haven; 6. Rich Staskowski, Hope Valley, RI; 7. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 8. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 9. Duane Noll, Monroe; 10. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stocks (25-laps): 1. Josh Galvin, Franklin; 2. Walt Hovey, Chaplin; 3. Chris Meyer, North Franklin; 4. Dan Darnstaedt, Durham; 5. Mike Caprio Jr., New Haven; 6. Phil Evans, Uncasville; 7. Brandon Plemons, Uncasville; 8. Norm Root Jr., Old Saybrook; 9. Bill McNeil, Preston; 10. Tim Morse, Southbury; 11. Joe Arena, Bristol; 12. Ted Dupre, Westbrook; 13. Greg Moran Jr., Preston; DNS – Michael Ferguson, Old Lyme; DQ – Paul Gaedeke, Southington; DQ – Dan Butler, Waterford
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Mini Stocks (25-laps): 1. Mark Panaroni, Ivoryton; 2. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 3. Ian Brew, Wood River Junction, RI; 4. Bill Leonard, Charlestown, RI; 5. Jeff Cembruch, Wallingford; 6. Ray Christian III, Norwich; 7. Doug Curry, Groton; 8. Sean Caron, East Hampton; 9. Dale Sherman, Charlestown, RI; 10. Wayne Burroughs Jr., Oakdale; 11. Garrett Denton, Hope Valley, RI; 12. Chris Garside, Waterford; 13. Christopher Ivory, Oakdale; 14. Jeffrey Lee, Uncasville; 15. Floyd Chesbro, Griswold; 16. Joseph Fogarasi, Columbia
INEX Legends Cars Saturday Series Big Y National Qualifier (50-laps): 1. Matt Pappa, Nassau, NY; 2. Dave Garbo Jr., Stonington; 3. Dana Dimatteo, Farmington; 4. Paul Kusheba IV, Monroe; 5. Giovanni Giarratana, Newington; 6. Joey Ternullo, Middletown; 7. Stephen Kopcik, Newtown; 8. Calvin Therrien, Vernon; 9. Art Marrero, Baltic; 10. Alessandro Vitelli, Woodbridge; 11. Richard Erlandson, Moodus; 12. Nick Ladyga, Voluntown; 13. Nicholas Lascuola, Brockton, MA; 14. Kyle Rogers, Waterbury; 15. Dylan Izzo, Monroe; 16. George Whitney, Westbrook; 17. Nicholas Sowa, Middletown; 18. Joey Mucciacciaro, Wolcott; 19. Cory Dimatteo, Farmington
INEX Bandoleros (20-laps): 1. Ken Morin Jr., Old Saybrook; 2. Jacob Urch, West Suffield; 3. Corey Comeroski, Lebanon; 4. Jacob Perry, Pawcatuck; 5. Andrew Morin, Old Saybrook; 6. Derek Debbis, Oakdale
Sources: Waterford Speedbowl PR