Saturday 4/27 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Results
Waterford, CT — Ideal weather conditions blessed Waterford Speedbowl for another round of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing on Saturday. Fans were treated to a show that placed third-generation racer Joe Gada of Salem in the winner’s circle, claiming the night’s 35-lap SK Modified® main event in dominating fashion. Defending division champion Dillon Moltz of Waterford won the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model race, Josh Galvin of Franklin won a thrilling Street Stock feature and Ian Brew of Wood River Junction, RI took his first Mini Stock feature win of the year. Corey Coates of Ledyard won the visiting New England Truck Series feature. Dave Garbo Jr. of Stonington won the night’s INEX Legend Cars race.
Tyler Jackson led a full field of open-wheel ground pounders to green for their 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series feature. Jackson took the early lead over Jeffrey Gallup with Gada holding third. After settling in for the opening laps, Gada moved by Gallup’s inside for second on lap-4. Gada continued his forward progress and found room to Jackson’s inside in turn one the next lap and was scored as the new leader on lap-6. Craig Lutz followed suit and was in second. Jeff Rocco got loose to Jackson’s inside in turn one causing the field behind to stack up, resulting in Ed Puleo and Justin Gaydosh coming together to bring out the caution. Puleo was unable to resume.
Gada led the restart over Lutz, who settled into second. Only two laps more were completed before bumper tag headed into turn one again caused trouble, this time with Kyle James stranded in the infield to bring out the second caution flag on lap-8. Damage to James’ car was severe enough that he did not return.
Gada got the jump over Lutz again when racing went back to green. Jeff Rocco got past Lutz’s inside to take second and he and Gada moved out ahead of a three-car pack of Lutz, Diego Monahan and Ted Christopher. Christopher pulled out of line on lap-17 and tried to make a run on Monahan. Meanwhile Monahan was trying to find room to Lutz’s inside. That battle cooled down when caution came back out on lap-18 as Adam Gada was stalled on the track in distress. Rocco pulled off the track from second into the pits during the caution and did not return.
Gada got the better of Lutz for the third time in the race on the restart. Monahan and Christopher were able to keep Lutz in the outside lane, taking over second and third positions on lap-19. Gada hustled away from the combination of Monahan and Christopher with the race staying green. Lutz held fourth position while Keith Rocco made his way into the top-five past Tyler Chadwick. Rocco got by Lutz on lap-24 to take fourth as Christopher turned up his pressure on Monahan. Meanwhile Gada’s lead once again grew to a straightaway.
Christopher made a move on Monahan’s outside on lap-27 to get to second position however time was not on his side. Without any further caution flags Gada continued his romp to the checkered flag. The victory marked the first time a third generation driver has ever won in the SK Modified® division. Christopher finished second ahead of Monahan, who ended up third.
Dennis Gada, Joe’s father, is the only driver in track history to claim seven championships and is the all-time leader in SK Modified® division wins with 62. Joe’s grandfather Bob Gada was also a winner in the Modified division and a champion in support divisions. In total, the Gada family has won a total of 11 track championships and greater than 120 races at the famed shoreline oval.
After two competitors elected to give up their front row starting positions for the 30-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, Jeff Smith and Dillon Moltz lined up to begin the race side-by-side. The two raced the final 25-laps of their race a week ago separated by inches at most for the majority of the race. This week Moltz took command early over Smith, last week’s winner.
Moltz had to hold back Smith over five restarts during the event, doing so each time. Smith chased Moltz the entire time, holding back a run by Joe Curioso to take second. On lap-28, Curioso got tangled up with Jason Palmer dropping each from a top finish. Moltz went on to record the victory, the first of the season for the defending champion in the division. Keith Rocco finished third.
The Street Stock division treated fans to a fabulous finish that came down to the checkered flag in their 25-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series race. Joe Arena used the pole starting position to take a comfortable early lead. Phil Evans held down second but was under fire from Norm Root Jr. and Galvin among others. As Galvin had to work through traffic to emerge in second by lap-10, Arena’s margin over him was nearly a straightaway.
Two late caution periods in the final stages of the race tightened up the field. Following the final yellow flag on lap-20, Arena ran side-by-side with Galvin to his outside in a battle for the lead. The two swapped the lead three times over the stretch run with Galvin leading laps 21 and 22, with Arena rallying to grab the lead on laps 23 and 24. Third place runner Chris Meyer stayed with the lead duo during their tussle for the top spot and made it a three-way battle for the win on the final lap. With Galvin and Arena still neck and neck headed into turn three, Meyer found room to Arena’s inside as the trio rounded turn four. Meyer’s presence was broke Arena’s charge enough for Galvin to slip ahead in the outside lane for a half-car length win over both Arena and Meyer in an exciting three-wide to the checkered flag. Arena nipped Meyer for second.
Brew held off a hard charging Garrett Denton to deny him a second consecutive win in the Mini Stocks. Brew took the lead from Chris Ivory of Oakdale on the third lap of the 25-lap race then raced ahead of a three-car battle for second among defending division champion Ken Cassidy Jr. along with Ray Christian and Denton, both feature winners on the season already. Denton was able to come away with second position for good on lap-15. Denton tracked down Brew over the next 10 laps to make a run at the win on the final lap. Denton tried to get to Brew’s rear bumper exiting turn two, and was able to pressure Brew through turn four and find room to his inside. Brew was able to hold the challenge back and streaked to his first win of the season. Denton settled for second with Cassidy placing third.
The 20-lap Legend Cars feature was wild in the beginning. Cory Dimatteo led lap-1 after passing pole sitter Stephen Kopcik. Nick Ladyga and Dana Dimatteo each made their way by the front two to race into the top two spots on lap-2, however they made contact on lap-5. Ladyga spun up the track coming to rest in turn four to bring out the caution flag. Dana Dimatteo was sent to the rear, handing the lead back to his younger brother Cory. Cory Dimatteo led the restart however Garbo was already in the mix, leap-frogging past defending division champion Paul Kusheba and Dimatteo in one lap to take command on lap-7.
Once out front, Garbo had little trouble keeping challengers at bay. He survived two additional caution flags the rest of the way to claim his first win of the season at the Speedbowl. Garbo is the reigning division champion in its Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday series, however has been competing in Late Models in the south for 2013. Garbo’s cameo appearance Saturday landed him in the winner’s circle. Dylan Izzo finished in second and Ladyga stormed back to wind up third.
Corey Coates beat out defending series champion Duane Noll to win the visiting 25-lap New England Truck Series feature.
The Speedbowl is back in action three times during the coming week. The season debut of its Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday series and the return of Sho & Go Friday nights at the Speedbowl join next Saturday’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series event. The Speedbowl will operate three nights per week throughout summer.
Waterford Speedbowl Saturday 4/27 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Results:
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds® (35-laps): 1. Joe Gada, Salem; 2. Ted Christopher, Plainville; 3. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill; 4. Keith Rocco, Meriden; 5. Craig Lutz, Miller Place, NY; 6. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 7. Todd Ceravolo, Gales Ferry; 8. Tom Abele Jr., Norwich; 9. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 10. Nichole Morgillo, Wallingford; 11. Glenn Pressel III, Gales Ferry; 12. Brett Gonyaw, Manchester; 13. Jeffrey Gallup, Agawam, MA; 14. Justin Gaydosh, Newtown; 15. Brent Sweet, Monroe; 16. Wendell Dailey, Gales Ferry; 17. Tyler Jackson, Milford; 18. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI; 19. Jeff Rocco, Wallingford; 20. Adam Gada, Bozrah; 21. Ed Puleo, Branford; 22. Corey Coates, Ledyard; 23. Frank Mucciacciaro; DNS – Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models (30-laps): 1. Dillon Moltz, Waterford; 2. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 3. Keith Rocco, Meriden; 4. Allen Coates Sr., Ledyard; 5. Mike Sweeney Jr., Meriden; 6. Rich Staskowski, Hope Valley, RI; 7. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 8. Chris Garside, Waterford; 9. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill; 10. Joe Curioso, Pawcatuck; 11. Daniel Khilall, Jersey City, NJ; 12. Vin Esposito, Seymour; 13. Anthony Ryan Jr., Danbury
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stocks (25-laps): 1. Josh Galvin, Franklin; 2. Joe Arena, Bristol; 3. Chris Meyer, North Franklin; 4. Corey Hutchings, Salem; 5. Al Stone III, Durham; 6. Ryan Waterman, Danielson; 7. Phil Evans, Uncasville; 8. Norm Root Jr., Old Saybrook; 9. Monte Gibbs, Killingworth; 10. Dan Darnstaedt Jr., Durham; 11. Bill McNeil, Preston; 12. Don Spence Jr., Oakdale; 13. Mathew Burr, Waterford; 14. Allen Coates Sr., Ledyard; 15. Ray Downing Jr., Clinton
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Mini Stocks (25-laps): 1. Ian Brew, Wood River Junction, RI; 2. Garrett Denton, Hope Valley, RI; 3. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 4. Ray Christian III, Groton; 5. Wayne Burroughs Jr., Oakdale; 6. Bill Leonard, Charlestown, RI; 7. Chris Ivory, Oakdale; 8. Doug Curry, Groton; 9. Nick Pappacoda, North Branford; 10. Dale Sherman, Charlestown, RI; 11. Jeffrey Lee, Uncasville
Saturday Showdown INEX Legend Cars (20-laps): 1. Dave Garbo Jr., Stonington; 2. Dylan Izzo, Monroe; 3. Nick Ladyga, Voluntown; 4. Angelo Belsito, Auburn, MA; 5. Dana Dimatteo, Farmington; 6. Paul Kusheba IV, Monroe; 7. Cory Dimatteo, Farmington; 8. Kyle Rogers, Waterbury; 9. Jordan Churchill, Lisbon; 10. Calvin Therrien, Vernon; 11. Joe Ferrigno, East Hartford; 12. John O’Sullivan Jr., Salem; 13. Thomas Thompson, Lisbon; 14. David Lespinasse, Milford; 15. Joey Ternullo, Middletown; 16. Giovanni Giarratana, Newington; 17. Michael Blaskey, Bethany; 18. Kyle Hardwick, Vernon; 19. Michael Christopher Jr., Wolcott; 20. Stephen Kopcik, Newtown; 21. Timothy DePizzol, North Franklin
New England Truck Series (25-laps): 1. Corey Coates, Ledyard; 2 .Duane Noll, Monroe; 3. Tony Lafo, Higganum; 4. Tom Metcalfe, North Stonington; 5. Glen Noll, Naugatuck; 6. Brad Caddick, New London; 7. Pete Cayer, N/A
Sources: Brian Darling/Waterford Speedbowl PR