Saturday 6/1 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Results
Waterford, CT — Beautiful weather greeted race fans coming out for a night of auto racing Saturday at Waterford Speedbowl, which hosted its annual Four Cylinder Fury event. The Rocco brothers shared honors in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action, as Jeff Rocco of Wallingford stole top honors in the SK Modifieds® while brother Keith Rocco of Meriden took the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature. Ken Cassidy Jr. of Lisbon picked up his second consecutive Mini Stock feature race, doing so in an extra-distance race while Toby Wells of Dublin, NH ran away with the Northeast Mini Stock Tour feature. Brad Voglesong of Middletown won the evening’s X-Car event and Andy Major of Brookfield, MA checkered the visiting 25-lap Pro Four Modified race.
Jeff Rocco wired the field in the 35-lap SK Modified® feature. He took the lead at the initial green flag from his pole starting position and led an opening 27-lap march before the first caution flag of the event. The race almost began on a sour note when Tom Abele Jr. got bounced into the turn one wall from his second starting position creating a tense moment on the start. When the field settled in behind Rocco, Nichole Morgillo and Justin Gaydosh secured second and third positions.
Rocco quickly jumped out to a three car advantage while behind the top three a battle for the top-five positions was on. Several contenders tried to work their way through including Craig Lutz, Tyler Chadwick, Diego Monahan, Ed Puleo and Joe Gada. As that pack diced for position Rocco was comfortable at the point with Morgillo giving chase. Gaydosh was several car lengths back in third.
As the race reached halfway the top three remained the same while Puleo continued to hold fourth staving off the challenges of Monahan. Gada was making progress on the outside to rise into a position to contend for the top-five. The fine action came to a halt on lap-27 when John Montesanto spun in turn four in a single car incident.
Rocco powered out to the lead ahead of Morgillo on the restart, who fought her way back into second over Gaydosh. As Rocco pulled away out front, Monahan finally prevailed in his pursuit of Puleo to take fourth bringing Chadwick with him to fifth. Gada’s fine run ended when he went spinning in turn three to draw the second caution flag with just two laps remaining. Under caution, Ted Christopher pitted to address overheating concerns on his machine to give up a position among the top-ten.
The first attempt at a green-white-checkered finish went haywire as the field came around turns three and four trying to complete lap-34. Gaydosh came together with Morgillo sending her machine spinning out of turn four. With the outside lane blocked several cars piled in including Puleo, Lutz, Keith Rocco, and Adam Gada. Morgillo, Puleo and Gada all had to be towed from the scene and were done for the night while Gaydosh pitted and did not return.
The new front row had Rocco and Monahan at the front. Rocco was able to get away from Monahan by the time they exited turn two to go on to the victory in a race he was virtually unchallenged in throughout. Todd Ceravolo scored second at the finish and Monahan wound up third. Jeff Gallup and Kyle James completed the top-five
The Mini Stocks went double their normal distance, competing in a 50-lap feature. Cassidy bided his time, working his way through the top-five positions over the course of the race. He used a restart, the third of the race, with five laps remaining to insert himself into a battle for the lead between Ian Brew and Ray Christian III. Cassidy took second inside of Christian on the restart to move in behind Brew when the final caution waved a lap later on lap-46. Cassidy powered ahead on the restart to claim the win, his second consecutive of the season. Christian nipped Brew for second at the finish line.
Keith Rocco scored the win in a battle with Dillon Moltz over much of the 30-lap Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature. Rocco had taken the lead from Jason Palmer on lap-2 following the only yellow flag of the race. Moltz moved to second and spent the next ten laps stalking Rocco for the lead. Moltz made an inside move on Rocco to lead lap-14 with the two making contact in the exchange. Moltz moved ahead by two car lengths but Rocco regrouped. He closed in during the extended run to the checkered flag in the closing laps. On lap-24 Rocco found room inside of Moltz as more contact between the two saw Rocco wrestle away the lead. Moltz could not counter and Rocco went on to victory by two car lengths. Palmer ran with the leaders all race to finish third.
The 50-lapper for the Northeast Mini Stock Tour wound up a matter of survival for many as several caution flags plagued the race. The racing on the track was hotly contested at the front of the field for much of the race as multi-time Speedbowl Mini Stock track champion Danny Field returned to the ‘Bowl to lead the early going before Matt Sonnhalter took over command on lap-6. Sonnhalter had to contend with Wells shortly after, trading the top spot before halfway. Wells finally got the better of Sonnhalter, and several restarts, to cruise to the win ahead of Field who endured to take second. Bill Leonard finished third, the highest Speedbowl regular.
Major won the 25-lap race for the Pro Four Modifieds of New England, visiting the shoreline oval for the evening’s card. He held back a late charge by Robin Berghman to claim the win.
Voglesong easily won the 20-lap X-Car feature. He survived three early caution periods before going unchallenged to the victory over Mitch Bombard and Zach Thomas.
The Speedbowl returns to action with Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday and “Sho & Go at the ‘Bowl” Friday before another round of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action on Saturday. Laps for Lupus will share the spotlight as a charity track walk is part of the festivities before the evening’s racing. The SK Light Modifieds, Street Stocks and Legend Cars all return to Saturday night action, joining the SK Modifieds®, Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models and Mini Stocks.
Saturday 6/1 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Results:
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds® (35-laps): 1. Jeff Rocco, Wallingford; 2. Todd Ceravolo, Gales Ferry; 3. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill; 4. Jeff Gallup, Agawam, MA; 5. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI; 6. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 7. John Montesanto, North Branford; 8. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 9. Keith Rocco, Meriden; 10. Brett Gonyaw, Manchester; 11. Ted Christopher, Plainville; 12. Joe Gada, Salem; 13. Brent Sweet, Monroe; 14. Wendell Dailey, Gales Ferry; 15. Nichole Morgillo, Wallingford; 16. Justin Gaydosh, Newtown; 17. Ed Puleo, Branford; 18. Adam Gada, Bozrah; 19. Craig Lutz, Miller Place, NY; 20. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., Milford; 21. Mike Sweeney Jr., Meriden; 22. Tom Abele Jr., Norwich; 23. Shawn Monahan, Waterford; 24. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models (30-laps): 1. Keith Rocco, Meriden; 2. Dillon Moltz, Waterford; 3. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 4. Rich Staskowski, Hope Valley, RI; 5. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 6. Ray Christian III, Groton; 7. Vin Esposito, Seymour; 8. Mike Sweeney Jr., Meriden; 9. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill; 10. Daniel Khilall, Jersey City, NJ; 11. Chris Garside, Waterford; 12. Nick Ladyga, Voluntown
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Mini Stocks (50-laps): 1. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 2. Ray Christian III, Groton; 3. Ian Brew, Wood River Junction, RI; 4. Bill Leonard, Charlestown, RI; 5. Garrett Denton, Hope Valley, RI; 6. Wayne Burroughs Jr., Oakdale; 7. Chris Ivory, Oakdale; 8. Charles Canfield, New Haven; 9. Dale Sherman, Charlestown, RI; 10. Nick Pappacoda, Branford; 11. Christina Cunliffe, Stratford; 12. Joe Liskiewicz, Preston; 13. Jeff Lee, Uncasville; 14. Doug Curry, Groton
Northeast Mini Stock Tour (50-laps): 1. Toby Wells, Dublin, NH; 2. Danny Field, Deep River; 3. Bill Leonard, Charlestown, RI; 4. Charles Canfield, New Haven; 5. Ian Brew, Wood River Junction, RI; 6. Cristofer King, Derry, NH; 7. Emerson Cayer, Contoocook, NH; 8. Pete Zaikarite, Niantic; 9. Desmond Skillings, Antrim, NH; 10. Justin King, Derry, NH; 11. Mitch Bombard, Willimantic; 12. Darren Jacobs, Springfield, MA; 13. C.P. Burdick, Deep River; 14. Louis Maher, North Brookfield, MA; 15. Chuck McDonald, Groton; 16. Ricky Labrecque, Antrim, NH; 17. Garrett Denton, Hope Valley, RI; 18. Matt Sonnhalter, East Thetford, VT; 19. Glen Thomas Jr., Groton; 20. Mark Panaroni, Ivoryton; 21. Eric Burgeois, East Haddam; 22. Chris Ivory, Oakdale; 23. Nic Skillings, Warner, NH; 24. Sean Caron, East Hartford; 25. Nicholas Anderson, Oxford, MA
Pro Four Modifieds of New England (25-laps): 1. Andy Major, Brookfield, MA; 2. Robin Berghman, East Providence, RI; 3. Rob Richardi, North Easton, MA; 4. Phil Lausier, East Providence, RI; 5. Derek Robbie, Bellingham, MA; 6. Ray Sherrick, Swanzey, NH; 7. Tom Royer, Swanzey, NH; 8. Bill Lucchesi, N/A; 9. Dan Fresh, Holliston, MA; 10. Mark Charette, Wolcott; 11. Dan Meservey, West Chatham, MA; 12. Dave Richardi, North Easton, MA
X-Cars (20-laps): 1. Brad Voglesong, Middletown; 2. Mitchell Bombard, Willimantic; 3. Zach Thomas, New London; 4. C.P. Burdick, Deep River; 5. Michael Marvin, Colchester; 6. Randy Johnston, Westerly, RI; 7. Mike Trask, Plainfield; 8. John Bowes, Willington; 9. Melissa Clavette, Bozrah; 10. Larry Loomis Jr., Moosup; 11. Christopher Lee, Uncasville; 12. Jordan Hadley, Quaker Hill; 13. Chuck McDonald, Groton; 14. David Gargaro Jr., Cranston, RI; 15. Matthew Ryan, Groton; 16. Elizabeth Gaston, Vernon; 17. Billy Porter, Thompson; 18. Kim Bickford, Griswold; 19. Onie Pierce, Norwich; 20. Eddie Loomis, Plainfield; DQ – Chris Thomas, Waterford
Sources: Brian Darling/Waterford Speedbowl PR