Wild n Wacky Wednesday 6/12 Results
Waterford, CT — Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday racing was back at Waterford Speedbowl under clear skies Wednesday evening, placing five more winners into Victory Lane on the night. Notching wins included included George Whitney of Westbrook, who returned to the winner’s circle in INEX Legend Cars action after a few year absence. New London’s Zach Thomas was a first time winner in the X-Cars and Dan Butler of Waterford scored the honors in Super X-Car action. Anthony Marvin of Colchester won his second INEX Bandolero feature and Chuck McDonald of Groton won the night night’s Wacky Race in the X-Car division.
Whitney made a show out of the 25-lap INEX Legend Cars race over the final laps with Nicholas Sowa. Whitney, a veteran of the Legend Car wars at the Speedbowl for several years, dueled in a clean battle for the top spot with Sowa, an upcoming young driver seeking a second consecutive Wednesday night victory. Carl Blandina blasted into the lead for the first four laps. Stephen Kopcik settled in second position while Angelo Belsito held third over Sowa and Mike Christopher Jr. Sowa tried an outside move on Belsito on lap-3 to no avail, opening the door for Christopher to storm underneath to take fourth position. Josh Zentek spun on lap-4 to bring out the only caution flag of the race.
Blandina got a good restart to lead the field back to turn one. Belsito raced under Kopcik through turns one and two to take second position then swiftly moved to the bottom of Blandina down the back chute. His car stuck on the inside of the track through turns three and four to race into the lead. Sowa jumped through traffic to ride into second position behind Belsito on lap-6, while Whitney fired his way past the pack into third position on lap-8.
Whitney was all over Sowa’s back bumper by halfway as Belsito continued to pace the field. The handles began to fade on Belsito’s car and Sowa looked to capitalize. He found room under Belsito on lap-15 in turns one and two, moving past to become the third leader of the race. Whitney took second a lap later as Belsito tucked back in line third. The top three ran tightly nose-to-tail as they enjoyed a cushion over Blandina in fourth.
By lap-19 Sowa was under heavy fire from Whitney. He tapped the back bumper of Sowa to keep the pressure on, finally finding daylight under Sowa off turn four on lap-20. Sowa gave Whitney room and watched as his lead changed hands to Whitney off turn two racing to lap-21. Sowa pulled in behind Whitney as Belsito got loose in turn four, saving his car but dropping five positions in the process.
Sowa didn’t let Whitney slip out of his grasp, staying his rear bumper. As they took the white flag, Whitney was strong enough to keep Sowa from making a serious bid. Sowa was unable to make a move and settled for second. Blandina took home a solid third place finish after holding off Christopher over the final laps.
Butler was the pole sitter for the 25-lap Super X-Car race but he had to hold off all challengers in a race that saw much of the top pack of cars battling side-by-side. Justin Cook ran alongside of Butler for the opening three laps before Butler pulled into sole possession of the lead on lap-4. Cook slipped back allowing Ken Downing III and Ray Reed to battle for second. The two raced behind Butler before the first caution flag came out on lap-9 when R.J. Cunningham spun off the track in turn two.
Butler got the jump to turn one on the restart as the battle for second resumed. Mike Maskell went for a wild ride in turn two on lap-10 trying to battle for the top-five, as he completed two three-sixty spins and continued on with everyone able to avoid contact. The top three continued in order through lap-16 when Maskell’s woes continued as he spun into turn one, this time bringing out the caution flag.
The race’s final restart lined Downing up outside of Butler. Downing was able to contend, staying outside of Butler for several laps. Downing actually leading lap-17 by a nose before Butler battled back on the inside to retake the lead on lap-18. Butler finally wore out Downing and was able to power ahead. Behind Downing, John Yagmin took third from Kevin Moon on lap-21 and closed on Downing. He dove underneath Downing on lap-23 in turn one and the two made contact. Downing spun along with Ray Reed to jostle the top-five order. All continued on without drawing a caution flag. Moon moved to second behind Butler, closing in rapidly over the final two laps. He got to Butler’s rear deck lid on the final lap, and out of turn four to the checkered flag was able to contend with an inside bid. Butler held off Moon to claim the win. Moon took second and Yagmin finished third.
Thomas endured a rough start to the X-Car race as it took three attempts to begin the division’s 25-lap feature, including a red flag to clean up a mess before the field even took the green flag. Trouble on the first two tries to start the feature knocked several cars out of the large field starting the event. Two additional cautions in the opening three laps kept the action at bay until things settled in after lap-4. Thomas opened up a large lead as the field sorted out the running order behind him. Scott Limkemann moved to second on lap-5 and he chased Thomas through lap-13 when the final caution came out for another multi-car five car accident in turn four.
Thomas sprinted ahead of Limkemann on the restart. Randy Johnston held third while Larry Loomis Jr. and Mike Trask ran among the top-five over the second half of the race, which ran without further interruption. Limkemann was able to close within three car lengths of Thomas by lap-21, however Thomas refocused and pulled back ahead to claim his first ever win by five car lengths. Limkemann finished second and Johnston was third.
Marvin took the lead on lap-1 of the 20-lap INEX Bandolero feature and marched out to a healthy lead over his competition in the early going. A tense battle for second position saw newcomer David French jump to the outside lane to race past Jonathon Puleo, Ken Morin Jr. and Jacob Perry to come away with the position. Just as French was motoring outside through turns three and four, Perry bobbled and colleceted Morin. Perry kept moving however Morin brought out the caution flag off the track on the front chute on lap-8. After the race resumed, Marvin and French pulled ahead in a two-car breakaway. Over the final two laps French’s car began to falter allowing Marvin to waltz to the win. Corey Comeroski finished second ahead of A.J. Eastman who took third.
Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday 6/12 Results:
INEX Legend Cars (25-laps): 1. George Whitney, Westbrook; 2. Nicholas Sowa, Middletown; 3. Carl Blandina, Milford; 4. Michael Christopher Jr., Wolcott; 5. Michael Blaskey, Waterbury; 6. Joey Ternullo, Middletown; 7. Stephen Kopcik, Newtown; 8. Angelo Belsito, Auburn, MA; 9. Dennis Pantani, Branford; 10. Daniel Stolte, Northbridge, MA; 11. Colin Haley, Ashford; 12. John O’Sullivan Jr., Salem; 13. David Johnson, Arlingham, MA; 14. Arthur Maurero, Baltic; 15. David Lespinasse, Milford; 16. Josh Zentek, East Haven; 17. Mike Beebe Sr., Old Saybrook
INEX Bandoleros (20-laps): 1. Anthony Marvin, Colchester; 2. Corey Comeroski, Lebanon; 3. A.J. Eastman, Fishers Island, NY; 4. Ken Morin Jr., Old Saybrook; 5. Jonathon Puleo, Branford; 6. Jacob Perry, Pawcatuck; 7. David French, Rome, PA; 8. Christian Eckes, Middletown, NY; 9. Andrew Morin, Old Saybrook
Super X-Cars (25-laps): 1. Dan Butler, Waterford; 2. Kevin Moon, Exeter, RI; 3. John Yagmin, Tolland; 4. Frank Alessio, Colchester; 5. John Brouwer Jr., Groton; 6. Matt Carlson, Griswold; 7. Robert Goulet, Southington; 8. Bill Reiman, Southington; 9. Ken Downing III, Branford; 10. Ed Ryan, Preston; 11. Jim Boyle, East Windsor; 12. R.J. Cunningham, Clinton; 13. Justin Cook, Clinton; 14. Shawn Gaedeke, Southington; 15. Marc Shafer, Groton; 16. James Maher, Shelton; 17. Ray Reed, Norwich; 18. Ed Reed Jr., Groton; 19. Mike Maskell, Quaker Hill; 20. Jon Porter, Canterbury
X-Cars (25-laps): 1. Zach Thomas, New London; 2. Scott Limkemann, East Lyme; 3. Randy Johnston, Westerly, RI; 4. Larry Loomis Jr., Moosup; 5. Brad Voglesong, Middletown; 6. Melissa Clavette, Bozrah; 7. John Bowes, Willington; 8. Jordan Hadley, Quaker Hill; 9. Nate Bryington, Webster, MA; 10. Frank Shepard, Bozrah; 11. Chuck McDonald, Groton; 12. Michael Marvin, Colchester; 13. Kim Bickford, Griswold; 14. David Gargaro Jr., Cranston, RI; 15. Elizabeth Gaston, Vernon; 16. Garrett Kuhn, Waterford; 17. Eddie Loomis, Plainfield; 18. Chris Thomas, Waterford; 19. Wayne Shifflett, Preston; 20. Mark Tourville, Groton; 21. David D’Alessandro Jr., Coventry; 22. Craig Tavernier, Moosup; 23. Onie Pierce, Norwich; 24. Christopher Lee, Uncasville; 25. C.P. Burdick, Deep River; 26. Mitch Bombard, Willimantic; 27. Zach Ezzell, Plainfield; 28. Jeff Dombrowski, Oakdale; 29. Craig Miner, Higganum; 30. James Bixby, Montville; 31. Matthew Westover, Gales Ferry; DQ – Mike Trask, Plainfield
Wacky X-Car Flag Pole Race (top-three): 1. McDonald; 2. Gargaro; 3. C. Lee
Sources: Brian Darling/Waterford Speedbowl PR