Waterford Speedbowl 6/22 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Results
Waterford, CT — The big event in the region was Saturday’s NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at Waterford Speedbowl. The cars and stars from NASCAR’s regional tour visited the shoreline oval for the Mr. Rooter 161. Ryan Preece of Berlin came home the big winner, using a green-white-checkered finish to overtake Doug Coby of Milford. The exciting finish had the fans on their feet as the two battled to the checkered flag. In the night’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series races, Rob Janovic Jr. took the checkered flag in the night’s SK Modified® race, his first of the year. Keith Rocco of Meriden won his fourth Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model race of the season while Norm Root Jr. of Old Saybrook and Bill Leonard of Charlestown, RI were first time winners in the respective Street Stock and Mini Stock races.
Janovic was back in the SK Modified® division winner’s circle for the first time since the Mr. Rooter NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event a year ago. Joe Gada used the pole starting position to take the race lead at the drop of the green flag. Janovic moved to second position and trailed Gada over the first six laps before he looked to the bottom of Gada for racing room. Contact between Shawn Monahan and Ed Puleo created a tense moment for several competitors, including defending champion Tyler Chadwick who lost several positions as he kept control of his car.
Janovic found the room he was looking for on Gada on lap-7 as they exited turn four. Janovic was able to dive under the leader into turns one and two, coming away with the top spot as they raced to lap-8. The best battle on the speedway was for fifth position as four cars were in dicing for position. That came to a head when Kyle James went spinning out of that pack exiting turn four on lap-11. Nichole Morgillo made contact with the outside wall and points leader Keith Rocco made contact with James’ spinning car. Rocco pitted and returned while Morgillo and James were both done for the evening. James showed Ted Christopher his displeasure during the caution flag. Christopher was sent to the rear by track officials while under the yellow flag and Monahan pitted for adjustments.
The new running order behind Janovic and Gada after all the excitement had Puleo up to third position for the lap-11 restart. It proved as the only of the race for Janovic to master. The veteran racer did so, resuming command into turn one ahead of Gada. Puleo got to Gada’s inside to take second on lap-12 and Todd Ceravolo kept Gada pinched in the outside lane as he moved to third on lap-13 before Gada could duck in line in fourth position.
The leaders remained unchanged the rest of the way. Janovic opened up breathing room over Puleo, who had Ceravolo on his bumper for several laps before pulling ahead to a comfortable position in second. Ceravolo was well ahead of fourth place and the top three continued on through the checkered flag. Gada finished in fourth and Craig Lutz finished fifth. The points race tightened up as Ceravolo now unofficially trails Rocco by just six points.
Rocco picked up his fourth Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model event win of the season in the division’s 30-lap race. He benefitted from a lap-16 caution that reset the field, advancing forward after the restart. Newcomer David Farrington Jr. took the lead from Rich Staskowski after the opening laps, holding the lead while Jeff Smith took hold of second position. Dillon Moltz moved to third and Bruce Thomas Jr. looked quick, tracking down Moltz to make a race for a spot among the top-three.
Farrington’s lead was erased when Moltz went spinning from third place in turn two on lap-16. Staskowski and Anthony Flannery were collected in the melee, making contact with the wall out of turn two. All were able to resume after pitting for attention.
Rocco was third when the green flag came back out behind Farrington and Smith. He quickly took second away from Smith on the restart and followed Farrington through lap-23. Farrington left the door open for Rocco, who ultimately found his way by the inside just ahead of the final caution on lap-24. Mike Sweeney Jr. spun in turn four to set up the final restart.
Rocco got away from Farrington cleanly into turn one. Farrington continued his impressive run and finished second in just his third ever start at the track. Thomas was unable to challenge Farrington and finished third while Moltz rebounded from his spin to finish fourth. Jason Palmer was fifth.
Root won for just the second time in the past three seasons in the Street Stock division. He was out front early in the 25-lap feature, taking the lead on lap-1. He had to hold back the charges of Joe Arena of Bristol over the middle of the race. Arena actually led lap-15 outside of Root following a lap-14 yellow flag. Root battled back however, staying steady on the bottom of the track to wear out Arena. Root was back out front for good on lap-19 and cruised to the win. Arena finished in second.
The 25-lap Mini Stock feature saw a first time winner on the season when Leonard pulled into Victory Lane. Leonard, in the midst of a steady season, survived a three-wide battle for the lead on the opening lap that put point leader Garrett Denton of Hope Valley, RI into the wall. Leonard had to withstand a bid for the lead from Wayne Burroughs Jr. Burroughs, from Oakdale, ran outside of Leonard and took the lead on lap-11. Leonard battled back to take the top spot back and had sole ownership of the lead on lap-15. The final 10 laps were run through the checkered flag. Ken Cassidy Jr. of Lisbon finished second and Burroughs wound up third.
Waterford Speedbowl Saturday 6/22 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Results:
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds® (35-laps): 1. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 2. Ed Puleo, Branford; 3. Todd Ceravolo, Gales Ferry; 4. Joe Gada, Salem; 5. Craig Lutz, Miller Place, NY; 6. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 7. Ted Christopher, Plainville; 8. Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 9. Jeffrey Gallup, Agawam, MA; 10. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill; 11. Glenn Pressel III, Mystic; 12. Corey Coates, Ledyard; 13. John Montesanto, North Branford; 14. Justin Gaydosh, Newtown; 15. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., Milford; 16. Adam Gada, Bozrah; 17. Shawn Monahan, Waterford; 18. Wendell Dailey, Gales Ferry; 19. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI; 20. Nichole Morgillo, Wallingford; 21. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models (30-laps): 1. Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 2. David Farrington Jr., Jay, ME; 3. Bruce Thomas Jr., Groton; 4. Dillon Moltz, Waterford; 5. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 6. Anthony Flannery, East Hampton; 7. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 8. Chris Garside, Waterford; 9. Nick Ladyga, Voluntown; 10. Mike Sweeney Jr., Meriden; 11. Rich Staskowski Jr., Hope Valley, RI; 12. Daniel Khilall, Jersey City, NJ; 13. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stocks (25-laps): 1. Norm Root Jr., Old Saybrook; 2. Joe Arena, Bristol; 3. Chris Meyer, North Franklin; 4. Al Stone III, Durham; 5. Phil Evans, Uncasville; 6. Ryan Waterman, Danielson; 7. Corey Hutchings, Salem; 8. Brandon Plemons, Uncasville; 9. Allen Coates Sr., Ledyard; 10. Josh Galvin, Franklin; 11. Tim Morse, Southbury; 12. Monte Gibbs, Higganum; 13. Steve Barrett, Preston; 14. Dan Darnstaedt Sr., Durham; 15. Don Spence Jr., Oakdale; 16. Ray Downing Jr., Old Saybrook
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Mini Stocks (25-laps): 1. Bill Leonard, Charlestown, RI; 2. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 3. Wayne Burroughs Jr., Oakdale; 4. Ian Brew, Wood River Junction, RI; 5. Ray Christian III, Groton; 6. Joe Liskiewicz, Preston; 7. Doug Curry, Groton; 8. Chris Ivory, Oakdale; 9. Ed Field, Deep River; 10. Dale Sherman, Charlestown, RI; 11. Nick Pappacoda, North Branford; 12. Garrett Denton, Hope Valley, RI; 13. Jeffrey Lee, Uncasville
Sources: Brian Darling/Waterford Speedbowl PR