Saturday 7/6 Overdrive Radio 300 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Results
Waterford, CT — The only thing hotter than the weather was the on-track action at Waterford Speedbowl Saturday night. The popular shoreline oval hosted the Overdrive Radio 300, its mid-season championship event for its six core racing divisions. Winning extra-distance NASCAR Whelen All-American Series races on the night included Tyler Chadwick of Ledyard, who scored a memorable victory in the night’s big 100-lap SK Modified® race. Keith Rocco of Meriden picked up his fifth win of the year in the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model division while Corey Hutchings of Salem and Ken Cassidy Jr. of Lisbon each won for the fourth time of the year in the Street Stocks and Mini Stocks, respectively. Glenn Griswold of Vernon was a first-ever winner at the Speedbowl in the SK Light Modified division and Dylan Izzo of Monroe scored his third INEX Legend Cars win of 2013.
Chadwick beat back one of the division’s best-ever to claim the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified® feature. Keith Rocco moved in over the final charge to the checkered flag to stage a great finish with Chadwick that had fans on the edge of their seats in anticipation. Earlier in the evening, Rocco set fast time during time trial qualifying for the event. Following time trials, Rocco drew the top eight qualifiers would be inverted to begin the 100-lap feature.
The inversion put Joe Gada on the front row with Todd Ceravolo to his outside. Gada got the jump to lead the field to lap-1. Chadwick was already in contention, starting the race in third and quickly getting by Ceravolo into second position. Rob Janovic Jr. took third position before Ceravolo was finally able to settle into fourth. The first caution waved on lap-9 when Tom Abele Jr. lost power and came to a stop in turn four, retiring from the event.
Chadwick was able to pull ahead of Gada in the outside lane to take control of the lead on lap-13. Behind Chadwick, Gada fought back Janovic and Ceravolo over the next series of laps before caution was back out on lap-22 when Nichole Morgillo made contact with the front chute wall and came to rest on the racing surface. Morgillo pitted and returned to the race during the stoppage. Ted Christopher and Keith Rocco were among those who used the caution period to duck into the pit area for adjustments to the handles on their machines.
Chadwick led comfortably through the middle stages of the race. He continued to lead through four additional restarts following single car spins that peppered the race through lap-68. Kyle James used that time to race into second position ahead of Janovic, who remained a front runner throughout. Meanwhile, Rocco blitzed through the field with some dazzling moves, arriving among the top-five runners on lap-57 after pitting a second time for adjustments during a lap-37 caution flag.
Rocco went outside third-place Janovic on lap-65, disposing of him and quickly darting underneath second place Kyle James as they began lap-66. James tried hanging on outside Rocco, finally giving up the position after slipping in turn two on lap-67. One lap later Adam Gada stopped off the back chute after getting crossed up in turn two to create the final caution flag.
Once the race restarted on lap-71, it ran through the checkered flag with Chadwick and Rocco staging a memorable short track battle. Chadwick got a great restart to power ahead of Rocco to resume his lead, however Rocco stalked him nearly every trip around the track from lap-73 through lap-95. Rocco tried several attempts to cross-over Chadwick in turn four, nearly making the move work on multiple occasions before tucking back in line. Rocco also tried high looking for the momentum to sail into the corner alongside Chadwick, to no avail.
As the lead two pulled away to settle the race among themselves, James continued in third as Christopher rebounded from his pit stop to move up to fourth and run down Chadwick. As the lead two battled to the end, James and Christopher had a heated battle brewing for third.
Back up front Chadwick was unflappable, remaining steady throughout the assault on his lead by Rocco. Rocco threw nearly everything in his arsenal at Chadwick as the pair raced cleanly in their battle for the win. Rocco tried a valiant final effort on lap-96, losing valuable ground in the process. Chadwick stretched his lead to three car lengths over the final laps and closed out the win. Rocco settled for second and James hung on to third over Christopher, who was fourth. Janovic rounded out the top-five. The win was Chadwick’s third on the year, and second consecutive in the event. He also won last year’s mid-season SK 100-lap race. Chadwick also picked up the “Rough & Tumble” driver of the race award for his hard earned victory.
The 50-lap Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model race was another classic short track duel, this time between Rocco and Dillon Moltz, the division point leaders. After Moltz set fast time in qualifying, the top eight inverted and Anthony Flannery led the field to the green flag. Flannery showed the way over the first 17 laps, which ran caution free until Daniel Khilall got out of shape and into the wall just ahead of the lead pack.
Flannery got away from Moltz on the restart, dropping him into a battle with Rocco. Rocco cleared Moltz and went to the outside of Flannery, inching his way alongside and finally taking over the lead on lap-26. Just as Rocco was wrapping up his pass for the lead in turns one and two, Flannery got loose trying to hold on and drifted sideways. Moltz threw his car under both and came out of turn two three-wide. Flannery recovered his car as Rocco and Moltz raced side-by-side for the lead through turns three and four. Rocco was able to lead the lap.
Moltz wouldn’t let Rocco out of his sights and stayed glued to his rear bumper, staying with him as the pair raced ahead of Bruce Thomas Jr. and Flannery. As laps clicked off the scoreboard fans were pondering if Moltz had a car to contend with Rocco for the win. Rich Duranti spun out of turn four on lap-42 to reset the field.
Rocco got the better of Moltz and got the jump back to turn one, leaving Moltz to fight off Thomas. Thomas briefly took the spot before Moltz fired back, finding his way past Thomas before the final caution flag came out when Rich Staskwoski spun just outside the top-five on lap-47.
Rocco used another commanding restart to cement the win. Moltz got away from Thomas out of turn two following the final restart to get away and hold on to second. Thomas finished third.
Hutchings prevailed in a 50-lap Street Stock feature that was plagued by caution flags. Hutchings was never really challenged during the race, getting away from his challengers on each of nine restarts. Josh Galvin of North Franklin finished second and Brandon Plemons of Uncasville came back from a multitude of troubles during the race to rebound to third. Hutchings set the fast time in qualifying and started the race in eighth, working his way to the front by lap-9. He never trailed in route to his fourth win of the season.
The Mini Stock division saw another battle to the checkered flag among three of the drivers involved in a wild finish a week ago. Cassidy started tenth and slowly worked his way towards the front, reaching the top three just after halfway in the 50-lap feature. Bill Leonard, seeking his third straight victory, had led the race after taking the top spot on lap-16. Leonard, from Charlestown, RI, saw Ray Christian of Groton and Cassidy join him in a battle for the lead. The trio went three-wide on lap-36, dropping Leonard back. Cassidy used the outside lane to wear out Christian before going on to an entertaining victory. The win was Cassidy’s fourth of the season and lifted him back into the championship point lead.
The 25-lap SK Light Modified feature got off to a rough start as a pileup in the first corner of the first lap eliminated points leader Randy Churchill Jr. of Oakdale among others. Once racing settled in, Griswold was in control. He showed the way, surviving a challenge from Larry Goss of North Windham that lasted for several laps. Goss spun from contention trying to race inside of Griswold, moving former division champion Paul French into second. French, from Andover, briefly challenged Griswold before the veteran racer was able to pull ahead and secure the win. It was Griswold’s first ever Speedbowl victory.
The 25-lap feature for the INEX Legend Cars saw Izzo become the second leader of the race, taking over from defending division champion Paul Kusheba, from Monroe. Izzo time trialed with the second fastest lap, however started the race in seventh position following a redraw for starting position after qualifying. He quickly worked into contention. Once he made the inside move past Kusheba he held back Newington’s Giovanni Giarratana, one of the division’s hottest drivers. Kusheba bested him on two restart attempts and drove to his third win of the season.
Saturday 7/6 Overdrive Radio 300 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Results:
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds® (100-laps): 1. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 2. Keith Rocco, Meriden; 3. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI; 4. Ted Christopher, Plainville; 5. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 6. Craig Lutz, Miller Place, NY; 7. Todd Ceravolo, Gales Ferry; 8. Jeffrey Gallup, Agawam, MA; 9. Ed Puleo, Branford; 10. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill; 11. Corey Coates, Ledyard; 12. Joe Gada, Salem; 13. Adam Gada, Bozrah; 14. John Montesanto, North Branford; 15. Nichole Morgillo, Wallingford; 16. Matt Galko, Meriden; 17. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., Milford; 18. Wendell Dailey, Gales Ferry; 19. Jeff Rocco, Wallingford; 20. Kurt Lenahan, Roxbury; 21. Tom Abele Jr., Norwich; 22. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models (50-laps): 1. Keith Rocco, Meriden; 2. Dillon Moltz, Waterford; 3. Bruce Thomas Jr., Groton; 4. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 5. Glenn Boss, Danielson; 6. Anthony Flannery, East Hampton; 7. Vin Esposito, Seymour; 8. Chris Garside, Waterford; 9. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 10. Mike Sweeney Jr., Meriden; 11. Rich Staskowski, Hope Valley, RI; 12. Daniel Khilall, Jersey City; NJ; 13. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stocks (50-laps): 1. Corey Hutchings, Salem; 2. Josh Galvin, Franklin; 3. Brandon Plemons, Uncasville; 4. Phil Evans, Uncasville; 5. Norm Root Jr., Old Saybrook; 6. Joe Arena, Bristol; 7. Walt Hovey Jr., Chaplin; 8. Chris Meyer, North Franklin; 9. Dan Darnstaedt Sr., Durham; 10. Tim Morse, Southbury; 11. Lloyd Anderson Jr., Wauregan; 12. Don Spence Jr., Oakdale; 13. Ray Downing Jr., Old Saybrook; 14. Al Stone III, Durham; 15. Chris Douton, Waterford; 16. Steve Barrett, Preston; 17. Monte Gibbs, Higganum; 18. Ryan Waterman, Danielson; 19. Ronnie Oldham Jr., Old Saybrook; 20. Michael Caprio, New Haven; 21. Jack Aquilina, Oakdale
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Mini Stocks (50-laps): 1. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 2. Ray Christian III, Groton; 3. Wayne Burroughs Jr., Oakdale; 4. Bill Leonard, Charlestown, RI; 5. Garrett Denton, Hope Valley, RI; 6. Glenn Colvin, Clinton; 7. Ian Brew, Wood River Junction; 8. Chris Ivory, Oakdale; 9. Corey Hutchings, Salem; 10. Doug Curry, Groton; 11. Ed Field, Deep River; 12. Nick Pappacoda, North Branford; 13. Dale Sherman, Charlestown; 14. Sean Caron, East Hampton; 16. Jeffrey Lee, Uncasville
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Light Modifieds (25-laps): 1. Glenn Griswold, Vernon; 2. Paul French, Andover; 3. Alan Benincaso, Westport; 4. Victoria Bergenty, Plainville; 5. Larry Goss, North Windham; 6. Chris Ignazio, Colchester; 7. Jeff Fialkovich, Shelton; 8. Randy Churchill Jr., Oakdale; 9. Corey Barry, Plainfield; 10. Paul Buzel, Trumbull
INEX Legend Cars (25-laps): 1. Dylan Izzo, Westport; 2. Giovanni Giarratana, Newington; 3. Dana Dimatteo, Farmington; 4. Chase Dowling, Roxbury; 5. Paul Kusheba IV, Monroe; 6. Angelo Belsito, Auburn, MA; 7. Kyle Rogers, Waterbury; 8. T.J. Thompson, Lisbon; 9. Nicholas Sowa, Middletown; 10. Michael Christopher Jr., Wolcott; 11. Joey Ternullo, Middeltown; 12. Kyle Hardwick, Vernon; 13. Jon O’Sullivan Jr., Salem; 14. Jordan Churchill, Lisbon; 15. Timothy DePizzol, North Franklin; 16. Sean Fitzmaurice, Woodstock; 17. Stephen Kopcik, Newtown; 18. Ryan Lutz, Miller Place, NY; 19. Cory Dimatteo, Farmington; 20. Joshua Zentek, East Haven; 21. Calvin Therrien, Vernon; 22. Colin Haley, Ashford
Sources: Brian Darling/Waterford Speedbowl PR