Waterford Speedbowl 7/27 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Results
Waterford, CT — Waterford Speedbowl hosted its annual Nostalgia Night Saturday, treating a large crowd on hand to a thrilling night of motorsports that honored racing past and present. The event featured the track’s usual fare of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing in addition to exhibition events by vintage auto racing clubs. The Northeastern Midget Association, one of the fastest and oldest sanctioned racing groups in the country, also joined the program for its Shane Hammond Memorial event. Picking up NASCAR wins on the night included Kyle James of Ashaway, RI in the SK Modifieds® and Dillon Moltz of Waterford in the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature, while Uncasville’s Phil Evans was a first-time winner in the Street Stocks and Ian Brew of Wood River Junction, RI took the night’s Mini Stock race. The Northeastern Midget Association races went to Anthony Marvuglio of East Bridgewater, MA and Avery Stoehr of Lakeville, MA, who won the NEMA Lite event.
James finished strong in the 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified® feature to close out his second win of the season. He was mired in traffic at the start of the race then used a long stretch of green flag racing to march his way into contention.
Tom Abele used the pole starting position to race into the lead over Diego Monahan when the green flag was draped over the field. He took control out of turn two to bring the field to lap-1 as Monahan held second. The competition felt out their cars in the opening five laps without much excitement until Frank Mucciacciaro spun between turns one and two on lap-6 to bring out the first caution flag of the event.
After a false start by Monahan, Abele picked up where he left off as he again pulled ahead out of turn two when racing resumed. Monahan continued in second while Todd Ceravolo looked poised to try and make it two wins in a row as he used the outside lane to climb into a battle for third with Jeffrey Gallup. Those two ran side-by-side as Tyler Chadwick lined up behind Ceravolo in the outside lane looking to push forward. Ceravolo and Chadwick’s plans were changed when Gallup found room under Monahan in turn three on lap-9. He raced to second as Chadwick was able to change lanes to the bottom of the track and pull under Ceravolo. He got by Ceravolo and Monahan to move into third. James was next to keep both Ceravolo and Monahan pinned in the top groove, riding into fourth position by lap-15.
Ahead, Abele was comfortably leading Gallup as Chadwick was draped all over his rear bumper. James picked up pursuit of the battle for second position, tagging along to make a three-car train behind Abele’s lead. Keith Rocco and Ceravolo were next behind that battle but had trouble keeping up with the pace of the top four cars as the race stretched past halfway.
The running order remained unchanged through lap-23, however Abele’s lead was beginning to grow as the heat was turned up for second position with the laps counting down. As Chadwick tried to find a way to work Gallup over for second lap after lap, James pulled the pin and looked to the outside lane to make some noise. He pulled outside Chadwick into turn one on lap-30 with Chadwick momentarily able to fend off the challenge. As they raced to complete lap-31 James tried again, racing even with Chadwick down the front chute with both cars breathing down Gallup’s rear bumper. The battle boiled over exiting turn two as Chadwick got into Gallup’s left rear trying to thwart the bid by James, sending Gallup spinning off the back chute. The second caution flag came out for Gallup, erasing Abele’s lead as well as the long run of green flag racing.
Both Gallup and Chadwick, deemed responsible for the contact, were forced to pick up at the rear of the field. That was the break James needed, pulling him into second and alongside Abele for the pivotal restart. With a strong car in the outside lane, James was able to stay to Abele’s outside following the restart. Coming to the white flag, James got away from Abele out of turn four to take the flag first. Over the final lap James streaked ahead to the checkered flag. Abele’s strong run came up just short, winding up second. Todd Ceravolo benefitted by the late caution flag to claim third. Rocco and Craig Lutz completed the top-five. Following the race, Kyle James was named the ‘Rough and Tumble’ driver of the race for his late heroics.
Marvuglio was an emotional winner on the night after capturing the Northeastern Midget Association’s 27-lap Shane Hammond Memorial race. The race honored Hammond, Marvuglio’s late brother, who passed away in a racing accident in 2008. Marvuglio wasn’t even planning to race after losing an engine in his primary car. He was offered a ride for the event Friday evening in the Bertrand #74, one of the division’s most potent cars. He stalked early leader Phil DiMario, who paced the field through the only caution flag on lap-18. Jim Chambers had something let go under his machine ahead of the leaders, just as Marvuglio looked poised to make a move on DiMario to create the yellow situation. The restart didn’t cool down Marvuglio as he rocketed his way by DiMario’s outside into the lead out of turn two. He cruised the rest of the way to the win. Todd Bertrand finished second and John Zych Jr. was third. Marvuglio’s quick lap was a blistering 12.93 seconds around the three eighths mile oval.
Moltz checkered his third Bob Valenti Auto Mall feature race of the season to keep his points battle with Keith Rocco red hot. Moltz took the lead following a lap-9 restart from Jeff Smith, who had showed the way from the opening lap in the 30-lapper. Smith led comfortably before the caution. Once out front the hometown driver powered ahead to his third win of the season, romping ahead by nearly a straightaway advantage at the finish. Jason Palmer ran a strong race to wind up second and Rocco snatched third from Smith at the finish line. Rocco rebounded from a spin on lap-16 which drew the other caution flag in the race. With the victory Moltz closed to within 14 points of Rocco in the standings.
Evans earned his first win in the Street Stocks in his third season competing in the division by taking the lead early, then holding back the division’s all-time winning driver, Al Stone, late. Evans took the lead from Dan Darnstaedt on lap-10 of the 25-lap feature. Evans quietly worked his way into contention, but once in front Stone was on his heels. Stone, a winner last Saturday, had two chances in the final nine laps to challenge Evans with two restart attempts. Stone made a run of it, staying outside Evans who had to fight him off. Evans did so pulling ahead for good on lap-20 and racing to the checkered flag. Stone finished on his rear bumper in second with Monte Gibbs finishing a career-best third. Evans holds 25 career Mini Stock victories at the Speedbowl.
Brew rebounded from a hard crash during last Saturday’s Mini Stock race, using a backup car from his race shop and piloted it to a convincing victory. Brew raced to the lead on the opening lap over Chris Ivory, the pole-sitter for the 25-lap race. Brew withstood two caution periods which slowed his pace but was never seriously threatened on his way to the win. Points leader Ken Cassidy Jr. was no challenge to Brew and finished second. Bill Leonard of placed third.
Stoehr won the 27-lap NEMA Lite feature proving to have the strongest car in that event. He was the third leader, coming through the field as Scott Bigelow and Richie Morrocco traded to top spot in the early going. Stoehr used a strong move inside of Bigelow on lap-14 to take command. He bested the competition over one restart on his way to the win.
Waterford Speedbowl Saturday 7/27 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Results:
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds® (35-laps): 1. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI; 2. Tom Abele Jr., Norwich; 3. Todd Ceravolo, Gales Ferry; 4. Keith Rocco, Meriden; 5. Craig Lutz, Miller Place, NY; 6. Joe Gada, Salem; 7. Adam Gada, Bozrah; 8. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 9. Jeffrey Gallup, Agawam, MA; 10. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 11. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill; 12. John Montesanto, North Branford; 13. Corey Coates, Ledyard; 14. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., Milford; 15. Tyler Jackson, Milford; 16. Ed Puleo, Branford; 17. Wendell Dailey, Gales Ferry; 18. Shawn Monahan, Waterford; 19. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bob Valenti Late Models (30-laps): 1. Dillon Moltz, Waterford; 2. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 3. Keith Rocco, Meriden; 4. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 5. Bruce Thomas Jr., Waterford; 6. David Farrington Jr., Jay, ME; 7. Vin Esposito, Seymour; 8. Nick Ladyga, Voluntown; 9. Mike Sweeney Jr., Meriden; 10. Chris Garside, Waterford; 11. Joe Gada, Salem; 12. Rich Staskowski, Hope Valley, RI; 13. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill; DNS – Daniel Khilall, Jersey City, NJ
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stocks (25-laps): 1. Phil Evans, Uncasville; 2. Al Stone III, Durham; 3. Monte Gibbs, Higganum; 4. Corey Hutchings, Salem; 5. Josh Galvin, Franklin; 6. Norm Root Jr., Old Saybrook; 7. Dan Darnstaedt Sr., Westbrook; 8. Ryan Waterman, Danielson; 9. Dwayne Dorr, Ledyard; 10. Chris Meyer, North Franklin; 11. Joe Arena, Bristol; 12. Don Spence Jr., Oakdale; 13. Tim Morse, Southbury; 14. Brandon Plemons, Uncasville; 15. Joe Seeger, Oceanside, NY; 16. Ed Gertsch Jr., East Haven
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Mini Stocks (25-laps): 1. Ian Brew, Wood River Junction, RI; 2. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 3. Bill Leonard, Charlestown, RI; 4. Garrett Denton, Hope Valley, RI; 5. Chris Ivory, Oakdale; 6. Ray Christian III, Groton; 7. Joe Liskiewicz, Preston; 8. Wayne Burroughs Jr., Oakdale; 9. Ed Field, Deep River; 10. Doug Curry, Groton; 11. Nick Pappacoda, North Branford; 12. Dale Sherman, Charlestown, RI; 13. Jeffrey Lee, Uncasville
Northeastern Midget Association Shane Hammond Memorial (27-laps): 1. Anthony Marvuglio, East Bridgewater, MA; 2. Todd Bertrand, Suffield; 3. John Zych, Louisville, KY; 4. Phil DiMario, hometown unavailable; 5. Seth Carlson, Brimfield; 6. Randy Cabral, Plymouth, MA; 7. Ian Cumens, Lydell, PA; 8. Bethany Stoehr, Bridgewater, MA; 9. Russ Stoehr, Lakeville, MA; 10. Paul Scally, Raynham, MA; 11. Jim Santamaria, Burlington, VA; 12. Matt O’Brien, Wilmington, MA; 13. Doug Cleveland, Sudbury, MA; 14. Jim Chambers, hometown N/A; 15. Joey Payne, Fairlawn, NJ
NEMA Lites (27-laps): 1. Avery Stoehr, Lakeville, MA; 2. Kenny Johnson, Bethany; 3. Ian Cumens, Lydell, PA; 4. Carl Mederios, Jr., Westport, MA; 5. Brandon Igo, Bondsville, MA; 6. Danny Cugini, Marshfield, MA; 7. Logan Rayvals, Brockville, ONT, CA; 8. Ryan Bigelow, East Hampton; 9. Paul Bigelow, Kensington; 10. Anthony Payne, Fairlawn, NJ; 11. Dana Shaw, Danielson; 12. D.J. Moniz, Fairhaven, MA; 13. Meg Cugini, Marshfield, MA; 14. Richie Morrocco, hometown N/A; 15. Kelly Ferrell, Chaplin; 16. Jake Smith, Stroudsburg, PA; 17. Scott Bigelow, East Hampton; 18. Randy Cabral, Plymouth, MA; 19. Kevin Park, Foxboro, MA
Sources: Brian Darling/Waterford Speedbowl PR