Keith Rocco Doubles Up at Waterford
WATERFORD, CT — Keith Rocco of Meriden, CT had himself a milestone night at Waterford Speedbowl, winning his 50th career SK Modified feature on Wings and Wheels night, driving his own SK #88 to a hard fought win over Kyle James of Ashaway, RI and Ed Puleo of Branford, CT. Rocco steadily advanced to the front of the field using the outside lane to his advantage.
Kid Rock returned to the track in the Valenti Modified Racing Series portion of the event in the John and Maina Rufrano #68 to win qualifying heat #3, then go on to ace a stellar field of drivers. Rocco mastered every restart to take his first series VMRS win at the Speedbowl, marking the seventh different division he has won at the Waterford track. “It’s awesome to win two feature races on the same night, no matter what divisions were running,”
Rocco said.
32 potent modifieds signed in for the 100-lap grind. After three heats and a consi, the stage was set for some exciting wheel-to-wheel racing, and that is just what the packed grandstands got. As soon as chief starter Rich Keator dropped the green flag on the field, the first of eight yellows flags was displayed when Ted Christopher of Plainville, CT, driving the Joe Brady #00, pile drove the turn four wall, eliminating him from contention. ‘TC’ was unshaken but his mount suffered heavy front-end damages, and his crew was left with unanswered questions as to how this happened.
The restart of lap one had Todd Owens of Somers, CT and Chris Pasteryak of Jewett City, CT, bring the field back to racing speed with Owens taking the initial lead. The lead by Owens would only last one circuit as Pasteryak powered by on the outside, overtaking the top spot. Starting from the third row back, Rocco wasted no time and immediately went to work, shooting by, Richard Savary of Canton, MA for the third spot. By lap six, Rocco was up to full race speed and used the inside groove to pass Owens for second. Savary, not wanting to be left behind, put Owens back to fourth, passing the #17 inside turn three.
A lap eight caution slowed the field when Mark Bakaj of Lebanon, CT hit the turns 3 and 4 wall, ending the night of the #52 car. The first three rows now were Pasteryak and Rocco in row one, Savary and Owens in row two, and Todd Annarummo of Swansea, MA beside Tommy Barrett, Jr. of Millis, MA in row three. On the restart, the green flag flew and so did Rocco as he became the third leader of the event. As the field settled into a rhythm, Steve Masse of Bellingham, MA and Rowan Pennink of New Egypt. NJ mired back in 13th and 15th, respectively, hooked up on the outside groove to start gaining positions.
By lap 25, Rocco built himself a comfortable five-car length lead over Pasteryak, and Masse was coming on strong. By lap 38, Masse was up to sixth, and by lap 41 Masse had captured fifth. The yellow waved on lap 43 and the field bunched up again for the restart, during which Annarummo found the needed power to get past Pasteryak for third. As Keator crossed the halfway flags, Masse was still on the move, passing Savary for fourth, and three laps later Masse took the #13 to the outside of Pasteryak to take over third. On lap 57, Savary passed Pasteryak to claim third spot.
All eyes must have been on Masse whom was putting in another stellar performance, moving to the inside of Annarummo and taking over the second spot. Still, Rocco was their main target as he was on a rail at a familiar track.
Tommy Barrett in his late race patented style, raced into the eighth spot while just ahead of him, Pennink got by Anthony Nocella of Woburn, MA for sixth. As the leaders ran in lapped traffic, the yellow came out for fluid on the track. On the restart, Nocella got loose off from turn 2 and Annarummo made contact, ending the bid for victory for both the #92 and the #12. The lap 91 restart saw all of Masse’s hard work lost as he was turned around off turn 2. This moved Pasteryak into second, behind race leader Rocco, with points leader Pennink third, Barrett fourth, and veteran Dwight Jarvis of Ascutney, VT fifth.
With four laps to go, Pasteryak found the ways and means to slide by Pennink into second and the final caution of the race was displayed when Stormin’ Norman Wrenn of Nashua, NH took a wild slide off the backstretch into the infield. Now with three laps to go, the restart saw Pennink working inside Pasteryak for second and use the final laps to put pressure on Rocco, looking high and low, but having to settle for second behind a very happy Keith Rocco.
Series point leader Pennink finished in second and Pasteryak ended up third. Barrett and Jarvis finished fourth and fifth.
With Barrett’s fourth place finish, Pennink was able to leave Waterford with a four-point lead.
Order of finish: 1. Keith Rocco, Meriden, CT; 2. Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, PA; 3. Chris Pasteryak, Lisbon, CT; 4. Tommy Barrett, Millis, MA; 5. Dwight Jarvis, Ascutney,, VT; 6. Steve Masse, Bellingham, MA; 7. Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs, CT; 8., Richard Savary, Canton, MA; 9. Rob Goodenough, Swanzey, NH; 10. Louie Mechalides, Tyngsboro, MA; 11. Dylan Kopec, Palmer, MA; 12. Dana Smith, Sunapee, NH; 13. David Schneider, Northport, NY; 14. Jeff Pearl, Salem, CT; 15. Norm Wrenn, Nashua, NH; 16. Max Zachem, Preston; 17. Mike Holdridge, Madison; 18. Jeff Rocco, Wallingford, CT; 19. Anthony Nocella, Woburn, MA; 20. Todd Annarummo, Swansea, MA; 21. Matt Mead, Richmond, NH; 22. Todd Owen, Somers, CT; 23. Jim Boniface, Winchester, NH; 24. Danny Cates, Chaplin, CT; 25. Mark Bakaj, Lebanon, CT; 26. Ted Christopher, Plainville, CT.
Heat winners: Todd Annarummo, Chris Pasteryak,
Consi Winner: Norm Wrenn
VMRS Race Summary: Event #12 of 17
Track: Waterford Speedbowl, Waterford, CT
Length of Track: 0.375 Mi
Laps: 100
Time of Race: 1hr, 8 min
Margin of victory: 0.162
Best lap Time: 14.164 by #68 Kith Rocco
Best Speed: 95.312 by #68 K. Rocco
Race #13 is slated for August 17, 2013 at Seekonk Speedway, Seekonk, MA.
SK Modifieds: 1. Keith Rocco, Meriden, CT; 2. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI; 3. Ed Puleo, Branford, CT; 4. Ted Christopher, Plainville, CT; 5. Frank Mucciacciaro, Jr., Milford, CT; 6. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard, CT; 7. Craig Lutz, Miller Place, NY; 8. Todd Ceravolo, Gales Ferry, CT; 9. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill, CT; 10. Jeff Gallup, Agawam, MA; 11. Adam Gada, Bozrah, CT; 12. Rob Janovic, Jr., Waterford, CT; 13. Tom Abele, Jr., Norwich, CT; 14. Joe Gada, Salem, CT; 15. Corey Coates, Ledyard, CT; 16. Wendell Dailey, Gales Ferry, CT; 17. Tyler Jackson, Milford, CT; 18. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill, CT. 35 laps
SK Light Modifieds: 1. Corey Barry, Plainfield, CT; 2. Paul French, Andover, CT; 3. Chris Ignazio, Colchester, CT; 4. Victoria Bergenty, Plainville, CT; 5. Randy Churchill, Jr., Oakdale, CT; 6. William Benoit, Milford, CT; 7. Paul Buzel, Trumbull, CT; 8. Jeff Fialkovich, Shelton, CT. 25 laps
McKennedy Powers His Way to Wing n Wheels Win
In the Super Modified portion of the Waterford Wings n Wheels event, Jon McKennedy of Chelmsford, MA in the Power Mist Racing Fuels #79 Super Modified never looked back after starting on the pole. McKennedy led all 50 laps for his first 2013 ISMA Victory, and the second of his ISMA career.
McKennedy thanked his crew for all their hard work this year. In victory lane McKennedy said. “It’s been a struggling year for me with a lot of misfortune and lots of mechanical issues. It feels good to get a win here at Waterford.” McKennedy had lost a good friend recently and dedicated the win to him, Billy Furey.
Ben Seitz of Bourne, MA in the Lorusso Heavy Equipment/Cape Cod Aggregates #17 was second, followed by Mike Ordway, Jr. of Fremont, NH in the Clyde Booth Racing #61.
SUMMARY ISMA WATERFORD WINGS AND WHEELS (Aug. 10, 2013)
Heat 1: Jon McKennedy, Jeff Locke, Ben Seitz, Justin Belfiore, Rob Summers, Mike Ordway Sr. (61) DNF
Heat 2: Lou Cicconi, Dan Lane, Eric Lewis, Mike Ordway, Jr., Dan Bowes.
Heat 3: Joey Payne, Alison Cumens, Mark Sammut, Mike Lichty, Dave Duggan, Bobby Chartier.
ISMA WINGS AND WHEELS 50: 1. Jon McKennedy (79), 2. Ben Seitz (17), 3. Mike Ordway, Jr. (21), 4. Mike Lichty (84), 5. Mark Sammut (78), 6. Alison Cumens (39), 7. Eric Lewis (28), 8. Lou Cicconi (71), 9. Rob Summers (74), 10. Joey Payne (32), 11. Jeff Locke (37), 12. Justin Belfiore (98), 13. Dave Duggan (51), 14. Dan Bowes (25), 15. Dan Lane (97), 16. Bobby Chartier (47), 17. Mike Ordway Sr. (61).
The ReSource Alternative Energy Solutions Last Car Running award: Joey Payne (32)
The Hard Chargers of the Race: sponsored by Dr. Mom Says School is Cool and Colonel Arnold Briggs in memory of Sgt. Charles T. Brigss, USMC go to Ben Seitz and Mike Lichty
Bertrand Claims 25-lap NEMA Midget Angelillo Memorial Checkers
Bertrand Motorsports claimed their 40th Victory at Wings and Wheels as Todd Bertrand of Suffield, CT crossed the finish line ahead of teammate Randy Cabral of Plymouth, MA, Russ Stoehr of Bridgewater, MA (third), and Anthony Marvuglio of E. Bridgewater, MA in another BMS owned car (fourth).
This victory was Todd Bertrand’s third straight Angelillo Memorial Race win. Bertrand raced his way into the lead by lap seven and never looked back, cruising to his second win of the 2013 season, while behind him a five-car free for all was going on. Cabral finally got by Stoehr and Paul Scally of Raynham, MA to finish in the runner-up spot for the third time in the Angelillo Memorial.
“I showed Paul my nose through one and two, and he gave me all the room I needed in three and four,” Bertrand said of the winning pass.
On his way to victory, Bertrand clocked a sizzling time of 12.794
Marvuglio and Ian Cumens of Lydell PA were heat winners.
Bigelow Wins First of Season in NEMA Lites
Scott Bigelow of East Hampton, CT held off a hard charging Ian Cumens from Lydell, PA in the final laps of the NEMA Lites at the shoreline oval to win his first of 2013. At the halfway mark, contact between Carl Medeiros, Jr. of Westport, MA and Avery Stoehr of Lakeville, MA brought out the yellow. Neither returned to action. Bigelow and Cumens lined up side by side and ran that way through turns one and two until Bigelow regained the point going down the backstretch. “I kind of pinched him off a little bit,” Bigelow said. “I was up in the marbles, something you want to avoid.” commented Cumens.
The race was a non-points event and was added to the schedule due to the rain out at Lee USA Speedway on Friday.
Sources: Jim Snape/YankeeRacer.com