Waterford Speedbowl Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday 8/14 Results
Waterford, CT — Another round of Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday was hosted by Waterford Speedbowl Wednesday evening with an action packed night of motorsports on the race track. Taking victories included a first-ever winner in the Super X-Cars, R.J. Cunningham of Clinton. John Bowes of Willington won the night’s X-Car feature and in INEX racing action Nick Ladyga of Voluntown was a repeat winner in the Legend Cars while Alex McCollum made the trek from Phillipsburg, NJ to win the Bandolero feature. Peter Pollard of Old Lyme was the night’s wackiest driver, taking the Flag Pole Race. An appearance by the Vintage Outlaw Modifieds helped turn back the clock and show race fans a taste of racing from decades ago, rounding out the program.
The 25-lap Super X-Car race was slowed by a caution on the second lap which saw Mike Maskell take a nasty hit into the front stretch wall, collecting Matt Carlson as the two battled behind the lead cars. After the cleanup, which involved a red flag, the next twenty three laps were run cleanly with Cunningham taking a large lead over the field.
Cunningham began to stretch his lead over Shawn Gaedeke while the cars behind jockeyed for position. Ken Downing won a battle for third position and by lap-7, closed on Gaedeke looking for second. Cunningham’s lead continued to grow as Downing took second and Frank Alessio advanced to third as the race moved past halfway.
Cunningham was way out front when Alessio caught Downing for second position. The battle heated up eventually resulting in the two cars making contact as Alessio worked his way alongside in turns three and four on lap-21. Downing momentarily recovered as Alessio streaked by into the spot. Just as Cunningham, who has had several close calls with victory this year only to encounter late problems, appeared to have his first win locked up Downing cut a tire from the earlier contact and spun off the back chute just as Cunningham was taking the white flag. The caution waved with trouble on the track setting up a green-white-checkered flag finish before Cunningham could complete his triumph.
Cunningham had to beat one of the division’s best, Alessio, on the final restart. Alessio did make a bid for the lead, staying outside of Cunningham for a half lap before succumbing. Cunningham would not be denied and took the win. Alessio took second and John Yagmin finished in third.
The 25-lap X-Car feature ran from green to checkered flags without delay. Jordan Hadley settled into the lead until he was overtaken by Melissa Clavette. Clavette ran second behind Hadley and started closing in to challenge for the lead. By lap-11 Clavette ducked inside Hadley into turn three. The two cars came together in turn four with both cars momentarily getting out of shape. Clavette corrected her car and took the lead while Hadley nearly lost control and slipped back outside of the top-three.
Clavette was running her best of the year, leading as Bowes ran second and closed on the lead. Bowes tracked down Clavette and pressured her at the halfway point of the race. He made an inside move in turn three on lap-14 to blast his way to the front. Clavette kept it close the remainder of the distance as the two lead cars navigated lapped traffic over the final ten laps. Bowes won by just one car length at the finish. Wayne Shifflett finished third well behind the leaders.
Ladyga won his second INEX Legend Cars feature in the past three Wednesday events. He bested a competitive field of cars in a quick paced 25-lapper which was slowed by just two caution flags. T.J. Thompson opened up a large lead over the opening four laps as the field raced two and three abreast behind. The first caution came out on lap-4 when Sean Fitzmaurice and Art Marrero came together on the backstretch near the tail of the field.
Thompson was back ahead when racing resumed, showing the way until Ladyga stormed in following the next caution flag. Ladyga took over with Nick Sowa in tow. The car on the move belonged to Giovanni Giarratana, charging his way through the field and into the top-five. Giarratana continued forward progress until he got by Sowa’s inside as they began lap-22. With just three laps remaining, Giarratana ran out of time to catch Ladyga, who cruised to the checkered flag. Giarratana settled for second after looking capable of making it two in a row in the division. Sowa hung on for third, Daniel Stolte finished fourth and Mike Christopher Jr. was fifth.
McCollum ran down Corey Comeroski in a caution-free INEX Bandolero feature and made a last lap pass for the win. Jonathon Puleo led the opening lap before Comeroski moved by the next circuit and bolted out to a commanding lead early. McCollum moved to second past Anthony Marvin on lap-5, then spent the next several laps tracking down Comeroski. The top two cars distanced themselves from the competition to make it a two-car race for the win. McCollum spent the final five laps draped all over Comeroski’s rear bumper, testing the outside lane. As the two began the final lap, McCollum again pulled to the outside lane through turns one and two. He got a great run down the back chute and pulled even with Comeroski, edging ahead in turn three. McCollum got a great run off the final corner to drag race Comeroski to the finish line and take the win by a bumper. Marvin finished third.
Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday 8/14 Results:
INEX Legend Cars (25-laps): 1. Nick Ladyga, Voluntown; 2. Giovanni Giarratana, Newington; 3. Nicholas Sowa, Middletown; 4. Daniel Stolte, Northbridge, MA; 5. Michael Christopher Jr., Wolcott; 6. Joey Ternullo, Middletown; 7. Michael Blaskey, Bethany; 8. Payton Ryan, Concord, NC; 9. Angelo Belsito, Auburn, MA; 10. T.J. Thompson, Lisbon; 11. Artie Pedersen III, Center Moriches, NY; 12. Stephen Kopcik, Newtown; 13. Dennis Pantani, Branford; 14. John O’Sullivan Jr., Salem; 15. Joshua Zentek, East Haven; 16. Jordan Churchill, Lisbon; 17. Ed Field, Deep River; 18. Colin Haley, Ashford; 19. David Lespinasse, Milford; 20. Vincent Colletti, Middle Island, NY; 21. Sean Fitzmaurice, Woodstock; 22. Darrel Taggart, Colchester; 23. Allan Pedersen, Center Moriches, NY; 24. Art Marrero, Baltic
INEX Bandoleros (20-laps): 1. Alex McCollum, Phillipsburg, NJ; 2. Corey Comeroski, Lebanon; 3. Anthony Marvin, Colchester; 4. Jonathon Puleo, Branford; 5. Andrew Morin, Old Saybrook; 6. Mason Etman, Uncasville; 7. Ken Morin Jr., Old Saybrook
X-Cars (25-laps): 1. John Bowes, Willington; 2. Melissa Clavette, Bozrah; 3. Wayne Shifflett, Preston; 4. Larry Loomis Jr., Moosup; 5. Mark Shepard, Griswold; 6. Mitch Bombard, Willimantic; 7. Chris Thomas, Waterford; 8. Scott Limkemann, East Lyme; 9. Jordan Hadley, Quaker Hill; 10. David Gargaro Jr., Cranston, RI; 11. Zach Thomas, New London; 12. Mike Trask, Plainfield; 13. Brad Voglesong, Middletown; 14. C.P. Burdick, Deep River; 15. Michael Marvin, Colchester; 16. Jeff Dombrowski, Oakdale; 17. Eddie Loomis, Plainfield; 18. Onie Pierce, Norwich; 19. Nate Bryington, Webster, MA; 20. Matt Westover, Gales Ferry; 21. Chris Lee, Uncasville; 22. Kim Bickford, Griswold; 23. Chuck McDonald, Groton; 24. David D’Allesandro Jr., Coventry; 25. Craig Tavernier, Moosup; 26. Josh Barrie, Voluntown; 27. Randy Johnston, Westerly, RI
Super X-Cars (25-laps): 1. R.J. Cunningham, Clinton; 2. Frank Alessio, Colchester; 3. John Yagmin, Tolland; 4. Dave Yardley, Berlin; 5. Bill Reiman, Southington; 6. Ray Reed, Norwich; 7. Ed Ryan, Preston; 8. Robert Goulet, Southington; 9. Kevin Moon, Exeter, RI; 10. Jim Boyle, East Windsor; 11. Shawn Gaedeke, Southington; 12. Ken Downing III, Branford; 13. John Kazersky, Nianic; 14. Marc Shafer, Groton; 15. Peter Pollard, Old Lyme; 16. Ed Flanagan, Warwick, RI; 17. James Maher, Shelton; 18. Shawn Butler, Jewett City; 19. Ray Phillips, Canterbury; 20. Matt Carlson, Griswold; 21. Mike Maskell, Quaker Hill; 22. Eric Finkbein Sr., Columbia; DNS – Jon Porter, Canterbury
Wacky Super X-Car Flag Pole Race winner: 1. Peter Pollard, Old Lyme
Sources: Brian Darling/Waterford Speedbowl PR