Finale Weekend Saturday 10/05 Results
Waterford, CT — Over 200 race cars turned out for Waterford Speedbowl’s Finale Weekend, the annual close to the racing season. Thirteen divisions took the track for practice and qualifying with seven racing their final events of the year. The remaining six will compete Sunday. Taking feature wins Saturday evening included Glenn Griswold of Vernon in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Light Modified, Kenney Johnson of Bethany in the NEMA Lites and Duane Noll of Monroe in the New England Truck Series. Joining them were Waterford’s Dan Butler in the Super X-Cars, Dave Gargaro Jr. of Cranston, RI in the X-Cars and Derek Debbis of Oakdale in the INEX Bandoleros. Salem’s Corey Hutchings came out on top of a wild finish in the Outlaw Stocks.
Griswold checkered his fourth SK Light Modified feature of the year, the third time in the division’s last four races of the year. He took the lead outside of Corey Barry off turn two on lap-4, driving to a solid lead. Griswold was forced to restart against Barry following four caution flags that came between lap-13 and lap-17. He was strong on each one, pulling ahead for the victory. Barry, from Plainfield, finished in second place and Chris Correll of New London was third.
The 25-lap Outlaw Stock race was rough and tumble. The division, which welcomes cars from outside speedways to compete with more relaxed rules, saw several competitors with a chance at victory during the feature. Hutchings survived some heated battles at the front of the pack that dropped those in contention back to restart in the lead following the final caution with one lap remaining. Hutchings came out on top of a three-wide battle over the final lap with Preston’s Jay Stuart and Paul Newcomb of Plymouth, MA. The three cars came together exiting turn four with all three sliding sideways. Hutchings finished the race backwards as his car spun, just nipping Stuart and Newcomb in one of the wildest finishes in the history of the track.
The 25-lap X-Car feature was a memorable one for Gargaro as the Rhode Island driver scored a popular first-ever Speedbowl win. Gargaro ran down Larry Loomis, the early race leader during a green flag run that closed the race after a caution on the initial start. Loomis, from Moosup, bolted into the lead leaving Gargaro to come through the field before chasing down Loomis. Gargaro used the inside of the track to take command on lap-10, rolling to an impressive victory. Loomis finished second while Jordan Hadley of Quaker Hill took third. Brad Voglesong of Middletown finished fifth, enough for him to sew up the division’s Saturday Showdown Series championship. Voglesong also won the division’s Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday title in what he has announced to be his final season competing.
Butler topped the field in the 25-lap Super X-Cars, taking the lead from Southington’s Robert Goulet as the race reached its halfway point. He pulled ahead of Goulet after the only caution flag of the race on lap-13 and went unchallenged to the victory. Goulet ran a strong second place while Dave Yardley of Berlin came out on top in a spirited battle for third place that lasted over the final 10 laps. Jon Porter of Canterbury captured the division’s Saturday Showdown Series title by virtue of a fourth place finish. He edged Ed Ryan of Preston in the standings.
Debbis led every lap in the 15-lap INEX Bandolero feature, a flawless run from green flag to checkered flags in the caution-free event. He bested Colchester’s Anthony Marvin, the division’s Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday Series champion. With the runner-up finish Marvin clinched the division’s Saturday series title, sweeping the division during the season.
Noll took the victory in the visiting New England Truck Series race, holding back a furious charge by Waterford’s Zach Sylvester during the middle of the race to do so. Noll raced into the lead past Chris Correll of New London on lap-5. Sylvester kept things interesting following a yellow flag on lap-9, staying outside Noll to battle for the lead for several laps. Sylvester was able to wrestle the lead away for two laps before Noll rallied, reclaiming the top spot for good on lap-15. He cruised to the win from there, beating Correll and Sylvester at the finish.
Johnson was impressive in his run to the checkered flag during the night’s 25-lap NEMA Light race. He rose through the pack into the lead on the outside of the track, overtaking early leader Ryan Bigelow of East Hampton on the ninth lap. Johnson distanced himself from the pack in the race, which ran without a caution flag. Jake Stergios of Candia, NH took second and tried to close the gap on Johnson but ran out of time. Stergios settled for second and Bigelow finished third.
Sunday’s activities at the track begin with the popular Speedbowl Pit Party. Race fans will be able to see the cars and meet the stars prior to racing beginning at 9:30am. Following the pit party, racing will begin shortly after noon. Sunday’s feature lineup includes 25-lap races for the Legend Cars and NEMA Midgets along with 50-lap features for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds®, Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models, Street Stocks and Mini Stocks.
Waterford Speedbowl Finale Weekend Saturday 10/5 Results:
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Light Modifieds (25-laps): 1. Glenn Griswold, Vernon; 2. Corey Barry, Plainfield; 3. Chris Correll, Quaker Hill; 4. Chris Ignazio, Colchester; 5. Randy Churchill Jr.; Oakdale; 6. Alan Benincaso, Westport; 7. Victoria Bergenty, Plainville; 8. Larry Goss, North Windham; 9. Jeff Fialkovich, Shelton; 10. Paul Buzel, Trumbull; 11. William Benoit, Milford; 12. Paul French, Andover; 13. Alan Tirrell, North Stonington; 14. Joe Ferrigno, East Hartford
Outlaw Stocks (25-laps): 1. Corey Hutchings, Salem; 2. Jay Stuart, Preston; 3. Paul Newcomb, Plymouth, MA; 4. Duane Noll, Monroe; 5. Kevin Gambacorta, Ellington; 6. Charles Beal, Ledyard; 7. Dan Flannery, Ellington; 8. Mike Kluczinsky, Oakville; 9. Bill McNeil, Preston; 10. Cory Casagrande, Stafford Springs; 11. Nate Appell, Old Saybrook; 12. Carlos Gray, Manchester; 13. Allen Coates, Ledyard; 14. Todd Rutty, Westbrook; 15. Jack Aquilina, Oakdale; 16. Keith Rocco, Wallingford
NEMA Lites (25-laps): 1. Kenney Johnson, Bethany; 2. Jake Stergios, Candia, NH; 3. Ryan Bigelow, East Hampton; 4. Christian Briggs, Mattapoisset, MA; 5. Avery Stoehr, Lakeville, MA; 6. Carl Mederios, Westport, MA; 7. Danny Cugini, Marshfield, MA; 8. Brandon Igo, Bondsville, MA; 9. Logan Rayvals, Brockville, ONT., Ca; 10. Ryan Krachun, hometown not available; 11. Andy Barrows, New Ipswich, NH; 12. Alison Cumens, Lydell, PA; 13. Jamie Falconi, Southborough, MA; 14. D.J. Moniz, New Bedford, MA; 15. Anthony Payne, Fairlawn, NJ; 16. Randy Cabral, Plymouth, MA; 17. Meg Cugini, Marshfield, MA; 18. Kevin Park, Foxboro, MA; 19. Richie Morrocco, Plainville, MA; 20. R.J. Tufano, West Haven
New England Truck Series (25-laps): 1. Duane Noll, Monroe; 2. Tom Metcalf, North Stonington; 3. Zach Sylvester, Waterford; 4. Brad Caddick, Hope Valley, RI; 5. Keith Chapman, Mystic; 6. Chris Correll, New London; 7. Glen Noll, Naugatuck; 8. D.J. McGouran, Westerly, RI; 9. Cassie Coates, Ledyard; 10. William Thibault Sr., Montville; 11. Steve Scarpa; 12. Tony Lafo, Higganum; 13. Pete Cayer, Bristol; 14. Kendall Metcalf, North Stonington
Saturday Showdown Series Super X-Cars (20-laps): 1. Dan Butler, Waterford; 2. Robert Goulet, Southington; 3. Dave Yardley, Berlin; 4. Jon Porter, Canterbury; 5. Jim Boyle, East Windsor; 6. Kevin Moon, Exeter, RI; 7. Ed Reed Jr., Groton; 8. Marc Shafer, Groton; 9. Peter Pollard, Old Lyme; 10. Ed Ryan, Preston; 11. Matt Carlson, Griswold; 12. Ray Reed, Norwich; DNS – Ed Lamb, North Haven DQ – Frank Alessio, Colchester; DQ – Ken Downing III, Branford
Saturday Showdown Series X-Cars (20-laps): 1. Dave Gargaro Jr., Cranston, RI; 2. Larry Loomis, Moosup; 3. Jordan Hadley, Quaker Hill; 4. Wayne Shifflett, Preston; 5. Brad Voglesong, Middletown; 6. Richard Nye, Stonington; 7. Mark Shepard, Griswold; 8. Jeff Dombrowski, Oakdale; 9. Chuck McDonald, Groton; 10. Chris Lee, Uncasville; 11. Matthew Westover, Gales Ferry; 12. Richard Mollo, Seymour; 13. Frank Shepard, Bozrah; 14. Eddie Loomis, Plainfield; 15. C.P. Burdick, Deep River; 16. Terry Bombard, Willimantic; 17. Craig Tavernier, Moosup; 18. Ray Herman, Norwich; 19. Kim Bickford, Griswold; 20. Elizabeth Gaston, Vernon; 21. Pete Zaikarite, Niantic; 22. Nate Bryington, Webster, MA
INEX Bandoleros (20-laps): 1. Derek Debbis, Oakdale; 2. Anthony Marvin, Colchester; 3. Andrew Morin, Old Saybrook; 4. Ken Morin Jr., Old Saybrook
Sources: Brian Darling/Waterford Speedbowl PR