D. Anthony Venditti Fall Classic Recap
D. ANTHONY VENDITTI MEMORIAL 2015
DARLING CAPTURES DAV PRO STOCKS
Dave Darling capped off his 2015 season with his customary elan, winning the D. Anthony Venditti Memorial – good for $5,000 and bragging rights going into the 2016 season. He waited while Tom Scully, Jr. led the first third of the race, heavily disputed by a determined Craig Weinstein until Darling edged the latter out of second then took over the lead going into lap thirty-eight. That was it for the leadership as Darling commanded the front for the final sixty-two laps. Veteran Mike Rowe, payed his first visit in a couple of decades, was never outside the top five and always threatening, took track Champ Angelo Belsito out of second place with fifteen laps remaining. Belsito wasn’t comfortable with the turn of events and mercilessly pursued Rowe to the finish, looking for any possible chance to get by. But Rowe held off the laureate for second. Mike Brightman drove a definitive race, grabbing fourth behind Belsito. Weinstein, also displayed his dominant character, never dropping below fourth until Brightman got by late in the feature for a big fifth place finish.
Seventeen cautions combined to slow the feature down, with Polesitter Kenny Spencer spinning on the initial lap, brining a full-race restart. Scully took over and grabbed the lead with Rick Martin on his heels until Mike Sullivan spun on lap 7. Scully zoomed away and Weinstein went under Martin for second. Rowe had climbed to fourth, but two laps later, Darling was easing him out of position, dropping him into fifth, just ahead of Ryan Lineham. A lap later, Martin fell before Darling’s charge.
Weinstein continued to work on Scully’s bumper without success. Belsito had fallen off from his tenth place start, but began to move up and made his way to eighth behind Derek Ramstrom, who followed Lineham. Brightman was moving up from a fourteenth place start and settled in behind Belsito on lap 16. Ryan Vanasse edged Kevin Folan to pull in behind Brightman. The positions held until Sullivan suddenly came to a halt in turn for. Smokin’ Joe Kohler, Bobby Pelland III and John Lowinsky-Loh ran to the pits on the caution.
Scully pulled away on the restart while Darling got under Weinstein as he battled Scully outside. Rowe was trying to nose under as Dave Silvia spun down the front stretch.
Three attempts were made to restart, and finally Scully was away, but a determined Darling would not let him go. Scully forged ahead out of turn four and Darling dropped under while Weinstein battled underneath Rowe. The battles raged on with Ramstrom edging past Rowe into fourth as Belsito edged Brightman out of sixth on lap 30. Fred Astle followed him in eighth with DJ Shaw and Vanasse swapping positions behind him. Bob Hussey brought the run to a halt on lap 35 with a spin in turn four.
The restart saw the top six hold position, but Brightman and Astle debated seventh ahead of the dogfight between Shaw and Vanasse. Rowe began working on Ramstrom. Meanwhile, Darling’s persistence ways paying off. He pulled ahead on the outside and had the lead on lap 38. Weinstein went to work on Scully until Mike Mitchell spun on lap 41.
Darling and Scully lined up for the restart with Weinstein and Ramstrom behind them. Rowe and Astle wrestled from row three. Darling was away and Scully began to fade with handling problems. Two cautions on lap 45 saw Darling away again, spoiled by caution on 46. Finally, he had the lead over Belsito and Weinstein who were battling for position ahead of Rowe and Brightman before another yellow flag at lap 50.
This time, Darling nosed away from Belsito who battled on the outside. Rowe closed on Darling’s bumper. Brightman and Shaw battled briefly before Astle edged Shaw out of sixth. Ramstrom followed by moving Shaw back to seventh. The field strung out with Darling three lengths up on Belsito, who had three cars on Rowe who was pursued by Weinstein and Brightman.
Weinstein pushed past Rowe going into lap 64 and Brightman took up the opportunity. In a grueling duel, he was able to nose past on lap 73, but Rowe regained his position. With Rowe and Weinstein in working on third position, Belsito sought to close on Darling. Brightman got under Rowe and they dueled over fourth. Rowe elected to go around Weinstein and they fought it out, but Rowe finally edged ahead.
Rowe conquered Weinstein and drove after Belsito while Brightman held off another challenge by Shaw. A lap 83 caution saw Darling drive away again and Rowe get under Belsito for second. They fought it out, until Rowe nosed out and Belsito dropped in to harass him to the finish. Brightman was by Weinstein and Shaw got by Astle, who then battled Ramstrom to the finish with Fast Freddy taking seventh.
Shaw followed Weinstein in sixth ahead of Astle and Ramstrom. Scully came back for ninth, just ahead of Martin.
FORTIN GRABS FIRST TRUCKS WIN AT DAV
Joseph Fortin II does it up right. His big win on the season came at the DAV Memorial. He spring-boarded a third place to the lead on a lap 28 restart of the 30 lap feature into a major victory two laps later. He had been chasing leader Ed Perry and Darryl Church with all three running bumper to bumper. Church drifted up and Fortin nosed under in turn four. There was contact and Perry spun. At the same time, Mike Cavallaro, making a climb through the field after spinning earlier, got into Shawn DeMello, who was running his best of the season in fifth place and Demello spun.
Fortin had the pole for the restart with Church outside. Rick Albernaz and Cavallaro were in row two with Bob Rainville and Chase Belcher in pursuit. Fortin pulled away with Church outside and Albernaz roared up to his bumper, sticking Church on the high side. Cavallaro got under Church and they roared into the final lap. Fortin charged under the checkers with Albernaz on his bumper and Church scoring third outside while Cavallaro grabbed fourth, just ahead of Bob Rainville.
Perry had taken the lead from Cavallaro on lap ten after chasing him from the green. They had started on the front row, with Perry on the pole. Cavallaro grabbed the front at the outset and Perry had dropped in with Chase Belcher on his bumper. John Robidoux nabbed fourth ahead of Church while Albernaz began a slow climb from eleventh.
While Cavallaro, Perry and Belcher dueled at the front, Church moved past Robidoux on lap four. Fortin was running sixth and Albernaz moved in behind him after getting by Rainville. Albernaz then moved Fortin back, just ahead of DeMello. Fortin attempted to get under Robidoux who looked to shut the door but instead there was contact sending Robidoux around. Cavallaro and Belcher made contact on the restart and Cavallaro spun with Belcher joining him at the rear on the assist. After getting a new rear tire, Cavallaro started just ahead of Robidoux at the back.
Perry and Church faced off and Perry jumped out at the green. Albernaz grabbed his bumper as Fortin came by Church into third. He then went by Albernaz into second as Church snared third. Two laps later, though, Church eased Fortin out of second and Albernaz then eased him back to fourth. DeMello had come up to fifth with a pass of Dan Johnson. Rainville took advantage, passing Johnson on the next lap as Johnson got loose and slid up the track. Dave Banville, Cavallaro, Belcher and Robidoux all took advantage of Johnson, dropping him to the rear.
Rainville and Demello then engaged in a dogfight over fifth place as Rainville came in underneath and they battled over the spot. Rainville claimed the lead on lap eighteen as Fortin began to engage Albernaz for third. He wound under Albernaz and they went door-to-door before Fortin could claim third on lap 21.
Church looked under Perry but couldn’t get anywhere. Lap 23 saw Perry get loose and push up the track, but Church could not take advantage. Rainville, working outside Demello over fifth, also loosened up and DeMello nosed out into fifth. At the same time, Banville drove under and into seventh as Cavallaro came in on his bumper. This was the setting for the lap 28 spins and Fortin’s great leap to the lead.
The restart set the final positions at the front and they came away set for the finish. In the final analysis, Belcher followed Rainville across in sixth, succeeded by Johnson, Banville, Mike Lopes, Perry DeMello and Robidoux.
ARRENEGADO CLAIMS LATE MODEL DAV, LEADING GREEN TO CHECKERS
Vinny Arrenegado capped his season which already saw two feature wins, with a big victory over Dave Hutchins, Jr. in the 50-lap Late Model race. Arrenegado, who has shown remarkable ability at restarts used his ability to get away quickly and then worked hard to keep the hovering Hutchins at bay.
Hutch, trying to play the spoiler, was all over Arrenegado’s bumper for the entire fifty laps. He had earned the runner-up spot with a lap-one move under outside pole sitter Nick Uhrig. Uhrig had challenged Hutchins from third for half the race, but yielded to Charlie Rose on a lap 28 restart after Ryan Vanasse spun after contact and went to the pits for repair. Rose dived under Uhrig, setting up a three-wide with Mark Curtis outside and Uhrig the meat in the sandwich. Charlie took over third with Curtis on his tail.
While Hutch continued to pressure the streaking Arrenegado for the lead, Curtis turned up the heat on Rose, and they engaged in aerial combat for nine laps. Behind them, over the same distance, Gerry DeGasparre, Jr. and Uhrig were jousting for position. They swapped the lead through lap 35, when Jeremy “The Hammer” Lillie took over sixth, behind DeGasparre.
Arrenegado had a four-car lead by lap 31 but Hutch was far from yielding. He had Rose on his tail, followed by Curtis. Then came DeGasparre, working under Uhrig. But Curtis nosed in under Rose on lap 33 and Charlie sought to hang on. But Curtis continued to advance and they were soon door-to-door.
They were still side-by-side a lap later as The Hammer now looked under Uhrig. Both Curtis and Lillie completed their passes on lap 35. Nick Johnson went after Uhrig for seventh, while DeGasparre began a lengthy bid to get by Rose. Johnson went below Uhrig on lap 37 as Arrenegado now was enjoying a six-car lead on Hutchins. He completed his run underneath on lap 39.
Behind Uhrig, TJ Moreshead was in a dogfight with Austin Blais which would run to the final lap.
The field had stretched out save for the bare knuckles match going on between Rose and DeGasparre. Neither would give ground. Meanwhile, Curtis was beginning to knock on Hutchins’ door. With three remaining, however, Gerry got solidly under Charlie and had the lead in turn two.
With but one situation unresolved, the field ran for the checkers single file, three laps ahead. Blais and Moreshead still fought it out over ninth with Blais looking to take over the spot from Moreshead. Blais got a nose by and pushed ahead on the final circuit, stealing ninth at the stripe relegating Moreshead to tenth.
Arrenegado flashed under the checkers for the win with Hutchins taking the runner-up slot. Curtis was third, followed by DeGasparre and Rose. Lillie was sixth, followed by Lillie, Johnson, Uhrig, Blais, Moreshead, Crystal Serydynski and Vanasse.
TYLER LALLIER OUTRUNS PAUL LALLIER FOR STREETS WIN
Showing no parental respect and little more for the 2015 champ who is his parent, Tyler Lallier threw caution to the wind, stepped up and rocketed to a big, 30-lap win in the prestigious D. Anthony Venditti Memorial. He started third, one position ahead of his father, Paul Lallier and finished one position ahead of him for the trip to Victory Lane. Along the way, he had led all but the initial four laps of the feature. Paul had mixed it up with Adam Dion, edging him out of second on lap 6, yielding it to him on lap 12, then reclaiming it on lap 16. From there, the elder Lallier motored after his son heading for the checkers. Dion continued his pursuit, good for third place, followed by Rob Kohler and AJ Solomon.
John Hanafin led off from the outside pole to claim the lead over Dion. Tyler got past Dion on lap one. Anthony Kohler had a tire come off the rim sending him to the backstretch wall for a race-ending crash. He was off on the hook and Ray Negley had to be pushed to the pits. On the restart, Hanafin zoomed away to the front with Tyler on his bumper. Dion dropped in while Chris Rioux worked under Paul. Tyler meanwhile tied onto Hanafin’s bumper as Solomon spun on the backstretch.
Again, Hanafin was away with Tyler on his tail. Rioux and Dion were door-to-door. But Hanafin had some damage which brought out the black flag. Tyler took over the lead as Paul passed Rioux into third. Caution flew again as a piece of metal fell off Rob Kohler’s car and he was black-flagged to the pits. He returned after repairs and Hanafin rejoined, two laps down.
Tyler and Dion preceded Paul and Rioux for the restart with Scott Bruneau and Al Clements behind them. Tyler grabbed the lead and Paul nosed under Dion with Bruneau going below Rioux. He moved under Dion as Paul went to second. Rioux then tagged Bruneau’s bumper as he worked under Dion. Rioux loosened and went sideways as Dion and Bruneau ducked under. Tim Eaton had nowhere to go and piled in. Rioux limped slowly to the pits.
The Lalliers restarted side-by-side. Tyler grabbed the front and Dion dropped under Paul to run door-to-door. Dion nosed ahead but Rob Kohler spun. The restart saw Tyler pull away from Dion and Paul nosed under. A lap later, he was back into second as Solomon leaped up four places over the restart. Clements ran in behind him with Flood grabbing sixth behind him.
Kohler was quick to recover and forged past Tim Watson onto Flood’s bumper. He was passed and around Clements onto Solomon’s bumper. They debated fourth place behind Dion. But Clements suddenly came to a stop at the end of the backstretch bringing another caution and ending Clements’ day.
The Lalliers were away again and with ten laps to go, the top three (Tyler, Paul and Dion) were decided. Solomon and Kohler had to decide fourth while Thomas Adams dueled Bruneau and Watson over sixth. Kohler was able to pull into fourth on lap 21 leaving Soloman in fifth. Bruneau dueled Adams through lap 27, going outside to take over sixth. Watson fell off as Dane Saritelli moved past into eighth. Flood, who had fallen off recovered and moved quickly up the ladder to take eighth from Saritelli with two laps remaining.
At the finish, it was Tyler Lallier with the win, followed by Paul Lallier, Dion, Kohler, and Solomon. Rounding out the top ten were: Bruneau, Adams, Flood, Saritelli, and Watson.
GOODROW GRABS TROPHY IN SYRA 600’S
Trenton Goodrow took over the lead eight laps in, and captured the win in SYRA 600 action, but he had to fight off tough Luke LeBrun, who nosed into the lead for a single lap – lap 16 – then chased him mercilessly all the way to the checkers, as Goodrow took a .034-second win at the stripe.
Scott Serydynski was quickly up from fourth to second by lap two. But he wavered trying to keep pace and McMullen spun out of turn three toward the wall. Mason Tessier coming around high by the wall made a miracle dodge between McMullen and the wall as the latter skidded to the stop just off the barrier.
Levesque and Serydynski faced off with Goodrow and Zachary Martinez in row two. They went door-to-door. As Levesque pulled ahead, Serydynski spun in turn four. In the scramble, Alexandria Lillie suffered a flat tire and limped for the pits.
Levesque moved out again to a half car lead, but Goodrow came back for a wheel-to-wheel. Martinez, Marissa Morgan, and McMullen pursued. But lap 7 saw Evan Marchand spin on the front stretch to the grass and Reagan Parent headed for the pits. Lillie returned with a fresh tire.
Levesque and Goodrow were again wheel-to-wheel, but another caution froze the action a lap later. They came away once again neck and neck. Goodrow nosed out in turn two to claim the lead. And caution flew again on lap nine. Goodrow now had the pole and nosed out and pulled away. Martinez edged Levesque back to third.
Luke LeBrun came up for a pass and made it three wide around McMullen and Levesque. LeBrun and Levesque were running side-by-side as Ava Chouinard spun to the grass.
Goodrow faced off with Martinez, but a single lap elapsed before another caution waved. It took two tries to start lap 14 but finally, Goodrow nosed ahead of LeBrun who replied by nosing ahead on lap 16 before Goodrow reclaimed the front.
LeBrun continued to work the outside as the laps wound down, but Goodrow was able now to hold a few inches of advantage, which he carried down to the checkers.
LeBrun finished second while Martinez, Levesque, and Morgan completed the top five. Sixth went to Ava Chouinard, followed by Tessier, Parent, McMullen, Lillie, Marchand and Serydynski.
BRADSTREET RAMBLES IN FOR SPORT FOUR WIN
Gil Bradstreet added to his three consecutive regular wins and second place season’s ender with a big win the DAV Memorial Race over division champ David Westgate. Simpson started on the outside pole, but pole sitter David Simpson got the jump at the green, nosed out and pulled away. Bradstreet followed and Westgate came from the low side of the second row to nab third. He was able to steal second from Bradstreet in side by side racing but Bradstreet wrestled it away from him with a cross under move and set out after Simpson.
Mike Lefort and Eric S claimed fourth and fifth with Michael Glad and Christine Cavallaro keeping pace. David Gargaro was holding on to eighth ahead of Ray Hermand. Bradstreet was closing on Simpson and was just two lengths back. One lap later it was half a car and next time they were wheel-to-wheel. Bradstreet was charging and had the lead coming out of turn three. Westgate was still third followed by Lefort, Eric S, and Cavallaro, who was fighting off Glad.
By lap 11, Bradstreet had a three-car lead and two laps later it was up to five. Lap fifteen was another car length as Westgate began to look under Simpson. They were dead even in turn three, but Bradstreet was gaining distance, out to seven cars as they dueled behind him. Westgate worked free of Simpson and began to close on Bradstreet.
Lefort trailed Simpson with Eric S on his bumper. Cavallaro had gotten away from Glad into sixth and David Gargaro was in pursuit with Herman following. Westgate continued to close, but few laps remained. Lefort nosed under Simpson for third and was able to just squeeze past on the final circuit.
The top five under the checkers was Bradstreet, Westgate, Lefort, Simpson and Eric S. Cavallaro was sixth, followed by Gargaro, Herman, Henry Lavalle, Glad, Lightening McQueen and John Lineberger.
BOWSER LEADS GREEN TO CHECKERS FOR 750 WIN
Taylor Bowser jumped off the pole to lead all the way to the checkers and Victory Lane for a big, year-ender win. She pulled away from outside pole sitter Cassie Meservey and set out for the finishing stripe. Meservey pushed hard and nearly spun out but made a miraculous save.
Lap three saw Michael Toner giving chase, followed by Matt Barboza, Eric LeBrun, and Tom Ouellette, but LeBrun found himself in a spin in turn two.
Bowser was away again on the green but Toner came back for a door-to-door in turn two. Taylor Pulled away again as Barboza got under Ouellette and Meservey pursued. Meservey spun in turn two and tried to keep it going but was unable to gain speed and the caution flew.
Bowser escaped Toner once again as Barboza and Ouelette were wheel-to-wheel again before LeBrun spun once again but this time could keep moving. Toner was still working outside Bowser but she pulled away in turn two of lap nine. She began to build a lead, lap by lap. By lap 12 if was five cars as the field strung out. Toner held second followed by Ouellette, Barboza, Meservey, Shea Kulpa and LeBrun.
The final finish had been established as the field wound around single file and they continued across the stripe on the final circuit. Bowser was followed by Toner, Ouellette, Barboza, Meservey, Kulpa and LeBrun.
THOMPSON TAKES WIN IN LEGENDS
TJ Thompson made one of his visits which have been less frequent this season as his brother has been driving the number 3 Legends Car for much of the season. TJ who had been a dominant factor last season has been dominant whenever he takes over the wheel this season. For the Memorial, he became a spoiler, taking a win after Jesse Melberg had led a major portion of the race.
The duo came off the front row and Melberg outran the pole sitter from the box, going underneath Thompson in turn four. Thompson was pursued by Ryan Kuhn and Brandon Packard.
Melberg, looking for a big win, powered away at the front with Thompson on his bumper Kuhn looking for any opportunity to wedge his way through. Tim DePizzol stayed on pursuit with Joe Marfeo, Jesse “Mophead” Jakubajtys and Brendon Hammond keeping pace. Ray Parent, Jr., Brandon Martinez and Art Marrero followed.
The single file chase continued until Marreo spun on lap ten. This lined Melberg and Thompson up again, with Kuhn and DePizzol behind them. Packard and The Mophead lined up behind them.
Thompson got away first, but Melberg came back to grab the front out of turn two. Melberg got loose on lap 12, but was able to hold onto the car and the lead. Kuhn had gotten by Thompson going into lap eleven and now had TJ on his bumper. DePizzol followed, ahead of Hammond, Jakubajtys, and Parent. Lap 14 saw Jakubajtys drive to fourth behind Thompson.
Kuhn was looking under Melberg for the lead, but Melberg was holding the door shut. But his focus on Kuhn allowed him to swing wide through turn four. Still Kuhn couldn’t get by and then Marfeo spun in turn four.
The lap 17 restart saw Melberg and Kuhn on the front with Thompson and Jakubajtys in row two. Melberg zoomed out of the box into the lead. Thompson was under Packard as Melberg had a three car lead but Thompson forged past Kuhn and with seven remaining was looking to overtake the leader.
He looked under Melberg on lap 20, went there and they were side-by-side. He grabbed the lead out of turn four. Melberg tried to cross under, made contact with Thompson and spun in turn three.
On the restart, Thompson pulled away from Kuhn. Packard looked under but could not make the move. DePizzol, Jakubajtys, and Marfeo were in chase mode behind them. As the laps closed out, Marfeo spun again, through the grass into turn two.
The green-white-checker restart saw Thompson pull away as Packard got under Kuhn. Kuhn powered up and claimed second.
At the finish, Thompson had a .094-second lead on Kuhn and .470 on Packard in a photo finish.
Marfeo and Parent rounded out the top five. Completing the top ten were Hammond, Martinez, DePizzol, Jakubajtys, and Melberg.
COLBY LAMBERT CAPTURES DAV FOR PURE STOCKS
Colby Lambert converted a restart with two to go into a victory from third place. This was a disappointment for Randy Moretti who had led most of the way, but Moretti had seen Andrew Kun looking underneath and tried to close the door. But Kun was solidly in place and Moretti made contact and spun. Kun joined him at the back of the pack after being judged guilty of the assist. Lambert and Daniel Massa lined up for the restart and raced each other through the green/white/checker for the win. Lambert managed a quarter-second victory over Massa, who was followed by Keri-Lynn Manfredo, Mike Henriques and Amy Arsenault.
Billy Chouinard and Moretti led off from the front. Moretti made the pass on the pole sitter on lap one. Moretti, Chouinard and Arsenault led Mark Murphy who was working under Mike Henriques. Moretti went out to a three-car lead. Arsenault drove to Chouinard’s outside and they were wheel-to-wheel and Arsenault began to edge out and there was some banging in turn four. Robert Moore’s motor quit in turn four and they lined up for the restart.
Moretti zoomed away coming out of the box and Arsenault remained on the outside. Chouinard moved under then turned into Arsenault. Amy bounced off Chouinard and into Mark Murphy who was coming from behind. This took them both into the backstretch wall and Murphy climbed the wall with his wheels, coming to a halt on his driver’s side. He was taken to the ambulance for a checkup in the pits while crews worked to control a spill of track gas from his fuel cell. Chouinard was black flagged for his actions. Arsenault limped to the pits for repairs and then returned.
Moretti once again pulled away as Kun elected to remain outside and contest the lead. Lambert had taken over third and brother Jeremy was fourth, ahead of Manfredo. Arsenault and Henriques debated possession of seventh behind them.
Massa was now on the move and got past Manfredo on lap ten, then took on Jeremy Lambert. Massa took over fourth behind Colby on lap fourteen. Moretti still led Kun and Colby.
Manfredo turned it up a notch and began to move forward, passing Jeremy for sixth, battled it out with Henriques to get into fifth just before Moretti spun. On the restart, Lambert grabbed the lead with Massa on his heels and Manfredo in pursuit. Henriques grabbed fourth ahead of Arsenault.
Moretti grabbed sixth followed by Jeremy Lambert, Kun and Emily Brightman in ninth. She was the last car running after several cars had retired.
Sources: Seekonk Speedway