New England Cycle Center 161 Recap
WATERFORD – Ron Silk powered past polesitter Eric Goodale one-third of the way through the New England Cycle Center 161 Saturday at New London-Waterford Speedbowl and never looked back.
Silk, of Norwalk, held off the field down the stretch to record his 10th career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory. It was his first at the Speedbowl, and it came in just his third race with new car owner Danny Watts Jr. and the No. 82 Horton Avenue Materials Chevrolet team.
Max Zachem, of Preston, crossed the stripe second for his best career finish. Jimmy Blewett of Howell, N.J. joined him on the podium in third. Jeff Goodale of Riverhead, N.Y. and Rob Summers of Manchester rounded out the top five while Brendon Bock, Matt Swanson, Doug Coby, Donny Lia and Jamie Tomaino completed the top 10.
Saturday also marked career-best finishes for Goodale and Bock while Tomaino extended his Whelen Modified Tour record for career starts to 600 in the event.
[Photo Gallery] by Ed Martin
[Photo Gallery] by Donald Silberman
Silk, the 2011 Whelen Modified Tour titlist, ended a 42-race winless drought with his first victory since August 2012 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified feature was suspended with 18 laps remaining in the scheduled 35-lap event because of rain. Diego Monahan of Quaker Hill was leading the event, with Ted Christopher of Plainville in second, when the rains came and brought the event to a halt.
The event will be resumed at a date to be announced.
The 25-lap Limited Sportsman feature also fell victim to rain.
Ray Christian III used some late race dramatics to score his first career Late Model victory.
Christian, of Uncasville, went firing to the lead past Jason Palmer on a restart with six laps left and held on to win the 30-lap Late Model feature. Palmer, of Berlin, was ended up second. Jeff Smith of Old Lyme was third.
Jordan Hadley of Quaker Hill started on the pole in his Mini Stock and made it look easy. Hadley led every circuit to win the 25-lap Mini Stock feature. Christopher Ivory of Oakdale was second and Ian Brew of Wood River Junction, R.I. third. It was the third career victory for Hadley.
Information from NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communication was used in this report
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour-New England Cycle Center 161 Results
Saturday
At New London-Waterford Speedbowl
Waterford, Conn.
Lap length: 0.375 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (5) Ron Silk, Norwalk, Conn., Chevrolet, 161 laps, 50.231 mph.
2. (13) Max Zachem, Preston, Conn., Chevrolet, 161.
3. (3) Jimmy Blewett, Howell, N.J., Dodge, 161.
4. (18) Jeff Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 161.
5. (7) Rob Summers, Manchester, Conn., Chevrolet, 161.
6. (6) Brendon Bock, Franklin Square, N.Y., Chevrolet, 161.
7. (26) Matt Swanson, Acton, Mass., Chevrolet, 161.
8. (8) Doug Coby, Milford, Conn., Chevrolet, 161.
9. (12) Donny Lia, Jericho, N.Y., Chevrolet, 161.
10. (20) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 161.
11. (17) Craig Lutz, Miller Place, N.Y., Chevrolet, 161.
12. (24) Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., Chevrolet, 161.
13. (23) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y., Chevrolet, 161.
14. (11) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 161.
15. (16) Timmy Solomito, Islip, N.Y., Ford, 160.
16. (15) Tom Adele, Jr., Norwich, Conn., Chevrolet, 159.
17. (22) Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 152, overheating.
18. (4) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., Chevrolet, 140.
19. (19) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Chevrolet, 138, accident.
20. (1) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 128, drive shaft.
21. (28) Walter Sutcliffe Jr., Panacea, Fla., Chevrolet, 124, suspension.
22. (14) Dave Sapienza, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 117, accident.
23. (27) Andrew Krause, Holmdel, N.J., Chevrolet, 87.
24. (2) Chase Dowling, Roxbury, Conn., Chevrolet, 73, accident.
25. (21) Wade Cole, Hartland, Conn., Chevrolet, 28.
26. (9) Bobby Santos, Franklin, Mass., Chevrolet, 7, accident.
27. (10) Nick Salva, Prospect, Conn., Chevrolet, 0, accident.
28. (25) Melissa Fifield, Wakefield, N.H., Chevrolet, 0, accident.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 12 minutes 7 seconds
Margin of Victory: 0.732 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: E.Goodale (96.222 mph, 14.03 seconds)
Caution Flags: 10 for 63 laps.
Lead Changes: 5 among 4 drivers.
Lap Leaders: E. Goodale 1-25; C. Dowling 26; E. Goodale 27-49; R. Silk 50-144; M. Zachem 145; R. Silk 146-161.
Standings: 1. D. Coby, 124; 2. T. Solomito, 116; 3. M. Zachem, 109; 4. J. Bonsignore, 109; 5. R. Silk, 105; 6. R. Pennink, 102; 7. D. Lia, 102; 8. M. Swanson, 99; 9. R. Summers, 97; 10. B. Bock, 97.
30-lap Late Model: Ray Christian III, Uncasville; 2. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 3. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 4. Bruce Thomas Jr. Groton; 5. Walter Sutcliffe East Haven; 6. Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 7. Anthony Flannery, East Hampton; 8. Matthew Carlson, Griswold; 9. Jim Banfield, Glastonbury; 10. Richard Duranti, Quaker Hill.
25-lap Mini Stock: 1. Jordan Hadley, Quaker Hill; 2. Christopher Ivory, Oakdale; 3. Ian Brew, Wood River Junction, R.I.; 4. Wayne Burroughs Jr., Oakdale; 5. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 6. Dave Trudeau, Mansfield; 7. Sean Caron, East Hampton; 8. Brad Caddick, Wyoming, R.I.; 9. Charles Canfield, East Haven; 10. Jacob Perry, Pawcatuck.
Sources: Olivia Bouchard/New London-Waterford Speedbowl PR