New London-Waterford Results 06/18/2016
WATERFORD – Third year SK Modified division driver Paul Kusheba IV scored his long awaited first career victory in the division Saturday to showcase the racing card at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl.
Anthony Flannery was victorious in the Late Model feature. Tony Membrino Jr. scored victory in the SK Light Modified feature. Al Stone III was victorious in the Limited Sportsman feature. Charles Canfield won the Mini Stock feature. Duane Noll won in the debut of the track’s new Truck division.
The 21-year Kusheba of Monroe was up to the task of handling numerous restarts to get his first victory in the 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified feature.
Rob Janovic Jr. of Waterford was second and Dennis Perry of Pawcatuck third.
Paul Buzel took the field to green with Diego Monahan to his outside.
Monahan went to the lead from the outside lane at the drop of the green flag, with Janovic moving forward to second.
On a restart three laps in Kusheba went by Buzel for third place. Three laps later Kusheba made the move to get by Janovic for second.
With 27 laps remaining Kusheba was able to use a low move off of turn four to take over the top spot from Monahan.
Monahan went to the pits under the next caution, moving Janovic to second and Perry to third.
On a restart with 25 laps left it was Perry moving past Janovic to second place.
The caution flag flew with 11 laps remaining. On the restart it was Janovic getting under Perry to return to second place, while Kusheba pulled away at the front.
The caution flew again with eight laps remaining, but Kusheba was up to the task once again, pulling away quickly from Janovic.
A multi-car wreck brought out the caution once again with five laps left.
Another picture perfect restart had Kusheba keeping the field at bay over the final five laps.
Flannery, of East Hampton, got his first victory of the season in the 30-lap Late Model feature.
Ray Christian III of Uncasville was second and Keith Rocco of Wallingford third.
Flannery went to the lead on the third lap of the event and never trailed again, leaving the field to battle behind him.
Membrino, of Berlin, kept his perfect Speedbowl record alive with his fourth victory in four starts this year in the 25-lap SK Light Modified feature.
Cory DiMatteo of Farmington was second and Randy Churchill Jr. of Oakdale third.
Churchill went to the lead on a restart with 21 laps remaining with Brett Gonyaw moving to second place and Membrino to third.
Two laps later Gonyaw was penalized for a restart issue, allowing Membrino to assume second place behind Churchill.
With 15 laps left Membrino started tapping on the bumper of Churchill, but there was no moving him.
Membrino looked to the outside of Churchill with 10 laps remaining, but that was a move that didn’t work either.
With six laps remaining Churchill was pulling away from Membrino.
The caution flew with three laps remaining and it proved the undoing for Churchill. Membrino got the jump on the outside to take over the lead on the ensuing restart.
The caution flew again with two laps left, but Membrino got away from the field on the restart and DiMatteo was able to move to second place past Churchill.
Stone, of Durham, got his third victory of the season in the 25-lap Limited Sportsman feature.
Josh Galvin of Oakdale was second and Alan Coates of Ledyard third.
John Porter took the field to green with Charles Beal to his outside.
Al Stone III quickly diced his way to second behind Beal and took over the lead with 14 laps remaining.
From there Stone, the reigning division champion, was the show, leaving the field behind and surviving a rash of restarts over the final half of the event.
It was the first victory of the season for Canfield, of East Haven, in the 25-lap Mini Stock feature.
Christopher Ivory of Oakdale was second and Dave Trudeau of Mansfield third.
Matt Guertin took the field to green from the pole and stayed in that position until Canfield used an outside lane pass to take over the top spot with eight laps remaining following a restart.
From there Canfield went unchallenged at the front leaving the fight for second place. Ivory was able to use a late restart to move past Trudeau for second place.
It was the second career victory for Canfield, who got his first win on Sept. 24, 2011.
In the debut event for the track’s new Truck division it was Noll, of Monroe dominating in the 25-lap feature.
Tyler Chapman of Mystic was second and Andy Lindeman of Poestenkill, N.Y. third.
Todd Taylor took the field to green for the division, but he was lead was short lived.
Noll used a restart three laps into the event to go to the front past Taylor and he would never relinquish the top spot again.
Waterford Agate 6-18-16
35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified: 1. Paul Kusheba IV, Monroe; 2. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 3. Dennis Perry, Pawcatuck; 4. Joey Gada, Salem; 5. Todd Owen, Somers; 6. Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa.; 7. Ted Christopher, Plainville; 8. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 9. Dylan Izzo, Monroe; 10. Jeff Fialkovich, Shelton.
30-lap Late Model: 1. Anthony Flannery, East Hampton; 2. Ray Christian III, Uncasville; 3. Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 4. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 5. Bruce Thomas Jr., Groton; 6. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 7. Chris Garside, Waterford; 8. Matt Carlson, Griswold; 9. Vin Esposito, Waterbury; 10. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill.
25-lap SK Light Modified: 1. Tony Membrino Jr., Berlin; 2. Cory DiMatteo, Farmington; 3. Randy Churchill Jr., Oakdale; 4. Chris Gombos, Naugatuck; 5. Corey Barry, Plainfield; 6. Brett Gonyaw, Vernon; 7. Andrew Molleur, Shelton; 8. Connor Holderbach, Wolcott; 9. Shelby Donavan, Waterford; 10. Larry Goss, North Windham.
25-lap Limited Sportsman: 1. Al Stone III, Durham; 2. Josh Galvin, Oakdale 3. Alan Coates, Ledyard; 4. Charles Beal, Ledyard; 5. Jack Aqualina, Oakdale; 6. Chris Meyer, Norwich; 7. Tyler Chapman, North Stonington; 8. Chris Douton, Waterford; 9. Adrien Paradis III, Plainville; 10. Jon Porter, East Lyme.
25-lap Mini Stock: 1. Charles Canfield, East Haven; 2. Christopher Ivory, Oakdale; 3. Dave Trudeau, Mansfield; 4. Matt Guertin, Plantsville; 5. Jordan Hadley, Waterford; 6. Doug Curry, Groton; 7. Brian Norman, Clinton; 8. Wayne Burroughs Jr., Oakdale; 9. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 10. Nick Pappacoda, North Branford.
25-lap Trucks: 1. Duane Noll, Monroe; 2. Tyler Chapman, Mystic; 3. Andy Lindeman, Poestenkill, N.Y.; 4. Todd Taylor, Stonington; 5. Josh Stringer, Dayville; 6. Kendall Metcalf, North Stonington; 7. Glenn Noll, Naugatuck; 8. Cassie Coates, Ledyard; 9. Pete Cayer, Bristol; 10. Eric Finkebein Jr., Manchester
Sources: Olivia Bouchard/New London-Waterford Speedbowl PR