Rocco, Meyer, Gibbs, Perry, Morga, Correll Win at Waterford
WATERFORD –Keith Rocco said you can’t compete against Ted Christopher without having some respect. It also helps to have a fast race car.
Rocco had both as he blistered his way into the lead with 11 laps remaining on his way to his fourth win of the season in the 35-lap SK Modified feature Saturday at New London Waterford Speedbowl.
Jacob Perry, a 14-year-old from Pawcatuck, won his first 25-lap Ministock feature while Chris Meyer and Monte Gibbs each captured 25-lap Sportsman features. Chris Correll won his first SK Light feature, while Cameron Morga, a visitor from New Mexico, was a winner in the 25-lap U.S. Legends feature.
One of the best moves of the night was executed by Rocco in the SK Modified event. Christopher had taken the lead with an outside move against Tom Abele Jr. with 12 laps to go. One lap later, Rocco thundered to the outside and was able to execute the same move.
“I had confidence that move was going to work because Ted always races me clean,” Rocco said. “You have to respect him. But once I got the lead, he really made me work for it.”
Christopher pestered Rocco’s back bumper, but couldn’t get past Rocco.
“Our car was just a little too tight,” Christopher said.
The race was bogged down by seven caution flags. Abele Jr. Led for the first 20 laps, but spun out into the infield once Christopher passed him. He rallied to finish fourth, one sport behind Diego Monahan.
Rocco also captured the mid-season championship, making him a double winner.
In the first of two Limited Sportsman features, Chris Mayer took the lead from Moose Douton with seven laps remaining to grab his second win. In the second half of the doubleheader, Monte Gibbs pulled off a three-wide move with four laps to go to get the lead from Jason Chicolas and Josh Galvin.
“I saw those two cars get together and I just went for it,” Gibbs said.
It was his third win of the season. Al Stone captured the mid-season title.
Rookie driver Jacob Perry held off defending champ Wayne Burrows down the stretch to win his first-ever Ministock feature.
“Wayne Burroughs gave me some advice about the restarts tonight, and my car worked perfectly,” Perry said. “The pressure was on me. Everyone in my family started their career in the minis and had success. It was up to me to win and I’m glad I was able to do it tonight.”
Perry is a third-generation driver. Ken Cassidy Jr. nailed down the mid-season title.
Correll prevailed in a caution-infested SK Light race. Tony Membrino, who started last in the feature, rallied to finish second and won the mid-season championship. He didn’t have an answer for Correll, however, who led every lap but one.
Morga made a dazzling move on lap 7 of the 20-lap feature, moving from fourth place to the lead in less than one lap. John O’Sullivan finished second for the third straight race.
Morga was at the Speedbowl to prepare for the national U.S. Legends championship, which takes place here in October.
Jim Kelly won the Vintage Outlaw Modified racing.
Racing returns to the Speedbowl on Saturday with Nostalgia Night.
35-lap SK Modifieds: 1. Keith Rocco Berlin; 2. Ted Christopher, Plainville ; 3. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill; 4. Tom Abele Jr. Norwich; 5. Dennis Perry, Pawcatuck; ; 6. Paul Buzel, Trumbull; 7. Justin Gadosh, Newtown; 8. Brent Sweet, Milford; 9. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr, New Milford; 10. Todd Owen, Somers.
25 lap Limited Sportsman 1: 1. Chris Meyer, Franklin; 2. Al Stone III, Durham; 3. Monty Gibbs, Killingworth; 3. Allen Coates, Ledyard; 5. Chris Douton, Waterford; 7. Charles Beal, Ledyard; 8. Jason Chicolas, Lillingly; 9. Adrien Paradis, Plainville; 10. Jack Aquilina, Waterford.
25-lap Limited Sportsman 2: 1. Monte Gibbs, Killingworth; 2. Josh Galvin, Groton; 3. Chris Mayer, Franklin; 4. Al Stone, Durham; 5. Allen Coates, Ledyard; 6. Charles Beal, Ledyard; 7. Jason Chicolas, Killingly; 8. Jon Porter, Wallingford; 9. Tyler Cinamella, Windham; 10. Adrien Paradis, Plainville.
25-lap Ministocks: 1. Jacob Perry, Pawcatuck; 2. Wayne Burroughs, Plainfield; 3. Sean Caron, East Hampton; 4. Charles Canfield, New Haven; 5. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 6. Dave Trudeau, Mansfield; 7. Doug Curry, Norwich; 8. Jordan Hadley, Groton; 9. Ian Brew, Westerly, R.I.; 10. Christopher Ivory, Waterford.
20-lap Legends: 1. Cameron Morga, Albuquerque, N.M.; 2. John O’Sullivan, Norwich; 3. Mikey Flynn, Hamden, Mass.; 4. Scott Limpkemann, Oakdale; 5. Kyle Rogers, Waterbury; 6. Jonathan Puleo, Branford; 7. Joey Turnullo, Middletown; 8. Caterina LaBella, Plainville; 9. Austin Teras, Windham, Me.; 10, Michael Rutkoski, Mattatuck, N.Y.
SK Lights: 1. Chris Correll, Waterford; 2. Tony Membrinio, Plainfield; 3. Shawn Thibeault, Southington; 4. Cory Dimatteo, Farmington; 5. Bill McNeil, Preston; 6. Nick Riso, Naugatuck; 7. John O’Sullivan, Norwich; 8. Randy Churchill, Niantic; 9. Chris Gombos, Naugatiuuck; 10. Alan Benincaso, Cheshire.
Sources: Olivia Bouchard/New London Waterford Speedbowl PR