Yardley Sweeps Super X-Car Doubleheader
Yardley Sweeps Super X-Car Doubleheader; Decoster in Control of X Car Feature; Bennett Strikes Again in Legends Race; Evans Enjoys Solid Bandolero Run
WATERFORD — Dave Yardley of Berlin said it’s been four years since he has had a car capable of handling the way his car handled during Wednesday’s Wild & Wacky competition.
It was worth the wait.
Yardley chalked up two come-from-behind victories to solidify his point lead in the New London-Waterford Speedbowl’s Super X-Car standings. Yardley leads Marc Shafer by 15 points and needs to finish 14th or better in Wednesday’s final 25-lap feature to put the padlock on his first championship.
In other action Wednesday, Dylan DeCoster took the lead on the seventh lap and went on to win the 25-lap X Car feature.
Peter Bennett made a crossover move against John O’Sullivan midway through the race to wrap up the 25-lap Legends victory. He needs to finish 26th or better in Wednesday’s final to nail down his first championship.
P/J. Evans not only led every lap of the 20-lap Bandolero feature, but he also moved into the point lead.
The dominant factor during Wednesday’s show was Yardley. In the first race, he started slowly but was able to barnstorm to the front by lap 11.
“I really had to work for that one,” Yardley said. “With six laps to go, everything started breaking down. I had a couple leads, but I was slowing down a bit. I got lucky though, and we pulled it off.”
Ed Ryan Jr., a rookie driver, finished right behind Yardley.
“On the last restart, I had one hiccup and I was forced to follow Yardley from there,” Ryan said. “He was way too fast.”
Yardley seemed to be even faster in the second race as he jet-streamed past leader Marc Shafer to take the lead.
“This car was perfect,” Yardley said. “I have been waiting for four years for a car like this. We have been fighting this thing and fighting it and fighting it, and it finally has come around.”
DeCoster was able to move to the front early and wasn’t seriously challenged in his X-Car victory. Wayne Shifflett, who started deep in the pack, moved into second with five laps left, but didn’t have enough time to run down DeCoster.
“The car was set up fast,” DeCoster said. “The car was a little loose in the beginning, but it tightened up as we went along. The car wound up being perfect.”
Bennett always seems to have a perfect car. John O’Sullivan moved into the lead 10 laps into the race, but Bennett moved into second and had room on the inside to make a slingshot move to the front.
“The car really felt good,” Bennett said. “That’s the best it’s been in a long time. The car got a little tight during the long runs and Johnny O’Sullivan started catching me. But all in all, it was a good race.”
Evans started on the pole and led every lap in the Bandolero feature, despite the presence of Emma Monahan, who was bear-hugged to Evans’ back bumper for most of the race.
“The car really has been great,” Evans said. “We’ve been in the Top 5 all season long.”
Evans will go into the final night of the season over Maddie Harkin, who finished in fourth place, but was disqualified.
One championship was clinched Wednesday. Ed Loomis finished fourth in the X-Car feature to clinch the crown. He has a 33-point lead over Bill Rheaume with just one race remaining.
The Wild and Wacky Wednesday 2018 season concludes Wednesday with features getting underway at 7 p.m.
25-lap SuperX-Cars No. 1: 1. Dave Yardley, Berlin; 2. Ed Ryan Jr., Preston; 3. Marc Shafer, Groton; 4. Bill Reiman, Southington; 5. Keith Brown, Griswold; 6. Mitch Bombard, Willimantic; 7. DennyLee Hoffman, Westbrook; 8. Jeremy Washburn, N/A’ 9. Jay Clement, Wethersfield; 10. Devin Tate, Preston,
Super-X Cars No. 2: 1. Dave Yardley, Berlin; 2. Marc Shafer, Groton; 3. Ed Ryan Jr., Preston; 4. Don Berge, Uncasville; 5, Peter Martin, Plainville; 6. Bill Reiman, Southington; 7. Mitch Bombard, Willimantic; 8. Devin Tate, Preston; 9. Keith Brown, Griswold; 10. DennyLee Hoffman, Westbrook.
25-lap X-Cars: 1, Dylan DeCoster, Waterford; 2. Wayne Shifflett, Preston; 3. TJ Racicot, Quaker Hill; 4. Eddie Loomis, Plainfield; 5. Chuck McDonald, Groton; 6. Christopher Lee, Oakdale; 7. Matt Menders, Niantic; 8. Josh Piper, Clinton; 9. Chris Strickland, Uncasville; 10. Mercedes Caron, East Hampton.
25-lap Legend: 1. Peter Bennett, Cromwell; 2. John O’Sullivan III, Salem; 3. Dennis Pantani, Branford; 4. Connor Holderbach, Wolcott; 5, Luke LeBruin, Newton, Mass.; 6. Brandon Remson, Norwalk; 7. Mason Levesque, Dighton, Mass.; 8. Colin Haley, Ashford’ ’. Drew Carroll, Lisbon; 10. Devon Jencik, Canton.
20-laps Bandoleros: 1. PJ Evans, Uncasville; 2. Emma Monahan, Waterford; 3. Brody Monahan, Waterford; 4. Tyler Alkas, Berlin; 5. Ari Jencik, Canton; 6, Madelyn Hovey, Chaplin; 7. Teddy Welch, Griswold; 8. Charles Prinz, Oakdale; 9. Sawyer Reiss, Guilford; 10. Anthony Belivaqua, Newington.
For more information, contact Mike Serluca at nikes@speedbowl.com
Sources: Mike Serluca/New London-Waterford Speedbowl PR