Ewanitsko Sits on the Pole; Brown, Parker, Plemons, Lemay, Savary, Brennan, and Ethier Get World Series Victories
Thompson, CT: The open wheel warriors put on a tremendous show, under perfect conditions, on the second day of the Xtra-Mart World Series of Auto Racing at Thompson International Speedway. The Featherlite Modified Series kicked off the day’s events with 61 cars taking time. Setting fast time and redrawing the pole was Mike Ewanitsko in the Art Barry owned #21. Stellar performances were given by Kirk Alexander of W. Swanzey, NH and former Thompson Sunoco Modified Champion Todd Ceravolo of Groton, CT who will start second and third respectively. Each of the Championship contenders turned in solid qualifying runs. Marquis will take the green in sixth, Ruggiero in ninth, and Fuller in fourteenth. Twenty-eight cars will vie for two starting positions in Sunday’s Featherlite Modified Series main event on Sunday in the 25-lap Non-Qualifiers race. The Last Chance race is set to go green at noon.
The North Eastern Midget Association made their return to the Connecticut oval with Don Adams and Mark Buonomo scoring heat race victories.
International Supermodified Association chauffeurs John Payne, Bobby Timmons, and Brad Lichty found the fast way around the 5/8th mile to earn victories in the ISMA Supermodified heats. “Liquid” Lou Cicconi earned a feature event nod with the victory in the Super consi.
In full-bodied action Scott Bronczyk, Jeff Hesselton, and Jeff Hartwell scored victories in Thompson Late Models heats. Les Hinckley III showed the way in the first Pro Stock heat and veteran Jim McCallum in the second.
Chris Perley jumped from behind the wheel of his Supermodified into his Pro Stock to record a heat race victory. The Champ Roger Godin was the victor in the final Pro Stock heat. A huge field of Pro Stocks, 55 strong, called for two consolation events. George Bessette and Wayne Helliwell, Jr. were both victorious.
Fifty-four Small Block Modifieds attempted to make the field for Sunday’s 50-lap feature event and when the checkers flew on the heats Scott Quinn, Tom Fox, Jeff Malave, and John Snead had taken down victories. The Sunoco Modified consolations went to Roger Godin of Spencer, MA and Eddy Spiers, of Beacon Falls, CT; both of who are pulling double-duty this weekend.
Kevin Boeckle was the first visitor to victory lane at the 27th Annual Xtra-Mart World Series on Saturday night in the first of 15 features to be held during the weekend. Boeckle recorded the win in the Formula Pro Series event in only his first start on an oval.
The Thompson Mini Stock #1 has seen victory this season with both Chuck Weimer III and Rich Barry behind the wheel. This time Brown of Mooresville, NC put the silver bullet into victory lane. In the companion Outlaw Mini event, 32 cars from around the region took the green flag. When the dust settled on the wild and wooly event Brandon Plemons. In the Outlaw Mini Trucks it was Joe Lemay holding the checkers.
Shawn Parker of Avon, MA was crowned the Racing Against Cancer American Race Trucks Xtra-Mart World Series Champion. Parker led every lap of the race to earn his second victory of the season. Richard Savary, also of Avon, MA, continued a family tradition winning the Harry Kourafas, Jr. Memorial for the Southern New England Modifieds. Richard Savary held off Les Rose, Jr. and 2000 division champion, his father, George Savary.
Mike Brennan worked his way from the 39th starting position to earn the victory in the Outlaw Strictly Stock main event. By lap 13 the Morganville, NJ native had taken the lead from Thompson regular Mark Decosta and motored to the win. In the night capper Roy Ethier took advantage of his pole starting position to score the victory over 39 Outlaw Late Model competitors. Ethier had to hold off the hard-charging Ray Minieri of Calverton, NY throughout the event to earn the honors.
Gates open at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday morning in preparation for the feature event of the Xtra-Mart World Series weekend, the 125-lap final point race for the Featherlite Modified Series 2000 season. The festivities will begin at 12:00 p.m. with the presentation of the Modified Series Non-Qualifiers event. Joining the Tour will be feature events for the Thompson Strictly Stocks, NEMA Midgets, Pro Stocks, Supermodifieds, Sunoco Modifieds, and the Thompson Late Models to close out the 60th season of Thompson International Speedway.
Thompson Mini Stock feature finish: 1. Charlie Brown, Mooresville, NC, 2. Dennis Coates, Wrentham, MA; 3. Roger Larson, Jr., Milford, MA; 4. Cindy Larson, Milford, MA; 5. Ronald Rixham, Sutton, MA; 6. Dennis Perry, Hopkinton, MA; 7. Dave Clark, Plainfield, CT; 8. Ray Fitzgerald, Worcester, MA; 9. Gene Vitiello, Pascoag, RI; 10. Pete Donato, W. Warwick, RI.
Racing Against Cancer American Race Truck Feature Finish: 1. Shawn Parker, Avon, MA; 2. Chris Hammond, Hollis, ME; 3. Chris Correll, Quaker Hill, CT; 4. Scott Gregory, Old Saybrook, CT; 5. Ryan Posocco, Stafford Springs, CT; 6. Bernie Singer, Danbury, CT; 7. Bill Gros, Bristol, CT; 8. Jay King, Sandy Hook, CT; 9. Scott Riggelman, Howell, NJ; 10. Jeff Zoler, Littleton, MA.
Outlaw Mini Stock Feature finish: 1. Brandon Plemons, Groton, CT; 2. Bruce Thomas, Groton, CT; 3. Dwayne Dorr, Gales Ferry, CT; 4. Paul Pion, Pawtucket, RI; 5. Chris Williams, Westerly, RI; 6. Terry Boudreau, Coventry, RI; 7. Phil Evans, Groton, CT; 8. Bill Schoeler, Warwick, RI; 9. Gerard Berthelette, North Smithfield, RI; 10. Dave Trudeau, Mansfield, CT
Outlaw Mini Truck feature finish: 1. Joe Lemay, Millville, MA; 2. George Rego, N. Dartmouth, MA; 3. Mike Bightman, New Bedford, MA; 4. Stanley Sherman, Lakeville, MA; 5. Dick Benoit, Bridgewater, MA
Southern New England Modified feature finish: 1. Richard Savary, Avon, MA; 2. Les Rose, Jr., Raynham, MA; 3. George Savary, Westwood, MA; 4. Tim Proctor, Hamilton, NJ; 5. Dale Turner, Newport, RI.
Outlaw Strictly Stock feature finish: 1. Mike Brennan, Morganville, NJ; 2. Mark DeCosta, Cranston, RI; 3. Bill Goldrick, Springfield, MA; 4. Carl Holmgren, Jr. E. Hartford, CT; 5. Beau LeBeau, Enfield, CT; 6. Albert Clements, Oak Bluffs, MA; 7. Gerry Durand, Chicopee, MA; 8. Mike Cavanaugh, Coventry, RI; 9. Mike Bernardi, Wallingford, CT; 10. Rob Rotondo, Cranston, RI .
Outlaw Late Model feature finish: 1. Roy Ethier, Sterling, CT; 2. Ray Minieri, Calverton, NY; 3. Jim Storace, Somersworth, NH; 4. Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, MA; 5.Billy Wheeler, Sag Harbor, NY; 6. Tom Soper, Manorville, NY; 7. Peter Fernandes, Taunton, MA; 8. Tim Smith, Broad Brook, CT; 9. Glen Young, Mansfield, MA; 10.Gerry DeGasparre, Jr., Pawtucket, RI.
Sources: Thompson Speedway PR