Pasteryak claims opening day VMRS win; Rocco starts season in SK Mod winner’s circle
Waterford, CT — Waterford Speedbowl’s season-opening Budweiser Blastoff Weekend was completed Sunday afternoon with six feature winners on the day, highlighted by the 100-lap Valenti Modified Racing Series race. Chris Pasteryak of Lisbon executed a late race pass for the lead to score the popular hometrack win. Russ Stoehr of Lakeville, Massachusetts claimed the NEMA Midget victory. Keith Rocco of Wallingford picked up where he left off in the SK Modifieds®, scoring the win to pick up where he left off in 2010 as the track champion. Vin Esposito of Seymour won his first extra distance event in the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models, Josh Galvin of Franklin won the Street Stock race and Bill Leonard of Wood River Junction, Rhode Island was the victor in the Mini Stocks.
Pasteryak started the 100-lap Valenti Modified Racing Series event by jumping to the early lead over Coby after the pair started on the front row. The pair, each with five career Speedbowl wins to their credit, battled early and often. Coby peeked outside Pasteryak several times, finally pulling ahead on lap-35.
Coby stayed there through an extended run of green flag racing that ended on lap-63. He picked up his lead over Pasteryak again and held the advantage until lap-85. Coby got loose entering turn one and Pasteryak seized his opportunity. He dove inside Coby and executed a clean pass as the two reached turns three and four. From there, Pasteryak didn’t look back.
[Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto
A special 61-lap SK Modified® race kicked off the Sunday events with Rocco leading the way from lap-1. He used the outside pole starting position to pull ahead of Rob Janovic at the drop of the green flag, then held strong through two early restarts before the field settled in to green flag racing.
Ron Yuhas Jr. moved around the outside of Janovic for second place on lap-15 and the top three cars pulled away from Diego Monahan in fourth.
Tyler Chadwick ran alone in fifth position, while Justin Gaydosh and Jeff Pearl battled for sixth. Caution again waved on lap-26 for a single car spin when Joe Perry looped his machine off turn four.
Yuhas had a great restart in the outside lane. He edged ahead of Rocco for the lead into turn one, but Rocco battled back strong to his inside.
The pair made contact exiting turn two resulting in Yuhas catching a wheel into the backstretch wall. Contact between the leaders continued in turn three as Rocco got shuffled out of the racing groove by Yuhas. As Rocco and Yuhas slid up the track, Janovic and Monahan darted by to the inside to become the new leaders. Yuhas’ day ended in the turn four wall just one lap later when he lost the right front tire on his car, ending his strong early run and bringing out the yellow flag.
Monahan had a great restart to the outside of Janovic once the track was cleared. They spent two laps side-by-side battling for the lead before Monahan faded in the outside lane. Rocco ducked past Monahan then set his sights back on Janovic out front. He made his move to the inside of Janovic exiting turn four on lap-32, reclaiming the top spot. The action was slowed again on lap-36 when Diego Monahan spun from third position in turn two with everyone able to avoid his spinning car. Chadwick was penalized for overaggressive driving, placing him to the tail of the field.
Rocco and Janovic moved out to a straightaway advantage ahead of Tom Abele when racing continued. Nichole Morgillo held onto fourth position with Perry back up to fifth. The race stayed green over the remaining 25 laps and although Janovic was able to keep Rocco in his sight, he could do nothing to challenge the defending track and national champion.
Rocco went on to the win over Janovic, Abele, Morgillo and Chadwick, who rallied furiously in the outside lane over the final green flag run to claim fifth position. Six cautions slowed the pace of the race
Bruce Thomas Jr. bolted out to the early lead in the 50-lap Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model race. He wasted no time pulling out to a comfortable advantage over the competition which battled for position through the race’s early stages. Jeff Smith moved to second ahead of Keith Rocco who held down third position. Rocco dropped off the pace on lap-14 with mechanical failure, drawing caution.
On lap-16 following a restart, a three-way battle for the lead between Thomas, Smith and Jason Palmer ended with the three leaders coming together in turn three to bring out caution. Thomas and Smith spun, and Palmer was placed to the rear of the field for his involvement in the incident. Thomas headed pit side for repairs while Smith resumed from at the tail end of the pack.
The shakeup placed Vin Esposito and Rich Staskowski on the front row for the ensuing restart. They remained that way to a lap-30 restart, and the remaining laps were run uninterrupted to the checkered flag. Staskowski stayed within seven lengths of Esposito throughout, but could not muster a serious challenge.
Esposito took the win in convincing fashion. Staskowski finished second and Joe Curioso held on to third place at the checkered flag, narrowly edging out Andronaco for the position after a battle that lasted much of the race. Smith came back for fifth.
Norm Root was the early leader in the 30-lap Street Stock race. Josh Galvin nosed his way under Root in a pivotal move on lap-8, battling to Root’s inside for two laps before the lone caution flag of the race slowed the action on lap-10. Galvin was scored the leader and held the top spot for the restart.
Galvin pulled away from the pack with the green flag back in the air, racing hard to build up a straightaway advantage over a battle for second between Root and Brandon Plemons, two former division champions. Ed Puleo, who recovered from a heavy crash in qualifying Saturday, borrowed a ride to make the show and was contending for a podium finish in fourth.
Galvin went on unchallenged to an impressive win. Root took second and Puleo used a late race outside pass on Plemons to take third. Defending division champion Al Stone took fifth position.
Ian Brew started out the 30-lap Mini Stock feature in seemingly unstoppable fashion, pulling out ahead of a tussle for the top-five positions behind among Bill Leonard, defending champion Ken Cassidy Jr., past champion Glen Colvin, Ray Christian, Sean Caron and Chris Williams.
The first half of the race was caution free, but Doug Curry spun in turn three to draw the yellow flag on lap-15.
The action intensified at the front when racing went back to green. Brew yielded the top spot to Leonard, who held the position through lap-18 when Colvin pressured him for the lead. Brief contact in turn two from Colvin got Leonard crossed up, but he did a masterful job correcting the car to retain his lead. Williams inserted himself in the mix and a three-car battle for the lead broke out in turn three. Leonard continued to keep the competition at bay and keep his lead over an exciting few laps. The action was slowed on lap-23 when Williams and Caron spun to the infield while engaged in a battle for second position, with both resuming at the rear.
From there, Leonard was able to hold off the field for the final seven laps to take the win. Colvin finished on his bumper in second, and Brew held off a hard-charging Jeff Cembruch for third place at the finish. Charles Canfield was fifth.
Russ Stoehr cruised to the win in the 25-lap NEMA Midget feature. He motored around the outside of last year’s Blastoff winner Chris Leonard on lap-5 to take command. Stoehr distanced himself from the competition and survived a last-lap caution when Leonard’s run from second place ended spinning out of turn four. Randy Cabral finished in second and Jeremy Frankowski ran strong all race for third position.
The Speedbowl returns to weekly Saturday night racing with a six division NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing event next Saturday, April 9.
Qualifying action is slated for 5:00pm with feature events commencing at 7:00pm. The Legends Cars and Bandoleros join the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds, Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models, Street Stocks and Mini Stocks.
More information is available at www.speedbowl.com.
Saturday Budweiser Blastoff 4/3 Results:
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds® (61-laps): 1. Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 2. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 3. Tom Abele Jr., Norwich; 4. Nichole Morgillo, Yalesville; 5. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 6. Joe Perry, Ashaway, RI; 7. Justin Gaydosh, Newtown; 8. Glenn Pressell III, Gales Ferry; 9. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI; 10. Joe Gada, Salem; 11. Jeff Pearl, Salem; 12. Randy Churchill, Oakdale; 13. Jeffrey Gallup, Agawam, MA; 14. Gregg Hurley, Beverly, MA; 15. Ron Yuhas Jr., Groton; 16. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., Milford; 17. Tucker Reynolds Jr., Westbrook; 18. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill
NEMA Midgets (25-laps): 1. Russ Stoehr, Lakeville, MA; 2. Randy Cabral, Plymouth, MA; 3. Jeremy Frankowski, Farmersville, NC; 4. Jeff Abold, Pennellville, NY; 5. Jim Miller, Weymouth, MA; 6. Chris Leonard, Pelham, NH; 7. Greg Stoehr, Bridgewater, MA; 8. Keith Botelho, Attleboro, MA; 9. John Zych, Liverpool, NY; 10. Anthony Nocella, Woburn, MA; 11. Brandon Igo; 12. Joey Mucciacciaro, Wolcott; 13. Andy Barrows, New Ipswich, MA; 14. Carl Mederios, Westport, MA; 15. Paul Luggelle, Holbrook, MA; 16. Jim Santamaria, Burlington; 17. Paul Scally, Raynham, MA; 18. Lee Bundy, Kennebunkport, ME
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models (50-laps): 1. Vin Esposito, Seymour; 2. Rich Staskowski, Hope Valley, RI; 3. Joe Curioso, Pawcatuck; 4. Brian Andronaco Jr., Wilton; 5. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 6. Bruce Thomas Jr., Groton; 7. Bill Benard, Holliston, MA; 8. Ernie Bertrand, North Branford; 9. Bradley Babb, Windham, ME; 10. Seth Duval, Ashford; 11. Mike Sweeney, Meriden; 12. Anthony Flannery, East Hampton; 13. Kyle DeSousa; 14. Mark Cooper, Northford; 15. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill; 16. Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 17. Jason Palmer, Berlin
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stocks (30-laps): 1. Josh Galvin, Franklin; 2. Norm Root, Old Saybrook; 3. Ed Puleo, Branford; 4. Brandon Plemons, Uncasville; 5. Al Stone III, New Haven; 6. Steve Barrett, Preston; 7. Michael Caprio, New Haven; 8. Ken Woodward Jr., New Haven; 9. Chris Kvaka, Stratford; 10. Scott Cook, Uncasville; 11. Ted Dupre, Westbrook; 12. Charles Beal, Ledyard; 13. Chris Meyer, North Franklin; DNS – Ray Downing Jr., Clinton
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Mini Stocks (30-laps): 1. Bill Leonard, Wood River Junction, RI; 2. Glenn Colvin, Clinton; 3. Ian Brew, Wood River Junction, RI; 4. Jeffrey Cembruch, Wallingford; 5. Ray Christian III, Groton; 6. Phil Evans, Uncasville; 7. Charles Canfield, New Haven; 8. Christina Kellerman, Stratford; 9. Dale Sherman, Charlestown, RI; 10. Doug Curry, Groton; 11. Nick Pappacoda, North Branford; 12. Brian Norman, Clinton; 13. D.J. McGouran, Westerly, RI; 14. Sean Caron, East Hampton; 15. Chris Williams, Waterford; 16. Ben Bargnesi, Norwich; 17. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 18. Garrett Denton, Hope Valley, RI
Sources: Waterford Speedbowl PR