Dimatteo and Forte win Legends Cars and Bandolero events; Maskell, Thomas and Moon other winners
Waterford, CT — Waterford Speedbowl completed its season opening Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday program crowning five winners on the night. Farmington’s Dana Dimatteo executed late race theatrics to win the Legends Cars feature, while 11 year-old Rachel Forte of Douglas, MA was a first-time winner, claiming the Bandolero race. In Super X-Car action, Mike Maskell of Quaker Hill was declared the winner and in the X-Car feature Glen Thomas Jr. of Groton cruised to the win. Dan Moon of Exeter, RI won the Wacky Flagpole race.
Dimatteo came out on top in an exciting 20-lap Legends Cars feature.
While Dimatteo was working his way through the field from a starting position deep in the field, Ed Field was the early leader in the race.
Field faltered on a lap-5 restart, handing the lead to Chris Young. The field behind Young battled hard for position over the middle portion of the race, with Nick Ladyga emerging in second place when the crossed flags were displayed signifying the halfway mark of the race.
Ladyga pestered Young out front, challenging the leader several times over the second half of the event. Following a lap-14 restart, the battle for the win intensified. Ladyga raced alongside Young’s outside for a lap after racing resumed before Young broke free back into the lead.
Ladyga then went to work behind Young, applying pressure to the rear bumper of the leader in turns three and four of lap-16. That move provided Ladyga opportunity to dive inside Young as the pair raced to lap-17. Contact continued on the frontstretch with both cars becoming tangled together, spinning in front of the pack. The field scattered behind the crashing lead cars, bringing out the caution flag.
Giovanni Giarratana assumed the race lead after the fracas, but his stay at the top was short-lived. Dimatteo ducked to the inside Giarratana on lap-18 after restarting the race in second position following the lap-17 incident. Dimatteo scooted past Giarratana and on to the win. Giarratana hung on to second while Angelo Belsito was in contention over the final laps, finishing third.
Forte took over the race lead in the 20-lap Bandolero race just before halfway. She endured two early delays, one for a caution flag on lap-3 then a red flag on lap-6 when early leaders Jordan Churchill and Robby Jones tangled while battling for the race lead. Jones was t-boned by Rene Morgillo, drawing the red flag. Both drivers were ok following the incident.
Forte took over from Churchill after the race returned to green, then survived one final caution period on lap-12 when Chace Wood made contact with the turn four tire barrier, but was able to continue on. Forte pulled out to a convincing win, going on unchallenged to her first Speedbowl victory. Corey Dimatteo wound up finishing in second position at the checkered flag, ahead of Churchill who rebounded from the early accident for third.
Maskell battled throughout the top-five for much of the 20-lap Super X-Car race, mired in a pack of tight competition. Maskell worked hard using the outside lane to fight for what turned out to be a very important battle for position behind leader John Yagmin.
While Yagmin dominated the race on the track and ultimately took the checkered flag, his car, however, failed post-race technical inspection.
Maskell crossed the finish line fourth on the track after 20-laps but was declared the winner after each of the top-three finishers were disqualified in inspection later in the evening. The change also advanced Ken Downing III and Peter Pollard to podium finishes.
The 20-lap X-Car event endured several caution periods, but Thomas persevered through each restart on his way to the victory. Patrick Williams stayed close to Thomas throughout the restarts, chasing him all the way to the checkered flag, but unable to muster a serious challenge.
Williams finished in second, with Pete Zaikarite finishing a strong third position.
Moon fended off early attempts by Richard Avino in the 5-lap Wacky Flagpole race, mastering the art of the left-hand turn on his route to victory. Avino stayed close enough to pressure Moon, but was not able to unseat him from his first Wacky event win at the ‘Bowl.
For more information about Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday and the calendar of events, please visit www.speedbowl.com or contact track offices at 860.442.1585. The next event at the Speedbowl is Friday’s Show and Go at the ‘Bowl featuring 100 foot spectator drag racing and cruise show.
Saturday, NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing returns to the shoreline oval for a six division race program.
Waterford Speedbowl 5/11 Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday Results:
Legends Cars (20-laps): 1. Dana Dimatteo, Farmington; 2. Giovanni Giarratana, Newington; 3. Angelo Belsito, Auburn, MA; 4. Dave Garbo Jr., Stonington; 5. Joe Mucciacciaro, Wolcott; 6. Carl Blandina, Milford; 7. Michael Blaskey, Waterbury; 8. William Munro, North Branford; 9. George Whitney, Westbrook; 10. Troy Talman, Oxford, MA; 11. Dan Butler, Waterford; 12. Dennis Pantani, Branford; 13. Taylor Martin, Windham, NH; 14. Richard White III, North Stonington; 15. Nicholas Lascuola, Brockton, MA; 16. Chris Young, Calverton, NY; 17. Nick Ladyga, Voluntown; 18. Doug Campbell, Berlin; 19. Alessandro Vitelli, Woodbridge; 20. Ed Field, Deep River; 21. Glen Barnes, Hope Valley, RI; 22. Tommy Barrett, Millis, MA
Bandolero’s (20-laps): 1. Rachel Forte, Douglas, MA; 2. Cory Dimatteo, Farmington; 3. Jordan Churchill, Lisbon; 4. Daniel Stolte, Northbridge, MA; 5. Ken Morin Jr., Old Saybrook; 6. Joey Ternullo, Middletown; 7. Taylor Martin, Windham, NH; 8. Jacob Urch, West Suffield; 9. Chace Wood, Danielson; 10. Andrew Molleur, Shelton; 11. Jacob Perry, Pawcatuck; 12. Robby Jones, Waterbury; 13. Rene Morgillo, Niantic; 14. Jordan Lamothe, Woodstock
Super X-Cars (20-laps): 1. Mike Maskell, Quaker Hill; 2. Ken Downing III, Branford; 3. Peter Pollard, Old Lyme; 4. Frank Alessio, Colchester; 5. R.J. Cunningham, Durham; 6. Dan Moon, Exeter; 7. Bill Reiman, Southington; 8. Shawn Butler, Jewett City; 9. Richard Avino, North Haven; 10. Eric Finkbein, Columbia; 11. John Bennett, Ledyard; 12. Mark Boisvert, Uxbridge, MA; 13. Ed Ryan, Preston; DQ – John Yagmin, Tolland; DQ – Jim Boyle, East Windsor; DQ -. Robert “Bo” Norman, Clinton; DNS –Steve Larose, Griswold
X-Cars (20-laps): 1. Glen Thomas Jr., Groton; 2. Patrick Williams, Middletown; 3. Pete Zaikarite, Niantic; 4. Randy Johnston, Westerly, RI; 5. Mike Marvin, Colchester; 6. Brad Voglesong, Middletown; 7. Mike Trask, Planfield; 8. Jeremy Bourbeau, Taftville; 9. Wayne Shifflett, Preston; 10. Chris Garside, Waterford; 11. Shawn Stula, Colchester; 12. Chris Ivory, Oakdale; 13. David Amspacher, Uncasville; 14. Geoffrey Burdick, East Lyme; 15. Christopher Lee, Uncasville; 16. David Lloyd, Mystic; 17. Kim Bickford, Griswold; 18. C.P. Burdick, Deep River; 19. Rick Mollo, Seymour; 20. Robert Butler, Norwich; 21. Kristie Hamel, Jewett City; 22. Ron Dimauro, Plymouth; 23. Armand Banks, Charlestown, RI; 24. Scott Limkemann, East Lyme; 25. Jeffrey Lee, Uncasville; 26. Javier Rivera, Willimantic; 27. Todd Nadeau, Ledyard; DNS – Onie Pierce, Norwich
Super X-Car Flagpole race: 1. Dan Moon, Exeter, RI; 2. Richard Avino, North Haven; 3. Bill Reiman, Southington
Sources: Waterford Speedbowl PR