Rocco back in Victory Lane for the SK Modifieds®; Andronaco, Puleo, Cembruch other NWAAS winners while Dimatteo and Martin also claim wins
Waterford, CT — NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action was back at the Waterford Speedbowl Saturday evening. Six divisions were in competition on the night, with Wallingford’s Keith Rocco, the defending division champion, returning to the winner’s circle in the SK Modifieds®.
Brian Andronaco Jr. of Wilton was the winner in a very exciting Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model race, his first on the season. Ed Puleo of Branford went back-to-back, winning another Street Stock feature on the year, his third overall. A first time winner took the checkered flag in the Mini Stock feature with third generation racer Jeffrey Cembruch of Wallingford capturing the event. Rounding out the night’s winners were Farmington racer Dana Dimatteo in the Legends Cars and Taylor Martin of Windham, NH, who won the Bandolero feature.
Rocco wasted no time making moves to get out front in the 35-lap SK Modified® feature. Glenn Pressel was the early leader, taking command at the initial start of the race. Tom Abele Jr., Tucker Reynolds Jr., and Rocco bolted by the inside of Joe Perry to make up the top-four positions as the field completed lap-3.
Abele quickly got by Pressel for the race lead, trying to put distance between he and the field behind. Rocco was outside of Reynolds for third two laps later, taking the position on lap-5. Rocco darted to the inside of Pressel to take second position a lap later. He then closed in on Abele for the race lead, moving to the leader’s back bumper pressuring for the spot. Rocco looked low down the backstretch on lap-7, tucked back in line, then used the same move down the backstretch to find room underneath Abele into turn three on lap-8. He spent a lap underneath Abele before taking possession of the lead as the field raced to lap-9.
Behind Rocco, Tyler Chadwick was moving up rapidly, working his way to second position by lap-16 after spending multiple laps trying to find his way around Abele. The race’s only caution flag waved on lap-17 when Joe Perry spun racing to the inside of Pressel into turn one.
Rocco mastered the only restart he needed to, resuming control over Chadwick. As the laps clicked off, Rocco continued to slowly stretch out his lead to a straightaway advantage at the checkered flag. Chadwick ran well to finish in second position. Kyle James used several maneuvers to come through the top ten to take third place at the finish, his second strong showing in as many weeks. Abele and Reynolds completed the top-five.
The 30-lap Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature was led from the green flag by Andronaco, but by no means was his route to victory an easy one.
Ernie Bertrand spun from contention on lap-2 while battling with Andronaco within the top-three spots, bringing out the race’s first caution.
When racing went back to green Joe Curioso challenged Andronaco for the race lead on the restart. Curioso held his ground in the outside lane for several laps to remain in contention. Curioso had the power down the straights but Andronaco rallied in the inside lane through the corners to remain scored as the leader, keeping the battle for the lead a dogfight.
Behind that battle, Jason Palmer and Rich Staskowski battled for third position with Bruce Thomas Jr. and Jeff Smith side-by-side tucked in line behind those two racing for fifth position. The tussle among the top-six was interrupted on lap-13 when Greg Butler Jr. went around in turn one collecting Bertrand who made hard contact with the barrier, bringing out the second and final caution of the race.
The race at the front by the top six was more of the same once the green flag was shown again. Curioso was able to nudge ahead into the lead on lap-17, and he and Andronaco swapped the lead for each of the next five laps. Thomas moved outside Palmer for third, appearing ready to make a move if a lane opened up.
The top two remained in a dead heat to the white flag. Andronaco was able to pull out to a half car length over Curioso over the final half-lap, the most distance between the two all race. Off turn four, Andronaco grabbed the checkered flag to take his first win of the year. Coming to the finish line Thomas attempted a three-wide move that resulted in the rest of the top-five sliding across the line sideways. Palmer was scored finishing second, Curioso third, Thomas fourth and Smith in fifth as the group crashed into turn one.
Norm Root was the race leader of the 25-lap Street Stock feature for the opening circuits. He was using a high line around the Speedbowl to maintain his lead, however that provided Puleo room to challenge on the bottom of the track. Root was very fast along the very top groove through the corners, but Puleo was able to inch his was alongside, and eventually past, into the lead on lap-11.
As the race moved past its halfway mark, Puleo cruised out ahead of Root, who had to hold off Brandon Plemons for second. Caution waved on lap-20 when Chris Kvaka was stranded on the infield between turns one and two.
Puleo restarted the race strong and went on to his second consecutive win in the division. Plemons spun from contention out of turn two once the race restarted, continuing on without caution but surrendering his good run. Root chased Puleo to the line to finish second ahead of Al Stone, Steve Barrett and Charles Beal.
Cembruch used the fifth starting position to aid his efforts in a first career feature win in the 25-lap Mini Stock race. Ray Christian took over the race lead from Brian Norman on lap-8, with Cembruch closing in from third position in rapid fashion. Cembruch followed in Christian’s tire tracks, powering around the outside of Norman into second on lap-9.
Caution on lap-11 for a multiple car incident in turn two provided Cembruch the chance to line up alongside Christian on the front row. Cembruch was strong following the restart, going on to pull out to acomfortable advantage over the competition. He surged to the victory from there as the race remained caution-free over the final 14 circuits. Phil Evans, Glenn Colvin, Bill Leonard and Ian Brew finished second through fifth, battling for position to the checkered flag in two and three-wide fashion over the final laps.
Dimatteo captured the win in the Legends Cars feature, surviving multiple caution flags. The top spot was a hot potato early in the event with several drivers including Dave Garbo Jr., Alessandro Vitelli, and Joey Mucciacciaro unable to keep the spot over the opening laps. Once in front, Dimatteo was virtually unchallenged in taking the win. Giovanni Giarratana, Paul Kusheba, Mucciacciaro and Ed Field rounded out the top-five finishers.
Martin dominated the Bandolero race, taking her third Saturday Showdown Series victory.
Next Saturday night marks the debut of the SK Light division at the Speedbowl, competing in a 20-lap event that will also see the Speedbowl’s X-Modified competitors in action. The track’s other NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified®, Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model, Street Stock and Mini Stock divisions will also compete. The Super X-Car Saturday Showdown Series will also return for a cameo appearance.
In addition to next Saturday, the shoreline oval will be in action on Wednesday for round two of Wild ‘n Wacky racing, plus Friday’s Show and Go at the ‘Bowl with spectator drags and cruise night car show. All the information for each event is available at Speedbowl.com.
Waterford Speedbowl 5/14 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Results:
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds® (35-laps): 1. Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 2. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 3. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI; 4. Tom Abele Jr., Norwich; 5. Tucker Reynolds Jr., Westbrook; 6. Matt Gallo, Kensington; 7. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 8. Jeff Pearl, Salem; 9. Joe Gada, Salem; 10. Nichole Morgillo, Yalesville; 11. Glenn Pressel III, Gales Ferry; 12. Randy Churchill, Oakdale; 13. Ron Yuhas Jr., Groton; 14. Joe Perry, Ashaway, RI; 15. Brent Sweet, Monroe; 16. Pete Pavone, Southbury; 17. Adam Gada, Bozrah; 18. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., Milford; 19. Wendell Dailey, Gales Ferry
Standings after five events: 1. Rocco, 221; 2. Pearl, 207; 3. James, 202; 4. Abele, 198; 5. Chadwick, 195; 6. Janovic, 188; 7. Yuhas, 186; 8. Morgillo, 180; 9. Perry, 162; 10. Pressel, 158
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models (30-laps): 1. Brian Andronaco Jr., Wilton; 2. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 3. Joe Curioso, Pawcatuck; 4. Bruce Thomas Jr., Groton; 5. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 6. Richard Staskowski, Hope Valley, RI; 7.Vin Esposito, Seymour; 8. Anthony Flannery, East Hampton; 9. Mike Sweeney, Meriden; 10. Greg Butler Jr., East Hampton; 11. Larry Goss, North Windham; 12. Ernie Bertrand, North Branford; 13. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill; 14. Mark Cooper, Northford
Standings after five events: 1. Thomas, 236; 2. Smith, 233; 3. Staskowski, 222; 4. Andronaco, 221; 5. Curioso, 212; 6. Esposito, 199; 7. Flannery, 180; 8. Palmer, 168; 9. Bertrand, 162; 10. Sweeney, 152
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stocks (50-laps): 1. Ed Puleo, Branford; 2. Norm Root Jr., Old Saybrook; 3. Al Stone III, New Haven; 4. Chris Meyer, North Franklin; 5. Steve Barrett, Preston; 6. Charles Beal, Ledyard; 7. Brandon Plemons, Uncasville; 8. Josh Galvin, Franklin; 9. Joe Liskiewicz, Preston; 10. Nate Appell, Westbrook; 11. Chris Kvaka, Stratford
Standings after five events: 1. Puleo, 257; 2. Stone, 226; 3. Plemons, 202; 4. (tie) Root, Galvin, 195; 6. (tie) Barrett, Meyer, 192; 8. Beal, 156; 9. Michael Caprio, 128; 10. Kvaka, 120
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Mini Stocks (25-laps): 1. Jeffrey Cembruch, Wallingford; 2. Phil Evans, Uncasville; 3. Glenn Colvin, Clinton; 4. Bill Leonard, Wood River Junction, RI; 5. Ian Brew, Wood River Junction, RI; 6. Ray Christian III, Preston; 7. Charles Canfield, New Haven; 8. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 9. Chris Williams, Niantic; 10. Christina Kellerman, Stratford; 11. Ben Bargnesi, Norwich; 12. Brian Norman, Clinton; 13. Sean Caron, East Hampton; 14. Dale Sherman, Charlestown, RI; 15. Nick Pappacoda, North Branford; 16. Daniel McGouran, Westerly; 17. Garrett Denton, Hope Valley, RI; 18. Michael Caprio, New Haven; 19. Doug Curry, Groton; 20. Gerald Young Jr., Canterbury
Standings after five events: 1. Leonard, 229; 2. Evans, 211; 3. Cembruch, 209; 4. Colvin, 208; 5. Williams, 199; 6. Brew, 198; 7. Christian, 186; 8. Canfield, 184; 9. Cassidy, 177; 10. (tie) Caron, Kellerman, 166
Saturday Legends Cars Series (20-laps): 1. Dana Dimatteo, Farmington; 2. Giovanni Giarratana, Newington; 3. Paul Kusheba, Monroe; 4. Joe Mucciacciaro, Wolcott; 5. Ed Field, Deep River; 6. Michael Blaskey, Waterbury; 7. Peter Cirilli, Farmington; 8. Carl Blandina, Milford; 9. Taylor Martin, Windham, NH; 10. Kyle Rogers, Waterbury; 11. Richard Erlandson, Moodus; 12. Troy Talman, Oxford, MA; 13. Calvin Therrien, Vernon; 14. Dave Garbo Jr., Stonington; 15. Tommy Barrett, Millis, MA; 16. Joseph Parker, Weymouth, MA; 17. Alessandro Vitelli, Woodbridge; 18. Kyle Hardwick, Chaplin; 19. Dylan Izzo, DNS – George Whitney, Old Saybrook; DNS – Zachary Latham, Meriden
Standings after four events: 1. Kusheba, 193; 2. Giarratana, 191; 3. Dimatteo, 190
Bandoleros Saturday Showdown Series (20-laps): 1. Taylor Martin, Windham, NH; 2. Corey Dimatteo, Farmington; 3. Joey Ternullo, Middletown; 4. Jordan Churchill, Lisbon; 5. Jacob Urch, West Suffield; 6. Daniel Stolte, Northbridge, MA; 7. Jacob Perry, Pawcatuck; 8. Rene Morgillo, Niantic
Standings after three events: 1. Martin, 36; 2. (tie) Dimatteo, Churchill, 26
Sources: Waterford Speedbowl PR