Perley Takes ISMA Supermodified Race at Waterford
Waterford, CT — Chris Perley, AKA “The Rowley Rocket” of Rowley, MA. put on a stellar performance in winning the 50-lap International SuperModified Association event at the Waterford Speedbowl on Saturday evening, and in doing so recorded the fastest lap-ever (over 108 mph), in the 57-year history of the facility. Former Speedbowl SK champion Rob Summers set the early pace before being overtaken by Jeff Holbrook on lap twenty-one. Perley rocketed by Holbrook six circuits later, quickly distancing himself from the field. The race was red-flagged on lap thirty-six when Mike Lichty exploded a motor and slammed the wall, taking the cars of Jamie Timmons, Scott Martell and Mike Ordway with him. On the restart, Perley resumed his commanding lead, finishing several lengths ahead of Holbrook and Summers. Following was Ray Graham Jr., Bobby Bond and Dave McKnight Jr. It was the second-consecutive Speedbowl victory for Perley who won the 2007 event.
Other feature winners were Jeff Pearl (SK Modified), Ron Yuhas Jr. (Late Model), Mark Cooper (Sportsman), and Ben Bargnesi (Mini Stock).
Former champion Jeff Pearl won his first of the season, fending-off a late race charge by Rob Janovic in the 35-lap SK main event. Jay Miller, running perhaps his best race of the season led the early laps before Pearl took over with twenty-seven remaining Janovic slipped by Miller during the late stages. Rounding-out the top-5 were Jeff Paul and Ron Yuhas Jr.
In 30-lap Late Model feature action it was Ron Yuhas Jr. taking his second of the year over Tim Jordan. Tom Metcalf set the early pace with Jordan taking the point on the sixteenth circuit. With twelve remaining Yuhas pulled aside Jordon, the two staging a torrid side-by-side battle during the latter stages. Yuhas prevailed by a narrow margin in one of the closest Late Model finishes of the year. Ed Reed Jr. took the third spot followed by Vin Esposito, and defending champion Bruce Thomas Jr.
Mark Cooper became a first-time winner, defeating veteran Jack Aquilina by several car lengths in the 20-lap Sportsman main. Cooper drove to the front during the early stages
After taking the lead early, Ben Bargnesi went on to win the caution-free 20-lap Mini Stock feature in dominating fashion Finishing second was Ken Cassidy Jr. followed by Randy Churchill Jr., Bill Leonard, and Lou Bellisle. It was Bargnesi’s second victory of the season.
INTERNATIONAL SUPERMODIFIED ASSOCIATION (50); 1. Chris Perley, 2. Jeff Holbrook, 3. Rob Summers, 4. Ray Graham Jr., 5. Bobby Bond, 6. Dave McKnight Jr., 7. Vern Romanoski, 8. Russ Wood, 9. Dave Sanborn, 10. Mark Sammut, 11. Bobby Haynes Jr., 12. Mike Lichty, 13. Jamie Timmons, 14. Mike Ordway Jr., 15. J. Scott Martell, 16. Dave Trytek, 17. Art Rousseau, 18. Dave Iosue, 19. larry Lenhert, 20. Eric Emhoff, 21. Michael Barnes.
SK MODIFIED (35); 1. Jeff Pearl, 2. Rob Janovic Jr., 3. Jay Miller, 4. Jeff Paul, 5. Ron Yuhas Jr., 6. Keith Rocco, 7. Tyler Chadwick, 8. Dennis Gada, 9. Justin Gaydosh, 10. Doug Coby, 11. Frank Ruocco, 12. Ed Reed Jr., 13. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., 14. Jeff Malave, 15. Wendell Dailey, 16. Glenn Pressel III, 17. Steve Voelker, 18. Mike Sweeney, 19. Rich Hammann, 20. Todd Ceravolo, 21. Bill Benoit.
LATE MODEL (30); 1. Ron Yuhas Jr., 2. Tim Jordan, 3. Ed Reed Jr., 4. Vin Esposito, 5. Bruce Thomas Jr., 6. Joseph Curioso III, 7. Tom Metcalf, 8. Larry Goss, 9. Mike Lindquist, 10. Robert LeBlanc Jr., 11. Dan Holben, 12. Rich Staskowski, 13. Rich Duranti.
SPORTSMAN (20); 1. Mark Cooper, 2. Jack Aquilina, 3. Ronnie Oldham Jr., 4. Al Stone III, 5. Josh Galvin, 6.Walt Hovey Jr., 7. John Puglisi, 8. Ed Lamb Jr., 9. Nate Appell, 10. “Grampa Jim” Procaccini, 11. Joe Nogiec, 12. Kevin Burr, 13. Darrell Carlson, 14. Brandon Plemons, 15. Randy Jurcik, 16. Chris Meyer, 17. Kevin Williams.
MINI STOCK (20); 1. Ben Bargnesi, 2. Ken Cassidy Jr., 3. Randy Churchill Jr., 4. Bill Leonard, 5. Lou Bellisle, 6. Dennis Perry, 7. Mark Panaroni, 8. Kyle James, 9. Sean Caron, 10. Jack Aquilina, 11. Christina Cunliffe, 12. Jeff “Soup” Civardi, 13. Ian Brew, 14. Nick Pappacoda, 15. Chris Williams, 16. Jackie Wolfram, 17. Charles Canfield, 18. Raymond Christian III, 19. Ryan Cipows.
Sources: David Dykes/Waterford Speedbowl PR