Scott Payea Scores ACT Nutmeg State 100 at Waterford Speedbowl
Waterford, CT — Winning the American Canadian Tour (ACT) Nutmeg State 100 at the Waterford Speedbowl Saturday evening was Scott Payea of Milton, Vermont. Doug Coby scored the 35-lap SK feature, his first of the season.
Other feature winners were Mark Hudson (Late Model), Brandon Plemons (Sportsman), and Lou Bellisle (Mini Stock).
When the green dropped on the 30-car ACT starting field, defending Speedbowl Late Model champion Bruce Thomas Jr. bolted to the front from the outside-pole. After two attempts at a successful mid-race restart were called-back, second-place Scott Payea took the lead on the third. For several circuits Thomas stayed with the leader, unsuccessfully trying to pass on the outside. Payea eventually got the edge, going on to win by several car-lengths.
Payea admitted to having some difficulty with getting the winning restart “right”.
“They restart differently here than what I’m accustomed to,” stated the winner. It took a while for me to get it right. On the last one, I timed it correctly and was able to get by him. Thomas raced me cleanly, we had a really good battle there for a while. He was much better in the early stages and had built-up a big lead. At that point all I could do was follow him and hope to catch a break. I’m not sure what would have happened without the restart.”
Thomas, one of seven Waterford regulars that made the race, was out to protect the “home turf.”
“I tried to protect the Speedbowl “home turf,” stated Thomas. “I had a blast and I’m happy to be here. It was a good race.” ACT racer Brad Leighton placed third, and was impressed with the level of competition at Waterford. “The local guys are really good. There’s a lot of talent here,” he said. Local racer Ron Yuhas Jr. ran near the front all evening, placing fourth. Among the regulars experiencing bad luck and not making the finish were Ed Reed Jr., Tim Jordan, and Allen Coates.
Starting third, Doug Coby shot into the lead early in the 35-lap SK Modified feature, going-on to win his first feature of the season. Youngster Tyler Chadwick held-on to finish in the runner-up spot, followed by Dennis Gada, Jeff Paul, and Keith Rocco.
The popular Coby was ecstatic in returning to victory lane.
“It’s been two-years coming, and it’s just great to be here,” said Coby. We ran nine races here in 2007, and come to the Speedbowl whenever possible. It’s a fun place to race, and we try to support the place whenever possible.”
Second-place Chadwick was confident that had it not been for the late-race restart, he may have won the event.
“If I’d gotten the edge on the restart, it might have turned-out differently,” he said. “Really, Doug deserved this one. He was clearly the class of the field.”
ACT regular Mark Hudson drove to victory in the Late Model 30-lap non-points event.
Veteran Brandon Plemons led every circuit in winning the 20-lap Sportsman feature. Starting on the outside pole, Plemons had distanced himself from the field when two late-event cautions closed the pack. Each time, he resisted challenges from Al Stone III and Mark Cooper. A former Speedbowl Mini Stock Champion, Plemons last entered victory lane in 2002. Following Stone was Cooper, Ronnie Oldham Jr., and Josh Galvin.
In the 20-lap Mini Stock main event, Christina Cunliffe set the early pace before spinning in an incident involving several other cars. Lou Bellisle then took the point, dicing first with Chris Williams, and then Randy Churchill Jr. At the stripe, it was Bellisle, Churchill, Phil Evans, Williams, and Ken Cassidy Jr. A former Late Model and Sportsman competitor, the evening marked the first win in over a decade for the multi-year Speedbowl racer.
Action continues at the Speedbowl this week with “Wild N” Wacky Wednesday. Grandstands open at 5:30 with features at 7:00. On Saturday, it’s a full program of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series and Legends racing with double-features for the SK Modifieds. Gates open at 4:00 with features slated for 7:00.
Please visit www.speedbowl.com for more information.
AMERICAN CANADIAN TOUR 100; 1. Scott Payea, Milton, VT., 2. Bruce Thomas Jr., Groton, CT., 3. Brad Leighton, Center Harbor, N.H., 4. Ron Yuhas Jr., Groton, CT., 5. Nicholas Sweet, Barre, VT., 6. Randy Potter, Groveton, NH, 7. Ron Henry, New Gloucester, ME., 8. Jonathan Urlin, London, ON., 9. Jean-Paul Cyr, Milton, VT., 10. Brent Dragon, Milton, VT. 11. Scot Dragon, Milton, VT., 12. Patrick Laperle, St-Denis-sur-Richeliue QC., 13. Jamie Fisher Shelburne, VT., 14. Glen Luce, Turner ME, 15. Pete Potvin III, Graniteville VT., 16. Eric Chase, Milton, VT., 17. John Donahue, Graniteville VT., 18. Rick Thompson Jr., Derby VT., 19.Leon Heckbert, Wilton, ME., 20. Joe Becker, Jeffosonville VT., 21. Don Theetge Boischatel, OC., 22. Steve Fisher, Shelburne VT., 23. Trampas Dermers, South Burlington, VT., 24. Joe Curioso, Pawcatuck, CT., 25. Tyler Cahoon, St. Johnsbury VT., 26. Rich Staskowski, Hope Valley RI., 27. Ricky Wolf Jr, Northwood NH., 28. Allen Coates, Ledyard, CT., 29. Tim Jordan, Jewett City, CT., 30. Ed Reed Jr., Groton, CT.
SK MODIFIED (35); 1. Doug Coby, 2. Tyler Chadwick, 3. Dennis Gada, 4. Jeff Paul, 5. Keith Rocco, 6. Ron Yuhas Jr., 7. Jeff Pearl, 8. Shawn Monahan, 9. Rob Janovic Jr., 10. Justin Gaydosh, 11. Todd Ceravolo, 12. Wendell Dailey, 13. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., 14. Don Fowler, 15. Jay Miller, 16. Ed Reed Jr., 17. Glen Pressell III, 18. Rich Hammann, 19. Bill Benoit, 20. Mile Sweeney.
LATE MODEL (30, Non-Points Event) 1. Mark Hudson, 2. Mark Bakaj, 3. Larry Goss, 4. Robert Leblanc Jr., 5. Tom Metcalf, 6. Ron Yuhas Jr., 7. Mark Anzalone, 8. James Lanardy.
SPORTSMAN (20); 1. Brandon Plemons, 2. Al Stone III, 3. Mark Cooper, 4.Ronnie Oldham Jr., 5. Josh Galvin, 6. Jack Aquilina, 7. “Grandpa Jim” Procaccini, 8. John Puglisi, 9. Ed Lamb Jr., 10. Chuck Rogers, 11. Kevin Burr, 12. Walter Hovey Jr., 13. Kevin Talbot, 14. Nate Appell, 15. Joe Nogiec, 16. Ed Clark, 17. Chris Meyer.
MINI STOCK (20); 1. Lou Bellisle, 2. Randy Churchill Jr., 3. Phil Evans, 4. Chris Williams, 5. Ken Cassidy Jr., 6. Andrew Becker, 7. Ian Brew, 8. Jack Aquilina, 9. Ray Christian III, 10. Christina Cunliffe, 11. Sean Caron, 12. Jeff Mehlenbacher, 13. Mark Panaroni, 14. Jackie Wolfram, 15. Ryan Cipows, 16. Charles Canfield, 17. Bill Leonard, 18. Ben Bargnesi, 19. Jeff Miller, 20. Nick Pappacoda, 21. Jeff “Soup” Civardi.
CURRENT POINT STANDINGS (TOP-10);
(SK MODIFIED); Dennis Gada (332), Keith Rocco (322), Tyler Chadwick (306), Ron Janovic Jr. (298), Ron Yuhas Jr. (294), Justin Gaydosh (280), Jeff Paul (272), Jeff Pearl (266), Jay Miller (248), Doug Coby (182).
(LATE MODEL); Bruce Thomas Jr. (380), Ron Yuhas Jr. (376), Ed Reed Jr. (352), Tim Jordan (348), Vin Esposito (312), Rich Staskowski (256),Robert LeBlanc Jr. (230), Tom Metcalf (222), Larry Goss (204). Joe Curioso III (192).
(SPORTSMAN); Al Stone III (360), Ron Oldham Jr. (324), Walt Hovey Jr. (296), “Grandpa Jim” Procaccini (296), Jack Aquilina (292), Mark Cooper (274), Nate Appell (250), Ed Lamb Jr. (250), Josh Galvin (238). Chuck Rogers (230).
(MINI STOCK); Ken Cassidy Jr. (422), Randy Churchill Jr. (414), Lou Bellisle (350), Chris Williams (314), Jack Aquilina (294), Mark Panaroni (292), Ray Christian III (282), Ian Brew (276), Ben Bargnesi (268), Kyle James (262), Bill Leonard (262).
(SAT. LEGENDS); Jason Palmer (146), Michael Gervais Jr. (136), Shaun Buffington (134), Mark Esposito (118), Art Moran Jr. (116), Adam Gada (102), Carl Blandina (100), Ed Field (98), Ryan Morgan (82), Max Zachem (78).
Sources:Dave Dykes/Waterford Speedbowl PR