Doug Coby and Dennis Gada Land in Modified Victory Lane; Thomas, Cooper and Panaroni also Win
Waterford, CT — Doug Coby took the lead late and won the 100-lap True Value Modified Series race, while Dennis Gada took the win in a 35-lap SK Modified event dotted with several restart attempts. Mark Panaroni grabbed a career first win in the Mini Stocks, Bruce Thomas Jr. returned to Late Model Victory Lane, and Mark Cooper earned his first Street Stock win of 2009.
The True Value Modified Racing Series 100-lap event got underway with Chris Pasteryak leading from his pole starting spot. Ted Christopher, driving the Joe Brady owned #00, would cut a tire while running ninth on lap 13 and make contact with the turn three aarmco barrier, ending his night early. During an extended green flag run, Pasteryak would slip away in the lead with Mike Holdridge and Mike Stefanik in tow. Doug Coby was making steady progress from his 11th starting position, making his way into the top five.
Caution waved on lap 35 when Rowan Pennink came to rest on the apron of turn 4. Coby moved in third when Mike Holdridge, who had dropped a couple positions, spun in turn two on lap 40 bringing out caution yet again.
As the race moved to halfway , Pasteryak continued to comfortably lead over Stefanik, Coby, Owen, and Speedbowl regular Jeff Pearl. Dwight Jarvis had come from his fifteenth place starting position was also looking stout, as he moved past Pearl. Pearl made contact with the fronstretch wall and began to slip through the field, while Jarvis would have contact under racing conditions and slip back, eventually retiring from the event. Les Hinckley recovered from pitting on lap one to charge back to the top-five by lap 60.
A lap 80 restart gave Coby, who had moved into second, a shot at Pasteryak’s domination of the event to that point. After battling side-by-side for a lap when the race resumed, Coby executed a crossover move on the inside of Pasteryak out of turn two to take the lead from Pasteryak with 19 laps remaining. “I love the outside here but it just wasn’t working out there. I stomped the brake, made a left, and threw it in under him” offered Coby on the race winning move. Stefanik got by Pasteryak and closed in on Coby as the laps wound down, looking both high and low when caution waved for the final time with just four laps remaining. Coby jumped to a two car advantage on the single file restart, and went unchallenged over the final four laps. He took the win in his first Series start in the Czarnecki Brothers owned #20.
“The car was flawless” offered Coby after the race. “Chris had a great car and is so smooth here. I was thinking ‘How am I gonna pass this kid?’ I knew my chance would be on a restart.”
Stefanik ran a great race to end up second, saving his best for the last ten laps. “I thought I had something for him at the end” stated Stefanik. “When that last caution came out I tried to free myself up and heated up the right rear tire too much under caution. I was too loose for that last four lap run.”
Pasteryak finished third after leading the first 82 laps, learning a lot about a brand new car he debuted in the event . “Not bad for rolling it off the truck. We missed by a little bit, we’ll get it better and be back”. Hinckley rebounded and finished fourth, and Steve Masse rounded out the top-five finishers.
Although there were several restarts in the SK Modified® feature, Dennis Gada only needed to master one on route to his first victory of the year. Jeff Paul powered to the lead from his outside pole starting spot on the green flag. The field battled side by side behind, with the first caution waving just two laps in when sixteen year old Joey Gada was stranded on the apron of turn two. Corey Hutchings went to work on Paul on the restart while Gada, the seven-time Speedbowl track champion, made his presence felt early in the event working around the outside of Jeff Pearl for third. Hutchings took the lead with an inside move on lap five, but in the back half of the top ten the action got a little too heated resulting in Bert Marvin spinning across the frontstretch into turn one and bringing out caution.
Hutchings jumped out front on several restart attempts with Dennis Gada, Todd Ceravolo, and Jeffrey Paul all dicing for position behind. Action in the pit area was also heating up as several teams took advantage of multiple caution periods to make adjustments on their cars, including the #57 of two-time winner Keith Rocco.
At halfway Hutchings continued to lead Gada, Paul, Ceravolo and Ron Yuhas. Keith Rocco was working his way from the rear of the field as was Jeff Pearl. Ceravolo spun in the middle of turn 4 to bring out caution with 15 laps to go, falling from the battle for the top-five. Gada’s opportunity came when Hutchings bobbled in turn two with seven laps remaining, losing several positions to gather back his car and handing the lead to Gada. Gada owner of 63 career ‘Bowl wins, was tested on a restart with three laps to go, beating back the challenges of Shawn Solomito to go on to his first victory of the 2009 season. Paul and Janovic slipped by Solomito in the closing laps, with Keith Rocco rebounding for fifth after pitting early and also being involved in a mid-race skirmish.
The Norwich Bulletin Mini Stock 20-lap feature was highlighted by a career first win for Panaroni. He took the lead early in the event, while the divisions heavy hitters all jockeyed for track position behind. Kyle James was able to break out of the tussle to chase Panaroni by halfway. Randy Churchill spun from the front pack of the field to bring out caution with nine laps remaining, setting up a Panaroni and James fight for the lead on the restart. The field would run two by two among the top six for several laps before Panaroni finally edged ahead with five laps to go. James remained on his bumper to the finish, but could not mount a final challenge. Louis Bellisle III, Chris Williams and Danny Field rounded out the top-five finishers.
Cooper bolted to the lead at the start of the Street Stock 20-lapper, stretching his lead out over the competition early looking to turn around a season mired by misfortune. Cooper continued to open up distance over the field as Jack Aquilina and Ted Dupre settled in the second and third positions as green flag conditions prevailed. At halfway Cooper had opened up a straightaway advantage over the pack. The event’s first caution came out on the white flag lap for Greg Moran Jr. and Nate Appell who had come together near the tail of the field in turn three, erasing Cooper’s dominating performance in the event. Cooper regained his advantage on the restart and went on to the win over Brandon Plemons, Jack Aquilina, Ronnie Oldham Jr., and last week’s winner Al Stone III.
Thomas captured his third win in four Late Model races, but needed the final corner to finally edge ahead for the win. Ernie Bertrand would take the early lead from Jim Rosenfield using the ‘Bowl’s trademark outside lane. Bertrand pulled away under green flag racing to a straightaway lead by halfway over Rosenfield, Joe Curioso, Vin Esposito and Thomas. A caution for a three car incident off turn four erased Bertrand’s advantage. Thomas made his way past Curioso for second and closed to Bertrand’s bumper with eight laps remaining. Thomas made an inside bid three laps later, but Bertrand hung tough on the outside. The pair battled side by side for the remaining laps in a spirited battle for the win. As the pair raced even through the last lap, Bertrand slipped slightly out of turn four allowing Thomas to take the win. Bertrand, Curioso, Esposito, and Rich Staskowski completed the top-five.
The Speedbowl returns to action with Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesdays on May 13, while on Saturday May 16 a full slate of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action for the SK Modifieds, Late Models, Street Stocks, and Mini Stocks is on tap. The Legends Cars will join the schedule and May 16 is also Little League Night, presented by www.sids-vault.com. All youth wearing their Little League team jersey will be admitted free. For more information, visit www.speedbowl.com or contact the track offices at 860.442.1585.
Speedbowl 5/2 finishers, hometown:
True Value Modified Racing Series (100-laps): 1. Doug Coby, Milford; 2. Mike Stefanik, Coventry, RI; 3. Chris Pasteryak, Lisbon; 4. Les Hinckely, Windsor Locks; 5. Steve Masse, Bellingham, MA; 6. Jon McKennedy, Chelmsford, MA; 7. Mike Douglas, Auburn, NH; 8. Todd Owen, Somers; 9. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 10. Jim Dolan, Bethel; 11. Rob Goodenough, Swanzey, NH; 12. Mike Holdridge, Madison; 13. Joe Doucette, Framingham, MA; 14. Rowan Pennink, Huntington Valley, PA; 15. Kenny White Jr., Weare, NH; 16. Jeff Pearl, Salem; 17. Kevin Iannarelli, Maynard, MA; 18. Ed Spiers, Beacon Falls; 19. Glenn Griswold, Vernon; 20. Dwight Jarvis, Ascutney, VT; 21. Peter Jarvis, Ascutney, VT; 22. Jack Bateman, Canaan, NH; 23. Charlie Pasteryak, Lisbon; 24. Jeff Malave, Manchester; 25. Ted Christopher, Plainville; 26. Ed Dachenhausen, Danbury
SK Modifieds (35-laps): 1. Dennis Gada, Salem; 2. Jeffrey Paul, Ledyard; 3. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 4. Shawn Solomito, Islip, NY; 5. Keith Rocco, Wallingford 6. Ron Yuhas Jr., Groton; 7. Justin Gaydosh, Newton; 8. Todd Ceravolo, Gales Ferry; 9. Jeff Pearl, Salem; 10. Wendell Dailey, Gales Ferry; 11. Bert Marvin, New London; 12. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., Milford; 13. Dennis Charette, Southington; 14. Corey Hutchings, Salem; 15. Tom Abele Jr., Norwich 16. Mike Sweeney, Middletown; 17. Don Fowler, Clinton; 18. Jay Lozyniak, Westport; 19. Joe Perry, Ashaway, RI; 20. Michael Finkeldey, Clinton; 21.Wayne Arute, Berlin; 22. Joe Gada, Salem; 23.Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard
Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models (30-laps): 1. Bruce Thomas Jr., Groton; 2. Ernie Bertrand, North Branford; 3. Joe Curioso, Pawcatuck; 4. Vin Esposito, Seymour; 5. Richard Staskowski, Hope Valley, RI; 6. Jimmy Rosenfield, Middleboro, MA; 7. Dennis Stampfl, Norwood, MA; 8. Lawrence Goss, N. Windham; 9. Robert Leblanc Jr., Norwalk
Street Stocks (20-laps): 1. Mark Cooper, Northford; 2. Brandon Plemons, Uncasville; 3. Jack Aquilina, Oakdale; 4. Ronnie Oldham Jr., Old Saybrook; 5. Al Stone III, New Haven; 6. Josh Galvin, Uncasville; 7. Ed Puleo, Branford; 8. Chuck Rogers, Quaker Hill; 9. Ted Dupre, Westbrook; 10. Chris Meyer, N. Franklin; 11. Kevin Gambacorta, Ellington; 12. John Puglisi, Orange; 13. Steven Barrett, Preston; 14. Ed Lamb, New Haven; 15. Jonathan Avery, Quaker Hill; 16. Walter Hovey Jr., Chaplin; 17. Jim Procaccini, Trumbull; 18. Randy Waterman, Danielson; 19. Kevin Talbot, Moosup; 20. Gregory Moran Jr., Preston
Norwich Bulletin Mini Stocks (20-laps): 1. Mark Panaroni, Ivoryton; 2. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI; 3. Louie Bellisle III, Lisbon; 4. Chris Williams, Niantic; 5. Danny Field, Deep River; 6. Greg Moran Sr.,Preston; 7. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 8. Phil Evans, Uncasville; 9. Christopher Correll, Old Lyme; 10. Ian Brew, Wood River, RI; 11. Sean Caron, Hartford; 12. Randy Churchill Jr.,Niantic; 13. Jeff Mehlenbacher, Groton; 14. Nick Pappacoda, North Branford; 15. Charles Canfield, New Haven; 16. Dale Sherman, Charlestown, RI; 17. Tommy Silva, Waterford; 18. Dave Sylvia, Groton; 19. Christina Cunliffe, Stratford; DNS Bill Leonard, Wood River Jct, RI
Sources: Waterford Speedbowl PR