Saturday 6/25 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Results
Rocco returns to Victory Lane with SK Modified® win;
Palmer picks up first career win; Stone, Colvin other NWAAS winners
Dimatteo and Luggelle also claim victories
Waterford, CT (June 25, 2011) Waterford Speedbowl was back in action
Saturday night with a 6-division NASCAR Whelen All-American Series race
program. In total, seven feature events were completed on the night
including a pair of Street Stock features. Defending track and NASCAR
Whelen All-American Series national champion Keith Rocco of Wallingford
returned to Victory Lane, picking up the checkered flag in the nights SK
Modified® feature. Jason Palmer of Berlin picked up a career first win in
the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model division. The two Street Stock
feature races were swept by defending champion Al Stone III of New Haven.
Glenn Colvin of Clinton won the Mini Stock race.
Other winners on the night included Paul Luggelle of Holbrook, MA and Dana
Dimatteo of Farmington in their respective NEMA Lite and Legends Cars
features.
Rocco led the SK Modified® field to the green flag in their 35-lap feature
looking to end a string of finishes outside the top-five, including two
17th place finishes. Nichole Morgillo, Kyle James, Jeff Pearl and Tyler
Chadwick raced to the top-five positions behind Rocco in the opening laps.
James was the first to pull out of line, challenging Morgillos outside
on lap-3. After three laps of pursuit, James moved into the position for
good in turn three. Pearl followed suit and was in third when the field
completed lap-7.
James quickly chased down the lead Rocco briefly gained over the field and
looked ready to mount a challenge. Pearl ran alone in third while Rob
Janovic Jr. and Chadwick made up the top-five as the race moved past
halfway continuing under green flag conditions. The first caution finally
slowed the torrid pace on lap-21 when Diego Monahan cut a left front tire
and stopped on the track in turn three.
Rocco got a great jump over James on the restart. Pearl filled the gap to
James inside and the pair spent five-laps battling for the spot before
Pearl finally pulled ahead. Rocco was slowly able to stretch his
advantage over Pearl as the race wore on.
The interruption on lap-21 proved to be the only one in a cleanly competed
event. Rocco checked out to the win by several lengths over Pearl at the
checkered flag. He wired the field for his fifth win on the year and cut
into Pearls point lead. James held off Janovic to take third position
with Chadwick finishing in fifth.
The 30-lap Bob Valenti Auto Mall race saw Palmer out front from the
initial green flag. He led an early battle for second position between
Joe Curioso and Vin Esposito. Esposito came out ahead while Anthony
Flannery and Jeff Smith were racing tight for position behind the top
three. Great racing was on display throughout the field, including a
challenge by Esposito for the lead. He raced outside Palmer, edging his
way into the lead on lap-9. Esposito held the top spot over the next
several laps.
Following a caution flag on lap-17, two restart attempts were called back
by track officials. Esposito was assessed a penalty for restarting
improperly, turning the lead back over to Palmer. Ray Parent was running
strong in his first Speedbowl appearance, racing as high as second
position behind Palmer. Flannery moved to Parents inside to battle for
the runner-up spot, eventually coming out on top after Parent made slight
contact with the frontstretch wall on lap-23. The final caution flag was
out on lap-24 when multiple cars came together in turn four.
Palmer was able to beat Flannery on the final restart, giving the former
Legends Cars champion his first career win in the Late Model division.
Flannery hung on to his car over the final laps to finish in second.
Bruce Thomas Jr. rallied over the second half of the race to claim third,
while Smith and Parent completed the top five finishers.
Brandon Plemons took the lead to start the first 25-lap Street Stock race,
held over from the May 28 race program. He was in front of a tight battle
over the opening laps that included last weeks winner Chris Meyer, Stone,
Steve Barrett and others. They singled out in that order chasing Plemons.
By lap-10 Stone had been testing the outside lane on Meyer for second, to
no avail. Caution waved on lap-11 for cars stranded at opposite ends of
the Speedbowl following two single car spins on the speedway.
Plemons resumed his lead over the pack with the green flag back in the
air. A three-lap sprint saw Stone and Meyer go door-to-door for second
position, with Ed Puleo and Corey Hutchings duplicating that battle for
fourth. Caution waved on lap-14 when Barrett spun in turn four.
Stone challenged Plemons in the restart, powering ahead in the outside
lane. Puleo followed suit using the top groove and the pressure was on
Plemons for second. Meyer ducked low to make it a three-wide battle for
the spot, with Meyer ultimately coming out ahead. He tracked down the
three-length lead Stone opened up as the race moved to its final five
circuits. Meyer tried multiple moves over those laps, including a final
last ditch effort in turn one. Stone went on to the win, his second of
the year, ahead of Meyer and Puleo in an entertaining feature.
In the nightcap event for the Street Stocks, Nate Appell was the early
race leader before contact with Plemons sent both drivers to the rear of
the field during caution on lap-6. Puleo and Stone were on the front row
for the restart and put on a show for the Speedbowl fans for the remainder
of the race. Meyer and Galvin inserted themselves into the mix as well in
what turned out as a four car race for the win.
Following a string of caution flags over the middle of the race, Galvin
was the first to break up the Puleo and Stone battle for the lead. After
a lap-12 restart Puleo pushed high, opening the bottom lane for Galvin.
Galvin was able to get by Stone and challenge the leader, however Puleo
was able to fight him off. Several laps of a chess match on the race
track were slowed by another caution on lap-17.
Puleo led over Galvin, who could not make the outside groove work enabling
Stone and Meyer to charge back into the picture. Stone was back up to
second position then raced his way inside Puleo, refusing to back down.
Stone completed the move on lap-20 then went on to his second win of the
night. Puleo, Meyer, Galvin and Plemons finished out the top-five at the
checkered flag. By virtue of his pair of wins, Stone clawed back into a
tie with Puleo in the championship point lead.
The 25-lap Mini Stock feature saw Garrett Denton storm out to a lead over
the first half of the race under the green flag. Behind Denton, Jeff
Cembruch occupied second position before Charles Canfield raced by his
inside on lap-7. Once Canfield opened the door, Colvin also moved by
Cembruch into third. Ken Cassidy was on the move, racing into the top
five and eventually past Cembruch for fourth position on lap-10.
Canfield was able to charge ahead in the open track, catching Denton. He
eased his way underneath the leader on lap-13, then pulled ahead as they
completed lap-14 to be scored as the new leader. Colvin was right behind
Canfield every step of the way. Cassidy joined the top two after he
disposed of Denton on lap-16. Caution finally came out on lap-18 when
Christina Kellerman and Dale Sherman spun in tandem between turns one and
two.
Colvin took advantage of the ability to line up even on the outside
Canfield. He raced outside the leader when racing resumed and was scored
the race leader on lap-20. When caution waved again on lap-21, Colvin was
able to restart from the inside lane. That was the difference over the
final laps, as Colvin could not be deterred. Cassidy took second from
Canfield on the restart but was unable to put a serious bid on Colvin, who
got away for the win, his second on the year. Canfield got out of shape
on the final lap, yielding his podium run in the process. Following
Colvin and Cassidy across the stripe were Chris Williams, Denton and Ray
Christian.
Dimatteo steered clear of a mid-race incident involving several leaders in
the 20-lap Legends Cars feature, then pressured race leader Dylan Izzo in
the second half of the race before taking over. He held back the
late-race charges of Alessandro Vitelli, who finished second. Vitelli was
able to look inside Dimatteo but raced cleanly and could not complete the
move. Behind Dimatteo and Vitelli at the checkered flag was Izzo, scoring
his best career finish.
Luggelle picked up the win in the visiting 25-lap NEMA Lite Series race.
He stormed through the field to track down early leader Lanson Fornoro,
who had built up a sizeable lead. Fornoro was the victim of a tire going
down over the middle portion of the race, which ran caution-free. Once in
the lead, Luggelle cruised on to a half-track victory. A barn burner
battle for second position was waged over the duration of the race, with
Anthony Nocella besting Ryan Bigelow at the checkered flag.
Waterford Speedbowl 6/25 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series official results:
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds® (35-laps): 1. Keith
Rocco, Wallingford; 2. Jeff Pearl, Salem; 3. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI;
4. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 5. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 6. Tucker
Reynolds Jr., Westbrook; 7. Tom Abele Jr., Norwich; 8. Glenn Pressel
III, Gales Ferry; 9. Nichole Morgillo, Wallingford; 10. Frank
Mucciacciaro Jr., Milford; 11. Brent Sweet, Monroe; 12. Adam Gada,
Bozrah; 13. Dennis Gada, Salem; 14. Ted Christopher, Plainville; 15.
Wendell Dailey, Gales Ferry; 16. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill; 17. Randy
Churchill Jr., Oakdale; DNS Joe Perry, Ashaway, RI
Standings after ten events: 1. Pearl, 430; 2. Rocco, 407; 3. Janovic,
400; 4. Chadwick, 398; 5. Abele, 386; 6. James, 378; 7. Pressel, 353;
8. Morgillo, 334; 9. Reynolds, 326; 10. Perry, 308
NASCAR Whelen All-American Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models (30-laps):
1. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 2. Anthony Flannery, East Hampton; 3. Bruce
Thomas Jr., Groton; 4. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 5. Ray Parent, Tiverton,
RI; 6. Rich Staskowski, Hope Valley, RI; 7. Brian Andronaco Jr., Wilton;
8. Dennis Botticello, Suffield; 9. Joe Curioso, Pawcatuck; 10. Ernie
Bertrand, Branford; 11. Mike Sweeney Jr., Meriden; 12. Ed Gertsch Jr.,
East Haven; 13. Vin Esposito, Seymour; 14. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill;
15. Robert Barcsansky Jr.; 16. Mark Cooper, Northford
Standings after nine events: 1. Thomas, 421; 2. Smith, 413; 3.
Staskowski, 405; 4. Andronaco, 389; 5. Curioso, 364; 6. Esposito, 357;
7. Flannery, 355; 8. Palmer, 331; 9. Sweeney, 276; 10. Cooper, 254
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stocks Race #1 (25-laps held over
from 5/28/11): 1. Al Stone III, New Haven; 2. Chris Meyer, North
Franklin; 3. Ed Puleo, Branford; 4. Brandon Plemons, Uncasville; 5.
Josh Galvin, Franklin; 6. Michael Caprio, New Haven; 7. Corey Hutchings,
Salem; 8. Norm Root Jr., Old Saybrook; 9. Charles Beal, Ledyard; 10.
Nate Appell, Westbrook; 11. Ed Gertsch Jr., East Haven; 12. Steve
Barrett, Preston; 13. Jack Aquilina, Oakdale; 14. Paul Gaedeke,
Southington; 15. Chris Kvaka, Stratford; 16. Scott Young, Willimantic;
17. Walt Hovey Jr., Chaplin; DNS Ernie Larose, Moosup
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stocks Race #2 (25-laps): 1. Al
Stone III, New Haven; 2. Ed Puleo, Branford; 3. Chris Meyer, North
Franklin; 4. Josh Galvin, Franklin; 5. Brandon Plemons, Uncasville; 6.
Steve Barrett, Preston; 7. Nate Appell, Westbrook; 8. Chris Kvaka,
Stratford; 9. Paul Gaedeke, Southington; 10. Ed Gertsch Jr., East Haven;
11. Walt Hovey Jr., Chaplin; 12. Jack Aquilina, Oakdale; 13. Charles
Beal, Ledyard; 14. Norm Root Jr., Old Saybrook; 15. Scott Young,
Willimantic; 16. George Miller, Colchester; 17. Corey Hutchings, Salem;
18. Michael Caprio, New Haven
Standings after ten events: 1. (tie) Stone, Puleo, 481; 3. Meyer, 433;
4. Galvin, 432; 5. Plemons, 394; 6. Barrett, 384; 7. Root, 353; 8.
Beal, 300; 9. Appell, 288; 10. Kvaka, 238
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Mini Stocks (25-laps): 1. Glenn Colvin,
Clinton; 2. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 3. Chris Williams, Waterford; 4.
Garrett Denton, Hope Valley, RI; 5. Ray Christian III, Preston; 6. Ian
Brew, Wood River Junction, RI; 7. Christina Kellerman, Stratford; 8.
Phil Evans, Uncasville; 9. Nick Pappacoda, North Branford; 10. Jeffrey
Cembruch, Wallingford; 11. Ben Bargnesi, Norwich; 12. Daniel McGouran,
Westerly, RI; 13. Jeff Mehlenbacher, Groton; 14. Charles Canfield, New
Haven; 15. Sean Caron, East Hampton; 16. Joey DeGregorio, East Haven;
17. Dale Sherman, Charlestown, RI; 18. Jeffrey Lee, Uncasville
Standings after ten events: 1. Colvin, 460; 2. Cassidy, 413; 3. Brew,
404; 4. Williams, 389; 5. Evans, 389; 6. Christian, 378; 7. Cembruch,
377; 8. Canfield, 340; 9. Bill Leonard, 335; 10. Kellerman, 326
Legends Cars (20-laps): 1. Dana Dimatteo, Farmington; 2. Alessandro
Vitelli, Woodbridge; 3. Dylan Izzo, Monroe; 4. Troy Talman, Oxford, MA;
5. Peter Cirilli, Farmington; 6. Joey Mucciacciaro, Wolcott; 7. Nicholas
Sowa, 8. Angelo Belsito, Auburn, MA; 9. Dave Garbo Jr., Stonington; 10.
Calvin Therrien, Vernon; 11. Taylor Martin, Windham, NH; 12. Kyle
Rogers, Waterbury; 13. Joseph Parker, Weymouth, MA; 14. Zachary Latham,
Meriden; 15. Richard Erlandson, Moodus; 16. Kyle Hardwick, Chaplin; 17.
Ed Field, Deep River; 18. Giovanni Giarratana, Newington; DQ Nick
Ladyga, Voluntown; DNS Paul Kusheba IV, Monroe
Standings after five events: 1. Dimatteo, 245; 2. Giarratana, 207; 3.
Vitelli, 202; 4. Kusheba, 193; 5. Mucciacciaro, 166; 6. Field, 148; 7.
Belsito, 146; 8. Martin, 144; 9. (tie) Talman, Izzo, 142
NEMA Lites (25-laps): 1. Paul Luggelle, Holbrook, MA; 2. Anthony
Nocella, Woburn, MA; 3. Ryan Bigelow, East Hampton; 4. Brandon Igo,
Wilbraham, MA; 5. Vince Jacobs, 6. Seth Carlson, Brimfield, MA; 7.
Anthony Marvuglio, East Bridgewater, MA; 8. Andy Barrows, New Ipswich,
NH; 9. David Moniz, Fairhaven, MA; 10. Carl Medeiros Jr., Westport, MA;
11. Jim SantaMaria, Burlington; 12. Lanson Fonoro, 13. Jack McKeon
####
Waterford Speedbowl
Affordable Family Fun!
Visit us at Speedbowl.com for information including schedule, pricing,
times and more! Sign up for our e-newsletter and become a Fan on Facebook
and YouTube!
PHONE - 860.442.1585
FAX - 860.447.3699
WWW.SPEEDBOWL.COM
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
