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Saturday 7/23 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Results

Rocco goes for fourth straight SK Modified® win;
Esposito, Caprio, Cassidy, Garbo and Coates also visit Victory Lane

Waterford, CT (July 23, 2011) – Waterford Speedbowl was back in action
Saturday night with a six-division NASCAR Whelen All-American Series race
program. Taking down wins on the evening were Keith Rocco of Wallingford,
continuing his blistering hot pace in SK Modified® action with his fourth
consecutive triumph at the shoreline oval. Vin Esposito of Seymour took
down the checkered flag in the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models, his
second on the year. In Street Stock action, Michael Caprio Jr. of New
Haven wired the race in dominating fashion to claim his first career win
in the division, while Lisbon’s Ken Cassidy Jr. rounded out the NASCAR
Whelen All-American Series winners by taking his fifth win in the Mini
Stocks this year. In the Legends Cars it was David Garbo Jr. of
Stonington taking his third consecutive win, and in the visiting New
England Truck Series Corey Coates of Ledyard nailed down an extra-distance
win.


The 35-lap SK Modified® feature was led to the green flag by Tom Abele Jr.
He moved out to an early lead ahead of a field behind that was jostling
for position all the way throughout the pack. With Abele out front, Glenn
Pressel settled into second position. Kyle James was looking outside
Nichole Morgillo for third position, with Keith Rocco all over his back
bumper as he was already up to fifth in the opening five circuits. James
looked outside, testing the waters on Morgillo before pulling outside and
around her on lap-7. After James went to third, Rocco wasted no time
taking over fourth position diving to Morgillo’s outside a lap later.

James immediately looked to the outside of Pressell for second position on
lap-8, with a more serious bid coming off turn four on lap-9. James ran
out of racing room as they rumbled into turn one, with Rocco throwing his
car under both Pressel and James in one sweeping move. He was in second
as they powered down the back chute on lap-9 faced with a five-length
lead, clearing the battle for second position.

Behind Abele and Rocco, James continued his pursuit of Pressel, eventually
taking the spot on the inside. Jeff Pearl had moved up to fifth position
and chased down Pressel for fourth. Out front Rocco caught Abele, making
an inside move on the leader on lap-16. Justin Gaydosh spun in turn four
to bring out the first caution flag moments later, staving off Rocco’s
charge. The restart reset the field, lining Rocco up to Abele’s outside.
Abele got a good restart but had his hands full with Rocco. Out of turn
four on lap-17 Rocco proved too much, clearing Abele. James glued himself
to the back bumper of Abele, with Pearl moving past Pressel for fourth.
Rob Janovic, who started near the tail of the field, was up to fifth when
caution waved for the second time on lap-19.

Rocco blasted past Abele for the lead on the restart, allowing James the
chance to race to his inside for second. Janovic was tight in line behind
those two looking quick. Pearl in the meantime was sliding back in the
outside lane. James ultimately cleared Abele for second with Janovic
filling the hole behind him, taking third on lap-24. Rocco led the field
by a half chute lead when caution came back out on lap-32 when Joe Perry
spun in turn three, collecting others.

Rocco could not be stopped on the final restart, powering ahead of a James
and Janovic battle for second. Rocco went on to the win, his eighth
overall this season. Janovic beat out James for second, with Abele and
Tyler Chadwick completing the top-five.


The Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature was wired by Esposito. The
30-lapper, which went caution free, was not without some late race drama
to keep the fans engaged. Esposito jumped to the lead on the opening
circuit over Jeff Smith. The early mover was three-time champion Bruce
Thomas Jr., who started outside the top-five and used the opening laps to
advance his position. Thomas raced in the outside lane to get by Joe
Curioso for fifth position, then waited out a battle for third between
Rich Staskowski and rookie competitor Anthony Flannery. Staskowski was
able to hold back Flannery, but once singled out Thomas raced around the
outside of them both to move into third position on lap-8.

By lap-10, Thomas glued himself to Smith’s rear bumper in second position,
again looking for room in the outside lane. Thomas’ handles began to
fade, allowing Smith to refocus his efforts on tracking down Esposito.
The race moved past halfway with the running order still the same.
As the laps counted down, Smith made his way in to challenge Esposito.

Smith patiently waited for an opening that appeared to come on lap-28. He
got a run off turn four to look under Esposito, with the pair making
contact through turns one and two. Both held on to their cars, with Smith
making a save up the track exiting turn two that squeezed Thomas into the
backstretch wall. The action allowed Esposito to open up a three-car lead
over the final lap and half. He went on to the win, his second on the
season. Smith recovered for second while Thomas had to hold off
Staskowski for third out of the final corner. Flannery completed the
top-five.


The Street Stock feature also went green-to-checkered flags, with the
action fast and furious. Caprio used his pole starting position to jump
out to the race lead then stayed well ahead of a tussle for the second
position that lasted for much of the race among the division heavyweights.

In the early going Brandon Plemons held the spot but had pressure from
Josh Galvin and Ed Puleo. Galvin finally got inside and around Plemons on
lap-8, with defending champion Al Stone hot on his tail also making his
way by Puleo. Stone wasted little time moving up, racing past Plemons
into the spot third. Plemons slipped back to fourth, however that was
short lived as Puleo completed a pass on the former division champion to
make it a three-car battle for second position. Caprio extended his lead
while Galvin, Stone and Puleo were in pursuit of second. Further back,
Chris Meyer moved to fifth position.

With five laps remaining Caprio was on cruise control. He had a
half-chute lead over the competition and went on to the checkered flag.
The win was Caprio’s first, in his first season in the division. Galvin
was able to keep his challengers at bay to take second position ahead of
Stone and Puleo. Meyer took fifth.


The 25-lap Mini Stock feature saw Ian Brew leading the early laps over a
healthy battle among the top-ten. That ended abruptly on lap-7 when Ben
Bargnesi lost a right front tire on his car, sending him hard into the
turn four wall and tire barrier. The caution flag came out for the
cleanup.

On the restart Cassidy, who restarted in second position after slicing
through the top-five in the opening circuits, raced to Brew’s outside.
Cassidy prevailed, powering past Brew and eventually opening up a dominant
lead as the race moved past its halfway point. He stretched his lead to
nearly a straightaway advantage when Jeffrey Lee and D.J. McGouran came
together in turn four, with McGouran making contact with the wall to bring
out caution again on lap-19.

Cassidy picked up where he left off when racing returned to green,
untouched out front by several lengths. Last week’s winner Nick Pappacoda
moved to Brew’s inside to take second position on lap-21 just before
several cars came together in turn one with 22 laps complete, returning
the race to caution. Cassidy mastered the final restart, taking his fifth
win of the year. Pappacoda was second and Brew finished third, ending a
recent slump. Points leader Glenn Colvin and Jeffrey Cembruch rounded out
the top-five.


In Legends Cars action, the hottest driver at the track continued his
streak. Garbo, who has claimed the last two Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday
features, took his third consecutive in the division. The 20-lapper began
with Joey Mucciacciaro trying to hold down the top spot but had a host of
fast competitors pressing him hard. The battle for the top-five, in fact,
was hotly contested over the race.

The first seven laps saw the top-five change hands behind Mucciacciaro as
Alessandro Vitelli, Angelo Belsito, Garbo, Dylan Izzo, Paul Kusheba and Ed
Field all jockeying for position. Caution waved on lap-7 when Zach Latham
hit the turn four wall.

Garbo restarted in third behind Mucciacciaro and Vitelli, but wasted
little time getting by Vitelli on the restart then raced to Mucciacciaro’s
inside a lap later. From there he survived two more caution flags, but
went on to win unchallenged. Kusheba took a strong second position ahead
of Vitelli, who finished third. Mucciacciaro and Dimatteo rounded out the
top-five.


In the visiting New England Truck Series feature, Derek Chriss led through
the first eight laps before spinning out of the lead. Duane Noll, who was
running third, moved up to lead the pack until a competition caution flag
waved at halfway. Noll selected a chip to determine an invert order for
the second half of the race, selecting to invert all the lead lap Trucks.
That moved Noll and Coates, who was in second, to the rear of the running
order when racing resumed.

The second half of the race went caution free, with Ronnie Oldham Jr.
leading over Andy Lindemann. Coates charged through the field using the
outside groove, eventually making his way to third place by lap-30. He
then continued his mastery of the outside lane to go past both Lindemann
and Oldham to take over the race lead on lap-32. From there, he went on
to the win over both Oldham and Lindemann. Noll and Jason Lafayette
completed the top-five.


The Speedbowl returns to action next Saturday night for a special event,
the annual Nostalgia Night, presented by KOOL 101. The event will
showcase vintage racing groups NEAR, STAR, and Vintage Midget Racing.
Cars from the 1940’s and up will be on display and exhibition racing. The
NEMA Midgets and NEMA Lites will also both take part in special events in
memoriam of the late Shane Hammond. The Speedbowl’s four weekly NASCAR
Whelen All-American Series divisions will also compete. Visit
Speedbowl.com for more details about the special event, with special
opening gate times and details.


Waterford Speedbowl 7/23 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series official results:

NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds® (35-laps): 1. Keith
Rocco, Wallingford; 2. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 3. Kyle James,
Ashaway, RI; 4. Tom Abele Jr., Norwich; 5. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 6.
Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., Milford; 7. Jeff Pearl, Salem; 8. Nichole
Morgillo, Wallingford; 9. Glenn Pressel, Gales Ferry; 10. Jeffrey
Gallup, Agawam, MA; 11. Justin Gaydosh, Newtown; 12. Dennis Gada, Salem;
13. Randy Churchill Jr., Oakdale; 14. Wendell Dailey, Gales Ferry; 15.
Jimmy Smith, Woodstock; 16. Adam Gada, Bozrah; 17. Joe Perry, Ashaway,
RI; 18. Brent Sweet, Monroe; 19. Bill Luchesi, Danbury

Standings after thirteen events: 1. Rocco, 572; 2. Pearl, 554; 3.
Janovic, 518; 4. James, 510; 5. Chadwick, 508; 6. Abele, 476; 7.
Morgillo, 446; 8. Pressel, 439; 9. (tie) Perry, Tucker Reynolds Jr., 392


NASCAR Whelen All-American Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models (30-laps):
1. Vin Esposito, Seymour; 2. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 3. Bruce Thomas Jr.,
Groton; 4. Rich Staskowski, Hope Valley, RI; 5. Anthony Flannery, East
Hampton; 6. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 7. Joe Curioso, Pawcatuck; 8. Jeffrey
Paul, Groton; 9. Dennis Botticello, Suffield; 10. Mike Sweeney Jr.,
Meriden; 11. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill

Standings after twelve events: 1. Thomas, 570; 2. Smith, 547; 3.
Staskowski, 539; 4. Curioso, 488; 5. Esposito, 468; 6. (tie) Flannery,
Palmer, 459; 8. Brian Andronaco Jr., 455; 9. Sweeney, 368; 10. Duranti,
312


NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stocks (25-laps): 1. Michael
Caprio Jr., New Haven; 2. Josh Galvin, Franklin; 3. Al Stone III, New
Haven; 4. Ed Puleo, Branford; 5. Chris Meyer, North Franklin; 6.
Brandon Plemons, Uncasville; 7. Nate Appell, Westbrook; 8. Ryan Morgan,
Mystic; 9. Chris Kvaka, Stratford; 10. Steve Barrett, Preston; DNS –
Charles Beal, Ledyard

Standings after thirteen events: 1. Puleo, 635; 2. Stone, 601; 3. Galvin,
574; 4. Meyer, 563; 5. Plemons, 516; 6. Barrett, 494; 7. Appell, 408;
8. Beal, 366; 9. Caprio, 361; 10. Norm Root Jr., 353


NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Mini Stocks (25-laps): 1. Ken Cassidy
Jr., Lisbon; 2. Nick Pappacoda, North Branford; 3. Ian Brew, Wood River
Junction, RI; 4. Glenn Colvin, Clinton; 5. Jeffrey Cembruch,
Wallingford; 6. Ray Christian III, Preston; 7. Sean Caron, East Hampton;
8. Chris Williams, Niantic; 9. Charles Canfield, New Haven; 10. Garrett
Denton, Hope Valley, RI; 11. Christina Kellerman, Stratford; 12. Jeff
Mehlenbacher, Plainfield; 13. Jeffrey Lee, Uncasville; 14. Joey
DeGregorio, East Haven; 15. Doug Curry, Groton; 16. D.J. McGouran,
Westerly, RI; 17. Phil Evans, Uncasville; 18. Dale Sherman, Charlestown,
RI; 19. Ben Bargnesi, Norwich

Standings after thirteen events: 1. Colvin, 598; 2. Cassidy, 547; 3.
Williams, 516; 4. Cembruch, 505; 5. Brew, 494; 6. Evans, 489; 7.
Christian, 486; 8. Canfield, 442; 9. Kellerman, 430; 10. Pappacoda, 389


Saturday Legends Cars (20-laps): 1. Dave Garbo Jr., Stonington; 2. Paul
Kusheba IV, Monroe; 3. Alessandro Vitelli, Woodbridge; 4. Joey
Mucciacciaro, Wolcott; 5. Dana Dimatteo, Farmington; 6. Angelo Belsito,
Auburn, MA; 7. Kyle Rogers, Waterbury; 8. Nicholas Sowa, Middletown; 9.
Kyle Hardwick, Chaplin; 10. Arthur Maurero, Baltic; 11. Calvin Therrien,
Vernon; 12. Richard Erlandson, Moodus; 13. Troy Talman, Oxford, MA: 14.
Ed Field, Deep River; 15. Zachary Latham, Meriden; 16. Dylan Izzo,
Monroe; 17. Giovanni Giarratana, Newington

Standings after seven events: 1. Dimatteo, 342; 2. Vitelli, 296; 3.
Kusheba, 247; 4. Giarratana, 245; 5. Garbo, 227; 6. Belsito, 226; 7.
J. Mucciacciaro, 214; 8. Talman, 204; 9. Izzo, 200; 10. Field, 196


New England Truck Series (50-laps): 1. Corey Coates, Ledyard; 2. Ronnie
Oldham Jr., Old Saybrook; 3. Andy Lindemann, Poestenkill, NY; 4. Duane
Noll, Monroe; 5. Jason Lafayette, Somers; 6. Nate Bubello, Holliston,
MA; 7. Howard Payne, Shelton; 8. Derek Chriss, Averill Park, NY; 9.
Bert Ouelette, Dayville; 10. Jonathon Avery, Quaker Hill

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