11/01/13
November 1, 2013 |
Thirty five years ago in 1978, Fred DeSarro was laid to
rest on November 4.The following day, the Thompson Speedway hosted a benefit
race which saw all proceeds go to Fred’s kids and wife. The pit area was
jammed, as was the grandstand. The competitors raced for nothing and the
entire purse was donated. Bugsy Stevens, who had been a fierce competitor
and close friend, was driving the Joe Brady No.41 and was driving down the
backstretch on the parade lap when a ball joint broke. Stevens swore that
DeSarro had given him a message and became quite upset. Brady's car was
towed off and Stevens joined chief starter Dick Brooks and his assistant Bob
Gelinas on the starter stand. Stevens dropped the green and the race was on.
The event was scheduled for 50 laps. Geoff Bodine took an early lead and was
cruising to another win. When Brooksie waved the white flag, Bodine slowed
and as the checker waved the next time around, Bodine turned into the
infield pit area and the rest of the field followed suit. The Speedway
became so quiet that one could hear a pin drop! It was a fitting tribute to
a fallen hero and fellow competitor. Bodine was credited with the win which
happened to be his 55th which set an all time modified record which still
stands today. Richie Evans was credited with finishing second and was
followed by Ronnie Bouchard, John Rosati, Dick Dunn, Charlie Jarzombek and
Bobby Vee. It was a day, which many of us will never forget.
Five years ago in 2008, The
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Series settled into a long winter’s sleep with
the exception of the upcoming Banquet of Champions, which would be held at
the Mohegan Sun Casino on Saturday, September 13.
The weekly stars of NASCAR headed for Las Vegas for the 27th annual
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series awards banquet at the Rio Hotel. NASCAR,
series sponsor Whelen Engineering and track operators gathered to honor
national champion Philip Morris, plus U.S. state, Canadian provincial, and
track champions from throughout North America.
Morris, of Ruckersville, Va., made history, becoming only the
second driver to win the title more than once. Morris, the champion also in
2006, joined five-time champion Larry Phillips in the series’ very elite
category.
Morris, who raced at the Motor Mile Speedway in Virginia entered 28
events and scored 14 victories. Including the wins he had 23 top fives.
Finishing second was Brian Harris who raced at the West Liberty Raceway in
Iowa. Harris had 35 top fives in 38 starts including 20 wins. Third is Marty
Ward who raced at the Greenville-Pickens Speedway in South Carolina. Ward
recorded 22 top fives in 24 starts including 13 wins. Fourth was New
England’s own, Keith Rocco who raced at Stafford, Waterford and Thompson.
Rocco entered 49 events and scored 32 top fives including 11 wins. Rocco
drove for three different car owners. Rounding out the top five was Jeff
Strunk who raced at the Grandview Speedway in Pennsylvania. Strunk ran in
only 20 events but made the best of it as he had 19 top fives which included
four wins.
NASCAR also honored their state champions. Rocco, who made his
Whelen Modified Tour debut at the 2008 World Series at Thompson took top
honors as the Connecticut State Champion. Rocco was also the 2008 SK
Modified Champion at the Stafford Motor Speedway. Woody Pitkat, who, like
Rocco raced at all three tracks, finished second. Pitkat entered 29 events
and recorded 13 top fives, which included six wins. Jimmy Blewett, with 12
top fives in 25 starts, finished third. Blewett raced at Thompson and
Stafford. Doug Coby, who also raced at all three tracks, finished fourth.
Dennis Gada who won a record seventh Modified Track Championship at the
Waterford Speedbowl, rounded out the top five. Gada, who raced only at
Waterford, scored 13 top fives in 21 starts which included three wins. Sixth
through tenth in the final NASCAR State standings are Rob Janovic from the
Waterford Speedbowl, Todd Ceravolo from the Thompson Speedway, Jeffrey Paul
from Waterford, Ted Christopher from the Stafford Motor Speedway and Tyler
Chadwick from the Waterford Speedbowl.
At the Waterford Speedbowl the word had it that Jerry Robinson’s
lease of the shoreline oval was up as of November 1. According to reports
Mr. Robinson had removed himself and his belongings from the facility. In
the mean time competitors who raced in the season ending Fall Finale had not
been paid.
In NASCAR Sprint Cup action, Carl Edwards won for the second
straight week, squeezing a victory out of his last tank of gas. The
combination of the win by Edwards and a 15th-place finish by Jimmie Johnson
in the Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth left Edwards 106
points behind NASCAR Sprint Cup points leader Johnson with two races
remaining. Edwards dominated most of the race, leading 199 of the first 264
laps on the 1 1/2-mile oval. Edwards, who inherited the lead when Greg
Biffle pitted with 13 laps remaining, beat runner-up Jeff Gordon by more
than 8 seconds still had enough gas left to do a couple of victory
doughnuts. Edwards went the final 103.5 miles on his last fill-up.
Kyle Busch won the O'Reilly Challenge Nationwide event at Texas
Motor Speedway to capture his 10th win of the season, tying him with Sam Ard
for the most wins in a season in the series, and giving Joe Gibbs Racing
it's 19th win of the year. Carl Edwards finished second followed by Mark
Martin, Joey Logano, and David Ragan. The race was slowed by 5 cautions for
20 laps and there were 4 lead changes among 10 leaders.
On November 4 Barak Obama became the first African-American to be
elected as the President of the United States.
Last year, 2012, The Waterford
Speedbowl closed out their season Saturday, and championships were decided
in both the SK Modified and Street Stock events. Jeff Rocco, twin brother to
Keith Rocco, took his first career victory in the 50-lap SK Modified race
while Tyler Chadwick of Ledyard secured his first ever Speedbowl title in
the division. Walt Hovey left no doubt in the Street Stocks, winning both
the race and the track championship. Also winning races Saturday were Bruce
Thomas Jr in the Late Models and Ken Cassidy Jr. in the Mini Stocks.
Rocco was the man to beat once he made his way into the race lead.
Craig Lutz started in the pole position and led through a lap 3 restart.
Lutz gave way to Kyle James while Rocco moved into second position. Another
caution on lap 5 enabled Rocco to line up alongside James for the ensuing
restart. Rocco powered past James when racing resumed, leading lap 6. Rocco
survived four more restarts the rest of the way.
Todd Ceravolo finished out the year on a high note, finished second
to Rocco in the SK Modified race while Shawn Monahan came from the rear to
finish third. Jeff Rocco is the twin brother of two-time track champion
Keith Rocco. Chadwick began the event with a 21-point lead over Jeff Pearl.
He finished the race ninth, running a cautious race to stay out of trouble
and claim the crown.
Thomas led throughout the Late Model race, with Jeff Smith
finishing second and Dillon Moltz the champion in the division, finishing
third.
Hovey rose to the lead on lap 24 in the Street Stocks race then survived
multiple caution flags over the remainder of the race. Corey Hutchings was
second and Chris Meyer came in third. Cassidy resumed the final 28 laps of
the Mini Stock race from a lead he held back on October 7th when rain halted
the race. Ray Christian III of Norwich was second and Jeff Cembruch finished
third. Cassidy's victory was his 12th of the year in the division, good for
the all-time single season record in division wins.
On a sad note Auto Racing lost a true friend with the passing of
Charlie Mitchell. Charlie was well known and highly respected by his peers
for his writing in the Norwalk (CT) Hour. Charlie was the dean of New
England racing writers. The respect he had from competitors, from promoters,
from fans and, especially from other media members, remains unparalleled.
Having Charlie in the press box signified that it was indeed an event worthy
of coverage. He brought the skills he used covering other sports to auto
racing. He was one of a tiny group that was instrumental in making our sport
part of the general media scene. In that regard, he was a revolutionary
figure in New England auto racing history.
In NASCAR Sprint Cup racing at the Martinsville Speedway, Jimmie
Johnson started from the pole and dominated the race, leading 191 of the 500
laps en route to his seventh victory at the historic .526-mile asphalt oval.
However, the victory didn’t come easy.
Jeff Gordon was attempting to work his way around Johnson when the
caution flag waved on lap 474 when Kevin Harvick’s engine expired. All of
the lead-lap cars pitted under caution except championship leader Brad
Keselowski and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Johnson restarted third behind Keselowski
and Earnhardt and quickly drove his way around both drivers, retaking the
lead on lap 485. On lap 491 the final caution flag of the day waved when
Carl Edwards and Earnhardt spun in turn two, giving second-place Kyle Busch
one final shot at Johnson.
The field returned to green-flag racing with five laps left and
Johnson quickly pulled into the lead with Busch in hot pursuit. Busch gave
it everything he could, but Johnson was able to hold on for the victory.
The Nationwide Series was off for the weekend.
That’s about it for this week from 11 Gardner Drive, Westerly, and
R.I.02891. Ring my chimes at 401-596-5467. E-mail:
smithpe_97_97@yahoo.com.
Phil Smith has been a
columnist for Speedway Scene and various
other publications for over 3 decades.
This week are several vintage racing photos
Courtesy of
SpeedwayLineReport.com &
Dave Dyke's
Racing ThroughTime.com
Click on Photo for Full Sized
![](LarryL_small.jpg)
Jerry Humiston
Cannonball Baker
Larry LaFayette
![](SmokeyB_small.jpg)
Moe Gherzi
Pete Fiandaca
Smokey Boutwell
Looking Back Archive
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Source: Phil
Smith / Looking Back A Bit
Posted: November
1, 2013 |
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