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08/10/2014 |
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WATERFORD
SPEEDBOWL WINGS & WHEELS
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 Waterford
Speedbowl hosted the seventh annual Wings & Wheels
event Saturday evening in front of a jam packed
grandstand. Fans were treated to some of the fastest
and most sophisticated short track racecars in the
country as the International Supermodified
Association made their only visit of the season and
was joined by the popular Valenti Modified Racing
Series, Northeastern Midget Association and NEMA
Lites, plus the home track NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series SK Modifieds® and SK Light
Modifieds. Ted Christopher of Plainville ended a
long Speedbowl drought dating back to 2004 with his
win in the night’s Valenti Modified Racing Series
feature. Mark Sammut of London, Ontario, Canada
checkered the 50-lap ISMA Supermodified race. A
first time winner visited Victory Lane in the SK
Modified® in surprise fashion after an exciting
conclusion, with Agawam, MA driver Jeff Gallup
recording the win. Randy Churchill of Oakdale took
his third SK Light Modified win of the year. In NEMA
action, John Zych Jr. of Mendon, MA won the Midget
feature and Dan Cugini of Marshfield, MA won the
companion NEMA Lite race.
 Christopher scored his third career Valenti Modified
Racing Series victory in the night’s 100-lap
feature. He started the race in the outside pole
position and tucked behind early leader Stephen
Masse.
Masse led through a lap-42 caution flag following a
quick opening sprint before Carl Medieros Jr. hit
the front stretch wall off turn four to draw the
yellow. Christopher had a great restart and powered
ahead of Masse on the top of the track through turns
one and two, leading every lap until the finish. He
led comfortably over the middle of the race which
stayed clean through a single car spin on lap-78 for
Dylan Kopec, which briefly drew a yellow flag.
Christopher restarted cleanly over series point
leader Justin Bonsignore and resumed.
Christopher’s biggest test may have been a red flag
with three laps remaining for a huge wreck that
collected no less than ten cars and caused a lengthy
delay to clean up the mess. Anthony Nocella wrecked
in turn four on lap-96, setting up the massive melee
on the restart. Tommy Barrett Jr. and Woody Pitkat
raced side-by-side for third behind the lead two,
with the field tightly bunched behind. The cars came
together in turn four coming to lap-97 and went head
on into the front stretch wall, collecting several
cars directly behind including Rowan Pennink,
Richard Savary, Norm Wrenn, Keith Rocco, Geoff
Gernhard among others, with all involved receiving
substantial damage.
Christopher got away from Bonsignore one final time
to close out the win, his first at the Speedbowl
since July of 2004 when he took his last SK
Modified® victory at the track. Bonsignore was
second and Masse ended up third. Chris Pasteryak
overcame a rough qualifying effort, using a
provisional starting spot and finished fourth and
Tom Abele Jr. was fifth.
Gallup’s first career SK Modified® victory came
following a wild finish through the final corners
coming to the checkered flag. Gallup battled Shawn
Monahan for most of the 35-lap feature, riding the
outside of the track to stay in contention for the
win. Monahan seemed to have control throughout,
leading from his pole starting position. Heavy
hitters Ted Christopher and Keith Rocco worked their
way from the back half of th top ten to move into
contention in the second half of the race. They
trailed behind the developing Monahan-Gallup duel in
third and fourth position from lap-18.
Rocco finally got by Christopher with four laps
remaining as Monahan and Gallup were still
side-by-side. As they began the final lap, Monahan
cleared Gallup from his outside with Rocco following
suit, diving inside Gallup. As the lead pack entered
turn three coming to the checkered flag, Rocco made
contact with Monahan’s rear bumper, sending his car
up the track. Monahan feverishly tried to keep his
car from spinning but could not. Rocco crossed the
finish line first, but was immediately penalized for
overaggressive driving giving Gallup, who was behind
Rocco at the finish, the victory. Woody Pitkat
steered through the crazy conclusion and finished
second while Christopher wound up third.
 Sammut recorded the first Speedbowl triumph in his
long ISMA career in the night’s 50-lap race. The
turning point for Sammut came on lap-37 when leader
Ryan Coniam was black flagged. His car began smoking
two laps prior, and as he pulled off the speedway on
lap-38 his car erupted in flame. The red flag was
quickly display and Coniam escaped unscathed. Sammut,
who had been in second behind Coniam since lap-5,
took over the lead and was never seriously
challenged the remainder of the way. Former SK
Modified® track champion Rob Summers, a hometown
favorite, stayed with Sammut throughout and finished
second. Series point leader Jon McKennedy was third.
Sammut clocked a fast lap of 107mph in the race.
Churchill was back in the winner’s circle following
the 25-lap SK Light Modified feature, coming out on
top of a mid-race battle with Corey Barry. Churchill
took the lead at the green flag, then held on as
Barry moved to his rear bumper and challenged him
several laps into the race. Barry actually took the
lead briefly following the only caution flag in the
race on lap-17, running outside Churchill to lead by
a nose. Churchill rallied the following lap to
reclaim the lead then powered on to the win. Barry,
the division point leader, finished second and Paul
Buzel was third.
 Zych rocketed his way to victory in the 25-lap
winged NEMA Midget feature, which was a tribute to
Gene and Marilyn Angelillo, the late long-time car
owners and officers in the club. Zych took the lead
after a lap-7 caution flag and romped to the win
from there, holding off Randy Cabral the rest of the
way. Zych’s quick time was a blistering 106mph lap.
He was presented the winning trophies by the
Angelillo’s granddaughters.
Cugini won the 25-lap NEMA Lite feature, with Logan
Rayvals making a long journey worthwhile, finishing
runner-up. P.J. Stergios of was third. Three caution
flags slowed the race.
Next Saturday a six-division program returns to the
Speedbowl with NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
racing by the SK Modifieds, Bob Valenti Auto Mall
Late Models, Street Stocks and Mini Stocks. They
will be joined by an appearance by the New England
Truck Series as well as the track’s INEX Legend
Cars.
Saturday 8/9 Wings
& Wheels Results:
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds®
(35-laps): 1. Jeff Gallup, Agawam, MA; 2. Woody
Pitkat, Stafford; 3. Ted Christopher, Plainville; 4.
Tim Jordan, Plainfield; 5. Joe Gada, Salem; 6. Jeff
Rocco, Southington; 7. Paul Kusheba IV, Monroe; 8.
Craig Lutz, Miller Place, NY; 9. Tom Abele Jr.,
Norwich; 10. Ed Puleo, Branford; 11. Diego Monahan,
Quaker Hill; 12. Al Stone III, Durham; 13. Frank
Mucciacciaro Jr., Milford; 14. Wendell Dailey, Gales
Ferry; 15. Shawn Monahan, Waterford; 16. Keith
Rocco, Berlin; 17. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 18.
Nichole Morgillo, Southington; 19. Tyler Chadwick,
Ledyard; DNS – Kyle James, Ashaway, RI
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Light
Modifieds® (25-laps): 1. Randy Churchill,
Oakdale; 2. Corey Barry, Plainfield; 3. Paul Buzel,
Trumbull; 4. Glenn Griswold, Vernon; 5. Larry Goss,
North Windham; 6. Calvin Therrien, Vernon; 7.
Victoria Bergenty, Plainville; 8. Jeff Fialkovich,
Shelton; 9. Crystal Serydynski, Johnston, RI; 10.
Carlos Gray, East Hartford; 11. Alan Tirrell, North
Stonington
Valenti Modified Racing Series (100-laps): 1.
Ted Christopher, Plainville; 2. Justin Bonsignore,
Holtsville, NY; 3. Steve Masse, Bellingham, MA; 4.
Chris Pasteryak, Lisbon; 5. Tom Abele Jr., Norwich;
6. Mike Willis Jr., Grantham, MA; 7. Max Zachem,
Preston; 8. Eric Goodale, Wading River, NY; 9. Norm
Wrenn, Nashua, NH; 10. Jonny Kay, Deerfield Beach,
FL; 11. Keith Rocco, Berlin; 12. Richard Savary,
Canton, MA; 13. Donnie Lashua, Canaan, NH; 14. Dylan
Kopec, Palmer, MA; 15. Tommy Barrett Jr., Millis,
MA; 16. Woody Pitkat, Stafford; 17. Geoff Gernhard,
Salem; 18. Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, PA; 19.
Anthony Nocella, Woburn, MA; 20. Jeff Pearl, Salem;
21. Dave Etheridge, Portland; 22. Kyle James,
Ashaway, RI; 23. Carl Medieros Jr., Westport, MA; DQ
– Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield
International Supermodified Association
(50-laps): 1. Mark Sammut, London, ON, CA; 2.
Rob Summers, Vernon; 3. Jon McKennedy, Chelmsford,
MA; 4. Jeff Locke, Raymond, NH; 5. Ben Seitz,
Bourne, MA; 6. Justin Belfiore, Haverhill, MA; 7.
Eddie Witkum, Westford, MA; 8. John Gambuti, Point
Pleasant, NJ; 9. Mike Netishen, hometown
unavailable; 10. Dave Duggan, Milford, NH; 11. Jamie
Timmons, North Andover, MA; 12. Bobby Chartier,
Dracut, MA; 13. Eric Lewis, Solvay, NY; 14. Dan
Bowes, Byfield, MA; 15. Ryan Coniam, Denver, CO; 16.
Chris Perley, Rowley, MA; 17. Dave Sanborn, Tilton,
NH; 18. Tim Ice, Seville, OH; 19. Craig Rayvals,
Brockville, ON, CA
Northeastern Midget Association (25-laps): 1.
John Zych Jr., Mendon, MA; 2. Randy Cabral,
Kingston, MA; 3. Seth Carlson, Brimfield; 4. Avery
Stoehr, Lakeville, MA; 5. Todd Bertrand, Suffield;
6. Bethany Stoehr, Bridgewater, MA; 7. Paul Bigelow,
Kensington 8. Paul Scally, Raynham, MA; 9. Doug
Cleveland, Sudbury, MA; 10. Jim Santamaria,
Burlington, MA; 11. Jim Chambers, Atkinson, NH; 12.
Pete Pernesiglio, Ronkonkoma, NY; 13. Russ Stoehr,
Lakeville, MA; 14. Ian Cumens, Lydell, PA; 15. Kenny
Johnson, Bethany; 16. Ryan Bigelow, East Hampton
NEMA Lites (25-laps): 1. Dan Cugini,
Marshfield, MA; 2. Logan Rayvals, Brockville, ON,
CA; 3. P.J. Stergios, Candia, NH; 4. Richie Morrocco,
Plainville, MA; 5. Scott Bigelow, East Hampton; 6.
Andy Barrows, New Ipswich, NH; 7. Anthony Payne,
Fairlawn, NJ; 8. Joey Mucciacciaro, Wolcott; 9.
Calvin Carroll, hometown unavailable; 10. Megan
Cugini, Marshfield, MA; 11. Tony Colandro, hometown
unavailable; 12. Dennis O’Brien, Deerfield, NH; 13.
Brandon Igo, hometown unavailable; 14. R.J. Tufano,
West Haven; 15. Ryan Bigelow, Kensington; 16. Juris
Kupris, Williamsburg, NY; 17. Ryan Krachun, Mechanic
Station, NJ |
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Source: Brian Darling / Waterford Speedbowl
Posted:
August 10, 2014 |
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