Super Saturday Doesn’t Disappoint
By Ryan Lawliss

Winchester, NH: Monadnock Speedway opened for the last NASCAR Whelen All-American Series event of the 2018 season on a gorgeous last day of summer and the last event under the current ownership. Numerous drivers and fans took time to thank Larry Cirillo and Fred Pafumi for their years of dedication to running an amazing racetrack. All of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series division would be in action and were joined by the Young Guns, Lightning Stocks, NEMA and NEMA Lites plus Spectator Races, the annual Kids Big Wheel Race, and the Champions Go-Kart race. The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Divisions and the Lightning Stocks crowned their Track Champions; Matt Gauffin #68 (Lightning Stocks), Richard Vincent #4 (Thunder Stocks), Matthew Kimball #50x (Mini Stocks), Tyler Leary #11x (Super Stocks), and Keith Carzello #8 (Sportsman Modifieds). This week’s winners were Sammy Silva (Young Guns), Matt Gauffin (Lightning Stocks), Dan Cugini (NEMA Lites), Matt Kimball (Mini Stocks), Solomon Brow (Super Stocks), Geoff Rollins (Sportsman Modifieds), Todd Bertrand (NEMA), and Ed Lofland (Thunder Stocks).

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The annual Kids Big Wheel Race was broken into 3 different age brackets for competition: 4 year olds, 5 to 7 year olds, and 8 to 9 year olds; all of the kids that took place where given a checkered flag and NASCAR coloring book; with the top 3 given trophies. The 4 year old top 3 where Liam, Chase, and Leland; the 5-7 year olds top 3 Landon, Noah, and Keira; the 8 to 9 year olds top 3 Tim, Trenton, and Owen. The Spectator race was won by Josh Carey, who also is a Lightning Stock Driver.

Young Guns rolled onto the track for 15 laps of racing action. Gage Coates in the 821 brought the field to the green and would jump out to the early lead. Then on lap 2 the 96 of Cooper Roberge running 2nd and the 13 of Jake Puchalski running 3rd made slight contact coming out of turn 4 causing the field to check up but the race stayed under green. The field checking up allowed Coates to stretch his lead to a full straightaway by lap 4. Also on lap 4 Sammy Silva moved into the 2nd spot. Silva shipped away at Coates lead and on lap 12 Silva made the pass for the lead. Silva held on to capture his 5th win of the season; followed by Coates and Puchalski. Silva spoke in victory lane about his plans to return to the Young Guns next season and will try a few Lightning Stock races as well.

Lightning Stocks took to the track for the last time this season to electrify the crowd with 25 laps of action. Ernie Coates (#10) and Eric Banks (#8) made up the front row to start the race. Coates took the lead on lap 1 but on lap 3 Josh Carey (#69) would make the pass for the top spot followed closely by the 95 of CJ Johnson. Johnson passed Carey a lap later for the lead and would maintain the lead until lap 21 when Matt Gauffin (#68) made the pass on the outside to take the lead. Gauffin would collect the win, followed by Johnson and the 46 of Gordon Farnum. Gauffin was able to celebrate his Championship in the division while celebrating the win. While in victory lane Gauffin was asked about his plans for next season, to which he replied “running a mini stock somewhere.”

Jim Cataldo (#7) and Kyle Valeri (#17) led the NEMA Lites to the green. Cataldo led the first 14 laps before the caution flew for the 8T of Jake Trainor coming to rest in the top of turn 3 and turn 4. Cataldo was joined on the front row for the restart by the 76 of Anthony Nocella. Cataldo took the lead on the restart and was followed closely by the 51 of Dan Cugini. On lap 17 Dan Cugini took the lead and never looked back on his way to take the win. Kevin Iannarelli in the 27 made a pass coming to the checkered flag to take the 2nd spot from Cataldo; who had to settle for 3rd.

Mini Stocks jetted onto the track next with Kevin Pittsinger in the 50 and Tim Paquette in the 93 pacing the field to the green. Paquette took the lead at the drop of the green but the race was slowed on lap 2 as the 14 of Kevin Cormier made contact with the backstretch wall. Paquette was joined on the front row by the 76 of Kevin McKnight but before another lap could be completed the caution flew once more as Pittsinger spun out. Paquette and McKnight tried once more and this time Paquette resumed the lead followed by Matt Kimball (50x) and McKnight. Then on lap 6 Kimball took the lead and as McKnight followed Kimball past Paquette. Lap 10 another caution flew as Rob Zanoli in the 69x and Cormier spun in turn 4. Kimball and McKnight brought the field back to green. McKnight led lap 11 but Kimball battled back to take the lead on lap 12.On Lap 18 the handling on the 76 machine started to go away as McKnight started to drop backwards. As a result the 36 of Kodi Sabens took over 2nd and Louis Maher in the 69z took over 3rd. Kimball held on for the win followed closely by Sabens and Maher. Kimball was excited to get the win as he celebrated winning the Championship too. Kimball thanked his parents, especially his Dad. He also thanked his brother and all of his sponsors for their support. Kimball was in the running for the NASCAR Youth Achievement Championship but appears to have finished third in that race while it appears he will finish 5th in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Division 3 championship race. Kimball commented that “though it’s disappointing to not finish higher it feels great to be that highly nationally ranked.”

Nancy Muni-Ruot (96) and Eric Pomasko (71) brought the Super Stocks onto the track for their feature event. But before a lap could be completed Muni-Ruot was sideways coming out of turn 4 due to a three wide attempt by Dennis Stange (44) and collected the 03 of Ryan Currier and the 12 of Cole Littlewood. Pomasko was joined by the 22 of Scott Beck on the 2nd attempt to send the Super Stock race under green. Pomasko led the first 8 laps before the 27 of Marc Curtis wrestled the lead away. Muni-Ruot spun on lap 10 bringing out another caution and made her way to the pits appearing to have mechanical problems. Curtis and Tyler Leary in the 11x made up the front row for the restart. Curtis and Leary raced side by side for the lead until lap 13 when Solomon Brow who was lurking in 3rd made it 3 wide with Curtis and Leary taking the top spot as Leary backed out to avoid wrecking. Leary would get around Curtis on lap 21 for the 2nd spot. Brow won the race as Leary settled for 2nd as he captured his first Super Stock Championship and Curtis finished 3rd. Leary thanked all of his supporters this season as his team worked hard to take 6 wins on the way to winning this championship.

Sportsman Modifieds rocketed onto the track next for 40 laps of wheel to wheel racing action. Alyssa Rivera in the 5a and Geoff Rollins in the 02 brought the field to the green. Rollins rocketed out to the lead followed by the 03 of Joel Monahan. On lap 2 Ben Byrne took over 3rd. Rollins would lead wire to wire to take the win as Monahan finished 2nd and Byrne rounded out the top 3. Rollins commented on how “Bad Fast” his car was and that he knew the only chance he had to win the championship was to win and hope for help. Unfortunately Rollins held up his end but was unable to get the help he needed as Keith Carzello (8) took his first Championship.

Doug Cleveland (87) and Paul Scally (30) sat on the front row for the NEMA Iron Mike Memorial 30. Cleveland led lap 1 before giving up the top spot to the 9 of John Zych Jr. on lap 2 but then on lap 4 bad luck would strike for Zych Jr. as his motor would expire while he was leading bringing out the caution. Mike Horn (A1) and Todd Bertrand (47) brought the field back to green as Bertrand wasted no time to jump out into the lead as he was followed closely by the 74 of Randy Cabral and the 39 of Avery Stoehr. Bertrand pulled away and held on to take the win as Cabral finished and Stoehr finished 3rd.

Craig Chaffee (28) and James Nowakowski (9) brought the thundering Thunder Stocks onto the track to wrap of the tightest points battle for the Championship of all of the divisions. Chaffee thundered out into the lead at the drop of the green. Chris Curtis (26) passed Nowakowski for 2nd on lap 3. Kenny Thompson in the 39x spun on lap 15 to bring out the first caution. Chaffee and Chris Curtis brought the field back to the green but before a lap could be completed the caution was back out as the 18 of Ken Springer spun. Chaffee and Chris Curtis tried again on the front row and this time Chris Curtis took the lead on lap 16. The caution came out on lap 17 for Nowakowski spinning in turn 1 and turn 2 as Hillary Renaud in the 88 made contact too. Chris Curtis and Chaffee made up the front row once again. Chris Curtis resumed the lead but this time Ed Lofland in the 45 was close in tow. On lap 18 Chris Curtis got a little sideways allowing Lofland to take the lead. Lofland never looked back on his way to capturing the win. Chris Curtis held on for 2nd and Chaffee took the 3rd spot. Richard Vincent used his 5th place finish to capture the Thunder Stock Championship.

To end the evening and the season the Champions Go-Kart race took place. All 5 recently crowned champions took place with 2 provisional starters included in the form of Hillary Renaud (Thunder Stocks) and Kim Rivet (Sportsman Modifieds). Richard Vincent had the privilege of starting on the pole for the 10 lap event that took place on a track setup along the front stretch. Vincent led every lap on his way to capture the win but it wasn’t without pressure from Sportsman Modified Champion Keith Carzello who came up just short and finished 2nd. While Matt Gauffin finished 3rd.

The final event of the season will be the Summit Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Mudslinger Mudbog Spooktacular being held on Sunday, October 14th at Noon.

Sportsman Modified Results: Geoff Rollins, Joel Monahan, Ben Byrne, Matt Kimball, Kim Rivet, Keith Carzello, Brian Robie, Mike Smith, Eric Leclair, Chris Ignazio, Alyssa Rivera, Brian Chapin

Super Stocks: Solomon Brow, Tyler Leary, Marc Curtis, Eric Pomasko, Dennis Stange, Dave Striebel, Tyler Lescord, Scott Beck, Mark Blair, Bill Lambert, Nancy Muni-Ruot, Cole Littlewood, Ryan Currier

Mini Stocks: Matt Kimball,Kodi Sabens, Louis Maher, Tim Wenzel, Tim Paquette, Kevin Mcknight, Devin Guy, Nathan Wenzel, Cory Plummer, Gordon Farnum, Dave Elliot, Kevin Cormier, Rob Zanoli, Kevin Pittsinger, Richard Fournier, Pat Houle

Thunder Stocks: Ed Lofland, Chris Curtis, Craig Chaffee, Chris Buffone, Richard Vincent, Ben Williams, Chase Curtis, Bruce Clark, Frank L’etoile, Jaret Curtis, Greg Williams, Doug McLean, James Nowakowski, Mike Radzuik, Ken Thompson Jr, Hillary Renaud, Ken Springer

Lightning Stocks: Matt Gauffin, Cj Johnson, Gordon Farnum, Kim Rivet, Craig Chaffee, Fred Rogers, Mike Douglas, Kyle Currier, Ian Stevens, Eric Banks, Josh Carey, Ernie Coates, Chris Davis, Cooper Roberge, Skeeter Bearce, William Graham, Joe Brittain, Bruce Zanatara, Matt Lambert, Thomas Englehart, Chris Phelps

Young Guns: Sammy Silva, Gage Coates, Jake Puchalski, Taylor Striebel, Matt Lambert, Chloe Wright, Cooper Roberge, Skyler Shippee, Frances Boivin, Chris Phelps, Burch McLean