By Lou Modestino
Waterford Speedbowl returned to action with another round of Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday racing. A first time winner joined four returning faces to Victory Lane in an action packed night of
motorsports. Leading the way was Michael Blaskey, who his first-ever checkered flag in the INEX Legend Cars division. Jon Porter won another Super X-Car race, Zac Thomas was the winner of the X-Car race and Anthony Marvin claimed the INEX Bandolero feature. Chuck McDonald was king of
the night’s Wacky Race for the X-Cars.
19-year old Tommy Barrett, of Millis, MA, cashed in on a lap 66 caution flag, moved to second on the restart, then passed race leader, Todd Szegedy, of Ridgefield, CT, on the final lap to win the Valenti Modified Racing Series 75-lap feature race Thursday night at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, Thompson, Connecticut. Barrett’s victory was his seventh series win and his first series victory at Thompson. Barrett becomes the fourth different winner in as many races this season. Barrett, piloting the # 9 Victory Lane Bar and Grill modified, started outside front row and fell back several positions.
“We tend to lay back but I wanted to stay up front and not let those guys (leaders) get to far away from me. It was just the way we wanted it. Top ten, top five. At the end we got the caution I needed and got a good restart.,” Barrett explained in victory lane. “ They told me on the radio we were faster than those guys up front. “I got up on the wheel and did what I had to do” Barrett’s victory is his seventh series win and his first series victory
Reigning champion Rowan Pennink, of Huntingdon Valley, PA., started 19th and finished a strong second at the end.
“We started a little further back than we like too. A race going green like that a long time and everyone spread out we tried to take it easy and save our stuff. At some point you gotta go when the laps are counting down. We had a slight vibration, the 9 (Barrett) and 85 (Szegedy) were wicked fast so I’m happy with a second.”
Ted Christopher, of Plainville, CT, chased Szegedy from the start of the race and finished a strong third. Richard Savary, of Canton, MA., and Dave Etheridge, of Portland, CT., rounded out the top five. Szegedy, Tom Carey Jr, Anthony Nocella, Jeff Malave, and Chris Pasteryak, finished sixth through tenth.
26 cars started the race with 10 cars finishing on the lead lap.
34 teams attempted to qualify. Heats winners were Keith Rocco, Ryan Preece, Barrett, with consolation races going to Max Zachem, and Chris Pasteryak.
The series returns to Seekonk Speedway, Seekonk, MA, Saturday June 7.
Race Summary:
Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park
May 29,2014
Entrants (34)
Distance: 75-laps
Time of Race: 40:13:709
Margin of 1.206
Best Speed: 119.218 (Szegedy)
Best Lap Time: 18.873
Lead Changes: 1
Lap Leaders: Szegedy (1-74) Barrett (75)
Cautions: Laps- 1,66,68
Unofficial Order of Finish: (1) Barrett (2) Pennink
(3) Christopher (4) Savary (5) Etheridge (6) Szegedy
(7) Carey Jr. (8) Nocella (9) Malave (10) Chris Pasteryak
(11) Schneider (12) Zachem (13) Jeff Rocco (14) Willis Jr.
(15) Kopec (16) Meservey Jr. (17) Owen (18) Abele Jr.
(19) Masse (20) Keith Rocco (21) Goodale (22) Bonsignore
(23) Holdridge (24) Preece (25) Seidell Jr (26) Charlie Pasteryak
Stafford Motor Speedway has been forced to postpone the 24th Annual TSI Harley-Davidson 125 due to inclement weather. The 24th Annual TSI Harley-Davidson 125 will now be run on Friday, June 6th. All rain checks from May 23rd as well as May 30th will be honored at the gates next Friday night.
The June 6th TSI Harley-Davidson 125 program will see the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, Stafford’s SK Modifieds®, Late Models, SK Lights, Ltd. Late Models, and DARE Stocks in action plus the Legend Cars on the Mini-Mile for a total of 7 feature events.
Tickets for the TSI Harley-Davidson 125 are still available and on sale at the Speedway Box Office. Tickets are priced at $33.00 for adult general admission tickets, $5.00 for children ages 6-14, free for children ages 5 & under, and $35.00 for reserved seats.
Nick Sweet continued his dominance of Vermont State Late Model Championship Series racing at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Friday night, winning the People’s United Bank 100. The defending Vermont State Champion has now won in his last three visits to the Rutland County track. His victory headlined a list of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series winners on the night that also included Jessey Mueller, Robert Gordon, and Chris LaVair.
Sweet, of Barre, VT, made up for a bitter defeat just five days earlier in the Vermont State Championship opener at his hometown track, Thunder Road, by leading every lap of the People’s United Bank 100. Starting from the pole position by virtue of a field-high “+6” position gain in qualifying, Sweet stretched out to comfortable lead for much of the race. A pair of 17 year-olds in Brandon Atkins and Emily Packard didn’t let Sweet take the win easily, however.
A caution period on lap 66 gave Atkins new life, and he stuck to Sweet for the remainder of the race. Atkins made a bid for Sweet’s lead just before the race’s fourth caution on lap 82, then gave Sweet all he could handle during three quick restarts in the final four laps. Atkins, of AuSable Forks, NY, finished second.
Packard, of East Montpelier, VT, survived a tangle with top-five driver Jamie Fisher on lap 96, then held close to the top two for a Devil’s Bowl career-best third-place finish. Trampas Demers and defending track champion Chris Bergeron finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Lance Allen was a solid sixth, followed by Josh Masterson, Ricky Bly, Thunder Road winner Jason Corliss, and a recovering Fisher. Rookie Eric Badore finished 12th after spinning out of the top-five in the final laps.
Jessey Mueller, 19, extended his own winning streak in the 30-lap main event for the Bond Auto Parts Modified division. The well-traveled Olmstedville, NY driver has won in four of his last five total starts, taking victories at Airborne Park Speedway, Thunder Road, and Devil’s Bowl since May 10. Mueller passed Vince Quenneville, Jr., for the lead just after the halfway mark and cruised to the win.
Defending track champion Todd Stone of Middlebury, VT was the runner-up, with Joey Roberts of Fletcher, VT third. Quenneville slipped to fourth place, followed by Ron Proctor. Leon Gonyo, Jamie LaFountain, rookie Billy Lussier, Dave Snow, and Cody Sargen completed the top 10 in order.
Robert Gordon of Milton, VT won the two-segment season opener for the Renegade division. Stephen Donahue of Graniteville, VT was second, with Randy Howard of Georgia, VT a career-best third.
Chris LaVair of Gabriels, NY earned his first Central Vermont Motorcycles Mini Stock division win of the season in a 15-lap feature. Jake Noble of Benson, VT finished second, and opening day winner Chuck Bradford of Addison, VT came from last place to finish third.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – People’s United Bank Night
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
Vermont State Late Model Championship Series
Devil’s Bowl Speedway, West Haven, VT
Friday, May 30, 2014
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
# – denotes rookie
Late Model Feature (100 laps)
1. (1) Nick Sweet, Barre, VT
2. (2) Brandon Atkins, AuSable Forks, NY
3. (5) Emily Packard, East Montpelier, VT
4. (7) Trampas Demers, South Burlington, VT
5. (12) Chris Bergeron, Claremont, NH
6. (9) Lance Allen, Barre, VT
7. (11) Josh Masterson, Bristol, VT
8. (16) Ricky Bly, Sunapee, NH
9. (14) Jason Corliss, Barre, VT
10. (3) Jamie Fisher, Shelburne, VT
11. (10) Joey M. Laquerre, East Montpelier, VT
12. (6) # Eric Badore, Milton, VT
13. (18) Shawn Fleury, Middlesex, VT
14. (13) Robert Bryant, Jr., Brooklyn, CT
15. (17) Seth Bridge, Mendon, VT
16. (19) Jerry Lesage, Winooski, VT
17. (20) # Scott Coburn, Barre, VT
18. (4) Chip Grenier, Graniteville, VT
19. (22) Chris Riendeau, Ascutney, VT
20. (8) Bucko Branham, Plattsburgh, NY
21. (15) Boomer Morris, Barre, VT
22. (21) # Dan St. Hilare, Shelburne, VT
Leaders: Nick Sweet, 1-100. (0 lead changes)
Cautions: 7 (Laps 0, 37, 66, 82, 96, 96, 98)
Heat Winners: Trampas Demers, Nick Sweet, Bucko Branham
Consi Winner: Chip Grenier
Bond Auto Parts Modified Feature (30 laps)
1. (7) Jessey Mueller, Olmstedville, NY
2. (6) Todd Stone, Middlebury, VT
3. (11) Joey Roberts, Fletcher, VT
4. (1) Vince Quenneville, Jr., Brandon, VT
5. (5) Ron Proctor, Charlton, NY
6. (3) Leon Gonyo, Chazy, NY
7. (4) Jamie LaFountain, Plattsburgh, NY
8. (10) # Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, VT
9. (9) Dave Snow, Brandon, VT
10. (8) Cody Sargen, Greenfield Center, NY
11. (2) Jason Durgan, Morrisonville, NY
Heat Winners: Vince Quenneville, Jr., Jason Durgan
Renegade Feature (8 laps x 2)
1. (2) Robert Gordon, Milton, VT
2. (5) Stephen Donahue, Graniteville, VT
3. (3) Randy Howard, Georgia, VT
4. (4) # Scott FitzGerald, West Rutland, VT
5. (1) Tony Putzier, Jericho, VT
Segment Winners: Robert Gordon (2)
Central Vermont Motorcycles Mini Stock Feature (15 laps)
1. (3) Chris LaVair, Gabriels, NY
2. (7) Jake Noble, Benson, VT
3. (13) Chuck Bradford, Addison, VT
4. (1) Mike Whalen, Jr., Plattsburgh, NY
5. (2) Harold LaVair, Jr., Gabriels, NY
6. (6) John McCarron, Rensselaer, NY
7. (10) # Andrew FitzGerald, West Rutland, VT
8. (11) Bobby LaVair, Saranac Lake, NY
9. (5) Dan Collins, Rensselaer, NY
10. (4) Kyle Sorensen, Ballston Spa, NY
11. (9) Lacey Hanson, Orwell, VT
12. (8) Matt Monaghan, Colchester, VT
13. (12) # Shaylynn Senecal, West Rutland, VT
Heat Winners: Jake Noble, Chris LaVair
For Prospect, CT native Nick Salva, the 2014 SK Light season has been just what he has been looking for. After running partial schedules during the 2012 and 2013 seasons, Salva and his #98 J.G. Poulin Drywall team started the 2014 season from race #1 instead of during the middle of the season, and Salva was able to capture his very first SK Light victory last Friday night.
-For defending TSI Harley-Davidson 125 race winner Ryan Preece, the road to a second consecutive victory in the event looks on paper as though it might be an uphill fight. Preece qualified 13th for the race last Friday night, but despite his mid-pack start, he remains upbeat about his chances of coming through the field and getting to the front. Preece had to drive through the entire field to win last year’s TSI Harley-Davidson 125 after being involved in a lap-0 crash.
Exciting motorsports action returned to the Connecticut shoreline Saturday evening as Waterford Speedbowl hosted its Four Cylinder Fury NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing program. Four cylinder racecars were the highlight of the night, however Craig Lutz of Miller Place, NY stole the spotlight with his first-ever victory in thrilling fashion during the night’s SK Modified® race.
Other NASCAR Whelen All-American Series wins went to Ken Cassidy Jr. of Lisbon, who was back in the winner’s circle during an extra-distance Mini Stock feature and Jason Palmer of Berlin recorded his first Valenti Auto Mall Late Model win of the season. The Northeast Mini Stock Tour race was won by Toby Wells of Dublin, NH and Robin Berghman of East Providence, RI picked up the victory in the visiting New England Pro Four Modified race. Hometown driver Jordan Hadley won the X-Car feature.