NEW ENGLAND MOTORSPORTS SOUTH
By Lou Modestino
Waterford Speedbowl was back Wednesday evening with another Wild ‘n Wacky motorsports program. Four race winners reached Victory Lane, with Mitch Bombard of Willimantic leading the way
with an extra-distance X-Car victory. Mike Christopher Jr. of Wolcott continued his dominance in the INEX Legend Cars, Anthony Marvin of Colchester won the INEX Bandolero feature and Dave Yardley of Berlin closed the night with a win in the Super X-Cars.
Since Stafford Motor Speedway instituted its SK Light Modified class in 2006, the division has seen a fair share of rookie drivers find success by not only winning feature events, but championships as well. The 2014 season has seen another great crop of rookie drivers and Taunton, MA native Branden Dion has quietly made himself a championship contender by finishing all but one of the 10 SK Light features thusfar in the top-9. After his only finish outside of the top-10 back on May 2nd, Dion has climbed his way from 13thin the points standings to his current position of third in the standings, 42 points behind leader Jeremy Sorel.
After winning 71 times at Stafford Motor Speedway in weekly competition, there was never any doubt that Woody Pitkat knew his way around his home track. Now Pitkat can add a NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour win to his résumé.
The veteran driver dominated the Call Before You Dig 811 150 and beat Ron Silk to the line by over four seconds to pick up his first career win in his 86th tour start.
Donny Lia followed Silk in third with points leader Doug Coby and Eric Goodale completing the top five. Rowan Pennink finished sixth and Ted Christopher seventh. Justin Bonsignore, Ryan Preece and Matt Hirschman rounded out the top 10.
Pitkat started second to pole sitter Bobby Santos and quickly drove his No. 88 Buzz Chew Chevrolet/Elbow East Chevrolet to the lead on Lap 3 stayed out front for the bulk of the first half of the race until a caution on Lap 76 for Patrick Emerling stalling on the track brought the leaders to the pits.
Pitkat came out of the pit stop in eighth place with Donny Lia in the lead, Ryan Preece second and Ron Silk third.
Pitkat quickly moved up through the field and was up to fourth by Lap 92 and was second to then leader Ron Silk by Lap 102. Pitkat closed in and passed Silk on Lap 115 for the lead where he remained the rest of the night.
Pitkat’s previous best finish on the tour was second – three times.
The race was slowed just two times by caution with the first yellow flag given to the field on Lap 7 after Tommy Barrett Jr. stopped on the track with a flat tire.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will remain in Connecticut for the Budweiser King of Beers 150 next Thursday at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour-Call Before You Dig 811 150
Unofficial Results
Friday
At Stafford Motor Speedway
Stafford, Conn.
Lap length: 0.5 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (2) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Chevrolet, 150 laps, 83.773 mph.
2. (6) Ron Silk, Norwalk, CT, Chevrolet, 150.
3. (3) Donny Lia, Jericho, NY, Dodge, 150.
4. (5) Doug Coby, Milford, Conn., Chevrolet, 150.
5. (11) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150.
6. (9) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., Chevrolet, 150.
7. (4) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 150.
8. (10) Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, NY, Chevrolet, 150.
9. (7) Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn., Ford, 150.
10. (18) Matt Hirschman, Northampton, PA, Chevrolet, 150.
11. (14) Timmy Solomito, Islip, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150.
12. (1) Bobby Santos, Franklin, Mass., Chevrolet, 150.
13. (17) Keith Rocco, Wallingford, Conn., Chevrolet, 149.
14. (12) Mike Stefanik, Coventry, R.I., Chevrolet, 149.
15. (13) Tommy Barrett, Jr., Millis, Mass., Chevrolet, 149.
16. (15) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Mass., Chevrolet, 148.
17. (19) Ron Yuhas, Jr., Groton, Conn., Chevrolet, 148.
18. (16) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 148.
19. (8) Patrick Emerling, Orchard Park, NY, Chevrolet, 147.
20. (22) Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., Pontiac, 144.
21. (20) Wade Cole, Hartland, Conn., Chevrolet, 115.
22. (23) Melissa Fifield, Wakefield, N.H., Chevrolet, 102, suspension.
23. (21) Dave Salzarulo, Monson, Mass., Chevrolet, 38, suspension.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 0 hours 53 minutes 43 seconds
Margin of Victory: 3.268 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: B.Santos (97.651 mph, 18.433 seconds)
Caution Flags: 2 for 9 laps.
Lead Changes: 6 among 4 drivers.
Lap Leaders: B. Santos 1-2; W. Pitkat 3-10; R. Silk 11; W. Pitkat 12-78; D. Lia 79-94; R. Silk 95-114; W. Pitkat 115-150.
Standings: 1. D. Coby, 325; 2. J. Bonsignore, 317; 3. B. Santos, 310; 4. T. Christopher, 309; 5. R. Preece, 287; 6. R. Silk, 287; 7. W. Pitkat, 275; 8. E. Goodale, 273; 9. T. Solomito, 266; 10. M. Hirschman, 263.
Stafford Speedway returned to NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing action with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in the house for the Call Before You Dig 811 150. Taking down NASCAR Whelen All-American Series weekly feature wins on the night were Ryan Preece, who won his fourth SK Modified® feature of the 2014 season, Michael Bennett scored his first feature win in almost 4 years to the exact date in the Late Model feature, Stephen Kopcik was a first time winner in the SK Light Modified feature, Andrew Hayes picked up his second victory of 2014 in the Limited Late Model feature, and David Comeau won his second DARE Stock feature of 2014.
In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature event, Dan Avery dropped off the pace at the start and he limped his way back to pit road as Tom Bolles held the early lead. Todd Owen was second with Joey Cipriano in third. Behind Cipriano, the field was still stacked double file from the start with Woody Pitkat and Matt Galko side by side in front of Eric Berndt and Ryan Preece.
The lead changed hands on lap-5 as Owen moved to the front with Cipriano also getting by Bolles to move into second. Preece was on a hard charge and looking to take second as Cipriano and Owen touched in turn 4 which got Owen out of shape and Cipriano took over the lead. Bolles was now second as Preece fell back to fourth behind Woody Pitkat after Owen got out of shape. Berndt was fifth with Owen right behind him in sixth place with 10 laps complete.
The caution came out with 10 laps complete as Chris Jones, Curt Brainard, Tommy Membrino, Jr., and David Webb all came together at the exit of turn 4. Cipriano took the lead on the restart with Bolles slotting into second. Preece was third but he quickly moved to the outside groove to get past Bolles and move into second on lap-12. Owen was now side by side with Pitakt for fourth behind Bolles as Preece moved by Cipriano to take over the race lead on lap-14.
As the race neared the halfway point, Preece and Cipriano were pulling away from Bolles, Owen, and Keith Rocco, but the caution came back out with 18 laps complete as Webb spun and came to a stop in the infield coming out fo turn 4.
Preece took the lead on the restart with Cipriano behind him in second. Owen moved into third, with Pitkat fourth and Ronnie Williams was up to fifth. Rocco was sixth, with Rowan Pennink moving into seventh, just in front of Berndt and Ted Christopher. Webb spun again coming out of turn 4 to bring the caution out with 21 laps complete.Preece took the lead with Owen pulling alongside Cipriano for second. Williams and Pitkat were side by side for fourth behind Cipriano and Owen but the caution came back out with 23 laps complete for Nick Boivin, who spun in turn 3.
Preece again took the lead on the restart with Cipriano getting back by Owen to move into second. Pitkat and Williams were again side by side for fourth with Rocco, Christopher, Pennink, and Berndt lined up single file behind them. Pitkat won his duel with Williams for the fourth position but he would lose that spot to Rocco on lap-30 as Preece continued to lead Cipriano and Owen.
Rocco was applying heavy pressure to the back bumper of Owen for third and on lap-38 the two cars slowed enough in the corner to allow Pitkat to nearly get by Rocco for fourth. Preece led Cipriano to the checkered flag to pick up his fifth win of the 2014 season with Owen, Rocco, and Pitakt rounding out the top-5.
In the 30-lap Late Model feature event, Michael Scorzelli took the early race lead with J.J. Hill in second, Michael Bennett third, Tom Fearn fourth, Adam Gray fifth, and Jay Stuart sixth. Scorzelli built up a lead of one second over Hill before Bennett got around Hill for second on lap-10. Stuart got out of shape and fell back a spot as Cory Casagrande got past for sixth.
Scorzelli continued to lead the race but Bennett had closed down the gap since he moved into second. The top-2 cars were now leaving Hill behind in third with Gray fourth and Fearn in fifth. Bennett caught and went around Scorzelli on lap-16 with a pass in turns 1+2.
With 10 laps to go, Bennett was still the race leader and he had opened up a gap of nearly one second over Scorzelli in second. Behind Scorzelli, Hill held third place until lap-23 when both Gray and Fearn got past to drop Hill back to fifth place. Bennett led Scorzelli to the checkered flag with a dominating run to pick up his first feature victory of the 2014 season. Scorzelli finished second, with Gray, Fearn, and Hill rounding out the top-5.
In the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature event, Geoff Boisjolie took the early lead with Paul French taking second. D.J. Burnham slotted into third with Stephen Kopcik and Todd Douillard fifth. Burnham got around French for second on lap-2 but in turn 4 Douillard spun and collected the car of Nick Salva to bring the caution out.
Boisjolie took the lead on the restart but Paul French and Dylan Menditto both spun through the infield to bring the caution out with 4 laps complete. The next restart saw Burnham move into the lead with Boisjolie falling back a spot to second. Jeremy Sorel moved into third, with Kopcik and Jeff Smith was up to fifth. Kopcik was looking for a way around Sorel, but Sorel was able to keep Kopcik behind him.
Sorel then moved by Boisjolie to climb up to second on lap-11 and Kopcik followed suit by taking third and dropping Boisjolie back to fourth. Chris Gombos spun in turn 2 to bring the caution out with 13 laps complete.
Burnham took the lead back under green with Sorel, Kopcik, Boisjolie and Joey Ferrigno making up the top-5. Nick Salva spun coming out of turn 4 to bring the caution back out with 15 laps complete.
Burnahm and Sorel were locked in a side by side duel for the race lad on the restart. The action quickly escalated at the front and as the field took the wihte flag, the leaders were nearly 4-wide. Kopcik and Ferrigno were now the leaders and they ran the final lap side by side. As they came to the checkered flag, Kopcik beat Ferrigno to the line by less than a half car length. Sorel finished third, with Boisjolie and Tyler Hines rounding out the top-5.
In the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature event, Norm Sears quickly took the lead as polesitter R.J. Surdell faded back to fifth. David Arute’s car came to a stop in turn 4 to bring the caution out with 1 lap complete. Arute was able to get a push start and he restarted the race at the rear of the field.
Sears took the lead back under green with Andrew Hayes, Austin Bessette, Cliff Saunders, and Paul Arute making up the top-5 in single file fashion. The top-3 cars were beginning to pull away from Saunders and Arute and on lap-8, Albert Saunders and Duane Provost both got by Arute to move into fifth and sixth. Sears continued to lead the race over Hayes and Bessette although Hayes was applying heavy pressure to the back bumper of Sears as he was looking to take the lead.
The order shuffled again on lap-12 as Provost moved into fourth and Albert Saunders took fifth as Cliff Saunders slid up the track in turn 4 and fell back to sixth. Hayes was still looking for a way to get around Sears for the race lead. Hayes was able to make the pass on lap-15 and Hayes’ move opened the door for Bessette to move into second. Sears continued to slide backwards as Provost took third, and Albert Saunders took fourth with Sears fifth. Sears did a lazy spin in turn 2 on lap-16 to bring the caution out and set up a 4-lap dash to the finish.
Provost didn’t come up to speed on the restart and he fell back to the rear of the pack as Hayes took the lead ahead of Albert Saunders and Bessette. Paul Arute got by Bessette to move into third on lap-18 while his brother David was recovered from his early stoppage to move into fifth. Bessette got back by Paul Arute to take third but it was all Hayes at the front as he took down his second win of the 2014 season. Albert Saunders finished second, with Bessette, Paul Arute, and David Arute rounding out the top-5.
In the 15-lap DARE Stock feature event, Doug Phelps led the field to the green but it was Gus Coelho, Jr. taking the lead at the end of the first lap. Coelho’s daughter Allison slotted into second place with Dave Comeau and Frank L’Etoile, Jr. taking third and fourth. Phelps slid back to fifth place as Dan Dembek did a quick spin in turn 1 on lap-4. Dembek was able to keep his car moving and the race stayed green.
Comeau worked his way around Allison Coelho for second and L’Etoile got by her on lap-5 to move up to third and drop Allison back to fourth. The lead changed hands on lap-7 as Comeau got around Gus Coelho and moved to the front.
L’Etoile took to the outside groove to get a good run and work his way around Gus Coelho to move into second on lap-9 while Jeff Jolly made a move to the inside of Allison Coelho on lap-10 to move into fourth. Jolly’s move allowed Alexandra Fearn to follow Jolly by Coelho to move into fifth and drop Coelho back to sixth place.
Comeau led L’Etoile back to the checkered flag to pick up his first win of the 2014 season but mayhem was ensuing them as Fearn and Gus Coelho came together as they raced to the checkered flag with Coelho coming to a stop short of the start/finish line while Fearn crossed the line in the infield. Jolly took third, with Allison Coelho and Johnny Walker rounding out the top-5.
SK MODIFIED® (40)
1) Ryan Preece, Berlin
2) Joseph Cipriano, Iii, Waterbury
3) Todd Owen, Somers
4) Keith Rocco, Berlin
5) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs
6) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa
7) Ronnie Williams, Tolland
8) Ted Christopher, Plainville
9) Eric Berndt, Cromwell
10) Chase Dowling, Roxbury
11) Sean Foster, Willington
12) Thomas Bolles, Ellington
13) Curt Brainard, Canton
14) David Webb, New Milford
15) Matthew Galko, Meriden
16) Nick Boivin, Belchertown, Ma
17) Michael Gervais, Jr., Southbury
18) Chris Jones, New Milford
19) Tommy Membrino, Jr., Prospect
20) Dan Avery, Somers
LATE MODEL (30)
1) Michael Bennett, Willington
2) Michael Scorzelli, Feura Bush, Ny
3) Adam Gray, Belchertown, Ma
4) Tom Fearn, East Longmeadow, Ma
5) John Hill, Jr., Stafford Springs
6) Cory Casagrande, Stafford Springs
7) John Stuart, Preston
8) Jim Peterson, Monson, Ma
9) Kevin Gambacorta, Ellington
10) Kyle Casagrande, Stafford Springs
11) Dennis Botticello, Suffield
12) Scott Cook, Uncasville
13) Paul Varricchio, Jr., Berlin
14) Rich Hammann, Tolland
15) Justin O’neill, Torrington
16) Joshua Wood, Palmer, Ma
17) Thomas Butler, Stafford Springs
SK LIGHT (20)
1) Stephen Kopcik, Newtown
2) Joseph Ferrigno, East Hartford
3) Jeremy Sorel, Westfield, Ma
4) Geoffrey Boisjolie, East Hampton, Ma
5) Tyler Hines, North Haven
6) Jeff Smith, Old Lyme
7) Robert Charland, Stafford
8) Glenn Griswold, Vernon
9) Wesley Prucker, Stafford
10) Jay Goff, Stafford Springs
11) Pete Lopuch, West Redding
12) Branden Dion, Taunton, Ma
13) Jodi Johnson, Medway, Ma
14) Carlos Gray, Manchester
15) Rit Dulac, Plantsville
16) Christopher Gombos, Naugatuck
17) David Burnham, East Hartford
18) Nicholas Salva, Prospect
19) Paul French, Andover
20) Dylan Menditto, Brooklyn
21) Todd Douillard, Palmer, Ma
LIMITED LATE MODEL (20)
1) Andrew Hayes, Charlton, Ma
2) Albert Saunders, Stafford
3) Austin Bessette, Stafford Springs
4) Paul Arute, Tolland
5) David Arute, Tolland
6) Justin Bren, Palmer, Ma
7) Jesse Hinze, Farmington
8) Cliff Saunders, Stafford
9) Duane Provost, Indian Orchard, Ma
10) Norman Sears, Andover
11) Joseph Nogiec, Bristol
12) Brian Clement, Wethersfield
13) Robert Surdell, Manchester
14) Chris Cook, Pepperell, Ma
DARE STOCK (15)
1) David Comeau, Palmer, Ma
2) Frank L’etoile, Jr., Wethersfield
3) Jeff Jolly, Wallingford
4) Allison Coelho, Wilbraham, Ma
5) Johnny Walker, Ludlow, Ma
6) Brandon Michael, Granville, Ma
7) Andrew Marchese, Tolland
8) Trace Beyer, Brewster, Ny
9) Douglas Phelps, Jr., New Salem, Ma
10) Alexandra Fearn, East Longmeadow, Ma
11) Tyler Trott, East Hartford
12) Gregory Demone, Ludlow, Ma
13) Nicole Chambrello, Kensington
14) Matthew Davis, Stafford Springs
15) Augusto Coelho, Jr., Wilbraham, Ma
16) Dan Dembek, Hamden, Ma
17) Dan Kennedy, Tewksbury, Nj
18) Ryan Fearn, East Longmeadow, Ma
Veteran driver Ted Christopher, of Plainville, Connecticut, put an end to a two-year winless streak when he won
the Valenti Modified Racing Series 100-lap ‘Wings & Wheels’ race at Waterford (CT) Speedbowl, Saturday, August 9.
Christopher’s last series win was July 29, 2012.
Christopher started outside front row in the 24-car field. Pole sitter Steve Masse, of Bellingham, MA., took the lead at the drop of the green flag with Christopher giving chase over the first 42-laps. When Christopher jumped into the lead, he was never headed. Justin Bonsignore, of Holtsville, NY, finished runner-up for the fifth time this season. Masse settled for third, followed by Chris Pasteryak, of Lisbon, CT, and Tom Abele Jr, of Baltic, CT, his best series finish to date.
Pasteryak started off the night a victim of a qualifying race crash. The consolation race was no better. The second-generation driver got in the starting lineup through a series provisional giving him the 24th and final starting position. asteryak worked his way to seventh at lap 88. When a lap-96 melee on the front stretch eliminated six cars, Pasteryak restarted the race in fourth and finished there. Starting 14th, Abele Jr also stayed trouble free for a solid fifth place finish. Sixth through tenth were Mike Willis Jr, Max Zachem, Eric Goodale, Norm Wrenn, and Jonny Kay.
The official time of the race was 50:45 seconds. Four caution flags were needed on laps 42, 78, 96, and 97. Anthony Nocella, Christopher, and Pitkat, won qualifying races, and Keith Rocco nabbed the consolation race. The VMRS returns to action Saturday, August 16 at Seekonk Speedway, Seekonk, Massachusetts.
Race Summary:
Waterford Speedbowl
August 9, 2014
Entrants (32)
Distance: 100-laps
Time: 50:45: 942
Margin of 0.225
Best Speed: 95.779 (Masse)
Best Lap Time: 14.095
Lead Changes: 1
Lap Leaders: Masse (1-42) 43-100 (Christopher)
Cautions: Laps- 42,78,96,97
Unofficial Order of Finish: (1) Christopher (2) Bonsignore (3) Masse (4) Pasteryak (5) Abele Jr
(6) Willis (7) Zachem (8) Goodale (9) Wrenn
(10) Kay (11) Rocco (12) Savary (13) Lashua
(14) Kopec (15) Barrett (16) Pitkat (17) Gernhard
(18) Pennink (19) Nocella (20) Pearl (21) Etheridge (22) James (23) Medeiros
Reigning NEMA champion John Zych was starting to worry that he hadn’t visited victory lane in 2014. A couple of podium finishes was all he could muster more than halfway through the schedule. That stress was relieved Saturday night when Zych of Mendon, MA won the Angelillo Memorial at the Waterford Speedbowl.
He may have had a hunch the elusive win would come on Saturday night after being among the fastest in practice, the fastest in the heats and set a blistering lap of 12.74 seconds, averaging 109 mph around the 3/8 Speedbowl. Randy Cabral of Kingston, MA was second, followed by Seth Carlson of Brimfield, MA in third, Avery Stoehr of Lakeville, MA and Todd Bertrand of Suffield, CT rounding out the top five in the 25 lap main.
Zych had taken the lead on lap 8 after passing Paul Bigelow of Kensington, CT. Two cautions flew late in the race with nine and seven laps to go. Each time Randy Cabral lined up next to him for the restart. “I didn’t want to see a caution, especially once I saw Randy next to me on those restarts,” Zych said in victory lane, “I knew I had to be perfect each time the green came out.” And perfect he was, pulling away from Cabral each time and beating him to the finish by almost a second and a half.
Pole sitter Pete Pernesiglio of Ronkonkoma, NY was the only other leader in the feature. Zych and Jim SantaMaria of Burlington, CT were the heat winners.
A scary moment for veteran driver Doug Cleveland of Sudbury, MA when his car caught fire at the conclusion of the race. Cleveland got out of the car quickly but not before inhaling some of the heat and suffering second degree burns to his leg. He was taken to the local hospital by the track ambulance and released later that night.
Danny Cugini of Marshfield, MA methodically worked his way through traffic in the NEMA Lites portion of the Angelillo Memorial event and won the 25 lap feature. Like John Zych, he was presented with trophies from the late Gene and Marylin Angelillo’s grandchildren in victory lane.
Logan Rayvals from Rockville, ONT Canada had set sail and looked to be cruising to his first career NEMA victory after taking the lead from Enfield, CT’s Brandon Igo on lap six. His romp was cut short by a caution thrown for a multi-car incident just off turn four that ended the night for point leader Ryan Krachun of Neshanic Station, NJ and last event’s winner Juris Kupris from Williamsburg, NY. The latter had his mount hauled off by wreckers on each end of the car.
By this time Cugini had moved up from his ninth starting spot and was ready to challenge Rayvals for the lead. He took over with seven laps to go and never looked back. Rayvals settled in for second, followed by Candia, NH’s PJ Stergios, Richie Morrocco of Plainville, MA and Scott Bigelow of E. Hampton, CT making up the top five.
“I was praying for a caution because Logan was so far out in front,” said Cugini. “The car got so much better after the caution and I tried him on the outside and it worked.” He went on to thank his crew and especially his dad who fields cars for both Danny and his sister Megan at all of the NEMA Lite events.
The Lites ran only a feature as part of a big show that also featured the ISMA Supermodifieds, Modified Racing Series and Waterford’s SK Modifieds.
NEMA’s next stop is the famed Star Speedway in Epping, NH on August 23.
At Seekonk Speedway Dave Darling shook off the past weeks of bad luck that has plagued him and once again was at his best and hauled down a win on the Pro Stock Phil’s Triple Crown 65-lap feature. Mike Brightman, on a last-minute pass of points leader Kenny Spencer, grabbed fourth place, which (added to a second and a third in other Triple Crown races) granted him the honors of the Phil’s Propane Triple Crown for the 2014 season. Darling’s win, points wise, pushed him past Fred Astle, who went out just after the midpoint thanks to a collision which yielded a nose-crushing meeting with the frontstretch wall. Spencer’s fifth kept him comfortably ahead of Darling’s second in the points column.
Tom Scully, Sr. jumped away from the pole and went door-to-door with Bob Hussey, but gained the lead down the backstretch as Kevin Folan got up under Hussey and Bob Pelland III contested fourth place, door-to-door with Jake Vanada. By lap 3, Scully had a five-car lead. Folan, Hussey and Vanada were bumper-to-bumper, followed by Pelland, Kevin Casper and Dick Houlihan. The remainder of the field was two-wide behind them.
Scully continued to move away and had built a straightaway lead on Folan. Hussey was another eight cars back, with Vanada hugging his bumper. Pelland had faded an additional cars. Houlihan then moved underneath Pelland into fifth and Darling followed. But Scully was running well enough to be almost a half lap in the lead.
Darling took fifth from Houli and Craig Weinstein did the same on lap later. By Lap 22, Spencer was in pursuit of Weinstein.
First caution came out on lap 25: Scully was enjoying his long lead when Pelland spun off turn four. Scully and Folan lined up with Darling and Weinstein behind them. Ryan Vanasse and Spencer followed.
Scully and Folan came away wheel-to-wheel and they battled through the lap. Darling made one of his daring moves underneath when they left room, but Bryan Bigelow’s spin in turn 2 ended the threat. Smokin’ Joe Kohler, John Berchem and Bigelow ran for the pits as the field realigned.
Scully, Sr. was away again and Darling went under Folan into third. Vanasse was under Weinstein onto Folan’s bumper. Angelo Belsito barged past Weinstein; both Vanasse and Belsito move Folan back on lap 29.
Fred Astle, Jr. and Ryan Lineham had been disagreeing over position at mid-pack when Spencer got loose off turn two, suffering the same in turns three and four. It created an accordion effect as cars slowed and changed position sending Astle and Lineham into each other and to the frontstretch wall. Astle took the worst of it, going nosefirst, just past the starter’s stand, shortening his nose extensively. Lineham and Kevin Casper headed for the pits as Fred began the slow walk to the pits.
Scully and Darling came out of the box wheel-to-wheel and battled for two laps before Darling could take command down the front stretch. Vanasse had Belsito chasing him, but went under into second and Belsito followed to third. Scully, Weinstein, Spencer, Kyle Casper and Folan followed.
Darling worked out a four-car margin over Vanasse who trailed Belsito on his bumper as Kyle Casper headed into the pits, but was caught up in the entrance, bringing caution. Kevin had simultaneously suffered a right front tire loss and slid into Folan at that moment. Both made great saves and they went to the pits along with Vanada and Houlihan. Kevin was unable to return.
Darling and Vanasse were briefly door-to-door on the restart, but Darling took the front. Weinstein nabbed third while Belsito and Tom Scully Jr. contested fourth. By lap 38, Vanasse was on Darling’s bumper and Belsito was past Scully, Jr. for fourth. Spencer, Brightman and Dean Pettey pursued.
As Hussey and Lineham battled in the pack, Hussey’s back snapped out and he collected Lineham. Lineham pitted. On the restart, Darling retook the lead. Weinstein rushed up but Vanasse dropped in. Belsito went outside Spencer but Brightman rushed the latter’s bumper and Belsito went to seventh.
By lap 47, Weinstein and Scully were hacksawing alongside over third and Weinstein won the battle in turn two. Darling was nursing an 8-car lead, while Weinstein was 18 cars behind Vanasse. Scully, Jr was fourth, leading Spencer, Brightman, Belsito, Pettey and Pelland. Weinstein began to close on Vanasse as Spencer was all over Scully, Jr.’s bumper. A nose-to-tail line developed as Brightman, Belsito and Pettey moved in. Weinstein was three cars behind Vanasse and closing.
He was two cars back with five laps remaining.
Kyle Casper went under Pelland, who dropped and gave him a push, but Casper recovered. Weinstein went for second on lap 62 but Scully, Sr. turned up into him as Weinstein lapped him and Weinstein went around. Petty spun to avoid. Scully, Sr. retired to the pits and Weinstein followed suit. The caution provided a three-lap shootout.
Darling . . . Vanasse . . . Scully, Jr. . . . Spencer . . . Brightman . . . Belsito . . . Pettey. But Folan and Daryl Stampfl were together in turn one. They lined up again. Darling was away; Scully got under Vanasse and they dueled with Scully nosing ahead but Vanasse retaking the distance. Brightman dodged under Spencer for fourth and took position. The field finished with Darling, Vanasse, Scully, Spencer and Brightman. Sixth went to Pettey, followed by Belsitgo, Kyle Casper, Lineham, Pelland and Rick Martin.
Dylan Estrella wound up in Victory Lane with his fifth win on the season, a win which brings him even with Bob Pelland, Jr. in the points standings, as Pelland finished in the top five on the evening. Only two drivers essentially led the event, with Vinny Arrenegado leaping off the pole to run the front for the first fifteen laps. Two laps saw cars exchanging places on a restart and then Estrella ran past Vinny and Eddie LeClerc into the lead, which he stubbornly refused to relinquish for the remainder of the thirty laps. Estrella started eighth and progressed quickly toward the front. A lap 15 caution had him on the low side of the second row and Eddie LeClerc challenging Arrenegado from the outside pole. When LeClerc tried to throw it in hard into turn four, he went around, setting up Vinny and Dylan for the restart.
Dylan was away out of the box, and edged to the front, settling in out of turn three. From there, he continued at the front through the checkers, relatively unchallenged except during restarts on lap 20 and 23. Nick Lascuola came on late to nab his second consecutive runnerup and Jeramee Lillie made a last-lap pass, edging Charlie Rose back to fourth. Pelland completed the top five.
Arrenegado leaped to the front at the outset, showing his ability on the restarts. But Dave Hutchins bogged on the outside, setting up an accordion motion that jammed up the field. Gerry DeGasparre, Jr. drove over Lillie’s hood in the scramble as some cars brushed the wall. Nathan Tracy took the worst of the damage and retired. Joey Wakefield, just up from Sport Trucks was also collected and the duo retired for the evening.
Arrenegado again leapt to the front as LeClerc looked under Hutch, who fell back. Lascuola went under Hutch as Charlie Rose, Estrella and Roland Wheeler gave chase. Lap five saw Tyler Thompson, who had been nursing an ailing car, head into the pits. Estrella went below Rose for fifth down the backstretch on lap 7.
The field was single file on lap 8 as DeGasparre nosed under Wheeler. By lap 9, Arrenegado was leading LeClerc, Lascuola, Estrella, Rose and Pelland, who was passing Hutchins on the low side. Estrella then looked under Lascuola and they fought it out as DeGasparre and Lillie went under Hutchins for position.
Arrenegado led by four cars on lap 13, followed by LeClerc who had Estrella glued to his bumper, and Lascuola. But Mike Marfeo spun solo out of turn two on lap 15.
Arrenegado had LeClerc on his door and Estrella on his bumper, with Lascuola outside. Vinny grabbed an edge and they went door-to-door. LeClerc threw it into turn three, hard and deep, going past Vinny, but his back end snapped out from under him in turn four, making a slow pirouette and leaving him facing traffic, which scattered to avoid with no damage.
Estrella lined up outside the front row and was able to edge out on the start, settling in out of turn three. Pelland and Marfeo dueled for position for four laps before Pelland spun on lap 20, with Marfeo getting the call for an assist. Both went to the rear.
Estrella pulled away from Arrenegado, who was engaged by Rose immediately. They were door to door as Estrella built a five-car lead over the next lap. DeGasparre began leaking fluid and was black-flagged. Leo Oliveira and Wheeler got together, bringing out caution. After the flag, Arrenegado, and then Rose did slow spins on the backstretch, but kept their places as the flag had already been thrown.
The restart was a carbon copy of the previous. This time, Arrenegado began to fall back and Rose took over second while Lascuola took over third. With 5 laps remaining, Estrella gained an eight car lead as Lascuola looked under Rose for second. Pelland was battling below Lillie. Lascuola secured second and Lillie went to fourth behind Rose and Pelland ran fifth.
Wheeler spun on the backstretch with three laps to go, but collected his car and continued as Estrella ran for the finish. Entering the last lap, Arrenegado, running sixth, had smoke erupt from his right front wheel well as if a caliper had seized up and frozen his wheel. He continued as the black flag waved and completed the circuit. But Marfeo came up fast in turn four and got into his bumper, sending him around as Estrella crossed under the checkers. Completing the top ten were: Bill Bernard, sixth, LeClerc, Hutchins (completing his last race before heading off to college) Oliviera, Arrenegado and Marfeo.