by Jay | Jun 6, 2009 | New
Cates Wins Career-First in Sunoco Mods at Thompson
Ramstrom & Gentes Late Model Winners; Barnett, Oliveira, & Taylor Also Win
Thompson, CT (June 4, 2009): The local residents were treated to an eventful and exciting night of racing on Thursday Night at Thompson International Speedway. Danny Cates of Chaplin, CT, was the big winner as he scored his first-ever Sunoco Modified feature event win among a strong field.
Derek Ramstrom of Worcester, MA, was tops in the Super Late Models while Rick Gentes of Woonsocket, RI, celebrated his birthday with a Late Model victory. Leo Oliveira of Raynham, MA, earned the TIS Modified feature win in a photo-finish. Larry Barnett of Ledyard, CT, took down the Limited Sportsman feature win on Thompson Night at the races. Tim Taylor of Wauregan, CT, made it two straight in Mini Stocks.
Danny Cates of Chaplin, CT, had himself in contention to win the Sunoco Modified main event on Thursday night. So when things got physical between front-running Keith Rocco and Todd Ceravolo, Cates was there to capitalize. The young driver went on to win his first career Sunoco Modified feature event.
“Words cannot describe what I’m feeling right now,” said Cates in victory lane with his father Doug and his crew.
Kerry Malone drove by pole-sitter Ted Christopher to lead lap one. In the early going, Josh Sylvester ran in third ahead of Woody Pitkat and Ceravolo. The cars got strung out immediately throughout the pack. The first car to step out of line was Pitkat looking for position on Sylvester. Keith Rocco was a bit more successful taking the ninth position from Jimmy Blewett.
Ceravolo was making his way toward the front taking the fourth spot from Pitkat. A lap later, he took the third spot from Sylvester. Rocco was mired behind a double-file battle between Bert Marvin and Cates.
On lap 10, Marvin was able to free himself of Cates. Rocco followed through. Up front, Malone had worked his way out to a half straightaway advantage over a brewing battle between Christopher and Ceravolo.
Ceravolo was able to take over the second position on lap 14. Rocco made a bonsai move exiting turn three to shove Marvin out of the groove. Rocco gained the edge and the position. He made quick work of Sylvester making his first appearance in the top five.
Jimmy Blewett was off the pace on lap 18 to bring out the event’s first caution. On the restart, Pitkat got out of shape nearly making contact with the backstretch wall. He fell back as far as ninth. Rocco got a run on Christopher to take over the third position. A spin by Blewett brought out another caution on lap 22.
On the restart, Ceravolo got the jump leaving Malone to defend his position against Rocco and Cates. Contact between Pitkat and Christopher on lap 23 resulted in a melee on the front stretch. Cars also involved included Malone, who had slipped back to fourth, Sylvester, Marvin, Dave LaCroix, Ricky Shawn, John Catania, Brett LeBlanc, and Carl Oberg.
Rocco was able to muscle the lead away from Ceravolo on the restart. Cates moved into the second position following Rocco. Ceravolo gathered it back in to make a run at Rocco. The two made contact on several occasions. The final blow resulted in the two making hard contact with the outside wall in turn four. Cates emerged to take the caution as the new leader. On the restart, Danny Cates could taste his first career victory rocketing to the lead. He sailed under the checkers to take down the coveted win.
Despite an eventful night for both Pitkat and Blewett, they were able to come home second and third respectively. Malone also salvaged a good finish in fourth ahead of Rowan Pennink.
Derek Ramstrom of Worcester, MA, entertained with an impressive run to the Super Late Model checkers. Fred Astle, Jr. held on to the lead; holding back the charges of a hungry Jeff Connors. A bobble by Astle on lap six opened the door for Connors and a host of other drivers. Astle slipped back to the tail-end of the top ten.
Steve Desmarais was holding strong in second while Dave Silvia, Marc Curtis, and Ramstrom jockeyed for position. Contact between Silvia, Curtis and Ramstrom gave Norm Wrenn some running room inside the top five. Connors maintained his lead over Desmarais and Silvia.
The first caution flew on lap 17. During the short green flag run, Ramstrom had begun his mark to the front. By the time the caution flew again, he was second. With ten laps to go, Ramstrom caught Connors. Wrenn, Desmarais and Macedonio were three-wide for third.
Ramstrom meanwhile got alongside Connors. He settled back in line only to make another run with five laps remaining. On lap 25, Ramstrom drove by Connors and into the lead. Once out front, Ramstrom immediately began to distance himself from the field.
A last caution for a spin by the Curtis set up a green/white/checker restart. Ramstrom, unfazed by the restart, cruised to the checkers for his first win of the season. Connors settled for second over Wrenn. Mike O’Sullivan and Les Rose, Jr. completed the top five.
Rick Gentes of Woonsocket, RI, dominated the Late Model race but nearly watched his win disappear after a late race restart opened the door for a hard-charging Zuidema. But Gentes, who was celebrating a birthday, came back strong to post his second-straight Late Model victory.
“Jeff Zuidema is absolutely the best guy to race with,” said an enthusiastic Gentes in victory lane.
In the early going, with Gentes checked out, the heated battle for the fourth spot between and Tommy O’Sullivan and Jay Stuart provided the action. Stuart was able to get by O’Sullivan for fourth behind Gentes, Materas, and Zuidema.
During the long green flag run the top three had gotten strung out. Little-by-little, Zuidema was able to chew away at Materas’ advantage. By halfway, Zuidema was glued to the back bumper of second position. The first caution flew on lap 15 for a single-car spin by Jeremy Sadowski.
The restart opened up the door for both Zuidema and O’Sullivan. Zuidema was able to take over the second position from Materas. O’Sullivan not only took his position back from Stuart, he advanced his position to pass Materas.
Zuidema was shot out of a cannon on a lap 17 restart taking over the top spot from Gentes. Contact at the front of the pack shuffled O’Sullivan to the tail-end of the top five. A few laps later, Gentes looked to take his lead back. The two went side-by-side to get the sign for five to go. They continued to run fender-to-fender with Gentes gaining a slight advantage at the stripe for two to go. He edged ahead on the final lap. Zuidema settled back in line and tailed Gentes to the checkers. Materas came home third followed by Stuart and O’Sullivan.
Larry Barnett of Ledyard, CT, scored his first win of the 2009 season in the 20-lap Limited Sportsman main event. Barnett showed patience in getting his Town Fair Tire #73 to the front; taking the lead just after halfway.
Things were relatively uneventful for early race leader Tom Shea until lap seven. Shea watched his lead slip away when he found himself part of a three-wide battle for the lead with Chris “Moose” Douton and Larry Barnett. Douton came out of the battle as the new leader followed by Barnett. After a short stint in the lead, Douton gave up the top spot to a charging Barnett.
After a late race restart, Joe Arena began to show his muscle moving into the second position behind Barnett. In the closing laps, Arena closed slightly but could not reel in the leader; leaving Barnett alone to take the checkers. Arena settled for second ahead of Douton, Sundeen, and Coutu, Jr.
Leo Oliveira of Raynham, MA, won a thriller in the TIS Modified main event to break Brian Sullivan’s lock on victory lane. Cam McDermott had a career day running strong all way to the checkers. Oliveira capitalized on his front row starting position to jump out to the lead. With Oliveira and McDermott out front, Brian Sullivan was quietly picking off cars entering the top three shortly after halfway.
On the final laps, McDermott edged ever closer to the leader. On the white flag lap, McDermott got alongside Oliveira. They exited turn four dead-even. At the checkers, Oliveira was able to motor ahead to take the win by the length of a bumper. Sullivan had the best seat in the house finishing third. R.J. Marcotte and Brian Tagg rounded out the top five.
Tim Taylor of Wauregan, CT, made it two straight in Mini Stock competition with a dominating performance in the 15-lap feature event. Taylor, who took the lead early, withstood a number of restarts to score the victory. The Mini Stocks had an uncharacteristically difficult main event but during the green flag runs the action was fierce. Things got busy in the early laps as eight cars battled feverishly for the third position on back. Attrition became a factor as several of the players were eliminated from the battle during a series of cautions.
In the last dash to the checkers, Scott Jassaume pressured Taylor on the restart but fell back in line while Brad Caddick, Waterford Speedbowl regular Randy Churchill and Chad Baxter battled. Taylor cruised to victory over Jassaume, Churchill, Caddick, and Baxter.
Thompson gets back to action next Thursday night with a special 50-lap main event for the Late Models. On June 18th, the True Value Modified Racing Series will be on hand for 75-laps of ground-pounding racing action. For more information on these two exciting race events and the entire 2009 season log on to thompsonspeedway.com or call the racing hotline at (860) 923-2280.
Sunoco Modified Feature Finish 30-Lap Feature (Top-Ten) Finish: 1. Danny Cates, Chaplin, CT; 2. Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs, CT; 3. Jimmy Blewett, Howell, NJ; 4. Kerry Malone, Needham, MA; 5. Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, PA; 6. Ted Christopher, Plainville, CT; 7. Harry Rheaume, Oakdale, CT; 8. Bert Marvin, New London, CT; 9. Henry Stampfl, Norwood, MA; 10. Carl Oberg, Sutton, MA.
Super Late Model Feature Finish 30-Lap Feature (Top-Ten) Finish: 1. Derek Ramstrom, Worcester, MA; 2. Jeff Connors, Ellington, CT; 3. Norm Wrenn, Nashua, NH; 4. Mike O’Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 5. Les Rose, Jr. Southbridge, MA; 6. Dave Silvia, Warwick, RI; 7. Steve Desmarais, Westport, MA; 8. Jay Macedonio, Somerset, MA; 9. Jeff Zuidema, N. Brookfield, 10. Jim Banfield, S. Glastonbury, CT.
Late Model 20-Lap Feature Event (Top-Ten) Finish: 1. Rick Gentes, Woonsocket, RI; 2. Jeff Zuidema, N. Brookfield, MA; 3. John Materas, Voluntown, CT; 4. Jay Stuart, Preston, CT; 5. Tommy O’Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 6. Mark Oliveira, Blackstone, MA; 7. Steve Landry, Tyngsboro, MA; 8. Tom Fox, Plainfield, CT; 9. Randy Waterman, Killingly, CT; 10. P.J. Howard, Norwood, MA.
Limited Sportsman 20-Lap Feature Event (Top-Ten) Finish: 1. Larry Barnett, Ledyard, CT; 2. Joe Arena, Bristol, CT; 3. Chris Douton, Waterford, CT; 4. Scott Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 5. Paul Coutu, Jr., Thompson, CT; 6. Tommy Shea, New London, CT; 7. Jay Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 8. Paul Palen, Pelham, MA; 9. Jason Chicolas, Sutton, MA; 10. Gerald Sevigny, Brooklyn, CT.
TIS Modified 20-Lap Feature Event (Top-Ten) Finish: 1. Leo Oliveria, Raynham, MA; 2. Cam McDermott, Scituate, RI; 3. Brian Sullivan, S. Windsor, CT; 4. R.J. Marcotte, Millville, MA; 5. Brian Tagg, Oxford, MA; 6. Jay Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 7. Glen Boss, Danielson, CT; 8. Tyler Poulin, Millville, MA; 9. Denis Legere, N. Reading, MA; 10. Jeff Barrows, Worcester, MA.
Mini Stock Feature 15-Lap Feature Event (Top-Ten) Finish: 1. Tim Taylor, Wauregan, CT; 2. Scott Jassaume, Danielson, CT; 3. Randy Churchill, Niantic, CT; 4. Brad Caddick, New London, CT; 5. Chad Baxter, Pascoag, RI; 6. Steven Michalski, Brooklyn, CT; 7. Scott Michalski, S. Killingly, CT; 8. Jeff Moffat, Warwick, RI; 9. Ron Rixham, Jefferson, MA; 10. Steve Romjue, Coventry, RI.
by Jay | Jun 3, 2009 | New
Father-son sweep for David & Josh Childs in 11th annual Acceleration Series opener
OXFORD, Maine – The father-son combination of David and Josh Childs combined for 18 feature wins in two different Oxford Plains Speedway Acceleration Series divisions last season.
Now that the two are competing in the same class, the peer pressure and the quest for bragging rights might make them even more dangerous.
After hearing the Chimney Tech Outlaw rookie Josh had won his 20-lap event while waiting to take the track for his own race, David drove to a convincing victory in his portion of the first Wednesday night program of the season.
Reigning Outlaw champion Ron Abbott Jr. also accomplished what he was unable to achieve in his title-winning season, leading every lap to capture the checkered flag in the first of three features for that division.
Zach Audet and Matt Dufault ruled the Macdonald Motors Runnin’ Rebel features. Vanna Brackett emerged from a highly competitive Allen’s Coffee Flavored Brandy Ladies field to score a win.
Ross Spurling backed up his first career victory four nights earlier with another triumph. Defending champion Jason Hannigan picked up where he left off with a Goulet Home Inspections Renegade victory.
Abbott held off Jerry Freve, who was a car length back throughout their 20-lap tangle.
“Zach and Larry Emerson helped me get here,” Abbott said. “I kind of dragged my butt until the last minute.”
John Patria made a spirited charge on the outside throughout the event but settled for third. Guy Childs threatened to make it a family sweep but filed into fourth ahead of Kevin Lawrence.
By virtue of having no 2008 points in the division, Josh Childs started last in his 16-car grid. He flew past more than half the field over the first three laps, then calmly picked his way past Chris Coolidge, Steve Brill and early dominator Gerry Richard to score his second straight victory.
Childs, 18, also won in his most recent Saturday night start.
“Holy cow, that was a fun race,” said Childs. “I can’t even believe I made it here. I didn’t think I’d be able to get up front. The car was pushing, and I had to use a little more brake than usual.”
Richard, Brill, Coolidge and Bob Ferguson completed the top five.
David Childs bolted from 11th to first in under 10 laps and cruised to his win.
“They came down and told me my boy won,” Childs said, “so I had to drive my butt off.”
Steve Moon had a mirror full of John Spencer Jr. throughout but held on for second. Tyler Belanger and Jonathan Baldwin traded fourth position five different times before Belanger finally claimed it, with Baldwin a career-best fifth.
Audet had a shadow in Scott Farrington for the duration of the 20-lap Rebel opener, but last year’s four-time feature winner started off 2009 in a similar fashion with a narrow victory.
“He ran me really clean. I’m happy about that,” Audet said of Farrington.
Troy Jordan wasted no time charging from 12th to third, but without the help of a caution flag to slow the leaders, he only had time to catch their rear bumper before the finish. Dustin Salley backed up Saturday’s first career victory in fourth, followed by Jamie Heath after a late skirmish scattered the eight-car battle for fifth.
Dufault drew the outside of the front row for round two and kept the pack at a safe distance to the checkers. Kyle Hewins and Jason Berry applied early pressure, but their slight entanglement in a multi-car incident gave Dufault slightly more breathing room.
“The car was right on tonight,” said Dufault. “We made a bunch of changes from Saturday, and it worked out pretty good.”
Racing for the first time since the birth of his first child, Jamie Leavitt avoided the mid-race mess to take second. Berry stayed the course and took third. Hewins’ early-season winning streak ended at two with a fourth-place run, followed by Corey Beaulieu.
Spurling inherited some space after closest pursuers Ryan Farrar and Kevin Oliver got tangled with a lapped truck. Opie Allard advanced to second and supplied some heat, but it was Spurling scoring his second straight set of checkers.
“It’s hard to keep those Toyotas back there, but we’re getting better and better,” Spurling said.
The Ladies swapped lanes and paint repeatedly, with six drivers having a crack at the win in the closing laps. Until Brackett moved to the front, that is, continuing the momentum she produced with her 10 wins in ’08.
Cathy Manchester made a late move to the inside and took second in front of defending champion Dottie Patria. Deanna Robertson and Debbie Marston completed the top five.
Hannigan led every lap of the 10-lap Renegade scramble, holding rookie Bill Grover at a safe, four-car length distance. Gerard Cote was next in line.
OPS roars to life again at 6:30 p.m. Saturday with Sunoco Race Fuels Night. A 100-lap Strictly Stock feature headlines a five-division card.
CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW #1 (20 laps): 1. Ron Abbott Jr., Sabattus; 2. Jerry Freve, Buckfield; 3. John Patria, Turner; 4. Guy Childs, Turner; 5. Kevin Lawrence, South Paris; 6. Jerry Goss, Mechanic Falls; 7. Ryan Robbins, Dixfield; 8. Jim Drake, Hebron; 9. Addison Bowie, Auburn; 10. Scott Ellis, Lewiston; 11. David Brown, Gray; 12. Jim Davis Jr., Sabattus; 13. Josh Paradis, Sumner; 14. Mark Childs Jr., Mechanic Falls; 15. Shannon Judd, Jay; 16. Carl Conant, Lewiston.
CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW #2 (20 laps): 1. Josh Childs, Oxford; 2. Gerry Richard, Leeds; 3. Steve Brill, Bridgton; 4. Chris Coolidge, Norway; 5. Bob Ferguson, New Gloucester; 6. Doug Degroat, Oxford; 7. Michael Haynes, Livermore Falls; 8. Kyle Curtis, Oxford; 9. Jay Wilkins, Gray; 10. Chris Burgess, Sabattus; 11. Zach Bowie, Lisbon; 12. Don Veinott, Sabattus; 13. Scott Veinott, Sabattus; 14. Robert Lowe, Auburn; 15. Zach Robitaille, Norway.
CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW #3 (20 laps): 1. David Childs, Oxford; 2. Steve Moon, Gray; 3. John Spencer Jr., Auburn; 4. Tyler Belanger, Sumner; 5. Jonathan Baldwin, Auburn; 6. Mike Rand, Bridgton; 7. Bubba Collins, New Gloucester; 8. Fred Clavet, Buckfield; 9. Mike Blash, Norway; 10. Mike Kyllonen, Mechanic Falls; 11. Matt Weeks, Greene; 12. Todd Bisbee, South Paris; 13. Scott Hethcoat, Auburn; 14. Clint Sherwood, Poland; 15. Ron Parker, New Gloucester; 16. Dan Brown, Peru.
MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN’ REBEL #1 (20 laps): 1. Zach Audet, Wilton; 2. Scott Farrington, Minot; 3. Troy Jordan, Turner; 4. Dustin Salley, Auburn; 5. Jamie Heath, Waterford; 6. Craig Farrington, Hebron; 7. Mike Ward, Harrison; 8. Gerard Cote, Oxford; 9. Nate Dubuc, Auburn; 10. Doug Degroat, Oxford; 11. Charlie Webster, Auburn; 12. Craig Bartlett, Denmark; 13. Roger Bourgoin, Mechanic Falls; 14. Charlie Hall, Oxford; 15. Michael Carver, Durham; 16. Ellery Phillips Jr., Turner.
MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN’ REBEL #2 (20 laps): 1. Matt Dufault, Turner; 2. Jamie Leavitt, Minot; 3. Jason Berry, Turner; 4. Kyle Hewins, Leeds; 5. Corey Beaulieu, Oxford; 6. Ryan Hewins, Leeds; 7. Brady Romano, Livermore Falls; 8. Randy Desmarais, Auburn; 9. Martin Krauter, Raymond; 10. Cody Smith, Oxford; 11. Eric Rowles, Lewiston; 12. Ryan Philbrick, Greenwood; 13. Troy Gamrat, Lisbon; 14. Derek Cook, Livermore Falls; 15. John Childs, Leeds; 16. Carl Griffin, Farmingdale; 17. Bob Danforth, Stoneham.
CALL OF THE WILD RV CENTER SPORT TRUCK (20 laps): 1. Ross Spurling, New Gloucester; 2. Opie Allard, Harpswell; 3. Ryan Farrar, Oxford; 4. Kevin Oliver, Gray; 5. Herb Farrar, Oxford; 6. Jeff Schmidt, Mechanic Falls; 7. Laurette Theriault, Casco; 8. Doug Stevens, West Sumner; 9. Jeremy Wagner, Bryant Pond; 10. Brent Westberry, Buckfield; 11. Ben Yap, Bryant Pond.
ALLEN’S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY LADIES (20 laps): 1. Vanna Brackett, Buckfield; 2. Cathy Manchester, Gray; 3. Dottie Patria, Turner; 4. Deanna Robertson, South Paris; 5. Debbie Marston, Hartford; 6. Christina Spaulding, Lewiston; 7. Missy Blash, Oxford; 8. Sue Veinott, Sabattus; 9. Lisa Brooks, Auburn; 10. Kimberly Sessions, Auburn; 11. Kristen Brown, Gray; 12. Tori Burgess, Sabattus; 13. Missy Morgan, Lewiston; 14. Tricia Thomas, Auburn; 15. Amanda Fogg, Sabattus; 16. Annie Chartier, Mexico.
GOULET HOME INSPECTIONS RENEGADE (10 laps): 1. Jason Hannigan, Greene; 2. Bill Grover, Topsham; 3. Gerard Cote, Oxford; 4. Bob Morey, Lisbon; 5. Jeremy Cormier, Auburn.
