Jim Banfield and Jesse Gleason scored their first season wins and led a roster of exciting finishes in the NASCAR Whelen All American Series Thursday Night Thompson Thunder at Thompson International Speedway this week. Ted Christopher and Tommy O’Sullivan earned milestone career finishes for their teams while Cam McDermott and John Lewinski-Loh added to their season totals.
Patience paid off for Jim Banfield in the 50-lap Super Late Model feature Thursday night. The So. Glastonbury, Conn.-native took the lead with two laps to go after then-leader Mike O’Sullivan blew a tire in turn one. Banfield drove to the lead and eventual victory unchallenged. Derek Ramstrom catapulted to the front at the drop of the green, and even an early-race caution couldn’t slow him down. Dick Houlihan and Mike O’Sullivan took over second and third on the restart as the top-five began to string out single file. O’Sullivan maneuvered by Houlihan for second and set his sights on Ramstrom, who was already out to a half-a-straightaway lead. Caution flew on lap seven and tightened the field back up again. O’Sullivan won the drag race into turn one on the drop of the green and took over the lead on lap eight with Ramstrom in his rear view mirror and Larry Gelinas in third. Ramstrom continued to pressure O’Sullivan before reclaiming the top spot at lap 20. Once out front, he was able to pull away by five-car lengths over O’Sullivan and Gelinas. With 14 laps to go, the No. 41 of Scott Rotherforth spun into the infield retaining wall on the front stretch and brought out the caution flag. O’Sullivan beat Ramstrom to the lead, but a caution would force him to try again. Ramstrom appeared to have the lead heading into turn one, but Gelinas went low making it a three-wide battle into turn one. Gelinas took the lead in commanding style, but had a lot of pressure by Ramstrom and O’Sullivan. Ramstrom dove low to challenge, and as he attempted to go by for the lead on lap 40 in turn one, Ramstrom started to go around and collected Gelinas in the mix. O’Sullivan inherited the lead for the restart with Jim Banfield and Rick Gentes rounding out the top-three. With two laps to go, O’Sullivan lost the left front tire on his No. 08 machine and handed the lead and win to Jim Banfield. (more…)
A look back at the SK Modified event held at the Waterford Speedbowl on June 16, 2012 and won by Tyler Chadwick. Includes grandstand commentary throughout the race from Sid and his friends, plus GoPro cameras on the racecars of Chadwick, runner-up Rob Janovic Jr, Nichole Morgillo, Joe Gada and track official Eric Webster
Vinney Esposito of Waterbury CT, takes his first win from points leader Duane Noll of Monroe CT, in the 25-Lap New England Truck Series feature race last Saturday night at the Waterford Speedbowl.
On the pole #151 Ford of Bert Ouellette with the # 11 Chevy of Vinney Esposito on the outside set the pace as they rolled off turn four starting NETS feature race. Before getting to turn three, Vinney took over the lead position from Ouellette with #2 Chevy of Duane Noll in tow. On lap nine, #75 of Corey Coates takes third place position with Ouellette and #8 Dodge of Tom Metcalf following behind. On lap fifteen, with mechanical failure, the #6 Chevy Truck of Mike Ledoux had to park for the night. By lap nineteen, the #21x Chevy of Jason Lafayette takes over fourth position with Metcalf, Ouellette and #19 Chevy of Nate Bubello of MA . (more…)
The Super Late Models return to Thompson International Speedway this week to add to the Whelen Engineering Thursday Night NASCAR lineup. The Super Late Models, running a limited schedule this year, will make their second of six scheduled appearances at the historic oval ON Whelen Engineering night, the Title Sponsor of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.
Whelen Engineering is based in Chester, CT and is the world’s leader in providing visual and audible warning products for police, fire, EMS, towing and D.O.T. professionals everywhere. Whelen Engineering has been number one in its field for over fifty years and they proudly make all of their products in the USA. (more…)
(Stafford Springs, CT)—Stafford Speedway welcomed the beginning of summer
with it’s 12th Annual Town Fair Tire Summer Blast-Off Fireworks program on
Friday night, June 15th. Providing the fireworks on the track were Ted
Christopher, who picked up his second win of the season in the 40-lap SK
Modified® feature, Woody Pitkat, who picked up his first win of the season
in the 30-lap Late Model feature, Jay Goff, who picked up his first career
victory in the 20-lap SK Light feature, Josh Wood, who took a thrilling
fourth win of the season with a last lap pass in the 20-lap Ltd. Late Model
feature, and Austin Bessette, who scored his first career victory in the
15-lap DARE Stock feature. (more…)
WHEELER & SAUNDERS SCORE COORS LIGHT SK MODIFIED® 100 FEATURE WINS AT
STAFFORD; RAIN POSTPONES REMAINDER OF PROGRAM TO JUNE 29th
(Stafford Springs, CT)—Stafford Speedway returned to racing on Friday,
June 8TH with the 39th Annual Coors Light SK Modified® 100. Taking wins
were Harry Wheeler in the SK Light feature and Cliff Saunders in the DARE
Stock feature event. Rain postponed the remainder of tonight’s program to
Friday, June 29th and rain checks from tonight’s program will be honored on
June 29th.
In the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature event, Harry Wheeler took the lead
from Payton Henry at the start of the race and he began to set the pace in
the early laps. Henry was second, with Joey Ferrigno, Jay Goff, and Bob
Charland lined up behind him. Ferrigno moved by Henry to take over second
on lap-3. Rick Dyer spun coming out of turn 2 to bring the caution out with
4 laps complete. (more…)
Jim Banfield and Jesse Gleason scored their first season wins and led a roster of exciting finishes in the NASCAR Whelen All American Series Thursday Night Thompson Thunder at Thompson International Speedway this week. Ted Christopher and Tommy O’Sullivan earned milestone career finishes for their teams while Cam McDermott and John Lewinski-Loh added to their season totals.