Waterford, CT (July 5, 2014) \u2013 Waterford Speedbowl\u2019s mid-season
\nchampionship Overdrive Radio 300 event hit the asphalt Saturday night with
\nextra distance racing by the track\u2019s core six divisions. The big winner
\nwas Keith Rocco of Berlin, scoring top honors in the night\u2019s 100-lap SK
\nModified\u00ae main event. Bruce Thomas Jr. of Groton won an entertaining
\n50-lap Valenti Auto Mall Late Model race, while Old Lyme\u2019s Jeff Smith was
\na first-time winner in the SK Light Modifieds after an impressive
\nperformance. Franklin\u2019s Josh Galvin was back in Victory Lane in the
\n50-lap Street Stock race and Garrett Denton of Hope Valley, RI won his
\nsecond consecutive race in the night\u2019s 50-lap Mini Stock event. Mike
\nChristopher Jr. of Wolcott won his third straight INEX Legend Cars race.
\n<\/p>\n
Rocco impressed again in the SK Modified\u00ae ranks, steadily rising through
\nthe top ten until he landed in the lead on lap-34. He was in control the
\nrest of the way to pick up his seventh win of the year in the division.
\nRocco\u2019s twin brother Jeff led the field to green and led over Kyle James
\nat the start. The lead pack quickly singled out to log some early laps
\nand saw Keith Rocco in seventh position after setting the fast time, and
\nredrawing to invert the top eight cars for the start.<\/p>\n
The single file racing came to an end when Ted Christopher jumped to the
\noutside lane looking to advance his position among the top-five. He was
\nin the outside lane when he made contact with fourth place Tim Jordan,
\ntriggering the first caution flag as Jordan spun in turn one collecting
\nChristopher, Shawn Thibeault and Diego Monahan on lap-12.<\/p>\n
Jeff Rocco got a good restart to retain his lead while Keith restarted in
\nfifth and was on the attack. He got past Rob Janovic Jr. and Craig Lutz
\nto move to third on lap-15, ahead of a serious incident on lap-19 that
\ndrew the caution and then red flag. Exiting turn four Adam Gada\u2019s car
\nshot out of the pack and took a punishing hit into the turn four wall.
\nEmergency crews momentarily tended to Gada before he exited the car and
\nwas evaluated and released.<\/p>\n
The Rocco\u2019s teamed up in the inside lane on the restart trying to shuffle
\nJames back to third, however James fought off Keith\u2019s inside bid to settle
\nback into second on lap-20. James ran behind Jeff Rocco but before long
\nKeith Rocco was testing his outside, sending his car deep into the corner
\nto pull alongside on lap-26. Rocco cleared James a lap later to join his
\nbrother at the head of the field.<\/p>\n
Keith didn\u2019t delay in surging to the front, looking for racing room
\noutside of Jeff. On lap-33 he pulled even for the lead in the outside
\nlane, powering ahead. He waltzed out to a comfortable lead during a green
\nflag run that brought the race to lap-55. Jeff Rocco continued second,
\nJames third and Janovic fourth while the car on the move belonged to Tyler
\nChadwick. Chadwick pitted and resumed from the rear of the field earlier
\nin the race, then passed the brunt of the field on the top of the track to
\narrive among the top-five cars when John Montesanto spun off turn four
\njust ahead of the lead pack of cars.<\/p>\n
The Rocco\u2019s resumed their stranglehold on the field after the green flag
\nreturned but Janovic and Chadwick each advanced a spot, dropping James to
\nfifth. A caution for a spin by Lutz on lap-67 enabled Janovic to get the
\ninside lane on Jeff Rocco, taking second. He chased Keith Rocco through a
\nlap-89 yellow, the final of the race. Chadwick\u2019s ascent to the front
\nstalled in fourth position and he was trying to keep James at bay behind
\nhim.<\/p>\n
The final restart saw Keith Rocco best Janovic. He marched to the twin
\ncheckered flags and Janovic put forth a strong effort to wind up
\nrunner-up. Jeff Rocco had a solid outing to run among the top-three all
\nrace and finish third with limited appearances in the division in 2014.
\nChadwick and James completed the top-five.<\/p>\n
Thomas came out on top of a duel with Keith Rocco to record his third
\nvictory of the year in the Valenti Auto Mall Late Models. Just one
\ncaution flag slowed their pace before the halfway mark, however the two
\nkept the action on the track red hot both before and after the yellow
\nflag. Thomas used a stellar three-wide maneuver to take command from Marc
\nCurtis on lap-7 as Rocco raced the top of the track in pursuit of the top
\nspot. Rocco stalked Thomas until the lap-23 caution flag, then took
\ncommand outside of Thomas following the restart. Thomas stayed with Rocco
\nafter, mounting a comeback over the final 10 laps. He got inside Rocco on
\nlap-44, stayed there for two laps before finally pulling ahead on lap-44.
\nRocco tried to counter but came up short. Rocco settled for second and
\nCurtis was third.<\/p>\n
Smith was smooth in his first ever open-wheeled modified start, riding all
\nthe way to the winner\u2019s circle in the night\u2019s 25-lap SK Light Modified
\nfeature. He started in second position, settled in behind leader Corey
\nBarry over the opening laps and then made his move. Smith, a past
\nchampion and regular Valenti Auto Mall Late Model competitor at the track,
\nfound room inside of Barry on the fifth lap to assume control. He paced
\nthe field the rest of the way, showing off his experience to power ahead
\nover each of four restarts. Joey Ferrigno slipped by Barry for second in
\nthe final laps.<\/p>\n
Galvin piloted his machine to another Street Stock victory, his seventh of
\nthe year. He took the lead in the 50-lap race outside of two-time
\ndivision champion Al Stone on the opening lap and didn\u2019t look back.
\nGalvin endured a slew of mid-race caution flags that kept things to a
\ncrawl. He stayed ahead of Stone the duration, surviving a final effort by
\nStone following the final restart of the race after a yellow flag with
\nthree laps remaining. The two made contact but Galvin hung on and pulled
\naway for the win. Stone finished second and Corey Coates made his first
\never start in the division and finished third.<\/p>\n
Denton was on point in the night\u2019s Mini Stock event. He took the lead
\nfrom Pete Zaikarite eight laps into the 50-lap race and pulled ahead,
\nlooking dominant at times through stretches of the race. He got a
\nchallenge from Charles Canfield late, holding back his charges to take his
\nsecond consecutive checkered flag in the division, and third of the year.
\nCanfield finished second and Ray Christian III was third.<\/p>\n
Christopher came out on top of an entertaining three-way battle to take
\nthe 25-lap INEX Legend Cars feature. He battled two champions, Dylan Izzo
\nand Brendon Bock, over the final 20 laps of the race. Each took a turn
\nout front in the lead, swapping positions over the middle stages. A
\ncaution on lap-18 set up Christopher\u2019s path to the lead. Izzo led but
\nChristopher got past Bock\u2019s inside for second on lap-19. He went inside
\nof Izzo in turn one on with twenty laps complete, and the two raced even
\nfor a lap and a half before Christopher took control at lap-22. A final
\ncaution set up a green-white-checkered flag finish and Christopher needed
\nto hold back Bock to his outside and a shot to his rear bumper by Izzo
\nbefore claiming a hard earned win, his fifth of the year in the division\u2019s
\nSaturday series. Izzo, last year\u2019s division champion, nipped Bock, a past
\nRiverhead Raceway titlist, at the finish line for second.<\/p>\n
Waterford Speedbowl Saturday 7\/5 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Results:<\/p>\n
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds\u00ae (100-laps): 1. Keith
\nRocco, Berlin; 2. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 3. Jeff Rocco,
\nWallingford; 4. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 5. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI; 6.
\nNichole Morgillo, Southington; 7. Joe Gada, Salem; 8. Paul Kusheba IV,
\nMonroe; 9. Ed Puleo, Branford; 10. Craig Lutz, Miller Place, NY; 11.
\nKeith McDermott, Scituate, RI; 12. Wendell Dailey, Gales Ferry; 13. John
\nMontesanto, North Branford; 14. Tim Jordan, Plainfield; 15. Diego
\nMonahan, Quaker Hill; 16. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., Milford; 17. Shawn
\nThibeault, Plainville; 18. Adam Gada, Bozrah; 19. Ted Christopher,
\nPlainville; 20. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill; DNS \u2013 Jeff Gallup, Agawam, MA<\/p>\n
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Valenti Auto Mall Late Models (50-laps):
\n 1. Bruce Thomas Jr., Groton; 2. Keith Rocco, Berlin; 3. Marc Curtis,
\nSpencer, MA; 4. Rich Staskowski, Hope Valley, RI; 5. Vin Esposito,
\nSeymour; 6. Nick Sowa, Middletown; 7. Anthony Ryan Jr., Danbury; 8.
\nChris Garside, Waterford; 9. Joe Gada, Salem; 10. Derryck Anderson Jr.,
\nWarwick, RI; 11. John Lowinski-Loh, Milford, MA; 12. Ken Morin Jr., Old
\nSaybrook; 13. Mike Sweeney Jr., Meriden; 14. Rich Duranti, Quaker Hill;
\nDNS \u2013 Jason Palmer, Berlin<\/p>\n
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stocks (50-laps): 1. Josh
\nGalvin, Franklin; 2. Al Stone III, Durham; 3. Corey Coates, Ledyard; 4.
\nEd Gertsch Jr., East Haven; 5. Norm Root Jr., Old Saybrook; 6. Chris
\nMeyer, North Franklin; 7. Jason Chicolas, Sutton, MA; 8. Ryan Waterman,
\nDanielson; 9. Greg Moran Jr., Preston; 10. Travis Jurcik, Chaplin; 11.
\nBrandon Fisher, Plainfield; 12. Kaitlyn Brice, Manchester; 13. Darrell
\nCarlson, Chester; 14. Lloyd Anderson Jr., Wauregan; 15. Tim Morse,
\nSouthbury; 16. Matt Lowinksi-Loh, Milford, MA; 17. Steve Barrett,
\nPreston; 18. Scott Sundeen, Sutton, MA; 19. Jake Bercham, West
\nGreenwich, RI; 20. Monte Gibbs, Higganum; 21. Bill Hahnel, Uncasville;
\n22. Nate Appell, Westbrook;<\/p>\n
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Mini Stocks (50-laps): 1. Garrett
\nDenton, Hope Valley, RI; 2. Charles Canfield, New Haven; 3. Ray
\nChristian III, Groton; 4. Nick Anderson, Oxford, MA; 5. Ed Field, Deep
\nRiver; 6. Nick Pappacoda, North Branford; 7. Nate Taylor, Wauregan; 8.
\nEric Burgeois, East Haddam; 9. Wayne Burroughs Jr., Oakdale; 10. Dale
\nSherman, Charlestown, RI; 11. Larry Loomis Jr., Moosup; 12. Sean Caron,
\nEast Hampton; 13. Jeff Lee, Uncasville; 14. Doug Curry, Groton; 15.
\nDave Trudeau, Manfield; 16. Jeff Moffat, Smithfield, RI; 17. Ken Cassidy
\nJr., Lisbon; 18. Chris Ivory, Oakdale; 19. Pete Zaikarite, Niantic; 20.
\nIan Brew, Wood River Junction, RI; 21. Josh Galvin, Franklin; 22. Joe
\nLiskiewicz, Preston<\/p>\n
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Light Modifieds (25-laps): 1. Jeff
\nSmith, Old Lyme; 2. Joey Ferrigno, East Hartford; 3. Corey Barry,
\nPlainfield; 4. Glenn Griswold, Vernon; 5. Randy Churchill Jr., Oakdale;
\n6. Larry Goss, North Windham; 7. Paul Buzel, Trumbull; 8. Rick Williams,
\nHaddam; 9. Crystal Serydynski, Johnston, RI; 10. Carlos Gray, East
\nHartford; 11. Jeff Fialkovich, Shelton; 12. Joe Fraulino Jr., East
\nHampton; 13. Cal Therrien, Vernon; 14. Victoria Bergenty, Plainville;
\n15. Paul French, Andover<\/p>\n
INEX Legend Cars (25-laps): 1. Mike Christopher Jr., Wolcott; 2. Dylan
\nIzzo, Westport; 3. Brendon Bock, Franklin Square, NY; 4. Dana Dimatteo,
\nFarmington; 5. Joey Ternullo, Middletown; 6. Kyle Rogers, Waterbury; 7.
\nConnor Holderbach, Wolcott; 8. Caterina LaBella, Plainville; 9. Cory
\nDimatteo, Farmington; 10. Peter DePizzol, North Franklin; 11. Noah
\nKorner, Canton; 12. Cornelius Flynn, Hampden, MA; DNS \u2013 Scott McKnickle,
\nLedyard<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Waterford, CT (July 5, 2014) \u2013 Waterford Speedbowl\u2019s mid-season championship Overdrive Radio 300 event hit the asphalt Saturday night with extra distance racing by the track\u2019s core six divisions. The big winner was Keith Rocco of Berlin, scoring top honors in the night\u2019s 100-lap SK Modified\u00ae main event. Bruce Thomas Jr. of Groton won an […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[196,45,4140,15329],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16274","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-connecticut","category-nascar","category-waterford","category-whelen-all-american-series"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16274","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16274"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16274\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16274"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16274"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16274"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}