Speedbowl Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday 8/25 Results – Flannery wins race and Wednesday Legends Cars Championship
Sowa, Potter and Williams others in Victory Lane

August 26, Waterford, CT--- Waterford Speedbowl crowned another champion of its Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday program and saw two championship battles tighten up headed into the final week of competition next Wednesday.  Anthony Flannery of East Hampton merely had to start the Legends Cars race to cinch up the division championship but won it in style by executing a thrilling final corner pass to win the event. Hometown driver Al Potter scored a popular win in the Super X-Cars, his first of the year.  Patrick Williams of Middletown took the X-Car race.  The championship battle tightened in the Super X-Car and X-Car divisions after the night’s racing was complete.  Nicholas Sowa of Middletown won his fourth Bandolero race of the year and third in four weeks.   Taylor-Marie Moran of Preston and Kim Parker of Niantic split the two Women on Wheels races.

An exciting 20-lap Legends Car race started out rough, as multiple cautions and a red flag slowed the action over the opening circuits.  Through that exchange the top five cars changed hands when multiple leaders were involved in the early turmoil.

Jason Palmer took over the lead when racing went green on lap 2, using the outside lane to get around Dennis Pantani.  Nick Ladyga also got around Pantani for second, with Flannery riding in fourth.  The order remained that way through lap 9 when yellow was back out for Johnnie Gloor who spun in three.

Palmer raced out to a sizeable lead over the remainder of the race which stayed green.  Flannery got around both Pantani and Ladyga with his sights set on Palmer out front.  Flannery dug in, tracking down Palmer to reach him by lap 15.  

The final five laps saw the two put on an exciting duel for the win.  Palmer was doing all he could to hold back Flannery, and Flannery was exhausting every option in an effort to get around Palmer.  The two raced the other hard and weren’t afraid to play a little bumper tag as the race wound down to the final two laps.  On the final lap with Palmer trying to hold the low groove, Flannery was able to execute a bump and run maneuver through turns three and four to race underneath Palmer.  The two drag raced off turn four to the checkered flag with Flannery winning by inches in one of the most exciting races of the Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday season.  Ladyga, Chris Young Jr. and Pantani completed the top five behind Flannery and Palmer.

Nicholas Sowa and teammate Kenneth Morin Jr. ended up first and second in the 20-lap Bandolero race, holding off newly crowned division champion Taylor Martin. During the first half of the race it was a battle between the two teammates, with Sowa eventually passing Morin for the lead.  Martin was making her way from the back of the field looking poised to become a factor.  Martin and Corey Dimatteo came together on the front stretch spinning off course to bring out the caution flag.  

With the restart Sowa was able to keep the lead over Morin and go on to the win, his fourth of the season.  Martin charged back from the tail of the field in the remaining laps, to beat out Andy Carpenter and Dimatteo for third out of the final corner.

Williams won his third X-Car race of the year, assuming command of the race after pole sitter Pete Zaikarite retired to the infield after lap 2 with mechanical failure.  Williams opened up a large lead over the first half of the race but caution on lap 12 slowed the pace when a four-car accident exited turn four. 

After the cleanup, Williams continued to lead over Mike Marvin, Glen Thomas Jr., Dan D’addario and Devin Widger who battled for the next six circuits.  Lapped traffic came into play on lap 18 off turn four causing Thomas and D’addario to get together and spin, dropping them from the top-five.  Caution waved, setting up a green-white-checkered finish to the race and jumble the lineup.  Williams held on for the win over Marvin, with Widger seemingly moving up to third position at the finish. 

The final caution tightened the points race headed to the final week of competition.  D’addario gained six points on Thomas after tangling late in the race.  Thomas leads D’addario by six in the unofficial standings.

Mark Boisvert led the opening laps of the 20-lap Super X-Car race but Ken Downing III moved in to challenge the outside of Boisvert by lap 5.  Downing continued to inch his way alongside as Al Potter moved to Boisvert’s bumper to make it a three-car race up front. 

Downing finally pulled ahead to lead lap 9, as Boisvert came up the track allowing Potter to pick up the second position behind Downing.  Heavy traffic behind Boisvert saw Charles Beal, Shawn Perkins, Mike Maskell and others battling two and three-wide for the back half of the top-five.

Up front Potter began looking for a way around Downing.  Potter peeked under the leader in turn two of lap 15, pulling alongside to lead by a nose on lap 16.  Potter was ahead by two car lengths when major trouble broke out behind him racing into turn one of the final lap.  Contact battling for second saw Downing spin in front of a tight back behind creating a several car pileup in turn two.  Robert Norman, John Porter and Downing’s car made heavy contact with several others scattering for cover. Red flag was issued when Norman’s car caught fire.  All drivers were ok following the incident.

Potter and Perkins were on the front row for the restart in a two-lap dash for the win.  Those two stayed glued together over the final two laps before Potter edged ahead out of the final corner to take his first win of the year.  Perkins was second ahead of John Yagmin, Maskell and Rob Corey completing the top five finishers.  

The Super X championship race also tightened at the conclusion of the race as Beal, the point leader, was caught up in the final caution and restarted from the rear.  He rallied to a 10^th place finish over the final two laps.  Beal now holds a 17-point lead over Maskell headed into the final race.

For more information about Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday and the calendar of events, please visit www.speedbowl.com or contact track offices at 860.442.1585.
Waterford Speedbowl 8/25 Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday Results:

Legends Cars (20-laps): 1. Anthony Flannery, East Hampton; 2. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 3. Nick Ladyga, Voluntown; 4. Chris Young, Calverton; 5. Dennis Pantani, Branford; 6. David Garbo Jr., Stonington; 7. Brian Spencer, Edison, NJ; 8. Troy Talman, Oxford, MA; 9. Dan Butler, Waterford; 10. George Dorothy Jr., Deep River; 11. Richard White III, North Stonington; 12. Johnnie Gloor IV, Flanders, NJ; 13. Mike Beebe Sr., Old Saybrook; 14. Peter Cirilli, Farmington; 15. Edward Field, Deep River; 16. Dana Dimatteo, Farmington; 17. George Whitney, Westbrook; 18. Jeff Goodale, Riverhead, NY; 19. Matthew Carpenter, Auburn, MA; 20. Carlo Blandina, Milford; 21. Joey Mucciacciaro, Wolcott 

Bandolero’s (20-laps): 1. Nicholas Sowa, Middletown; 2. Kenneth Morin Jr., Old Saybrook; 3. Taylor Martin, Windham, NH; 4. Andrew Carpenter, Auburn, MA; 5. Corey Dimatteo, Farmington; Branford; 6. Jordan Lamothe, Woodstock; 7. Daniel Stolte, Northbridge, MA; 8. Tyler Chalue, Dudley, MA; 9. Nicholas Matera, Warwick, RI; 10. Jordan Churchill, Lisbon

Super X-Cars (20-laps): 1. Al Potter IV, Waterford; 2. Shawn Perkins, Groton; 3. John Yagmin, Tolland; 4. Mike Maskell II, Quaker Hill; 5. Rob Corey, South Windsor; 6. Mark Boisvert, Uxbridge, MA; 7. Peter Pollard, Old Lyme; 8. Taylor Marie-Moran, Preston; 9. Frank Alessio; 10. Charles Beal, Ledyard; 11. Jim Boyle, East Windsor; 12. Ed Ryan, Preston; 13. Richard Avino, North Haven; 14. Dan Moon, Exeter, RI; 15. Bill Reiman, Southington; 16. Michael Caprio, New Haven; 17. Paul Sheldon, Guildford; 18. Shawn Butler, Jewett City; 19. Ken Downing III, Branford; 20. Jon Porter, Canterbury; 21. Robert Norman, Clinton; 22. James Consalvo, East Hartford

X-Cars (20-laps) - unofficial: 1. Patrick Williams, Middletown; 2. Michael Marvin, Colchester; 3. Chris Garside, Waterford; 4. Jeremy Bourbeau, Taftville; 5. Wayne Shifflett, Preston; 6. Randy Johnston, Westerly, RI; 7. Brad Voglesong, Middletown; 8. Dan D’addario, Columbia; 9. Onie Pierce, Norwich; 10. John Bowes, Willington; 11. Glen Thomas Jr., Groton; 12. Shawn Stula, Colchester; 13. Bill Giles, Stratford; 14. Bruce Hall, Ledyard; 15. Scott Limkemann, East Lyme; 16. Arthur Phillips, Norwich; 17. David Lloyd, Mystic; 18. Michele Cicio, Baltic; 19. Rick Mollo, Seymour; 20. Kim Bickford, Jewett City; 21. Christopher Ivory, Oakdale; 22. Mike Trask, Plainfield; 23. Daniel Madore, Sterling; 24. C.P. Burdick, Deep River; 25. Peter Zaikarite, Niantic;  DQ - Devin Widger, Plainville

Busy week ahead at ‘Bowl

August 23, Waterford, CT--- Waterford Speedbowl continues a blockbuster month by closing out August with a busy week of events.  The shoreline oval will be in action four out of five days this week, highlighted by a Raceceiver National Legends Tour race as part of Saturday’s race program and ‘Old School Enduro’ racing on Sunday with $1,000 payouts to the winners.

The week begins with the 10th season of Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday winding down.  Just two more events remain in that series, starting with this Wednesday’s event.  Twelve-year old Taylor Martin has already claimed the Bandolero points title, and sixteen-year old Anthony Flannery has the Legends Cars championship on his radar.  The other division point battles remain tight with every position counting from this point forward.  As always, youth are admitted free on Wednesday with adult admission of just $7 and the racing starts at 7:00pm.

The ‘Show & Go at the ‘Bowl’ has gained momentum through the summer months and returns this Friday night with more spectator drag racing and free car cruise.  With free grandstands admission and only a $20 entry fee to drag race, the popularity has grown with nearly 100 thrill-seeking competitors testing their foot speed skills out on the Speedbowl asphalt each week.  Test and tune begins at 6:00pm every Friday night.

On Saturday, it will be the 2nd annual Night of Electricity presented by Electric Contractors Inc.  The Legends Cars are in the spotlight with a Raceceiver National Legends Tour race, with the winner receiving a berth in the 19th annual Legends Nationals event.  This year the Nationals will be held at Langley (VA) Speedway October 7-9th.  In addition, NASCAR Whelen All-American Series will be in action for the SK Modifieds^®, Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models, Street Stocks and Norwich Bulletin Mini Stocks on Saturday. The winner of the 35-lap SK Modified^® race will earn a guaranteed starting position in the North-South Shootout held at Concord Motorsports Park in November.  Admission is $14 for adults, $5 for youth age 6 through 14 and free for kids 5 and under.  The main events get started at 7:00pm.

And Sunday, the Speedbowl returns to wrap up the week with two $1,000 to win Old School Enduro races, one for each 4 and 8-cylinder cars.  Enduro races were regularly part of the Speedbowl mix in decades past, helping to jumpstart the careers of many past and current competitors.  Street legal cars with necessary safety modifications and other minor adjustments are allowed to compete, and it becomes a race of endurance to see who can complete the required distance first.  

A motorcycle stunt show, rollover contest and burnout contest accompany Sunday’s two Enduros. Racing gets started at 6:00pm Sunday and admission is also Old School at just $9.99 for adults.  Information for all these events is available by visiting Speedbowl.com.

August 22, Waterford, CT--- Waterford Speedbowl hosted competitors from across New England and New York for the Nutmeg State 100 ACT Late Model Tour on Saturday night.  In addition four divisions of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series were in action.  Joey Polewarczyk Jr. of Hudson, New Hampshire won an exciting ACT Tour race, beating out Brian Hoar over an exciting final five laps.  Tyler Chadwick of Ledyard won his second SK Modified^® race of the year surviving multiple restarts on his way to victory.  Al Stone III of New Haven came out on top of a wild conclusion to the Street Stock race, and Keith Rocco of Wallingford took the checkered flag in an equally exciting finish in the A.B. CDL Driver Training Center Truck event. Preston’s Greg Moran Sr. won his first Norwich Bulletin Mini Stock race of the year to round out the night’s racing.

The 35-lap SK Modified^® race saw Jeff Paul bolt from third to first by turn three on the opening lap.  Trouble behind the leaders saw Tucker Reynolds Jr., Diego Monahan, Glenn Pressell, Todd Ceravolo, Adam Gada and Joe Gada all get out of shape into turn one to draw the first caution flag with just a lap in the books. 

Paul was back out front when the green flag returned with Chadwick coming up to second.  Another caution waved on lap 4 for a spin in turn one involving Jeff Gallup and Mike Sweeney.  Chadwick challenged the outside of Paul after the restart, trying to hang with the leader.  Ron Yuhas Jr., Keith Rocco and Jeff Pearl raced their way into the top five to join the top two.  Chadwick was able to edge ahead into the lead over Paul on lap 7.

Further back the jockeying for position sent Doug Coby around in turn one as he battled just outside the top five.  Several drivers took evasive action to avoid Coby’s machine and caution was back out on lap 8.

One more lap was complete before caution again was put out as Rocco and Pearl had contact for fourth headed into turn three.  Those two got out of shape and collected several others, with many headed to the pit area for repairs.  Ceravolo was done for the night after the incident, with Rocco and Pearl resuming from the rear.  Another crash off turn two on lap 10 sidelined Joe Gada and Sweeney.

Racing went back green for just four laps when Monahan spun from the top ten in turn four, sending Pearl airborne and crashing into the tire barrier in turn four.  Chadwick led over Yuhas when racing went green.  Rob Janovic was third with Paul and Tom Abele Jr. holding the top five positions as the race moved past halfway.  Racing stayed clean with the best battle on the speedway for seventh as Rocco pestered Monahan for the spot for several laps.  Finally, Rocco was able to make the move inside Monahan on lap 33 to take the spot.

Up front Chadwick closed it out to take his second win of the season.  Yuhas, Janovic, Paul and Abele completed the top five. 

Nate Appell battled with Greg Moran Jr. for the lead in the 25-lap Street Stock race in the opening five laps.  Moran powered by Appell in the outside lane to take sole possession of the race lead.  Defending champion Brandon Plemons spun around in turn one on lap 6, getting tagged by both Norm Sears and Jay Stuart to bring out caution around the speedway.  All headed pit-side for repairs. 

Puleo restarted to the outside of Moran and promptly took over the race lead, moving out to a two car length lead before caution came out for a spin in turn two by Matt Doyon on lap 10.  Puleo remained at the front with Al Stone coming to second position over Walt Hovey, dropping Moran to fourth and Appell to fifth as the race reached 10 laps remaining.

The leaders remained in that order through the final laps to set up the wild finish.  Stone had a look inside Puleo for the lead as they raced under the white flag.  He inched his way alongside Puleo’s into turn three with Hovey close behind.  The two battled off turn four headed to the checkered flag, slipping sideways.  They made contact, sending Stone sideways across the finish line in first to take the win.  Hovey, the points leader, was turned hard into the frontstretch wall at the checkered flag but managed to finish second.  Moran snuck through the carnage to finish in third over Appell. Josh Galvin was fifth.  Puleo dropped all the way to 10^th before crossing the line.

After two early caution flags, Moran controlled the pace of the 25-lap Norwich Bulletin Mini Stock race ahead of a battle for second that saw Steve Violette holding on over Ken Cassidy Jr., Bill Leonard and Danny Field.  Cassidy took that spot on lap 8 and stared ahead to a half straightaway advantage Moran had built up.  Leonard, Field and Panaroni followed by Violette and held the top five positions as the halfway point of the race came out on lap 13. 

Leonard has his hands full holding back Field in the second half of the race.  Chris Williams had raced by Panaroni and joined Field in the battle for third.  Trouble just behind that action saw Louis Bellisle and Sean Caron get tangled in turn four crashing hard into the wall, eliminating both from the race. That brought out caution on lap 19 to erase Moran’s advantage.

Moran got a good restart over Cassidy, who had to hold back Leonard before going after the win. Cassidy closed to Moran’s bumper to duel over the final lap in a two-car race for the win.  Moran held his line over the final lap to take the win, his first of the season.  Cassidy, Leonard, Williams and Field rounded out the top five finishers.

A torrid battle took place for the top spot over the second half of the 25-lap A.B. CDL Driver Training Center Truck race between Howard Payne, Allen Coates and Keith Rocco.  The trio put on a dazzling battle for the lead with each in contention for the win over the closing 10 laps.  Payne held the lead over the first half of the race, with Coates challenging and finally making his way by to the inside on lap 18.  Rocco immediately got around Payne and challenged inside of Coates, but didn’t have the handling to power by the inside. 

The veteran Coates held off Rocco by working the outside lane to perfection.  Rocco got loose under Coates between turns one and two on lap 28, allowing Payne a window of opportunity.  He made a maneuver to the bottom of both leaders exiting turn two.  Payne reclaimed the lead with the move.  With the white flag waving, Rocco was just off Payne’s right side and Coates regrouped to close in on Payne’s rear bumper setting up another wild dash to the checkered flag. 

Coates and Payne made contact, also involving Rocco.  As Payne was spinning off turn four, the #90 of Coates went over the front of Payne’s truck but over the checkered flag first.  Payne’s truck then shot across the track into the wall.  Rocco snuck past to cross the line in second ahead of Payne.  Coates was disqualified from his win for aggressive driving, giving the win to Rocco.  Payne was credited with second, and Vin Esposito was third.

Racing returns to the Speedbowl three times this coming week, first with Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday where the point battles are coming down to the wire as two events remain.  ‘Show & Go’ features spectator drags Friday night, and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing returns next Saturday.  Information on these events is available at Speedbowl.com.

Saturday 8/21 Results and standings:

NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modifieds^® (35-laps):  1. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 2. Ron Yuhas Jr., Groton; 3. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 4. Jeffrey Paul, Ledyard; 5. Tom Abele Jr., Norwich; 6. Kyle James, Ashaway, RI; 7. Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 8. James Monahan, Quaker Hill; 9. Doug Coby, Milford; 10. Joe Perry, Ashaway, RI; 11. Tucker Reynolds Jr., Westbrook; 12. Adam Gada, Bozrah; 13. Jeff Pearl, Salem; 14. Mike Sweeney, Meriden; 15. Joe Gada, Salem; 16. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., Milford; 17. Todd Ceravolo, Gales Ferry; 18. Jeffrey Gallup, Agawam, MA; 19. Glen Pressell III, Gales Ferry

NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Street Stocks (25-laps):  1. Al Stone III, New Haven; 2. Walt Hovey Jr.; Chaplin; 3. Greg Moran, Jr.; 4. Nate Appell, Westbrook; 5. Josh Galvin, Franklin; 6. Ronald Oldham Jr., Westbrook; 7. Brandon Plemons, Uncasville; 8. Norman Root Jr., Old Saybrook; 9. Mark Cooper, Northford; 10. Ed Puleo, Branford; 11.Chris Kvaka, Stratford; 12. Scott Young, Willimantic; 13. Paul Gaedeke, Southington; 14. Norm Sears, Andover; 15. Matthew Burr, Quaker Hill; 16. Matthew Doyon, Salem; 17. Kevin Talbot, Moosup; 18. Jay Stuart, Preston

NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Norwich Bulletin Mini Stocks (25-laps): 1. Greg Moran Sr., Preston; 2. Kenneth Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 3. Bill Leonard, Wood River Jct, RI; 4. Chris Williams, Waterford; 5. Danny Field, Deep River;  6. Nick Pappacoda, North Branford; 7. Mark Panaroni, Ivoryton; 8. Ben Bargnesi, Norwich; 9. Charles Canfield, New Haven; 10. Steve Violette, Canterbury; 11. Jeffrey Cembruch, Wallingford; 12. Dale Sherman, Charlestown, RI; 13. John Kelly, New London; 14. Christina Kellerman, Stratford; 15. Louie Bellisle III, Griswold; 16. Sean Caron, East Hampton;  17. Alan Hall Jr., North Haven; 18. Ian Brew, Wood River Jct, RI

NASCAR Whelen All-American Series A.B. CDL Driver Training Center Trucks (25-laps): 1. Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 2. Howard Payne, Shelton; 3. Vin Esposito, Seymour; 4. Bill Leonard, Wood River Jct; 5. Brandon Warren, Chicopee, MA; 6. Jonathan Zoller, Ayer, MA; 7. Corey Coates, Ledyard; 8. Allen Coates, Ledyard

Nutmeg State 100 ACT Tour (100-laps) results: 1. Joey Polewarczyk Jr., Hudson, NH; 2. Brian Hoar, Williston, VT; 3. Brent Dragon, Milton; 4. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 5. Mark Lamberton, Mooers Forks, NY; 6. Jeff Zuidema, North Brookfield, MA; 7. Brad Babb, Windham, ME; 8. John Donahue, Graniteville, VT; 9. Randy Potter, Groveton, NH; 10. Bruce Thomas Jr., Groton; 11. Austin Theriault, Fort Kent, ME; 12. Jean-Paul Cyr, Milton, VT; 13. Glen Luce, Turner, ME; 14. J.R. Baril, Haverhill, MA; 15. Cris Michaud, East Montpelier, VT; 16. Joey Laquerre, East Montpelier, VT; 17. Dave Paya, Milton, VT; 18. Jeffrey Paul, Ledyard; 19. Richard Staskowski, Hope Valley, RI; 20. T.J. Watson, Cundy’s Harbor, ME; 21. Dennis Stampfl, Norwood, MA; 22. Mark Hudson, Norton, MA; 23. Jimmy Linardy, Malden, MA; 24. Tim Jordan, Plainfield; 25. Barry Gray, Belchertown, MA; 26. Ron Yuhas Jr., Groton; 27. Joe Curioso, Mystic

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