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Waterford, CT (August 22, 2012) – Late August
action was on track Wednesday evening at Waterford Speedbowl, which
hosted another round in its Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday racing series.
Beautiful weather greeted fans in attendance who watched an
entertaining night of motorsports unfold. Dave Garbo Jr. of
Stonington was back in the winner’s circle in the Legend Cars, while
Derek Debbis took another victory in the Bandoleros. Winning the
night’s X-Car feature was Wayne Shifflett of Preston and the Super
X-Car feature belonged to Mike Maskell of Quaker Hill. Brad
Voglesong of Middletown proved his crafty meddle in taking the
night’s Wacky Race.
The 20-lap Legend Cars feature got underway with a quick caution
flag before the field settled in. First-year driver Stephen Kopcik
of Newtown took early command of the race through a caution on lap-4
when former division champion Jason Palmer of Berlin tangled with
David Johnson of Arlingham, MA in turn four. Kopcik had several
heavy-hitters stacked up behind him when racing resumed, finally
giving way to Brendon Bock of Franklin Square, NY. Bock used the in
the inside lane to take the lead but had company in Giovanni
Giarratana of Newington, Garbo, Dana Dimatteo of Farmington and Matt
Pappa of Nassua, NY, the latter three all event winners in 2012.
Bock continued to lead until Giarratana took over on lap-13, after
applying pressure from behind for several laps. Giarratana could not
shake the pack behind as Garbo and Dimatteo battled for second
behind. Pappa stormed into the picture by moving past both by
lap-15, setting up a wild final five laps. Pappa’s march to the
front continued on lap-16 as he looked inside Giarratana headed into
turn one. The two made contact, however, with both cars becoming
collected and spinning while contending for the lead.
That handed the lead to Garbo, who held back Dimatteo over two late
race caution periods to claim another Legend Cars victory at the
track. Dimatteo finished in second position while Dylan Izzo of
Westport came from a starting position deep in the field to finish
in third at the checkered flag.
Debbis returned to Victory Lane after crashing out of the race a
week ago. Debbis’ path to the checkered flag was not without
incident, however. Debbis was locked in a spirited battle with Jacob
Perry of Pawcatuck for much of the middle portion the 20-lap race.
Debbis raced outside Perry until the two made contact in turn one on
lap-14, which sent Debbis spinning to bring out the caution flag.
Debbis pitted and resumed, then was on a tear over the final six
laps when racing resumed. He fired his way through the field to pick
up the lead inside of Perry coming to lap-18. Debbis cleared Perry
and went on to his sixth win in the last seven races to stretch his
lead in the championship standings.
The 20-lap X-Car feature was slowed by only one caution flag on
lap-13. The race began with Shifflett taking the lead after starting
the race in second position. Shifflett motored ahead to a
comfortable advantage while the pack sorted out behind in the first
half of the race distance. When the lone yellow flag finally waved,
Mike Trask of Plainfield lined up outside Shifflett for the restart.
Shifflett was first challenged by Trask, then by championship point
leader Glen Thomas Jr. of Groton. Thomas chased Shifflett to the
checkered flag but could not pull alongside. Thomas settled for
second while Scott Limkemann of East Lyme took an emotional third
place finish in memoriam of his late mother.
The Speedbowl’s Super X-Car division saved the wild portion of the
night’s races on Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday for last. Multiple caution
periods slowed the 20-lap event during its duration. Maskell bided
his time and emerged out of a competitive pack of cars to become a
contender in the second half of the race. R.J. Cunningham of Clinton
led from lap-1 through lap-13 when Shawn Perkins of Salem took over.
Maskell took advantage of a slip by Perkins on lap-15 to race
outside into the lead. From there, he held on a final restart to
claim the win, his second of the season. Eric Finkbein of Colchester
finished in second while John Yagmin of Tolland rebounded from an
early race spin to claim third.
Voglesong mastered three obstacles a lap on his way to the checkered
flag in the 10-lap Wacky Race on the night. Three “flag poles” were
placed around the shoreline oval with a field of cars
circumnavigating them as they raced around the track. Voglesong was
chased closely by Christopher Lee of Uncasville for most of the race
until he stalled out just off the racing surface. From there,
Voglesong went unchallenged.
On Saturday, the Speedbowl will host the 4th annual “Laps for Lupus”
track walk to raise awareness and funding for Lupus Foundation of
America’s Connecticut Chapter. The walk, which is incorporated into
the day’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing program, begins
just after 4:00pm. Registration takes place at the Speedbowl under
the hospitality tent beginning at 3:00pm. More information on “Laps
for Lupus” can be found at www.lupusct.org or at Speedbowl.com.
Unofficial Waterford Speedbowl Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday 8/22 Results
& updated standings:
Legend Cars (20-laps): 1. Dave Garbo Jr., Stonington; 2. Dana
Dimatteo, Farmington; 3. Dylan Izzo, Westport; 4. Alessandro Vitelli,
Woodbridge; 5. Brendon Bock, Franklin Square, NY; 6. Cory Dimatteo,
Farmington; 7. Peter Cirilli, Farmington; 8. Matt Pappa, Nassau, NY;
9. Daniel Stolte, Northbridge, MA; 10. Stephen Kopcik, Newtown; 11.
Ed Field, Deep River; 12. Taylor Martin, Windham, NH; 13. Giovanni
Giarratana, Newington; 14. Nicholas Sowa, Middletown; 15. Angelo
Belsito, Auburn, MA; 16. Dennis Pantani, Branford; 17. Joey Ternullo,
Middletown; 18. Nicholas Lascuola, Brockton, MA; 19. Christopher
Kearney, Ellington; 20. John O’Sullivan, Salem; 21. Jordan
Churchill, Lisbon; 22. David Johnson, Arlingham, MA; 23. Jason
Palmer, Berlin; 24. Richard Avery III, Southington
Standings: 1. Garbo, 596; 2. D. Dimatteo, 541; 3. Pappa, 469; 4.
Sowa, 430; 5. C. Dimatteo, 418; 6. Lascuola, 396; 7. Stolte, 372; 8.
Ternullo, 306; 9. (tie) Pantani, Belsito, 302
Bandoleros (20-laps): 1. Derek Debbis, Oakdale; 2. Jacob Perry,
Pawcatuck; 3. Corey Comeroski, Lebanon; 4. Rachel Forte, Douglas,
MA; 5. Ken Morin Jr., Old Saybrook; 6. Alan Eastman Jr., Fishers
Island; 7. Anthony Marvin, Colchester; 8. Andrew Morin, Old Saybrook
Standings: 1. Debbis, 727; 2. Forte, 684; 3. Perry, 659; 4. Eastman,
645; 5. Comeroski, 606; 6. K. Morin Jr., 602; 7. A. Morin, 508; 8.
Urch, 363; 9. Morgillo, 264; 10. Marvin, 234
Super X-Cars (20-laps): 1. Mike Maskell, Quaker Hill; 2. Eric
Finkbein, Colchester; 3. John Yagmin, Tolland; 4. Peter Pollard, Old
Lyme; 5. John Brouwer Jr., Groton; 6. Kevin Moon, Exeter, RI; 7. Ken
Downing III, Branford; 8. Ed Ryan, Preston; 9. Jim Boyle, East
Windsor; 10. R.J. Cunningham, Clinton; 11. Matt Carlson, Griswold;
12. Frank Alessio, Colchester; 13. James Maher, Shelton; 14. Shawn
Butler, Jewett City; 15. Bruce Lee, Groton; 16. Steve Bray, East
Hartford; 17. Ray Reed, Norwich; 18. Eric Finkbein, Colchester; 19.
Shawn Gaedeke, Southington; 20. Dan Butler, Waterford; 21. Shawn
Perkins, Salem
Standings: 1. Ryan, 507; 2. Boyle, 496; 3. Maskell, 466; 4. Yagmin,
464; 5. Butler, 463; 6. Downing, 448; 7. Moon, 432; 8. Pollard, 370;
9. Cunningham, 356; 10. Finkbein, 344
X-Cars (20-laps): 1. Wayne Shifflett, Preston; 2. Glen Thomas Jr.,
Groton; 3. Scott Limkemann, East Lyme; 4. Mike Trask, Plainfield; 5.
John Bowes, Willington; 6. Brad Voglesong, Middletown; 7. Randy
Johnston, Westerly, RI; 8. Larry Loomis, Moosup; 9. Onie Pierce,
Norwich; 10. Mitchell Bombard, Willimantic; 11. Michael Marvin,
Colchester; 12. Melissa Clavette, Bozrah; 13. Pete Zaikarite,
Niantic; 14. Frank Shepard, Bozrah; 15. C.P. Burdick, Deep River;
16. Kim Bickford, Griswold; 17. Nate Bryington, Webster, MA; 18.
Richard Mollo, Seymour; 19. Eddie Loomis, Plainfield; 20.
Christopher Lee, Uncasville; 21. David D’Allesandro, Coventry; 22.
Chuck McDonald, Groton; 23. Kristie Hamel, Jewett City; 24.
Christopher Thomas, East Hampton; 25. Michele Cicio, Baltic
Standings: 1. G. Thomas Jr., 594; 2. Limkemann, 542; 3. Voglesong,
520; 4. Trask, 506; 5. Shifflett, 500; 6. Johnston, 445; 7. Craig
Miner, 400; 8. (tie) C. Thomas, L. Loomis, 380; 10. Pierce, 352
Wacky X-Car Flagpole Race (winner only): 1. Brad Voglesong,
Middletown |
