New management at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl in 2015 has resulted in upbeat racing at the shore side oval.
Racing returned to the shoreline oval, with 6 divisions taking to the track, including the North East Street Stock Tour visiting for the first time. Corey Coates was victorious in The Limited Sportsman feature. In Legends action, it was Dana DiMatteo taking the checkered flag. Corey Barry continued his hot streak and won the SK Light feature. Diego Monahan won his 2nd feature of the season in thrilling fashion in the SK Modified feature. Larry Loomis picked up his first career win in the Mini Stock feature.
Depending on who you talk to, Diego Monahan has been involved in the 3 best finishes in recent SK Modified history. Monahan, who is the divisions point leader in what has to be the tightest points race in recent memory at the Bowl, fought an epic battle of horsepower from the drop of the green flag. Monahan, who started 6th, moved up to 2nd by lap 7 with Tyler Chadwick hot on his rear bumper. Monahan chased leader Dylan Izzo for 8 laps, when caution came out after Ryan Morgan made contact with the backstretch wall. On the ensuing restart, it was Izzo on the inside, Monahan on the outside, Chadwick, and Ted Christopher, who is 6th in points, just 30 back of Monahan, on the outside of the 2nd row.
Monahan powered his way into the lead on the restart with Christopher glued to his bumper. Caution came out again on lap 13 after Dennis Gada, driving in place of his son Joey Gada, made hard contact with the turn 3 wall. Monahan held the lead on the restart, with Keith Rocco moving into 2nd past Christopher.
Monahan and Rocco battled side-by-side, with Christopher right in the mix. Christopher passed Rocco and began to work on Monahan with 10 to go. Christopher pulled along side Monahan with 4 laps remaining, and used every trick in the bag to try to pass him. Monahan was able to withstand numerous challenges from Christopher in the closing laps to take home the win. Following Monahan across the line was Christopher, Rocco, Chadwick, and Paul Kusheba.
In the Limited Sportsman feature, Coates led from the green flag, but had to survive 3 restarts and a challenge from his father, Allen Coates, to take the win. The first restart came just 2 laps in, when Brandon Plemons and Josh Galvin made contact, sending them both into the turn 3 wall. On the restart, Coates battled Jason Chicolas for 3 lapsbefore taking sole possession of the lead, while Allen Coates picked his way past Chicolas to move into second and challenge his son for the lead. Allen Coates brought out the 2nd caution while battling side-by-side for the lead, his rear end broke, forcing him to come to a stop in turn 2. Corey Coates went on to win, followed by Norm Root Jr., Ed Gertsch, Joey Ferrigno, and Chicolas.
Montville’s Josh Galvin, who wrecked hard earlier in the Limited Sportsman feature, repaired the car and was triumphant in the North East Street Stock Tour feature. Galvin, the reigning Speedbowl Limited Sportsman champion, came through the field with a vengeance and took the early lead, then checked out from the pack. Chris “Moose” Douton, also a former Speedbowl champion, finished 2nd, with Jim Boyle finishing 3rd.
DiMatteo won in dominating fashion, in a race that went green checker. He took the lead on lap 2 and was never challenged. Mike Flynn, Cory DiMatteo, John O’Sullivan, and Joey Ternullo capped off the top 5. Corey Barry continued his dominance in the SK Light division, picking his way through traffic and leading the final 19 circuits to claim the victory. Joey Ferrigno, Paul Buzel, Calvin Therrien, and David Arute rounded out the top 5. Loomis started on the front row and had to withstand 4 cautions to claim the victory in the Mini Stock feature. Ray Christian III, Mark Panaroni, Doug Curry, and Wayne Burroughs were the rest of the top 5.
Next on the schedule for the New London-Waterford Speedbowl is the season finale for the Thursday Night Thunder series, on September 3rd. Super X car, Legend car, and X-Car points championships are all on the line. The Bandolero division championship was locked up last week by Nickolas Hovey.
Limited Sportsman: 1. Corey Coates, 2. Norman Root Jr., 3. Ed Gertsch Jr., 4. Joey Ferrigno, 5. Jason Chicolas, 6. Jack Aquilina, 7. Monte Gibbs, 8. Tommy Silva, 9. Glenn Colvin, 10. Tim Morse, 11. Brandon Fisher, 12. Allen Coates Sr., 13. Brandon Plemons, 14. Josh Galvin, 15. Jon Porter, 16. Brent Gleason, 17. Al Stone III
Legends: 1. Dana DiMatteo, 2. Mike Flynn, 3. Cory DiMatteo, 4. John O’Sullivan, 5. Joey Ternullo, 6. Kyle Rogers, 7. Scott Limkemann, 8. Andrew Molleur, 9. George Whitney, 10. Tim DePizzol, 11. CaterinaLaBella, 12. Rachel Forte, 13. Cassandra Cole
SK Light: 1. Corey Barry, 2. Joey Ferrigno, 3. Paul Buzel, 4. Calvin Therrien, 5. David Arute, 6. Rick Williams, 7. Glenn Griswold, 8. Carlos Gray, 9. Chris Gombos, 10. Larry Goss, 11. Nick Riso, 12. Paul French
SK Modified: 1. Diego Monahan, 2. Ted Christopher, 3. Keith Rocco, 4. Tyler Chadwick, 5. Paul Kusheba, 6. Rob Janovic Jr., 7. Dylan Izzo, 8. Jeff Gallup, 9. Frank Mucciacciaro, 10. Tim Jordan, 11. Jim Larsen, 12. John Montesanto, 13. Matt Gallo, 14. Adam Gada, 15. Jeff Fialkovich, 16. Wendell Dailey, 17. Michael Benevides, 18. Tom Pinson, 19. Dennis Gada, 20. Ryan Morgan, 21. Jake Berchem, 22. Tom Abele Jr., 23. Dominic Capuano, 24. Ed Puleo
Mini Stocks: 1.Larry Loomis , 2. Ray Christian III, 3. Mark Panaroni, 4. Doug Curry, 5. Wayne Burroughs, 6. Nate Taylor, 7. Ian Brew, 8. Nick Pappacoda, 9. Brad Caddick, 10. Dale Sherman, 11 Sean Caron, 12. Charles Canfield, 13. Jordan Hadley. 14. Ken Cassidy Jr., 15. Dave Sylvia
NESST: 1. Josh Galvin, 2. Chris Douton, 3. Jim Boyle, 4. Patrick Tanguay, 5. Geoff Rollins, 6. Bryan Town, 7. Anthony Belfiore, 8. Frank L’Etoile Jr., 9. Joe Arena, 10. Jack Aquilina, 11. Steve Barrett, 12. John Berchem, 13. Armand Cote, 14. Paul Varrichio, 15. Bryan Granger, 16. John Hanafin, 17. Jesse Gleason, 18. Corey Coates, 19. Brandon Plemons, 20. Steve Kenneway
Source: New London-Waterford Speedbowl PR