New London-Waterford Speedbowl Press Release (June 25, 2016) – Joey Gada and Keith Rocco were the big winners on a seven feature card Saturday night at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl. Gada won the first SK Modified feature of the night and Rocco topped the field in the second for the division. Ray Christian III won the Late Model feature. Chris Meyer was the winner of the Limited Sportsman feature. Wayne Burroughs Jr. was victorious in the Mini Stock feature. Dana DiMatteo topped the field in the Legends feature. Robin Berghman won the New England Pro Four Modified feature.
Gada, of Salem, picked up his third career SK Modified victory and first since 2014 in the first 25-lap feature of the night for the division. Todd Owen of Somers was second and Diego Monahan of Quaker Hill third. Bo Gunning took the field to green Diego Monahan to his outside. The race was slowed by three early cautions, but Gunning was up to the task of holding off Monahan on each restart over the first seven laps. Gada went by Monahan for second not long after a restart with 18 laps remaining. With 11 laps remaining Gunning’s car began smoking while leading. A caution flew for a turn three crash with 10 laps remaining and Gunning abandoned the lead and headed to the pits while the field paced under caution, handing the top spot to Gada. On the ensuing restart it was Gada holding off the outside charge of Monahan. Owen was able to get under Monahan just after the restart for second place, but Gada checked out from his pursuers from that point on. Rocco, of Wallingford, got his third victory of the season in the second 25-lap SK Modified feature. Tyler Chadwick of Ledyard was second and Gada third.
For second time of the evening Gunning took the field to green, with Ted Christopher to the outside. At the green flag it was Christopher using the outside lane to go by Christopher for the lead, but the caution quickly flew on the event on the second lap. On the ensuing restart, Gunning made contact with Christopher just after the green flag, sending Christopher’s car hard into the turn one wall. Gunning was penalized for the incident, handing the lead to Dylan Izzo and putting Dennis Perry in second. On the next restart it was Perry moving past Izzo at the green to take over the lead. Tyler Chadwick followed to second. With 15 laps remaining Rocco moved past Chadwick to second place and quickly got on Perry’s bumper. With six laps left, and Perry’s car leaking fluid, contact from Rocco sent him sliding up the track in turn one. Rocco assumed the lead and then cruised easily to victory over the final six laps.
Christian, of Uncasville, got his second victory of the season in the 30-lap Late Model feature. Anthony Flannery of East Hampton was second and Jeff Smith of Old Lyme third. Smith and Christian started on the front row and put on a side-by-side show at the front for the first nine laps. With 21 laps remaining Christian cleared Smith for the lead off of turn four and a lap later Keith Rocco got under Smith for second place. The first caution of the event flew with 16 laps remaining putting Rocco to the outside of Christian. But Christian was up to the task of holding off Rocco. From there Christian checked out from the field. Rocco slowed on the track while running second with laps remaining and went to the infield.
Meyer, of Norwich, got his first victory of the season in the 25-lap Limited Sportsman feature. Al Stone III of Durham was second and Ryan Waterman of Danielson second. Jack Aquilina went to the lead past Charles Beal early in the event. Meyer moved to second place with 19 laps remaining as Beal got shuffled to the outside lane. With 17 laps remaining Aquilina went sliding through the grass heading into turn one, handing the lead to Meyer. From there Meyer was able to hold off Al Stone on two quick restarts and then check out from the field. With 10 laps remaining Waterman was able to get by Stone for second place. But Stone fought back, returning to second past Waterman with six laps left. All the while Meyer left the field deep behind on the way to victory.
Burroughs, the reigning division champion from Oakdale, scored his second victory of the season in the 25-lap Mini Stock feature. Dave Trudeau of Mansfield was second and Jordan Hadley of Waterford third. Jacob Perry took the field to the green for the start with Burroughs to his outside. Burroughs wasted no time going to the front, using the outside lane to by Perry. From there it was the Burroughs show out front. With 14 laps left Sean Caron muscled by Perry for second place, with Trudeau following to third. A restart with four laps remaining shook up the top-five, but left no questions that Burroughs had his ride working.
DiMatteo, of Farmington, proved the dominant force in rolling to victory in the 25-lap Legends feature. Noah Korner of Canton was second and John O’Sullivan of Salem was third.
25-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified (1): 1. Joey Gada, Salem; 2. Todd Owen, Somers; 3. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill; 4. Tim Jordan, Plainfield; 5. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 6. Paul Kusheba IV, Monroe; 7. Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 8. Dennis Perry, Pawcatuck; 9. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 10. Justin Gaydosh, Newtown.
25-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified (2): 1. Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 2. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 3. Joey Gada, Salem; 4. Todd Owen, Somers; 5. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill; 6. Justin Gaydosh, Newtown; 7. Kyle James, Ashaway, R.I.; 8. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 9. Adam Gada, Bozrah; 10. Jeff Fialkovich, Shelton.
30-lap Late Model: 1. Ray Christian III, Uncasville; 2. Anthony Flannery, East Hampton; 3. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 4. Jim Banfield, Glastonbury; 5. Nick Sowa, Middletown; 6. Christopher Garside, Waterford; 7. Matthew Carlson, Griswold; 8. Mike Flynn, Hampden, Mass.; 9. Richard Morrocco, Plainville; 10. Keith Rocco, Wallingford.
25-lap Limited Sportsman: 1. Chris Meyer, Norwich; 2. Al Stone III, Durham; 3. Ryan Waterman, Danielson; 4. Charles Beal, Ledyard; 5. Albert Saunders, Stafford; 6. Jack Aqualina, Oakdale; 7. Josh Galvin, Oakdale; 8. Jason Chicolas, Sutton, Mass.; 9. Adrien Paradis III, Plainville; 10. Monte Gibbs, Killingworth.
25-lap Mini Stock: 1. Wayne Burroughs Jr., Oakdale; 2. Dave Trudeau, Mansfield; 3. Jordan Hadley, Waterford; 4. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 5. Doug Curry, Groton; 6. Sean Caron, East Hampton; 7. Ian Brew, Wood River Junction, R.I.; 8. Nick Pappacoda, North Branford; 9. Christopher Ivory, Oakdale; 10. Brian Norman, Clinton.
25-lap Legends: 1. Dana DiMatteo, Farmington; 2. Noah Korner, Canton; 3. John O’Sullivan, Salem; 4. Andrew Molleur, Shelton; 5. Michael Rutkoski, Mattituck, N.Y.; 6. Jordan Churchill, Lisbon; 7. Cassandra Cole, Westbrook; 8. Kyle Rogers, Waterbury; 9. Scott Limkemann, Oakdale; 10. Jonathan Puleo, Branford.
25-lap Pro Four Modified: 1. Robin Berghman; 2. Doug Meservey; 3. Norm Wrenn; 4. Andy Major; 5. Dave Richardi; 6. Phil Lausier; 7. Randy Clark Jr.; 8. Anthony Frissora; 9. Allen Rieser; 10. Bill Lucchesi Jr.