New London-Waterford Speedbowl Press Release (July 2, 2016) – Saturday night at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl saw legendary SK Modified driver Ted Christopher return to victory lane at the track for the first time this season. In other events Keith Rocco won the first Late Model feature, Anthony Flannery was victorious in the second Late Model feature, Andrew Molleur won the SK Light Modified feature, Monte Gibbs topped the field in the Limited Sportsman feature, Wayne Burroughs Jr. won the Mini Stock feature and Ryan Locke won the NEMA Lites feature.
Christopher led every lap on the way to his first victory of the season in the 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified feature. Diego Monahan of Quaker Hill was second and Keith Rocco of Wallingford third. Adam Gada took the field to green from the pole with Christopher to his outside. Christopher wasted no time in snaring that lead from Gada on the first lap. On a restart with 20 laps to go Monahan moved past Justin Gaydosh for second place. Nine laps later on another restart it was Rocco moving to third past Gaydosh. The caution flew again with four laps remaining with Monahan second and Rocco third, but they were left to chase Christopher to the checkered in that order.
Rocco got his first win in the Late Model division since May 7 in the first 25-lap feature of the night. Anthony Flannery of East Hampton was second and Jeff Smith of Old Lyme third. The show was all about Rocco, the two-time former division champion. After a misfire because of an accident on the first lap, the race restarted and Rocco was able to go by pole-sitter Christopher Garside for the lead. From there it was all Rocco’s show as he left the field behind. Flannery got his second victory in the last three events in the second 25-lap Late Model feature. Jason Palmer of Berlin was second and Smith third. Flannery made the run from the sixth starting position and went by Smith for lead with 20 laps remaining and never trailed again.
Fifteen-year old Molleur of Shelton got his first SK Light Modified feature win in dramatic style. Corey Barry of Plainfield was second and Chris Gombos of Naugatuck third. Randy Churchill Jr. went to the lead past Brett Gonyaw with 23 laps remaining. Barry was able to move past Gonyaw for second before a caution flew with 16 laps remaining. After the restart Gonyaw was able to move back to second and with 12 laps left was challenging Churchill to the outside for the lead. With nine laps remaining Barry got by Gonyaw again for second place but Gonyaw fought back to second again and quickly looked outside of Churchill before the caution flew again with five laps remaining. On the ensuing restart Gonyaw ended up in the frontstretch wall with five more cars piling in behind him. Churchill held the top spot following the restart with five laps remaining, but with four laps left Barry held the edge for the lead at the line. Churchill fought back and regained the lead in the side-by-side battle on the next lap. But on the final lap Churchill ended up spinning in turn four, with Barry slowing to avoid, allowing Molleur to go under both from third to lead for the win.
Gibbs got his third victory of the season in the 25-lap Limited Sportsman feature. Josh Galvin of Oakdale was second and Al Stone III of Durham third.
Gibbs started on the pole in the event and let his challengers fight for the runner-up spot, checking out easily from the field numerous times.
Burroughs, of Oakdale, got his second consecutive victory and third victory overall in the 25-lap Mini Stock feature. Ken Cassidy Jr. of Lisbon was second and Sean Caron of East Hampton third. Jacob Perry took the field to green from the pole with Ian Brew to his outside. Brew used the outside lane to go to the lead three laps in, but Perry fought back to regain the lead with 22 laps left. But with 20 laps remaining Brew wrestled the top spot back with Burroughs going to second. Two laps later Burroughs found the lane under Perry for second place. With 16 laps remaining Burroughs, the reining division champion, found a lane under Brew for the lead and never trailed again.
35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified: 1. Ted Christopher, Plainville; 2. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill; 3. Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 4. Todd Owen, Somers; 5. Justin Gaydosh, Newtown; 6. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 7. Dennis Perry, Pawcatuck; 8. Bo Gunning, Bethlehem; 9. Dylan Izzo, Monroe; 10. Joey Gada, Salem.
25-lap Late Model (1): 1. Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 2. Anthony Flannery, East Hampton; 3. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 4. Ray Christian III, Uncasville; 5. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 6. Chris Garside, Waterford; 7. Walt Sutcliffe, East Haven; 8. Charlie Rose, Tiverton, R.I.; 9. Ryan Lineham, Hope Valley, R.I.; 10. Matthew Carlson, Griswold.
25-lap Late Model (2): 1. Anthony Flannery, East Hampton; 2. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 3. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 4. Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 5. Ray Christian III, Uncasville; 6. Brian Tagg, Oxford, Mass.; 7. Chris Garside, Waterford; 8. Matthew Carlson, Griswold; 9. Ryan Lineham, Hope Valley, R.I.; 10. Michael Bennett, Stafford.
25-lap SK Light Modified: 1. Andrew Molleur, Shelton; 2. Corey Barry, Plainfield; 3. Chris Gombos, Naugatuck; 4. Randy Churchill Jr., Oakdale; 5. Connor Holderbach, Wolcott; 6. Tony Membrino Jr., Berlin; 7. Nick Riso, Wallingford; 8. John O’Sullivan III, Salem; 9. Alan Gombos Jr., Seymour; 10. Larry Goss, North Windham.
25-lap Limited Sportsman: 1. Monte Gibbs, Killingworth; 2. Josh Galvin, Oakdale; 3. Al Stone III, Durham; 4. Jack Aqualina, Oakdale; 5. Charles Beal, Ledyard; 6. Cliff Saunders, Stafford; 7. Ryan Waterman, Danielson; 8.
25-lap Mini Stock: 1. Wayne Burroughs Jr., Oakdale; 2. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 3. Sean Caron, East Hampton; 4. Chris Ivory, Oakdale; 5. Ian Brew, Wood River Junction, R.I.; 6. Jacob Perry, Pawcatuck; 7. Doug Curry, Groton; 8. Charles Canfield, East Haven; 9. Brian Norman, Clinton; 10. Dave Trudeau, Mansfield.