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08/08/2013 |
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WINGS &
WHEELS NEXT AT WATERFORD SPEEDBOWL
Fast night of auto
racing features ISMA, NEMA, Valenti Modified Racing
Series and More.... |
 An
August tradition returns to the Connecticut
shoreline on Saturday as Waterford Speedbowl hosts
the 6th annual Wings & Wheels event. The popular
racing program is a unique pairing of the fastest
asphalt short track machines across the country.
Race fans will be treated to extraordinary speeds
and the thrill of open wheels and winged wonders
with 50-laps of feature racing by the International
Supermodified Association (ISMA), 25-laps by the
Northeastern Midget Association (NEMA), 100-laps of
green flag racing from the Valenti Modified Racing
Series plus the Speedbowl’s own NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series SK Modified® and SK Light
Modified divisions. The three-eighths mile oval
trades in fenders for one week to make way for the
electrifying night of motorsports where speed is the
name of the game.
ISMA returns for their only appearance at the ‘Bowl
in 2013. They roar in with Lou Cicconni leading
their season championship chase seeking an
ISMA-record fifth triumph at the Speedbowl. Mike
Lichty is second in the points and owns one career
Waterford win, in 2010. Rob Summers looks to defend
his Wings & Wheels win one year ago in a team car to
Lichty in what could be considered his home track.
Those names plus other series stars will be
lightning quick on the stop watch with speeds in the
120-mph plus range at corner entry and average laps
over 107-mph likely on the tight three-eighths mile
oval.
Speedbowl fans last saw the Valenti Modified Racing
Series at the track as part of the season opening
Budweiser Blastoff in early April. Steve Masse made
a late charge in that 100-lap event to take an
exciting win and eyes a season sweep at Waterford.
Just four points separate leaders Rowan Pennink and
Tommy Barrett headed into Saturday. Each hold a
series win at the ‘Bowl and Barrett is looking for a
repeat in the tour’s final stop to the shoreline
oval as he did a year ago. The event will be a
homecoming for several including young guns Max
Zachem and two-time series champion Chris Pasteryak,
veteran Mike Holdridge and last year’s Speedbowl SK
Modified runner-up Jeff Pearl. Both Keith and Jeff
Rocco are expected entries putting plenty of home
track experience in the mix for Saturday’s
100-lapper. Lap times from the Valenti Modifieds are
expected in the13-second bracket early, keeping with
the theme of speed and open wheels.
The NEMA Midgets race in a special event Saturday –
the prestigious Angelilo Memorial Race – honoring
the memory of long-time car owners and NEMA officers
Gene and Marilyn Angelilo. The Bertrand Motorsports
team took first and second in NEMA’s last appearance
to the Speedbowl on July 27 with Anthony Marvuglio
and Todd Bertrand finishing one-two. Bertrand won at
Budweiser Blastoff while Randy Cabral has been kept
out of the winner’s circle at Waterford the last few
seasons and looks for a turnaround. NEMA races at
Waterford are always lightning-quick and the field
will try to best Marvuglio’s quick lap from two
weeks back and try and dip into the elusive
12-second bracket, joining ISMA in the elite speed
category.
Joining ISMA, NEMA and the Valenti Modified Racing
Series will be the Speedbowl’s own SK Modifieds® and
SK Light Modifieds. The SK Modifieds® have landed
seven different winners in the first 15 events of
the year, signifying the competitive nature of the
track’s headline weekly division. Point leader Keith
Rocco looks to pad his points lead but has several
capable drivers chasing him. In the SK Lights, five
different drivers have won their nine events thus
far.
Racing begins on Saturday with qualifying heats for
all five divisions at 5:00pm. Main events are
scheduled to begin at 6:35pm. Pricing is set at
$38.00 for adult grandstands admission with youth
age 6-14 just $10.00. Kids 5 & under are free and
the facility offers acres of free parking as well as
overnight parking. Pit gates open at 11:00am while
spectator grandstands open at 1:00pm. More
information is available by visiting
Speedbowl.com from a home computer or mobile
device. |
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Source: Brian Darling / Waterford Speedbowl
Posted: August
8, 2013 |
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