The Chrome Horn - Champ Trail with Phil Smith

   10/07/14

October 7, 2014

  In NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action at the Waterford Speedbowl a persistent wet Saturday afternoon rain forced the Waterford Speedbowl to postpone its racing schedule for the first of its two day Finale Weekend. A revised Sunday schedule had thirteen divisions in action at the shoreline oval’s cap to the 2014 racing season, which could be the last at the shoreline oval.

  Keith Rocco came close to cleaning house in the two modified events held. When all was said and done he dropped out of the SK Modified event with engine trouble and won the 100 lap Valenti Modified Racing Series 100. Rocco was leading the SK Modified event when he lost power on lap 36. Rocco now has 103 career wins at the Waterford Speedbowl.

  In the SK 50 Craig Lutz was the early leader until Rocco took the point on Lap 11. Rocco led until losing power on lap 38 which opened the door for eventual winner Ed Puleo. Puleo led the rest of the way to hold off Ted Christopher for the win. Rob Janovic finished third with Dennis Perry recording a well-earned fourth. Diego Monahan rounded out the top five. There were 23 SK Modifieds on hand.

  In Valenti Modified Racing Series action 32 cars were on hand for their 100 lapper. It seems that when ever Todd Annarummo is in competition he always seems to draw a top spot in a qualifying heat. He did it again as he drew the pole for the first heat. Keith Rocco was the spoiler as he blew him away on lap six of the ten lap heat.

  In the VMRS 100 Rocco showed his strength and experience at the Speedbowl as he took the lead from Kyle James and fought off challenges from Tommy Barrett Jr and took the win by close to half a straightaway. Steve Masse and Barrett were early and mid-race factors but in the end it was Rocco who prevailed. Pre-race favorite Ted Christopher was in contention until he was collected by a spinning Barrett on lap 28. Barrett pitted and recovered as he was back in the top five by lap 53. Steve Masse took the lead for a short time at the half way mark. Three laps latter Rocco took the lead back for good. A strong run by Dennis Perry came to an end on lap 35 when he passed Dylan Kopec. Kopec sun Perry into the turn three wall, putting him out for the day. Richard Savory avoided the spins and wrecks of others as he ended up in the third spot on Barrett’s tail. Masse and Justin Bonsignore rounded out the top five. Rocco overcame 11 caution flags, including one red flag, to win his third Modified Racing Series race of the season and second at the Speedbowl. Rocco’s season totals show 30 wins overall including 18 in Modified competition.

  In addition to Rocco's victory, Corey Barry (SK Light Modified) and Garrett Denton (Mini Stock), secured season championships by winning their respective features in the Whelen All-American Series races, with the other Whelen features going to Jason Palmer (Late Model) and Josh Galvin (Street Stock).

  Also on the season ending racing card, Ryan Bigelow was the NEMA Midgets winner, Dan Cugini captured the NEMA Lite feature, Ray Reed won the Super X-Car race, Anthony Marvin captured the Bandolero feature, Wayne Shifflet won the X-Car race, Dana Dimatteo the Legend Cars race and Jay Stuart captured the Outlaw Stock race.

  In Modified racing in the Southland, Danny Bohn edged Brian Loftin at the finish line to take the Prestoria Farms 150 checkered flag in NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour action Saturday at Caraway Speedway. It was the third career victory for Bohn, and second at the .455-mile oval in rural Sophia, North Carolina. The dramatics were setup by a series of late-race cautions. Burt Myers had dominated the bulk of the event, but broken rearend on Lap 130 opened the door to the field. Loftin assumed the lead and held Bohn at bay for two subsequent restarts before the green-white-checkered flag conclusion.

  Loftin, an eight-time winner at Caraway, took the white flag in the lead, but coming to the checkers Bohn made it a side-by-side dash. With four-time titlist and current championship contender George Brunnhoelzl III wrecking behind them as they came to the stripe, it was Bohn that edged ahead. It was so close that it took a review of the official timing and scoring by NASCAR Race Control to determine the winner. The final margin of victory: 0.019 seconds.

  Bohn and Loftin were followed across the finish line by Kyle Ebersole, points leader Andy Seuss and Luke Fleming in the top five. The rest of the top 10 included: Spencer Davis, JR Bertuccio, Daniel Speeney, Mike Norman and Bobby Measmer Jr.

  The Whelen Southern Modified Tour will conclude its 2014 season and crown a champion in the finale on the quarter-mile at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 9.

  On the speedway stock market scene last week two of the three speedway stocks had a negative ending. The International Speedway Corporation went up 0.29 to 32.07 while Speedway Motorsports dropped 0.03 to 17.25 and Dover Entertainment dropped 0.02 to 2.31. NASCAR Cup sponsor Sprint dropped 0.19 to 6.25, Sunoco (Energy Transfer) went up 4.75 to 65.77 and Goodyear dropped 0.91 to 22.34. General Motors was the only carmaker to have a positive ending as they went up 0.59 to 33.76. Ford dropped 1.74 to 14.59 and Toyota dropped 2.49 to 116.16. In the home improvement sector, Home Depot went up 0.70 to 93.54 and Lowes went up 0.41 to 53.59. The big team sponsors stocks covered a wide range of ups and downs. Dupont dropped 1.86 to 70.64 and Aarons Rentals dropped 0.76 to 24.09 while Coca-Cola went up 0.32 to 76.06, Target Department Stores went up 1.92 to 63.07 and Fedex went up 2.96 to 162.74.

  On the tube this week:

  Thursday, October 9
7:00 AM, NASCAR America, NBC Sports Network
7:30 AM, NASCAR America, NBCSN
8:00 AM, NASCAR America, NBCSN
8:30 AM, NASCAR America, NBCSN
5:00 PM, NASCAR America, NBCSN
5:30 PM, NNS Charlotte practice, ESPN 2
7:00 PM, NSCS Charlotte qualifying, ESPN2

  Friday, October 10
1:30 AM, NASCAR America - Scan All 43 Special, NBCSN
2:00 AM, NASCAR America - Scan All 43 Special, NBCSN
2:30 AM, NASCAR America - Scan All 43 Special, NBCSN
7:30 AM, NASCAR America, NBCSN
8:00 AM, NASCAR America, NBCSN
8:30 AM, NASCAR America, NBCSN
3:00 PM, NSCS Charlotte practice, ESPN2
5:30 PM, NSCS Charlotte practice, ESPN2
7:00 PM, NASCAR Countdown, ESPN2
7:30 PM, NNS Charlote race, ESPN2

  Saturday, October 11
4:00 AM, NNS Charlote race re-air, ESPND
11:00 AM, NASCAR Race Hub Special, FOX Sports 1
5:00 PM, NASCAR Race Hub Special, FOX Sports 2
6:00 PM, NASCAR Race Day, FS2
7:00 PM, NASCAR Countdown, ABC
7:30 PM, NSCS Charlotte race, ABC

  Sunday, October 12
2:30 AM, NASCAR America - Scan All 43 Special, NBCSN
3:00 AM, NASCAR Victory Lane, FS1
3:00 AM, NSCS Charlotte race re-air, ESPN2
4:00 AM, NSCS Charlotte race re-air, ESPND
9:30 AM, NASCAR Victory Lane, FS1

   That’s about it for this week from 11 Gardner Drive, Westerly, and R.I.02891. Ring my chimes at 401-596-5467. E-mail: smithpe_97_97@yahoo.com.

Phil Smith has been a columnist for Speedway Scene and various
other publications for over 3 decades.


SourcePhil Smith / Champ Trail
Posted: October 7, 2014

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