Thompson World Series - Saturday
The World Series of Speedway Racing continued on Saturday at
Thompson International Speedway with time trials for the Whelen
Modified Tour and a host of other qualifying race events.
Feature activity kicked off on Saturday evening with eight (8)
events. Corey Hutchings of Salem, CT, scored the victory in the
Outlaw Late Models; Howard Payne of Shelton, CT, came out of
retirement to win in the All Star Race Trucks. Scott Michalski
of S. Killingly, CT was up to his old tricks winning in the Mini
Stocks. Scott Foster of Willington, CT bested his brother to
take top honors in the Outlaw Strictly Stock. Norm Wrenn, of
Nashua, NH topped the Pro-Four Modifieds and Chris “Moose”
Douton of Waterford, CT, won in the Limited Sportsman division.
The culmination of the World Series begins on Sunday when the
pit gate opens at 8:00 AM; grandstands open at 9:00 PM. The Pro
Stock feature is slated to go off first after the Supermodifieds
fire engines followed by the Late Models, Sunoco Modifieds, and
NEMA Midgets. The ISMA Supermodifieds and the Whelen Modified
Tour cap off an incredible weekend of racing. The Tour is
schedule to go off at approximately 3:00.
Eric Beers of Northampton, PA, not only set fast time in Coors
Light qualifying but he also set a new track record. With a lap
of 18.429 seconds Beers beat the record previously held by Todd
Szegedy. Ryan Preece, Matt Hirschman, Jimmy Blewett, and Chuck
Hossfeld rounded out the top-five during time trials. After the
redraw of the top-ten, Jimmy Blewett and Mike Stefanik will lead
the field to green for Sunday’s Xtra Mart World Series 150.
Christopher, who leads Matt Hirschman by 35-points in the
championship chase, will start from the seventh position.
Hirschman will start third.
Corey Hutchings of Salem, CT, celebrated in victory lane after a
World Series Outlaw Late Model victory; ending the strong hold
that Gentes had on the title. At the drop of the green flag,
Hutchings and Gentes immediately jumped out to a sizeable margin
over a heated three car battled between Gerry DeGasparre, Marc
Curtis, and Wayne Coury, Jr.
Things got tense at the head of the pack after an early restart
between Hutchings and Gentes. The two slowed slightly after
contact allowing Coury to make it a three car battle for the top
spot. The three ricocheted off one another coming out of turn
four. Gentes appeared to cut a right front tire slamming the
outside wall. On the ensuing restart, Coury made a quick bid for
Hutching’s lead. Hutchings held back the challenge and went on
to take a commanding victory. Coury turned in a strong
performance to finish second. George Rego, Gerry DeGasparre, Jr.
and Marc Curtis, Jr. completed the top five.
Chris “Moose” Douton of Waterford, CT, was in the right place at
the right time to win a World Series victory. It was the second
Limited Sportsman victory in a row for Douton, who actually
crossed the stripe in second. Ed Puleo took the lead early and
had stretched out his lead slightly over the likes of Jess
Gleason and Douton. As the race wore on, Gleason and Douton
began to reel in the leader. On the final lap, Gleason had
caught Puleo. Exiting turn two the duo made contact sending
Puleo spinning from the lead. Gleason crossed under the checkers
first but was penalized. Douton was awarded the victory. Joe
Arena came home second. Puleo spun across the stripe to finish
third. Jay Sundeen and Joe Plonski rounded out the top five.
Brian Sullivan of S. Windsor, CT, successfully went in search
for his second straight victory in the TIS Modifieds. At the
head of the field, Sullivan and Glenn Boss set a steady pace.
The two continued to stretch their advantage over Cam McDermott
during a green flag run. Sullivan was able to maintain his lead
through a pair of cautions. After a late race caution, Boss was
able to apply some pressure to Sullivan, who was up to the task.
Sullivan scored the victory over Boss, McDermott, Brian Tagg and
Leo Oliveira.
Scott Michalski of S. Killingly, CT, posted his sixth win of the
season in the Mini Stock division in the first feature event to
kick off the World Series. In the early going of the Mini Stock
race, it was a three-car battle for the top spot between Rick
Blanchard, Scott Michalski, and Eric Bourgeois. Blanchard held
the lead shortly before Michalski took control. Michalski
withstood a handful of cautions to take down the win; capping
off a dominant late season run that included three straight wins
in September. Blanchard settled for second over St. Michalski,
Bourgeois, and Billy Pomposelli.
Norm Wrenn went weaving his way through traffic and into victory
lane for this eighth Pro Four Modified win of the season during
World Series weekend. Wrenn had worked his way into the third
position shortly after halfway. He used the high line and the
low groove to move into the lead all while maneuvering through
lapped traffic in the Pro Four Modified main event. Wrenn moved
from third to second in turn one and into the lead in turn two
on the same lap. Wrenn went unchallenged to the checkers over
Dave Richardi and Brian Vincent.
Howard Payne of Shelton, CT, came out of retirement to score a
World Series victory in the All Star Truck Series. It had been
10 years since Payne had made a start. He actually scored a
victory in that final start, 10 years ago at the World Series.
He duplicated his efforts scoring the victory after a spirited
dual with Richie Brooks.
Brooks set the pace through the first half of the event
withstanding pressure from Greg Butler. Payne had worked his way
past Butler and set his sites on Brooks. On lap 15, Payne made
his move on the backstretch to take over the top spot. Payne
went unchallenged to the checkers in the caution free main
event. Brooks came home second. Gee Perry, Chris Corel, and Mike
Powell rounded out the top five.
It was a family affair following the Outlaw Strictly Stock main
event as the Foster Brothers gathered after to celebrate in
victory lane. Scott Foster took over the top spot from early
leader Tim Sullivan. With Scott out front and his brother Sean
taking chase the action was hot and heavy throughout the pack
that went 33-cars strong. Sparks were flying as teams from
various race tracks throughout the region jockeyed for position.
The Fosters continued to distance themselves from the rest of
the field as the battling continued. In the stretch run, Scott
took the victory over his brother Sean. Sullivan settled for
third over Shawn Thibeault and Dana Shepard.
“This is the coolest victory lane I’ve ever had,” said Scott.
“Racing against all my friends, it was a blast.”
Louie Bellisle III of Lisbon, CT, turned in a dominating
performance to score the victory in the Outlaw Mini Stock main
event. Bellisle III jumped out to the early lead in a
caution-plagued feature event. While attrition began to mount,
Bellisle continued to maintain his lead through several
cautions. In a long green flag run later in the race, Bellisle
stretch his lead to nearly a straight away over a heated battle
for second between Ken Cassidy, Jr., Scott Michalksi, and Jack
Aquilina. Cassidy came out of the battle in second. Bellisle
streaked to the checkers with the World Series victory. Fellow
Speedbowl competitor, Cassidy was the runner-up. Scott Michalski,
Aquilina, and Beth Adams completed the top-five.
Earlier in day the ISMA Supermodifieds, NEMA Midgets, Sunoco
Modifieds, Pro Stocks, and Late Models ran qualifying feature
events.
Outlaw Late Model Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Corey Hutchings,
Salem, CT; 2. Wayne Coury, Jr., Milford, CT; 3. George Rego,
Dartmouth, MA; 4. Gerry DeGasparre, Jr., Pawtucket, RI; 5. Marc
Curtis, Jr., Worcester, MA; 6. Jeremy McDermott, E. Stroudsburg,
PA; 7. Ken Bamford, Coventry, RI; 8. Steve McQuillan,
Glastonbury, CT; 9. Robert Visconti, Lindenhurst, NY; 10. Mark
Hudson, Norton, MA.
Limited Sportsman Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Chris Douton,
Waterford, CT; 2. Joe Arena, Bristol, CT; 3. Ed Puleo, Brandford,
CT; 4. Jay Sundeen, Oxford, MA; 5. Joe Plonski, Worcester, MA;
6. Joe Coates, Eastford, CT; 7. Brandon Plemons, Uncasville, CT;
8. Al Stone, New Haven, CT; 9. Jonathan Avery, Quaker Hill, CT;
10. Steve Cole, Brooklyn, CT.
Outlaw Strictly Stock Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Scott Foster,
Willington, CT; 2. Sean Foster, Ellington, CT; 3. Tim Sullivan,
S. Windsor, CT; 4. Shawn Thibeault, Plainville, CT; 5. Dana
Shepard, Putney, VT; 6. Tom Fox, Plainville, CT; 7. Rey
Lovelace, Scituate, RI; 8. Ralph Garguilo, Allenwood, NJ; 9.
Johnny Electric, E. Islip, NY; 10. Jay Steely, Attleboro, MA.
Mini Stock Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Scott Michalski, S.
Killingly, CT; 2. Rick Blanchard, Pascoag, RI; 3. Steve
Michalski, Brooklyn, CT; 4. Eric Bourgeois, E. Haddam, CT; 5.
Billy Pomposelli, Chepachet, RI; 6. Glynn Roy, Sterling, CT; 7.
Chad Baxter, Pascoag, RI; 8. Ron Rixham, Jefferson, MA; 9. Andy
Publicover, Sudbury, MA; 10. Bill Schoeler, Warwick, RI.
Outlaw Mini Stock Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Louie Bellisle,
III, Lisbon, CT; 2. Ken Cassidy, Jr. Lisbon, CT; 3. Scott
Michalski, S. Killingly, CT; 4. Jack Aquilina, Oakdale, CT; 5.
Beth Adams, Winchendon, MA; 6. Mark Panaroni, Ivoryton, CT; 7.
Tony Kumiega, Palmer, MA; 8. Ian Brew, Wood River Jct., RI; 9.
Sean Caron, E. Hampton, CT; 10. Billy Osborne, Plaistow, NH.
TIS Modified Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Brian Sullivan, S.
Windsor, CT; 2. Glenn Boss, Danielson, CT; 3. Cam McDermott,
Scituate, RI: 4. Brian Tagg, Oxford, MA; 5. Leo Oliveira,
Raynham, MA; 6. Richie Ferreira, Raynham, MA; 7. Jesse
Berthiaume, Mendon, MA; 8. Shane Michalski, Woostock, CT: 9.
Mike Viens, Seekonk, MA; 10. Buddy Charette, Woodstock, CT.
Pro-Four Modified Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Norm Wrenn,
Nashua, NH; 2. David Richardi, N. Easton, MA; 3. Brian Vincent,
Coventry, RI; 4. Tyler Anderson, Nashua, NH; 5. Andy Major,
Brookfield, MA; 6. Cory Cleary, Plymouth, MA; 7. George Sherman,
Framingham, MA; 8. Rob Richardi, Jr., N. Easton, MA; 9. Frank
Perry, Holbrook, MA; 10. Robin Berghman, E. Providence, RI.
All Star Race Trucks (Top Three): 1. Howard Payne, Shelton, CT;
2. Richard Brooks, Groton, CT; 3. Gee Perry, Granby, CT.
Source: Russ
Dowd/Thompson International Speedway PR
Posted:
October 19, 2008
