SK Modifieds postponed for fourth straight time Mini-Stocks also postponed; Bennett, Waterman post victories

SK Modifieds postponed for fourth straight time Mini-Stocks also postponed; Bennett, Waterman post victories

 

WATERFORD — There only has been one winner in the SK Modified division so far this season at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl — Mother Nature.

For the fourth consecutive race, the SK Modified feature was postponed by rain Saturday. Rain also postponed the Mini-Stock feature and the Compact-Mid-Sized Car Enduro.

Before the rain came, Peter Bennett won the Legends race, Ryan Waterman survived a chaotic Sportsman race and Ben Levangie took down a win in the Open Vintage Modified race.

The 40-lap SK Modified feature will be made up Wednesday as part of the Speedbowl’s Wild and Wednesday program. The Enduro has been rescheduled for Saturday June 9. 

The Modifieds, meanwhile, are the only Speedbowl division not to get a feature in this season. They came close Saturday — it started raining just as the Modifieds were about to climb on to the track. After a long wait, Speedbowl officials were forced to postpone the remainder of the evening’s activities. The Modifieds have been postponed on May 6, May 12, May 19 and now June 2.

Nothing, however, could slow down Bennett, who came through with a dazzling performance in the opening 25-lap Legends feature. He started in fourth position, but by lap 10 he was in second place and was putting pressure on race leader Kyle Rogers.

On lap 14, Bennett steamrolled underneath Rogers to take the lead and he spent the final 11 laps expanding his advantage.

“The car was dialed in,” Bennett said. “I was just trying to keep it clean and keep my momentum going.”

Rogers, who has won back-to-back Legends titles, finished second and Steven Chapman was third.

The Sportsman race was bogged down by a multitude of caution flags. It also featured plenty of excitement to go along with the cautions — a thrilling three-way battle for the lead between Ryan Waterman, Jon Porter and Shawn Gaedeke with Jason Chicolas, Daniel Meyer, Bo Norman, Charles Beal and Adrien Paradis also involved in the top group of cars.

Waterman was able to jackhammer his way top the lead and held on, despite a furious final lap that saw Beal, Norman and Meyer wind up in the turn 2 wall. Waterman was able to stay ahead of the mayhem to collect the win. Paradis was disqualified for a technical violation.

“It was a lot of fun,” Waterman said, “I’m here to win, that’s about it.”

Gaedeke, who finished second, said he was close.

“All we needed was one more caution, and we would have had him,” Gaedeke said. 

Porter, the first race winner, finished third.

The Open Vintage Modified feature showcased a dominant performance by Ben Lavangie from Plymouth, Mass.

The first Spectator Drags competition was held prior to qualifying. Kevin Farnham was the winner, with Kyle Buchanon finishing second and Jim Boyle third.

Racing continues June 6 with Wild and Wacky Wednesday. The SK Modifieds will be joining the Legends cars, Super X Cars, X Cars, Bandoleros and Vintage Midget Racers.

Press release from the New London-Waterford Speedbowl Contact Mike Serluca at 860-442-7223

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