Flannery prevails in showdown at ‘Throwdown’

WATERFORD — Nick Pappacoda was the winner of the Mini Stock feature. Jordan Hadley picked up the win in the Limited Sportsman feature. In the Trucks, it was Duane Noll taking down the victory. Scott Serydynski won the EXIT Realty 375 Sportsman event. In the Late Models, Segment 1 was won by Jason Palmer, segment 2 Ryan Morgan, segment 3 Bruce Thomas, and the overall champion was Anthony Flannery. The Granite State Pro Stock Series segment winners were, in segment 1 Jacob Dore, segment 2 Cory Casagrande, Segment 3 Devin O’Connell, and the overall champion was Joey Doiron. 

Anthony Flannery of East Hampton didn’t win a race Saturday, but he still managed to hit the jackpot.

Flannery’s consistency in all three 20-lap rounds of the “Full-Fendered Throwdown” in the Late Model division turned out to be the difference as he captured the $2,000 first prize in an event sponsored by Belltown Motors and Belltown Recycling.

“I had a mishap in the heat race tonight and I had to start the first feature in 13th position,” Flannery said. “But I kept battling. I was able to finish fifth in the first feature and I took it from there.”

Flannery finished second in Feature No. 2 and then saved his best driving for the third and final feature.

With two laps to go, Flannery made a desperation move underneath Ray Christian III to nudge into second place. Christian dropped backward to eighth and Flannery surged forward, giving him enough momentum to finish second behind winner Bruce Thomas, locking up the Throwdown title and the large payday that went with it.

Flannery would up with 9 points, finishing fifth, second and second. Bruce Thomas was second with 10 points on finishes of fourth, fifth and first. Ray Christian was third in the overall standings with finishes of third, fourth and eighth.

“I think Bruce Thomas had the car to beat all night,” Flannery said, “but he had some tough luck and I was able to take advantage of it. I have to thank my spotter, Diego Monahan, for keeping me calm because it was pretty intense out there. And I also have to thank my father for putting up the money.”

Flannery’s dad, Tony Flannery, of Belltown Motors and Belltown Recycling, was the sponsor for the Throwdown.

In the first 20-lap feature, Jason Palmer held off a late challenge by Tom Carey III to hold on to the victory. Palmer received a $250 bonus from Belltown for winning. Carey earned a $150 bonus and third-place finisher Ray Christian earned $100.

“I had the pole, so I had to take advantage of it,” Palmer said.

Ryan Morgan earned a $250 bonus with a dominating winning performance in the second feature. Flannery earned $150 for finishing second and Ernie LaRose grabbed $100 for finishing third.

In the final feature, Thomas grabbed the lead early and held on.

“There was tough racing in each of the three races,” Thomas said. “You have to give credit to Anthony Flannery. He did a heck of a job. There are no excuses.”

Flannery was sitting in fifth place for most of the final race and then exploded in the Top 3 during the late stages.

“We had a tough break early, but we didn’t give up,” Flannery said. “And it kept getting better.”

The car was good enough to enable Flannery to receive a $2,000 pay out.

Other Speedbowl division winners Saturday were Duane Noll in the Truck division, Jordan Hadley in the Sportsmen and Nick Pappacoda in the Mini-Stocks.

Noll was able to blast underneath Jeff Karns on lap 13 to take over the lead for good. Karns held on for second and Todd Taylor, whose truck started to fade at the end, finished third.

Noll earned a $200 bonus from Fowler’s Auto Wrecking and Larry’s Auto Machine. Karns collected $100 and Taylor $50.

“Everything was perfect,” Noll said. “My sister did a great job spotting for me and my truck was fast. I think it was an excellent race.”

The Sportsman race was filled with action — and controversy.

Al Stone hustled into the lead on the  opening laps of the race, with Hadley in second. On lap No. 12 Ryan Waterman tried to slash underneath Stone coming out of turn 3, making for a three-wide situation.

Stone and Waterman made contact exiting out of the fourth turn, sending Stone into the front-stretch wall.

When the race resumed, Hadley was in the lead, despite a badly bruised front bumper. He held off Charles Beal the rest of the way to grab the win in an extremely physical race. Only seven of the 13 starters were able to finish it.

“I don’t know how I made it through all the wrecks,” Hadley said. “But my car was on rails all night long.”

Hadley received a $200 bonus from Fowler’s Auto Wrecking and Larry’s Auto Machine. Beal earned $100 and third-place finisher Bo Norman pocketed $50.

There was more damage in the 25-lap Mini-Stock feature.

A first-lap donnybrook in Turn 2 sent five-time champ Ken Cassidy into a barrel roll, flipping his car completely over. Other cars also were badly damaged.

Pappacoda came out of the ordeal without a scratch and moved into the lead. He spent the rest of the race holding off Christopher Ivory, who hounded and surrounded Pappacoda, but couldn’t get by him.

“It was a pleasure to race against such a class act,” said Pappacoda of Ivory. “He didn’t push, pull or shove. It was just clean racing.”

Pappacoda grabbed an extra $200 from Fowler’s Auto Wrecking and Larry’s Auto Machine. Ivory took $100 and Doug Curry, the third-place finisher took $50.

Scott Serydynski of West Greenwich, R.I., was the dominant factor in the 375 Pro Sportsman Tour feature, leading every lap.

Frank L’Etoile Jr. of Wethersfield finished second and Joe Kohler was third.

The Granite State Pro Stock Series was in town for its part of the Full Fendered Throwdon.

Three 35-lap features took place and the overall champ, and winner of $2,000, was Joey Doiron of Berwick, Maine, who placed third in all three of the 35-lap features. His point total was the lowest of the Granite State drivers, giving him the “Throwdown” victory.

“I just kept the car on the outside and let ‘er rip,” Doiron said. “A lot of drivers are afraid to go to the outside here, but that’s definitely the place to go. This is a great two-groove race track.”:

Jacob Dore of Sanford, Maine, won the first feature, Cory Casagrande of Stafford won the second race and Devin O’Connell of Madison won the third race.

Racing continues Wednesday night with Wild and Wacky Wednesday. The Legends will be the feature attraction with twin 20-lap features. Also in action will be the Super X Cars, the X Cars and the Bandoleros. Race time is 6:45 p.m.

 

Results: 

20-lap Late Model Race 1: `Jason Palmer, Berlin; 2. Tom Carey III,, New Salem, Mass.; 3. Ray Christian III, Uncasville; 4. Bruce Thomas Jr., Waterford; 5. Anthony Flannery, East Hampton; 6. Glenn Boss, Danielson; 7. Walt Sutcliffe, East Haven; 8. Tony Macrino, Waterford; 9. Ryan Morgan, Pawcatuck; 10. Mark Hudson, Norton, Mass.

Late Model Race 2: 1. Ryan Morgan, Pawcatuck; 2. Anthony Flannery, East Hampton; 3. Ernie LaRose, Moosup; 4. Ray Christian III, Uncasville; 5. Bruce Thomas, Waterford; 6. Tyler Chapman, Mystic; 7, Jason Palmer, Berlin; 8. Dylan Cabral, Richmond, R.I.; 9. Mike Mitchell, Cumberland, R.I.; 10. Walt Sutcliffe, East Haven.

20-lap Late Model Race 3: 1. Bruce Thomas Jr., Waterford; 2. Anthony Flannery, East Hampton; 3. Tyler Chapman, Mystic; 4. Glenn Boss, Danielson; 5. Dylan Cabral, Richmond, R.I.; 6. Walt Sutcliffe, East Haven; 7. Mark Jennison, Warwick, R.I.; 8. Ray Christian III, Uncasville; 9. Mike Mitchell, Cumberland, R.I.; 10. Tony Macrino, Waterford.

Overall: 1. Flannery, 9; 2. Thomas, 10; 3. Christian III, 15; 4. Chapman, 20; 5. Morgan, 21; 6, Sutcliffe, 23; 7. Boss. 23; 8. Palmer, 23; 9. Cabral, 25; 10. LaRose, 26.

30-lap Sportsmen: 1. Jordan Hadley, Groton; 2. Charles Beal, Ledyard; 3. Bo Norman, Clinton; 4. Shawn Gaedeke, Groton; 5. Daniel Meyer, Franklin; 6. Jason Chicolas, Sutton; 7. Ryan Waterman, Danielson; 8. Jon Porter, East Lyme; 9. Adrien Paradis, Plainville; 10. Phil Evans, Uncasville.

25-lap Mini Stocks: 1. Nick Pappacoda, North Branford; 2. Christopher Ivory, Groton; 3. Doug Curry, Groton; 4. Nate Taylor, Brooklyn; 5. Dave Trudeau, Mansfield; 6. Andrew Krzeminski, Haddam; 7. Tommy Silva, Gales Ferry; 8. Sean Caron, East Hampton; 9. Evan Bourgerois, East Haddam; 10. Matt Brown, N/A.

25-lap Trucks: 1. Duane Noll, Monroe; 2. Jeff Karms, Oakdale; 3. Todd Taylor, Stonington; 4. Jordan Hadley, Groton; 5. Lucas Leone, Southington; 6. Glen Noll, Naugatuck; 7. Tom Metcalf, Stonington; 8. Brandon Lindahl, Niantic; 9. Jim Boyle, East Windsor; 10. Shayne Young, Norwich.

35-lap 375 Pro Sportsman: 1. Scott Serydynski, West Greenwich, R.I.; 2. Frank L’Etoile Jr., Wethersfield; 3. Joe Kohler, N/A; 4. Shawn Monahan, Waterford; 5, Rick Charette, Berlin; 6. Steven L, Potter, N/A; 7. Corey Hutchings, Salem; 8. Joe Arena, Berlin; 9. Joe Kohler, N/A; 10. Jimmy Silva, N/A.

35-lap Granite State Pro Stocks Race 1: 1, Jacob Dore, Sanford, Maine; 2. Brad Babb, Windham, Maine; 3. Joey Doiron, Berwick, Maine; 4. Ray Christian III, Uncasville; 5. Mike O’Sullivan, Springfield; 6. Devin O’Connell, Madison; 7. Bobby Peland, West Warwick, R.I.; 8. Cory Casagrande, Stafford; 9. Scott MacMicheal, Newbury, N.H.; 10. Nick Lascoula, Abington, Mass.

35-lap Granite State Pro Stocks Race 2. 1. Cory Casangrande, Stafford; 2. George Bessette, Danbury 3. Joey Doiron, Berwick, Maine; 4. Kevin Folan, Arrieboro, Maine; 5. Barry Gray, Belchertown, Mass.; 6. Josh King, Vernon, Vt.; 7. Nick Lascoula, Abinbgton, Mass.; 8. Devin O’Connell, Madison; 9. Tom O’Sullivan, Wilbraham, Mass., 10. Mike Scorzelli, Feura Bush, N.Y.

35-lap Granite State Pro Stocks Race 3: Devin O’Connell, Madison; 2. Nick Lascoula, Abington, Mass. 3. Joey Doiron, Berwick, Maine; 4. Tom O’Sullivan, Wilbraham, Mass.; 5. Josh King, Vernon, Vt.; 6. Cory Casagrande, Stafford; 7. Jacob Dore, Sanford, Maine; 8. Barry Gray, Belchertown, Mass.; 9. George Bessette, Danbury; 10. Mike Scorzelli, Feura Bush, N.Y.