Wild and Wacky Wednesday Opener is the Books

Porter, Larivee get first Speedbowl wins. Harkin, Blaskey, Caddick also visit winner’s circle

Press release from the New London-Waterford Speedbowl

Contact Mike Serluca at 860-442-7223

WATERFORD – Jon Porter had spent 17 days in second place after the season-opening Sportsman race, which started on May 6, was suspended by rain after nine of 30 laps were completed. When the race finally resumed on Wednesday as part of the New London-Waterford Speedbowl’s Wild and Wacky Wednesday program, it didn’t take Porter long to do something about it. 

He dive-bombed underneath Phil Evans with 15 laps to go en route to his first ever 30-lap Sportsman win, It was also the first win for John Brower as a car owner.

“The car was great,” Porter said. “It started getting loose at the end, but I just held on and drove as hard as I could.”

When the race resumed on lap 10, Evans moved into the lead, but couldn’t pull away from Porter, who was locked in on the inside groove.

Evans held on for second, but he said that he had a better car on May 6 than he did Wednesday.

“I thought we had Porter covered before the rains came,” Evans said. “Those things happen. We were way too tight on entry tonight.”

Bo Norman survived a fierce battle with Evans to finish third.

Porter’s win was just one of the highlights on Wild and Wacky Wednesday opening night.

Corey Caddick continued his hot streak in the X-Car division, opening up the season with his second straight win 25-lap. Caddick was able to take the lead away late in the race from T.J. Racicot, who finished second for his first ever Speedbowl podium. Mike Trask, who came out of a five-year retirement, finished third..

Jason Larivee was able to bob and weave his way through traffic in the 25-lap Super-X car feature, taking the lead from Don Berge late in the race to get the win. Opening night winner Ray Reed suffered through a night he would like to forget.. A broken ball joint relegated him to a 10th place finish.

It was Larivee’s first Speedbowl win.

Bud Kuehne was the early leader, but when he spun, Larivee had his opportunity.

“I was able to get by a lot of cars when that happened,” Larivee said. “Then I just forged ahead.”

There was one nervous moment when Reed made contact with Larivee late in the race. But the winner just shrugged it off.

“Ray did get into me, but I think he eliminated himself,” Larivee said.

Mike Blaskey was able to hold off John O’Sullivan and Joey Ternullo during a mind-boggling final lap to get his second consecutive 25-lap Legends win. All three drivers had a chance to win the race on the final lap, but Blaskey hugged the inside lane and was able to hang on to win by the length of a sunflower seed. O’Sullivan was second and Ternullo third.

“I had John O’Sullivan to my outside and Joey banging my back bumper,” Blaskey said. “ said. “It doesn’t get better than that.”

Maddie Harkin dominated every lap of the Bandolero race for her fourth career Speedbowl win.

Racing resumes Saturday at 5 p.m. with the Full Fender Throwdown, sponsored by Belltown Motors and Belltown Recycling.

The Late Model division at the Speedbowl will be the feature attraction, competing in three 20 lap features. The visiting Granite State Pro Stocks will be doing triple duty as well in three 35-lap features. There also will be features for the Sportsmen, the Mini-Stocks, the Truck Series and the 375 Sportsman Tour.

20-lap Bandolero feature:  1. Maddie Harkin, Portsmith, RI; 2. Tyler Alkas, Berlin; 3. Nick Hovey, Chaplin; 4. Ethan Simmons, Pawcatuck; 5. PJ Evans, Uncasville; 6. Tyler Barry, Griswold; 7. Sawyer Reiss, Guilford; 8. Anthony Bevilacqua, Newington; 8. Emma Monahan, Waterford; 9. Ari Jencik, Canton; 10. Maddie Hovey, Chaplin.

25-lap Super X-Car feature: Jason Larivee Jr., West Greenwich, R.I.; 2. Dave Yardley, Berlin; 3. Peter Martin, Plainville; 4. Marc Shafer, Groton; 5. Denny Lee Hoffman, Westbrook; Bud Kuehne, Clinton; 7. Keith Brown, Griswold; 8. Aaron Plemons, Uncasville; 9. Jeremy Washburn, NA; 10. Ray Reed, Plainfield.

25-lap X Car feature: 1. Corey Caddick, Richmond RI; 2. TJ Racicot, Quaker Hill; 3. Mike Trask, Plainfield; 4. Bill Rheaume, Uncasville; 5. Eddie Loomis, Plainfield; 6. Christopher Lee, Oakdale; 7. Onie Pierce, Preston; 8. CP Burdick, Deep River; 9. Josh Cicio, Seymour; 10. Steven Olson, Essex.

25-lap Legends feature: 1. Michael Blaskey, Bethany; 2. John O’Sullivan, Salem; 3. Joey Ternullo, Middletown; 4. Dennis Pantani, Branford; 5. Peter Bennett, Cromwell; 6. Brandon Martinez, North Kingston, RI; 7. Steven Chapman, Ellington; 8. Mason Levesque, Dighton, Mass.; 9. Colin Haley, Ashford, 10. Devon Jencik, Canton.

30-lap Sportsman feature: 1. Jon Porter, East Lyme; 2. Phil Evans, Uncasville; 3. Bo Norman, Clinton; 4. Shawn Gaedeke, Groton; 5. Daniel Meyer, Franklin; 6. Adrien Paradis, Plainville; 7. Charles Beal, Ledyard; 8. Jordan Hadley, Groton; 9. Al Stone, Durham; 10. Jack Aquilina, Oakdale.