July 21st Racing Recap

 James holds off Owen in SK Modified battle 

Palmer, Morgan secure Late Model wins

Gaedeke’s dazzling move pays off in Sportsman win

Canfield remains red-hot in Mini Stocks 

Puleo captures fourth SK Lite Modified victory

Bennett expands Legends point lead

Noll takes down third Truck win

WATERFORD — During the first half of the 40-lap SK Modified feature at the New London Waterford Speedbowl, Kyle James of Ashaway, R.I., depended on his overpowering car. During the second half of the race, however, he needed to depend on his driving skills to hold off a hard-charging Todd Owen.

It all added up to a victory for James, his fourth of the season in six races to highlight Saturday’s action at the Speedbowl.

In other action, Jason Palmer and Ryan Morgan posted Late Model victories, Shawn Gaedeke made an impressive move midway through the race on his way to a Sportsman win and Charles Canfield chalked up a win over Doug Curry in the Mini Stocks.

Jonathan Puleo continued his amazing season in the SK Lite Modifieds, charging past Keith Caruso for his fourth win in five races. Peter Bennett pulled off a come-from-behind win in the Legends while Duane Noll was a winner in the Speedbowl Trucks after apparent race winner Tom Metcalf was disqualified following a post-race inspection.

James was the dominant factor in the early laps of the SK Modified feature. He took the lead on lap 5 and quickly blistered his way to a huge advantage.

After a caution flag came out in the middle of the race, however, James’ car suddenly lost its edge.

“For whatever reason, the car got crazy, crazy loose,” James said. “From then on, Todd had the better car. But we had the lead, and I had to protect it,”

Owen tried to dive-bomb underneath James several times over the final 10 laps, but couldn’t complete the move to get by.

“After the caution came out, we definitely had the better car,” Owen said. “But the deal at Waterford is that whoever is on the bottom has the preferred line and you either have to pass him or go around him. And he had a good enough car to stay ahead of us.”

There was plenty of contact over the final laps, an indication of how determined James and Owen were to get the victory.

“There was nothing that we couldn’t handle,” James said. “It was fun racing him. He didn’t wreck me.”

Palmer used his expertise on the Speedbowl’s outside groove to hold off Morgan over the final laps en route to a victory in the first of two Late Model features.

Palmer had the lead for most of the race, but Morgan challenged him late, especially during a green-white-checker finish over the final two laps.

Palmer elected to re-start on the outside lane and it turned out to be the right call as he nosed out Morgan at the finish.

“It’s always good to go on the top groove,” Palmer said. “That’s the fastest way around.”

Morgan made some adjustments to his car between features and they paid off as he dominated feature No. 2.

“The adjustments turned out to work pretty good,” Morgan said. “We had a good car tonight.”

He also was in the safest place on the track — in the lead — when a mid-race accident took out half the cars in the field, including Palmer, the first-race winner.

Anthony Flannery was able to hang on to finish second.

Morgan, thanks to his second- and first-place finishes, was able to take over the point lead.

A bold mid-race move by Gaedeke, blurring from third to first, overtaking both Adrien Paradis and Phil Evans, turned out to be the difference as Gaedeke grabbed his third Sportsman win. In eight races this season, Gaedeke, the point leader, has finished no worse than fourth place.

“We struggled in practice today, but Chris Meyer, who helps me out, made all the right calls,” Gaedeke said. “He knew what to do for an adjustment and we made it to victory lane.”

Once Gaedeke made his pogo stick move from third to first, he gashed open a huge lead throughout the second half of the race.

Jordan Hadley made a late move to finish second.

“We needed a caution flag,” Hadley said. “Shawn was far ahead, but we definitely would have had something for him.”

Canfield was at his unpredictable best on the restarts during the Mini-Stock feature. He elected to take the inside lane on one restart and the outside lane on two others. The strategy worked perfectly, however, as he fought off Curry to get to the winner’s circle.

“The motor was great again tonight” Canfield said. “I can’t thank Al Stone enough for the set-up. We just want to keep getting closer and closer to the top of the standings.”

Canfield has been on a tear with four wins and one second-place run in his last five races. He has moved into third place in the standings, 19 points behind Curry.

Curry, however, had a great run with his second-place effort.

“This is the fourth time I finished second to this guy,” Curry said. “Eventually I’m going to get by him. I haven’t finished out of the Top 5 all year — eight consecutive Top 5s.”

Puleo claimed his car was hot and cold and off and on, but he still had enough firepower to get by Caruso with a sizzling move in Turn 3 with 12 laps remaining.

“In the beginning of the race, the car was really bad, but toward the middle, the car was better and we took the lead,” Puleo said. “Then the yellow came out and on the last restart, the car was tight, I felt sorry for the 06 (Caruso). He ran me good. I really didn’t mean to use the bar that much. It was tight racing and I do appreciate him running me clean.”

Caruso said he didn’t care for the caution flag that came out in the middle of the race.

“The car was getting better and better, but then the caution came out and the car freed up on me. I want to congratulate the kid (Puleo). I would race wheel to wheel with him any time.”

Bennett changed his strategy in the Legends race and he wound up with perfect results.

For several laps, he tried to pass leader Scott Limkemann on the inside with no success. So he veered to the outside and was able to vapor past Limkemann on the high groove with five laps to go en route to his third straight Saturday night win.

“I feel my car is best on the long runs,” Bennett said. “So when the race goes caution free like it did tonight, it’s right in my wheelhouse. Scott ran me hard, so it was a good race.”

In the Truck feature, Noll tried lap after lap to get inside Metcalf, but couldn’t find the racing room. On the last lap, he threw his truck to the outside and almost lost control.

Noll held on for second, however, and that turned out to be good enough when Metcalf was disqualified in post-race tech.

Racing will continue at the Speedbowl Saturday night when Nostalgia Night takes Place. The New England Antique Racers and the Senior Tour Auto Racers will be on hand to showcase their vintage cars. The NEMA Lites will be the guest division, competing in a special 50-lap feature, the Jim O’Brien Memorial. 

Also on hand will be the Pro-Four Modified, joining the SK Modifieds, the SK Lite Modifieds, the Sportsman and the Mini Stocks.

40-lap SK Modifieds: 1. Kyle James, Ashaway, R.I.; 2. Todd Owen, Somers; 3. Matt Galko, Meriden; 4. Andrew Molleur, Shelton; 4. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 5. Joe Ternullo, Middletown; 7. Geoff Nooney, Southwick, Mass.; 8. Bryan Narducci, Colchester; 9. Kris Watson, Kenduskeag, Maine; 10. Brent Sweet, Monroe.

30-Lap Late Models Feature No. 1: 1. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 2. Ryan Morgan, Pawcatuck; 3. Anthony Flannery, East Hampton; 4. Michael Benevides, Westerly, R.I.; 5. Tony Macrino, Waterford; 6. Tyler Chapman, Mystic; 7. Dave Etheridge, Portland; 8. Dylan Cabral, Richmond, R.I.; 9. Brian Norman, Clinton; 10. Keith Scalia, North Branford.

30-lap Late Model Feature No. 2: 1. Ryan Morgan, Pawcatuck; 2. Anthony Flannery, East Hampton; 3. Dave Etheridge, Portland; 4. Brian Norman, Clinton; 5. Tyler Chapman, Mystic; 6. Keith Scalia, North Branford; 7. Tony Macrino, Waterford; 8. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 9. Michael Benevides, Westerly, R.I.; 10. Dylan Cabral, Richmond, R.I.

30-lap Sportsman: 1. Shawn Gaedeke, Groton; 2. Jordan Hadley, Quaker Hill; 3. Adrien Paradis, Plainville; 4. Phil Evans, Uncasville; 5. Bo Norman, Clinton; 6. Ronnie Oldham, Waterford; 7. Jon Porter, East Lyme; 8. Jason Chicolas, Sutton, Mass.; 9. Rit Shawn, Westerly, R.I.; 10. Corey Fanning, Mapleville, R.I.

25-lap Mini Stocks: 1. Charles Canfield, East Haven; 2. Doug Curry, Groton; 3. Andrew Krzeminski, Haddem; 4. Nick Pappacoda, North Branford; 5. Ian Brew, Wood River Junction R.I.; 6. Larry Loomis, Moosup; 7. Tommy Silva, Gales Ferry; 8. JT Suprenant, Central Village; 9. Sean Caron, East Hampton; 10. Evan Bourgois, East Haddam.

25-lap SK Lite Modifieds: 1. Jonathan Puleo, Branford; 2. Keith Caruso, Millbury, Mass.; 3. John O’Sullivan, Salem; 4. Wayne Burroughs, Oakdale; 5. Bert Ouellette, Ellington; 6. Brett Gonyaw, Vernon; 7. Steven Chapman, Ellington; 8. Chris Gombos, Naugatuck; 9. Nick Anglace, Naugatuck; 10. Alina Bryden, West Springfield, Mass.

25-lap Legends: 1. Peter Bennett, Cromwell; 2. Scott Limkemann, Lebanon; 2. Kyle Rogers, Waterbury; 4. Connor Holderbach, Wolcott; 5. Corey Caddick, Richmond, R.I.; 6. Brian Zimowski, Enfield; 8. Anthony Bello, Newtown; 8. Tyler Palmer, Watertown; 9. Jordan Churchill, Lisbon.

24-lap Speedbowl Trucks: 1. Duane Noll, Monroe; 2. Jeff Karns, Quaker Hill; 3. Todd Taylor, Stonington; 4. Dylan Cabral, Richmond, R.I.; 5. Tyler Chapman, Mystic; 6. Scott Harkin, Portsmouth, R.I.; 7. Lucas Leone, Southington; 8. Cassandra Coates, Uncasville; 9. Pete Pollard, Oakdale; 10. Brandon Plemons, Uncasville.

Press release from New London Waterford Speedbowl

Contact Mike Serluca at MikeS@speedbowlct.com