PULEO; WATERMAN SNEAK IN AND POCKET BIG MONEY FOR 50 LAP SPECIALS
For immediate release from the New London-Waterford Speedbowl
WATERFORD – A big night of motorsports was planned with a 50 lap special event for the SK Modifieds® and Street Stocks, and they delivered even after a surprise
pop-up shower delayed the show by a few minutes.
Justin Gaydosh had a mirror full of Keith Rocco as soon as the SK Modifieds® kicked off. He with Todd Owen, Adam Gada, and Jon Puleo ran nose to tail patiently waiting for a window of opportunity to get by. Rocco finally pulled it off by lap 9, but it was short lived. Jon Puleo was flying from his mid-pack starting spot and just 2 laps after Rocco got out front, the show was all JP. A halfway caution allowed some to make an adjustment and stacked up a couple more cautions hindering Gada and Timmy Jordan’s progress through the field. The final restart came with 9 to go and Anthony Flannery powered on the outside to work into second, but Puleo wouldn’t be denied picking up the $2,500 pay day in just his second start of the season.
Coming off a heat race win, Will Anderson looked strong in the early laps of the SK Lights. He stayed safely ahead of a fierce battle between Bob Charland and Kevin Davis that turned ugly creating a parking lot out of turn 2. This gave Kevin Cormier a chance to swipe the lead away and Jordan Hadley followed along. Hadley kept the pressure on Cormier and even nipped at his heels until the 37 lost power and pulled off to the infield. This gave Cormier what looked to be an easy win until the caution flew with four to go. Cormier’s cage wouldn’t be rattled even with Robert Bloxsom III making moves at the end, and he would win back-to-back races.
Sixteen Street Stocks showed up to compete for what built up to be a $1,300 to win 50 lap special event. Bill Rheaume got to the early lead but a handful of
laps in would see Jon Porter take over the top spot. Al Stone III and Jake Caprio were also running nose to tail as they tried to own the early portion of the race. Chad Baxter and a returning Ryan Waterman started deep in the field and could be seen working their way through traffic together until a caution on lap 20 set them up for the lead. 
Porter found himself in the middle, three wide, getting swallowed by the duo. Baxter came out as the leader but it didn’t last long as Waterman dove underneath just a few laps after going on to win his first race since 2021.
Cameron Varricchio shot out to the early Truck lead after having a solid run earlier in qualifying. He was only able to have the lead for five laps as Andy Pellegrini and Duane Noll slipped on by. A caution on lap 7 saw Ryan Lineham enter the picture trying to dive into the lead, but Tyler Chapman had his own plans making one of several bold three-wide moves. One of which collected Lineham and picked the rear of his truck off the ground. Chapman created a safe lead for himself until the caution flew again around halfway. Lineham used that opportunity to clear for the lead and run to safety, picking up his third win of the season.
Nate Taylor started the Mini Stock feature under pressure from Tim Dorr. Taylor was able to create a little breathing room when Sam Mesick worked his way
by Dorr into second. Behind them there was a hornet’s nest battling for third that sent a few cars pit-side and set Mesick up to drive by Taylor into the lead on the restart. Sean Olden and Andrew Krzeminski also moved by Taylor and worked on a battle of their own between each other and Mesick out front. They ate away at the lead slowly even catching up to his bumper when Olden bobbled and opened the door for Krzeminski to get by for second with two to go. He tried to catch Mesick but ultimately ran out of laps. This was Mesick’s first win in the Mini Stocks with his former X-Car chassis.
Robert Jones got the early edge in the Crown Vics over Gregg Prevost III. Jack Emerson worked by Prevost early and set his sights on Jones as the undefeated Jake Caprio had to dice his way through traffic. Emerson got by Jones with ease and even protected himself from a cross-over attempt just 4 laps in. With a clear track, Emerson pulled away by a full straightaway and Caprio would eventually get by Jones for second in a hard fought battle. Emerson became the first driver this season to beat Caprio, picking up his fifth career win.
Thursday Night Thunder resumes this week after being rained out on the 18th.
Next Saturday is Youth Sports Night! A 7 division program with the Compact Enduros. All kids 16 and under will receive
free grandstand admission if they wear their jerseys. To keep up with the Speedbowl, please visit our website at www.SpeedbowlCT.com, follow us at The New London-Waterford Speedbowl on Facebook, or @SpeedbowlCT on Instagram and X.
Unofficial Saturday Results (6/20/26)
SK Modifieds® (50 Laps): 1. 7-Jonathan Puleo[7]; 2. 25-Anthony Flannery[6]; 3. 81-Todd Owen[4]; 4. 09-Keith Rocco[2]; 5. 16-Nickolas Hovey[10]; 6. 51-Rob Janovic Jr[12]; 7. 47CT-Zachery Sangermano[8]; 8. 27-Adam Gada[3]; 9. 47-Timmy Jordan[5]; 10. 52-Anthony Forino[11]; 11. 94-Justin Gaydosh[1]; 12. 39-Paul Varricchio[9]
SK Lights (25 Laps): 1. 44Z-Kevin Cormier[7]; 2. 07-Robert Bloxsom III[8]; 3. 21-Sami Anderson[6]; 4. 81-Will Anderson[2]; 5. 17-Vinnie Rappoccio[17]; 6. 87-Brett Gonyaw[12]; 7. 91CT-Riley Paul[13]; 8. 10-Kevin Davis[5]; 9. 95-Leo Nunes[10]; 10. 10C-Ryan Charland[16]; 11. 99-Milania Shilosky[4]; 12. 18-Anthony Raccio[11]; 13. 55-Ian Nunes[1]; 14. 37-Jordan Hadley[9]; 15. 1-Bob Charland[3]; 16. 78-Evan Bourgeois[14]; 17. 1MA-TJ Tomasi[15]; 18. 3-SR Midford[18]
Street Stocks (50 Laps): 1. 31-Ryan Waterman[8]; 2. 10-Chad Baxter[6]; 3. 03-Jake Caprio[2]; 4. 86-Jon Porter[3]; 5. 52-Al Stone III[5]; 6. 17-Brandon Warren[9]; 7. 43-William Rheaume[1]; 8. 64-Greg Moran Jr[4]; 9. 74-Joseph Arena[12]; 10. 3-Adam Coutu[10]; 11. 71-Marvin Minkler[13]; 12. 9-Peter Guarino Jr[11]; 13. 58-David Ciastko[14]; 14. 14-Charles Beal[15]; 15. 24-Nick Fraulino[16]; 16. 72-Aaron Plemons[7]
Trucks (25 Laps): 1. 19-Ryan Lineham[7]; 2. 81-Tyler Chapman[8]; 3. 19RI-Dylan Cabral[1]; 4. 2-Duane Noll[3]; 5. 33-Jake Coutu[5]; 6. 54-Cameron Varricchio[2]; 7. 91-Tom Jones Jr[10]; 8. 31-Mason Silva[9]; 9. 29-Jaysin Beal[6]; 10. 30-Charles Beal[11]; 11. 6X-Andrew Pellegrini[4]
Mini Stocks (25 Laps): 1. 38CT-Sam Mesick[4]; 2. 53-Andrew Krzeminski[5]; 3. 92-Sean Olden[3]; 4. 16-Tim Dorr[2]; 5. 81CT-Nate Taylor[1]; 6. 25-Charles Canfield[6]; 7. 88-Bill Sylvia[9]; 8. 99-John Krzeminiski[10]; 9. 50-David Lee[11]; 10. 11-Jason Kokoszka[17]; 11. 6-Nicholas Pappacoda[12]; 12. 42-John Bavolacco[7]; 13. 19CJ-Connor Doyon[13]; 14. 23-Matt Pinson[15]; 15. 27-Kristofer Koch[16]; 16. 97-Dave Trudeau[8]; 17. 28-Erica Canfield[14]
Crown Vics (25 Laps): 1. 52-Jack Emerson[3]; 2. 03-Jake Caprio[4]; 3. 24-Gregg Prevost III[1]; 4. 42-Cole Curtis[7]; 5. 83-Jaxon Gertsch[5]; 6. (DQ) 67-Robert Jones[2]; 7. (DQ) 2-John Dulac[6]
Images by TK Race Photo
