New England Motorsports "EXTRA" by Lou Modestino

2011 SOUTH/NORTH EXTRA

by Lou Modestino (New England Motorsports)

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SNO Sweets First Annual "Mad Hatters Tea Party ~ Boston" to benefit 'RAINN'

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October 19, 2011 ..... WORLD SERIES OF SPEEDWAY RACING BRINGS DOWN THE CURTAIN FOR THE 2012 SEASON AT THOMPSON SPEEDWAY ..... The 38th Annual World Series of Speedway Racing culminated on Sunday. In NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action, Ryan Preece of Berlin, CT, outlasted the field in a rough-and-tumble Sunoco Modified feature. Derek Ramstrom of Worcester, MA, scored his sixth Super Late Model race to cap off the 2011 season at Thompson. Corey Hutchings of Salem, CT, survived the Late Model main event to score the win.

Ryan Preece of Berlin, CT, withstood a number of restarts in a caution-marred Sunoco Modified feature event to score the victory. The event was immediately slowed by caution after Todd Ceravolo went sliding through the grass on the backstretch. With the green flag flying, Woody Pitkat had edged out Ryan Preece to take the early lead. Pitkat was not without pressure from Preece. Danny Cates made it a three-car breakaway at the head of the pack. Ted Christopher and Rick Fuller hooked up to run down the lead trio.

On lap four, Preece did the patented Sunoco Modified slide move to take the lead away from Pitkat. Cates got out of shape on lap six; losing the third spot to Christopher. Fuller peeked to the outside of Cates on the backstretch. He ran out of room making contact with both the outside wall and Cates to bring out the caution on lap six. Neither car could continue.

On the restart, Preece was once again in command of the event. Pitkat was in hot pursuit in second. Christopher ran nearly a half straightaway behind in third. Michael Gervais was having a strong run in fourth. The caution flew again on lap nine for an incident involving Dylan Kopec and Ceravolo.

Preece picked the outside grove on the restart to rocket back into the lead. He took Christopher along for the ride; relegating Pitkat back to third. After a quick caution on lap 11, it was now Christopher pitted against Preece on the restart. Preece was sluggish on the restart opening the door for Christopher. Christopher had edged ahead but by turn one it was Preece taking command. Pitkat got by Christopher and immediately went to work on Preece for the lead.

At the crossed-flags Preece held a slight advantage over Pitkat. Christopher ran third followed by Gervais and Shelly Perry in fifth. Pitkat was glued to the back bumper of Preece when the caution flew for a spin toward the back of the pack. Preece and Pitkat picked up where they left off after another pair of cautions. Lap-after-lap, all Pitkat could do was chase Preece.

On lap 22, Pitkat got the opportunity he was looking for to get by Preece and back into the lead. Preece faltered slightly also giving way to Christopher. A multi-car incident in turn one negated the pass by Christopher; placing Preece to Pitkat’s outside for the restart on lap 23. Track officials deemed that Pitkat had gone early and was black-flagged for jumping the restart. Preece was able to gain a car-length advantage on Christopher on the restart.

Restarting at the rear of the field, Pitkat was collected in a multi-car incident. There was no damage to the #00. Perry, who had been running in the top-five, was not as lucky. Christopher had nothing for Preece on the restart. With five laps to go, Pitkat had moved into fifth. With four laps to go he was fourth and reeling in Gervais in third. With two to go, Pitkat was all over Gervais. Dylan Liseo hit the wall in turn two to bring out the caution. This would allow Pitkat to line-up on row two with two laps to go. What appeared to be Pitkat’s shot was actually his undoing as his car ran out of fuel. Also, under the caution, Henry Stampl gave up the fourth position retiring to pit road.

Over the final two laps it was all Preece. The Berlin, CT, driver went on to capture the victory. It was Preece’s fourth of the year in the Sunoco Modifieds at Thompson. Christopher settled for second. Gervais had a career day to finish third. Craig Lutz and Joe Allegro, Jr. completed the top-five.

Derek Ramstrom of Worcester, MA, had a dismal start to the Super Late Model main event; but it was his strong finish that netted him the World Series victory. Pole sitter Ramstrom faltered on the initial start; falling from first to fifth. Mike O’Sullivan capitalized to grab the lead. Former Thompson regular Norm Wrenn ran in second followed by Jim Banfield. Ramstrom was beginning to rebound; taking the fourth spot from Jarrod Hayes. He drove by Banfield a lap later. After a short battle with Wrenn, Ramstrom had battled back into the second position. Mike Stefanik, who had lost several spots on the initial start as well, had worked his way back into contention in fifth.

A spin by Chris Magee on lap six brought out the caution; erasing the lead that O’Sullivan had enjoyed. O’Sullivan and Ramstrom went fender-to-fender for the lead on the restart. By the stripe, Ramstrom was the new leader. Stefanik had gotten by Banfield for third. He immediately went to work on Wrenn. Lap-after-lap, Wrenn and Stefanik ran door-to-door. The 2011 divisional champion, Larry Gelinas had come from deep in the field to run in sixth position.

During an extended green flag run, Ramstrom had gained a sizeable advantage over O’Sullivan; who was a straightaway ahead of Wrenn in third. In heavy lapped traffic, O’Sullivan was able to close the gap slightly on Ramstrom, but never posed a real threat. Ramstrom went on to post the victory. O’Sullivan had to settle for second. Wrenn had a solid return to Thompson’s Super Late Model division in third. Stefanik and Banfield completed the top-five.

It was survival of the fittest for Late Model winner Corey Hutchings of Salem, CT, on Sunday at the World Series. Once the Late Model feature event finally got underway, following a tough start, it was front row starters Rick Gentes and Hutchings ducking it out for the top spot. The two went door-to-door for a pair of laps. Coming off of turn three Gentes got crossed up sliding sideways to the inside of Hutchings. Contact between Gentes and third-running Marc Palmisano found Gentes making hard contact with the wall. Palminsano’s mount rode the wall during the contact. Both cars sustained heavy damage.

On the ensuing restart, Hutchings was pitted against Wayne Coury, Sr. Hutchings withstood the pressure through a number of restarts before giving up the top spot to Coury, Sr. by inches on lap six. Coury could not get away from Hutchings with the two door-to-door. Coming off turn four Tommy O’Sullivan looked to make it three wide. O’Sullivan could not keep up the momentum and settled back into the third spot. Hutchings edged ahead to lead the lap. Coury got out of shape exiting turn two on lap 10. He slid up the race track forcing O’Sullivan, who was looking to make a bid for second, into the outside wall. O’Sullivan’s championship mount was heavily damaged in the incident.

A single file restart on lap 10 allowed Hutchings to get some distance between a brewing battle for second between Coury and Mike Scorzelli. Scorzelli motored into second and immediately caught the back bumper of Hutchings. Coury continued to dog Scorzelli; making it a three car battle for the lead.

Scorzelli pulled even with Hutchings in turn two on lap 16. Neither could get a decided advantage; however, Huchings continued to lead. In lapped traffic, Scorzelli settled back in line behind Hutchings. On lap 20, Scorzelli got to the inside of Hutchings once again. On lap 21, contact between the lead duo found Scorzelli chasing his ride outside the groove. Exiting turn four Coury, Sr. dove below Hutchings in a bid for the lead. The jockeying for position was for naught as the caution flew for a pin by Wayne Coury, Jr.

Hutchings was still the leader on the restart on lap 21. Coury, Sr. got out of shape exiting turn two once again. This time third-running Pitkat was forced into the outside wall. The #88 was not able to continue. Coury, Sr. dove to the inside of Scorzelli on the restart to take over the second position. Over the final two laps, things finally settled down with Hutchings taking the victory over Coury, Sr., who just edged out Scorzelli for second. Coury, Jr. and Shawn Thibeault completed the top five.

Sunoco Modified (Top Ten) Finish Feature: 1. Ryan Preece, Berlin, CT; 2. Ted Christopher, Plainville, CT; 3. Michael Gervais, Southbury, CT; 4. Craig Lutz, Miller Place, NY; 5. Joe Allegro, Jr. Vernon, CT; 6. Kyle Spencer, Montgomery, MA; 7. Earl Pelletier, Wolcott, CT; 8. Tony Membrino, Jr., Waterbury, CT; 9. Woody Pitkat, Stafford, CT; 10. Henry Stampfl, Norwood, MA.

Super Late Model (Top Ten) Feature Finish: 1. Derek Ramstrom, Worcester, CT; 2. Mike O’Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 3. Norm Wrenn, Nashua, NH; 4. Mike Stefanik, Coventry, RI; 5. Jim Banfield, S. Glastonbury, CT; 6. Larry Gelinas, Buxton, ME; 7. Jarrod Hayes, Calverton, NY; 8. Mike Brightman, Acushnet, MA; 9. Chris Magee, Edgartown, MA; 10. Greg Nanigian, Braintree, MA.

Late Model (Top Ten) Feature Finish: 1. Corey Hutchings, Salem, CT; 2. Wayne Coury, Sr., Milford, CT; 3. Mike Scorzelli, Malta, NY; 4. Wayne Coury, Jr., Milford, CT; 5. Shawn Thibeault, Plainville, CT; 6. Chris Turbush, Riverhead, NY; 7. Damon Tinio, Mendon, MA; 8. John Falconi, Oakham, MA; 9. Ron Rice, W. Hyannisport, MA; 10. Randy Tucker, Millis, MA.

NOTE: INFORMATION FOR THIS COLUMN CAME FROM VARIOUS REFERENCED SOURCES, PRESS RELEASES, NOTES AND OTHER SOURCES + The Man Behind The Writings - Lou Modestino Biography

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