Kasey Kahne Makes a Triumphant Visit to Thompson; Malone Takes Modified Glory : Raceway Media

Thompson, CT: In a special Wednesday Night presentation, Thompson International Speedway welcomed two of NASCAR’s hottest young drivers. The Young Guns Night presented by Smirnoff commenced with an autograph session featuring defending Nextel Cup Champion Matt Kenseth and rising star Kasey Kahne. Hundreds of fans were treated to an autograph session before watching Kahne do battle in a Sunoco Modified match race.

Charter Communications presented five divisions of NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series competition with Kerry Malone of Needham, MA earning victory in Sunoco Modified competition and Charles Bailey III of N. Stonington, CT was the Late Model winner. Norm Wrenn of Nashua, NH checkered the Pro Stock feature. Scott Sundeen of Douglas, MA and Randy Jurcik of Chaplin, CT were winners in the Limited Sportsman and Mini Stock divisions respectively.

In his Modified debut, Kasey Kahne drove to victory lane in the 20-lap match race that also featured four of Thompson’s own top guns-Ted Christopher, Eric Berndt, Todd Ceravolo, and Bo Gunning. Pole sitter Casey Kahne faltered on the start in one of the Mystique #13s going from first to last in one lap. Eric Berndt led Gunning, Ceravolo and Christopher. Gunning mounted a challenge on Berndt’s lead, taking the top spot on lap 3. Ceravolo and Christopher followed through shuffling Berndt back to fourth while Kahne took up the rear. Just shy of halfway, Christopher took over second from Ceravolo.

A caution was thrown on lap 15 for “debris”. Fox Commentator and New England’s native Mike Joy, wanting to spice things up a little, headed down to the racetrack to invert the field, putting Kahne up front once again for a five-lap chase to the checkers. Kahne put the 13 out front on the restart. Berndt was the first to take a shot at Kahne to no avail. Kahne took the checkers over Berndt, Christopher, Ceravolo and Gunning.

“It was a blast to drive this car,” said Kahne of his ride. “It is a fun track, I would like to run here again sometime.”

Could that leave the door open for next year?

Kerry Malone of Needham, MA took down his second win of the season in a caution-free Sunoco Modified main event. Early leader Richard Savary got shuffled back from his pole starting position relinquishing positions to Kerry Malone and Bert Marvin. Out front the duo started to move away as Ted Christopher and Jeff Malave had their hands full with Savary.

Once free of Savary, Christopher and Malave began to reel in the front two. Todd Ceravolo and Scott Quinn were locked in their own battle for fifth. Up front, Marvin was glued to the back bumper of Malone. Marvin was all over Malone while Malave dogged Christopher. Ceravolo had caught Malave as well.

Marvin was all over Malone but could not muster up a pass. Marvin got a run on Malone who in turn took a defensive posture. Forced to check up, Marvin lost his momentum allowing Christopher to catch him quickly. Marvin regained his composure and once again set sail for Malone. Christopher distanced himself from Malave, who had his hands full with Ceravolo.

Coming down to the checkers, Marvin got a run on the outside but could not make the pass stick. Malone earned his second win of the season followed by Christopher, Malave, and Ceravolo.

Charles Bailey III of N. Stonington, CT ran to his second win of the season in the NASCAR ShorTrack Series Late Models. Bad luck continued to befall Woody Pitkat. The early leader encountered mechanical problems on a lap 9 restart. Pitkat failed to come up to speed with a pile-up ensuing. Charles Bailey III and John Falconi lined up at the head of the field. Falconi fell prey to Bronczyk who then took chase of leader Bailey. Corey Hutchings was getting racy with halfway approaching.

On a lap 13 restart Bronczyk used the outside groove to get a run on Bailey. The two slid sideways coming out of turn four in the speedy dry that was laid down during the caution. Bailey was able to retain his lead. After a pair of quick cautions, Bailey and Bronczyk resumed their battle and Hutchings continued to take chase. The best battle on the field was a three-car battle for fourth between Palmisano, Posocco and Falconi.

Over the final green flag run the field got strung out. Bailey went unchallenged to the checkers with Bronczyk in second. Hutchings settled for third over Palmisano and Posocco in the top-five.

In a controversial finish, Norm Wrenn of Nashua, NH was the winner of the 30-lap Pro Stock feature event. Wrenn set sail from his pole starting position but was forced to defend his lead against Chuck Docherty in the early going. Mike O’Sullivan and Dave Berghman raced side-by-side for the third spot just behind the leaders. After a lap 8 restart, Docherty was able to take the top spot from Wrenn. Berghman began to show his muscle as well pressuring Wrenn for second, eventually taking over on the backstretch.

At halfway, Docherty led Berghman, Wrenn, O’Sullivan and Jay Macedonio. The fifth place was the most contested position on the field as Lemay and George Bessette challenged Macedonio. With ten laps to go it was the teammates Berghman and Wrenn fighting for second once again. This time it was Wrenn getting the run and the spot as he began his march back to the front. Wrenn tucked in behind Docherty to lay in wait.

In the waning laps it was a three-car battle for the lead between Docherty, Wrenn, and Berghman. In turn one on the white flag lap, Wrenn got a good run to Docherty’s inside but could not make the pass stick. He got up beside Docherty again as they approached the checkers. Contact between the two sent Docherty spinning across the stripe. Wrenn came under the checkers in first, Berghman came home second, and Docherty slid across the checkers backwards in third. Bessette and O’Sullivan had the best seat in the house for the fireworks in fourth and fifth.

Scott Sundeen of Douglas, MA took down his third win of the 2004 season in Limited Sportsman action. On lap six, a melee that involved several of the front running cars eliminated leaders Kevin Riley and Bill Davis. Larry Barnett was the benefactor of the mix-up at the head of the field, finding himself in third position. He charged from third to first on lap 10 leaving Sundeen and Danny Cates to fight for the runner up spot. On lap 13, Barnett fell off the pace relinquishing his lead to the duo of Cates and Sundeen, who continued to battle, now for the lead. Sundeen took over the lead on lap 15 and set the pace for the remainder of the event. Cates came home second followed by Walt Hovey, Jr., Paul Coutu, Jr., and Charlie Poulin.

It has been coming for several weeks and finally Randy Jurcik of Chaplin, CT put his Mini Stock in victory lane. The Thompson newcomer has put in impressive runs week after week running competitively with the Michalski Brothers, Eric Bourgeois and other top contenders in the division. On Wednesday night he led Andy Publicover, Clyde Caswell, Scott Michalski and Steve Michalski to the checkers. After post race technical inspection, Publicover, Caswell and Scott Michalski were deemed in violation of the rule book. Steve Michalski, Jeff Moffat, Eric Bourgeois and Shane Michalski moved into the top-five.

Sunoco Modified Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Kerry Malone, Needham, MA; 2. Bert Marvin, Waterford, CT; 3. Ted Christopher, Plainville, CT; 4. Jeff Malave, Manchester, CT; 5. Todd Ceravolo, Gales Ferry, CT; 6. Scott Quinn, N. Smithfield, RI; 7. Richard Savary, Canton, MA; 8. Shawn Monahan, Waterford, CT; 9. Harry Rheaume, Oakdale, CT; 10. Adam Norton, Brookfield, MA.

Late Model Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Charles Bailey, III. N. Stonington, CT; 2. Scott Bronczyk, Thompson, CT; 3. Corey Hutchings, Salem, CT; 4. Marc Palmisano, S. Deerfield, MA; 5. Ryan Posocco, Stafford, CT; 6. John Falconi, N. Grafton, CT; 7. Rich Holton, Manchester, CT; 8. R.J. Marcotte, Millville, MA; 9. Joe Greene, Medway, MA; 10. Dennis Botticello, Suffield, CT.

Pro Stock Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Norm Wrenn, Nashua, NH; 2. Dave Berghman, Seekonk, MA; 3. Chuck Docherty, Springfield, MA; 4. George Bessette, Danbury, CT; 5. Mike O’Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 6. Joe Lemay, Blackstone, MA; 7. Jay Macedonio, Swansea, MA; 8. Ron Smith, Oakham, MA; 9. Dave Bitondo, Ashby, MA; 10. Dennis Maxfield, Fitchburg, MA.

Limited Sportsman Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Scott Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 2. Danny Cates, Chaplin, CT; 3. Walt Hovey, Jr., Scotland, CT; 4. Paul Coutu, Jr., Brooklyn, CT; 5. Charlie Poulin, Millville, MA; 6. Richard Staskowski, Hope Valley, RI; 7. Todd Chambers, Putnam, CT; 8. Keith DeSanctis, Monson, MA; 9. Dave Fecteau, Bellingham, MA; 10. Chris Bisson, Putnam, CT.

Mini Stock Feature Finish (Top Five): 1. Randy Jurcik, Chaplin, CT; 2. Steve Michalski, Plainfield, CT; 3. Jeff Moffat, Warwick, RI; 4. Eric Bourgeois, E. Haddam, CT; 5. Shane Michalski, Plainfield, CT.

Classified Ad Sites