Ceravolo Gets Sunoco Modified Glory at Thompson; Holiday Checkers to Zuidema, Astle, Cates, Michalski, and Oliviera : Raceway Media

Thompson, CT: Thompson International Speedway kicked-off the Labor Day holiday weekend with a full night of racing action. On Thursday night, Todd Ceravolo of Gales Ferry, CT headlined the winners in Thompson’s “Super-Six” with his third Sunoco Modified feature win of the season. Jeff Zuidema of N. Brookfield, MA capped off his great night with a win in the Late Model division. Fred Astle of Westport, MA joined the multiple feature winner club with his second in the Pro Stocks. Danny Cates of Chaplin, CT broke into victory lane with his Limited Sportsman feature win. Scott Michalski of Woodstock, CT scored his fourth victory of the 2005 season in Mini Stock action while Leo Oliviera of Raynham, MA won his second in the TIS Modifieds. A spectacular fireworks display ended the evening.

Todd Ceravolo of Gales Ferry, CT survived a wild Sunoco Modified race to take down his third win of the 2005 season. A devastating wreck on lap two that involved Tommy Cravenho and Bert Marvin was only the first incident to involve the top guns in the division.

Kerry Malone took the lead after the restart but would spin from the lead on lap six. Racing remained under green with Jimmy Blewett taking over the top spot with Todd Ceravolo in pursuit. There was a heated battle for third brewing between Dave Salzarulo Ronnie Silk, and Ricky Shawn. While in the heat of the battle, Salzarulo spun from the third position, sending cars scattering. No other cars were involved.

The new running order inside the top five was Blewett, Ceravolo, Silk, Shawn and Jeff Malave. Richard Savary was again having a good run, moving from last position up to sixth before halfway. The best battle on the field was for fourth between Shawn, Malave, and Richard Savary. Malave got alongside Shawn on lap 17 to take over the fourth spot. Meanwhile, the leader Blewett dropped off the pace; relinquishing the lead to Ceravolo.

With only ten laps remaining, Ceravolo continued to lead Silk, Malave and Savary.

Savary began to apply pressure to Malave in third and Silk had caught Ceravolo. The “invader” was glued to the back bumper of Ceravolo, which allowed Malave and Savary to catch the front duo.

Silk tried to make his move on Ceravolo exiting turn three on lap 26. Silk’s car broke loose and spun collecting Malave, Savary and others. After the carnage, Ceravolo was leading Ricky Shawn, Ron Yuhas, Jr., and John Sandberg and Kerry Malone inside the top five.

Once back under green Shawn chased Ceravolo. Malone came on strong at the end making his way past Yuhas and Sandberg. Malone continued his charge by taking second from Shawn as they crossed the checkers. Sandberg was able to capitalize on Shawn as was well to take down third. The win was the third of the 2005 season for the defending champ. Shawn and Yuhas rounded out the top-five. With both Malave and Malone having trouble, they finished 13th and 17th respectively, Malave actually gained points in the chase for the Thompson championship but took a blow in the regional title chase.

In Late Model feature action, Jeff Zuidema of N. Brookfield, CT took down his fourth win of the season. Zuidema made a three-wide move to take second on his way to the victory. Marc Jenison watched a commanding lead disappear when the caution flew on lap 14 for a spin by point leader Charles Bailey, III. On the restart, Zuidema jumped into the top spot and never looked back. Woody Pitkat came home in the runner-up position over Jenison, Marc Palmisano, and Jeff Hartwell.

Fred Astle of Westport, MA made his second appearance in Pro Stock victory lane on Thursday night. It was an uncharacteristically tough night for the division. By lap 6 only a handful of cars remained to duke it out for the win. Astle had inherited the lead through attrition but proved to have a stout car. Once back under green, Chris Perley dogged Astle for a short time but settled into the second position. The much-depleted field went the remainder of the race without incident.

Astle handily took down his second win of 2005. Chris Perley drove the #15 home in second much to the delight of regular driver George Bessette, who was in attendance for the first time since sustaining injuries in a racing accident at Oxford several weeks ago. With his third-place finish, Zuidema took over the point lead from Connors, who struggled all night. Norm Wrenn rebounded to finish fourth over David Doust, Jr.

The Limited Sportsman feature found a new face in victory lane. Danny Cates of Chaplin, CT took the lead near halfway from Kevin Bowe and scored his first feature event of the season. Cates turned in an impressive performance in the caution-free event. Point leader Glenn Boss padded his point lead with a solid second-place finish. Mike Cavanaugh, Ed Puleo, and John Bercham completed the top-five.

It was a photo finish in the Mini Stock feature event with Scott Michalski of S. Killingly, CT taking the win by mere feet at the line over Ron Rixham. A lap eight caution set the stage for the excitement that was yet to come. Rixham took the lead on a lap 8 restart from Steve Michalski. He then held off the two Michalski Brothers until the final lap when an incident in turn one necessitated the caution and a green-white-checker restart.

It was the opening that Sc. Michalski needed to get up beside Rixham. The two were dead-even coming out of four but Sc. Michalski pulled ahead just at the line to score the win. Brian Towle, Mike Gorgievski and Clyde Caswell rounded out the top-five after a late race incident that involved Shelly Perry and Steve Michalski, who had been running in the top-five approaching the checkers.

In the TIS Modified division, Leo Oliviera of Raynham, MA took down his second win of the season in a thrilling last lap for the start-up division. Oliviera was sitting in the third position as the pack came out of turn four to take the checkers. The sparks began to fly when the leader Kurt Vigeant and second-running Shane Michalski made contact. Vigeant ended up in the infield, Michalski ended up hard into the front stretch wall, and Oliviera ended up in victory lane. The contact for Michalski came after crossing the stripe in second. Roger Larson, Jr., Chad Gaudiosi, and Richie Ferreira rounded out the top five.

Thompson International Speedway will not be in competition this Thursday night in preparation for the Sunoco Thompson 300 scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, September 10 &11, 2005. A full line-up is available by logging on to www.thompsonspeedway.com or by calling (860) 923-2280.

P/R: Dale Wolbrink

Media Contact: Russ Dowd

Sunoco Modified Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Todd Ceravolo, Gales Ferry, CT; 2. Kerry Malone, Needham, MA; 3. John Sandberg, S. Windsor, CT; 4. Ricky Shawn, Bradford, CT; 5. Ron Yuhas, Jr., Groton, CT; 6. Dave Salzarulo, Monson, MA; 7. Ryan Stone, Wallingford, CT; 8. Frankie Malec, Foster, RI; 9. Russ Blanco, W. Glocester, RI; 10. Billy Ramsey, Uxbridge, MA.

Late Model Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Jeff Zuidema, N. Brookfield, MA; 2. Woody Pitkat, Stafford, CT; 3. Mark Jenison, Cranston, RI; 4. Marc Palmisano, Hadley, MA; 5. Jeff Hartwell, Putnam, CT; 6. Dennis Perry, Hopkinton, RI; 7. John Falconi, N. Grafton, MA; 8. Charles Bailey, III., N. Stonington, CT; 9. Conrad Cote, Lisbon, CT; 10. Mark Oliviera, Blackstone, MA.

Pro Stock Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Fred Astle, Wesport, MA; 2. Chris Perley, Rowley, MA; 3. Jeff Zuidema, N. Brookfield, MA; 4. Norm Wrenn, Nashua, NH; 5. David Daoust, Jr., Spencer, MA; 6. Glenn Logan, Jr., N. Massapequa, NY; 7. Mike O’Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 8. Chris Magee, Edgartown, MA; 9. Andy Johnson, Reboboth, MA; 10. Jeff Connors, Ellington, CT.

Limited Sportsman Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Danny Cates, Chaplin, CT; 2. Glenn Boss, Danielson, CT; 3. Mike Cavanaugh, Coventry, RI; 4. Ed Puleo, Brandord, CT; 5. John Bercham, W. Greenwich, RI; 6. Joe Arena, Kensington, CT; 7. Walt Hovey, Jr., Scotland, CT; 8. Scott Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 9. Kevin Bowe, Pawtucket, Ril 10. Steve Kenneway, Dudley, MA.

Mini Stock Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Scott Michalski, S. Killingly, CT; 2. Ron Rixham, Jefferson, MA; 3. Brian Towle, Uxbridge, MA; 4. Mike Gorgievski, Worcester, MA; 5. Clyde Caswell, 6. Jodi Johnson, Millis, MA; 7. Patti Gonyea, Pascoag, RI; 8. Roger Ducharme, Foster, RI; 9. Leo DeFevers, Jewett City, CT; 10. Steve Michalski, Dayville, CT.

TIS Modified Division Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Leo Oliviera, Raynham, MA; 2. Shane Michalski of Woodstock, CT; 3. Roger Larson, Jr., Milford, MA; 4. Chada Gaudiosi, Thomaston, CT; 5. Richie Ferreira, Raynham, MA; 6. Mike Viens, Seekonk, MA; 7. Steven LaBreck, Millbury, MA; 8. Bart Ramos, Sterling, CT; 9. Kurt Vigeant, Oxford, MA; 10. Joe Greene, Medway.

If you think that you have received this in error or wish to be removed from the Thompson International Speedway press list, reply to pitcrew@thompsonspeedway.com.

Type cancel in the subject line.

Russ Dowd

Media Contact

Thompson Int'l Speedway

860-923-2280

Classified Ad Sites