9/14/2003

Brouwer, Pavone, Monahan Speedbowl Standouts

Waterford, CT -- Johnny Brouwer Jr. won his first of the season and Pete Pavone Jr. won his first-ever feature Saturday night as Waterford Speedbowl squeezed in a pair of SK-Modified feature into a busy five-division agenda. Brouwer grabbed the lead five laps in and survived a number of restarts while Pavone, who took off from the pole, had only one restart challenge.

In other action, Diego Monahan made it two straight 30-lap Late Model victories; Phil Evans ruled the Mini Stock 20 lapper and Jags Palmer captured the 25-lap Legends feature. Michael Lajoie grabbed the 25-lap Pro4 Modified race and Pete Yetman ruled the 25-lap All Star Race Truck event.

It was difficult evening for Dennis Gada, pursuing both the track and NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Regional title. Gada, a crash victim, wound up 17 in the first feature and seventh in the second (coming from 25^th). Ed Reed, the only driver who can end Gada's march toward a fifth straight track crown, also crashed in the first (finishing 20^th) and grabbed fourth in the second. Reed remains 40 points behind Gada.

Taking the lead from Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., Brouwer beat back a late challenge from runner-up Ron Yuhas Jr.  On the sixth and final restart with five left, Brouwer (with the car stuck in high gear)  jumped into the lead leaving a Ron Yuhas Jr.-Dennis Charette side-by-side battle behind him. Yuhas needed two laps to secure  second and almost snuck inside Brouwer in the front stretch with two left.

“I was just focused,” said Brouwer, who also beat back restart challenges from Charette and Zach Sylvester. “What little concentration I have I was using.” 

The second yellow came with 14 left, a first-turn altercation costing Gada a lap. The fifth yellow showed for still another first-turn, this eliminating Reed (broken rack). 

The only caution is the second feature actually saved Pavone. Heading into one, he drifted high was passed by both Sylvester and Don Fowler but a red flag flew immediately, the scoring going back a lap. When green flew Pavone got away from Fowler, the latter finding himself concerned with Zach Sylvester. It was Sylvester who dogged Pavone over the final 11 circuits.

“The last 10 laps I forget to breathe,” said Pavone, a racer since 1985. “This tops it all,” he added, dedicating the win to his late father.

Sylvester, with a fifth and second, and Charette, a third and fifth, enjoyed strong performances.

Monahan used a restart with three laps left to finally gets away from eventual runner-up Allen Coates. Monahan and Coates put on a dazzling exhibition of side-by-side racing.  Monahan went by Chad Trombley early and very soon found himself side-by-side with Coates.

A yellow with five to go end the battle, Coates actually in the lead by inches. Monahan proved equally apt in the upper groove and was the leader when the final yellow showed with three left. “I can’t believe I could do that,” said Monahan, pointing out it proved to be the key in getting the inside on the final restart.

Trombley held on for third followed by Russell Lajoie and Corey Hutchings, the latter still enjoying a wide bulge atop the points race.

Evans took command when Dave Sylvia spun in the backstretch. He got away on the restart, leaving Tim Jordan and Wayne Burroughs Jr. to battle for second, Burroughs eventually prevailing. Joe Perry was fourth and moved into the point lead, 14 ahead of Evans. Glenn Colvin and Richard Brooks, one-two going in, had a tough night and fell to third and fourth in points.

Starting 14^th, Palmer need only seven laps to take the lead away from Vin Esposito. It was the third Saturday night victory for Palmer who also moved past the absent Silas Hiscock Jr. into the point lead. Vin Esposito was second with brother Mark third.

The point battles continue Saturday night when a 35-lap SK-Modified feature highlights the menu that also includes a 30-lap Late Model event, 20-lappers for the Sportsman and Mini Stocks and a 25-lap Legends feature.

Results

1^st SK-Modified (25): 1. Johnny Brouwer Jr., 2. Ron Yuhas Jr., 3. Dennis Charette, 4. Jeff Karns, 5. Zach Sylvester, 6. Billy Anderson, 7. Chris Pasteryak, 8. Don Fowler, 9. Joe Schuman, 10. Doug Coby, 11. Len Beebe, 12. Rob Janovic, 13. Wendel Dailey, 14. Keith Comiskey, 15. Dave Rosenfield, 16. Jeff Pearl, 17. Dennis Gada, 18. Pete Pavone Jr., 19. Frank Mucciacciaro Jr., 20. Ed Reed Jr., 21. Chris Carchidi, 22. Justin Gaydosh, 23. Chris Drouin Jr., 24. Michael Gada, 25. David Gada.

2^nd SK-Modified (25): 1. Pete Pavone Jr., 2. Zach Sylvester, 3. Don Fowler, 4. Ed Reed Jr., 5. Dennis Charette, 6. Jeff Pearl, 7. Dennis Gada, 8. Chris Pasteryak, 9. Johnny Brouwer Jr., 10. Rob Janovic Jr., 11. Jeff Karns, 12. Chris Drouin Jr.,  13. Wendel Dailey, 14. Len Beebe, 15. Doug Coby, 16. Joe Schumann, 17. Ron Yuhas Jr., 18. Justin Gaydosh, 19. Billy Anderson, 20. Michael Gada, 21. David Gada, 22. Chris Carchidi, 23. Keith Comiskey, 24. Dave Rosenfield.

Late Models (30): 1. Diego Monahan, 2. Allen Coates, 3. Chad Trombley, 4. Russell LaJoie, 5. Corey Hutchings, 6. Mark St.Hilaire, 7. Larry Goss, 8. Bruce Thomas Jr., 9. Glen Reilly, 10. Duane Noll, 11. Jack Aquilina, 12. Skip Breunig, 13. Wayne Coury Jr., 14. Eddie Field, 15. Phil Evans, 16. Derek McLellan, 17. Tommy Silva, 18. Brandon Plemons, 19. Rich Duranti, 20. Tom Metcalf.

Mini Stock (20): 1. Phil Evans, 2. Wayne Burroughs Jr., 3. Tim Jordan, 4. Joe Perry, 5. Chris Williams, 6. Dave Barach, 7. Nate Appell, 8. Dave Trudeau, 9. Jeff Civardi, 10. Nick Papacoda, 11. Kyle Williams, 12. Joe Godbout, 13. Dave Sylvia 14. Chris Burton, 15. Dan Darnstaedt, 16. Ken Lyke III, 17. Paul Kobbe Jr., 18. Danny Field, 19. Bill Leonard, 20. Joe Bavolacco, 21. Ron Fortune, 2. Thomas Smith III, 23. Ian Brew, 24. Glenn Colvin, 25. Richard Brooks, 26. Michael Bourey, 27. James Pont, 28. Mike Anzalone.

Legends (25): 1. Jags Palmer, 2. Vinny Esposito, 3. Mark Esposito, 4. Darrell LaPoint Jr., 5. Michael Pepe, 6. Donald Flagge, 7. Randy Peck, 8. Denis Doyon,  9. Robert Leath III, 10. Ed Bagot Jr., 11. Dennis Pantani, 12. David Desjardins, 13. Jim Ahern.

Sources:  Pete Zanardi/Waterford Speedbowl PR
Posted:  September 14, 2003