Stefanik Wins WMT Opener at Thompson : RacingJunk News

Stefanik Wins WMT Opener at Thompson

Ceravolo, Owens, Hutchings, Cates, Vincent & Larson Hot in Icebreaker

Thompson, CT: What a difference a day makes. Icebreaker Weekend commenced on Saturday under dismal conditions. It resumed on Sunday with near perfect conditions. Also near perfect was Whelen Modified Tour winner Mike Stefanik of Coventry, RI. In NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series action, Todd Ceravolo of Gales Ferry, CT scored the win in the Sunoco Modified division while Corey Hutchings of Salem, CT was victorious in the Late Models. Todd Owen of Somers, CT was tops in Pro Stocks ranks. Checkers also fell for Danny Cates of Chaplin, CT in the Limited Sportsman; Brian Vincent of W. Warwick, RI in the Mini Stocks and Roger Larson, Jr. of Milford, MA in the TIS Modifieds.

Stefanik took the lead late in the race to score the victory over Chuck Hossfeld and Reggie Ruggiero. Some incidental contact between the Stefanik and Hossfeld made for an exciting run to the checkers. Stefanik held the point with Hossfeld in hot pursuit. Hossfeld make a last ditch effort exiting turn four with the two making contact. Stefanik was able to maintain his position over Hossfeld when the first checkers of the 2006 season fell for the Whelen Modified Tour. Reggie Ruggiero, Ted Christopher and Tony Hirschman unofficially rounded out the top-five. For complete details on the Icebreaker 150 visit www.nascartouring.com or www.thompson speedway.com.

Todd Ceravolo of Gales Ferry, CT was in top form on Sunday taking down the win in the Sunoco Modified main event. Saturday nightā€™s winner Woody Pitkat started from the point in the straight-up start for the second of the Twin events for the Sunoco Modifieds in hopes of making it a clean sweep. Tommy Cravenho would have other plans as he drove by Pitkat in the early going. Ceravolo and Malave followed through and into the top-three.

On a lap 15 restart Ceravolo showed his hand moving past Cravenho for the lead. Bert Marvin was coming on strong as well, taking away the third spot from Malave. Pitkat faded slightly losing a position to Jimmy Blewett as well.

Contact between Malave and Cravenho on another restart opened the door for Marvin, Blewett, and Pitkat. Cravenho recovered to remain in the third spot while Malave got shuffled back to fifth. A single lap later a spin by Blewett from the third position brought out the caution once again. With cars scattering, Blewett and Kerry Malone were the only two cars involved.

Ceravolo maintained his lead but with heavy pressure from Marvin, who in turn was getting pressure from behind from Cravenho. With the white flag in the air the top three ran nose to tail. The top guns held their line and thundered under the checkers with Ceravolo taking the victory over Marvin, Cravenho, Pitkat, and Malave. An honorable mention for former Pro Stock competitor Joe Lemay, who finished sixth in only his second Sunoco Modified start.

In Pro Stock feature action Todd Owen led from the drop of the green flag with Joe Lemay in hot pursuit. The duo was chased by Fred Astle until lap 12 when the veteran made hard contact in the wall in turn four after losing the right front tire assembly to bring out the first caution event of the season. Lemay got a great jump on the second attempt at a restart to take the lead away from Owen.

Attrition played a role late in the race as well as Dave Berghman dropped off the pace while running third after suffering mechanical woes. On the ensuing restart, Lemay faltered leaving Owen with the lead once again. Owen took advantage of the opportunity and headed straight to victory lane. George Bessette, making his welcome return to racing this season, came home in second over Dave Darling, Jeff Zuidema, and Mike Oā€™Sullivan.

Corey Hutchings of Salem, CT came on strong late in the race to take down the Late Model victory. The winner of Saturday nightā€™s event Pat Trudeau led through lap eight with Ryan Posocco taking chase. The two went door-to-door before Posocco took over the lead on lap 10.

A restart on lap 12 set up a three car battle for the lead between Posocco, Palmisano, and Trudeau. Neither Palmisano nor Posocco could get a decided advantage. Trudeau saw his good run go up in smoke with a spin in turn two. A new player entered the picture on another restart with only five laps to go. Corey Hutchings made a run past Palmisano. The sparks were flying when Hutchings was making a run on the leader Posocco. With the two battling Palmisano stuck his nose in to make it three wide. Hutchings came out of the fray with the lead followed by Posocco and Palmisano.

Once out front, Hutchings was able to get a bit of breathing room leaving Posocco and Palmisano to duke it out for second. At the checkers it was Hutchings in for the victory over Posocco and Palmisano. Jeff Hessleton and Jeff Zuidema rounded out the top five.

Danny Cates of Chaplin, CT visited victory lane in the first Limited Sportsman event of the 2006 season. Cates took the top spot from leader Larry Barnett after an early yellow. Barnett and Keith DeSanctis treated the fans to a spirited battle for the runner-up spot. DeSanctis was the first to overtake Barnett who faded in the late stages of the event. Cates cruised home with the victory over DeSanctis, Scott Cook, defending champ Glenn Boss and Kevin Riley inside the top five.

Brian Vincent of W. Warwick, RI led every lap en route to the victory in the Mini Stocks. Vincent jumped out to the lead from his pole starting position to take command of the event. The leader was dogged throughout the caution-free event by Shelly Perry. Perry was hot on Vincentā€™s back bumper looking high and low on the leader. In the end, it was a small margin of victory for Vincent over Perry, Steve Michalski, Todd Henshaw, and Andy Publicover.

In TIS Modified action Roger Larson, Jr. of Milford, MA brought down the win in the lid-lifter. Teammates Leo Oliveira and Richie Ferreira rounded out the top three followed by Bart Ramos and rookie competitor Chad Hancock.

Sunoco Modified Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Todd Ceravolo, Gales Ferry, CT; 2. Bert Marvin, Waterford, CT; 3. Tommy Cravenho, Raynham, MA; 4. Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs, CT; 5. Jeff Malave, S. Windsor, CT; 6. Joe Lemay, Millville, MA; 7. Tom Rogers, Jr., Patchogue, 8. Keith Rocco, Wallingford, CT; 9. Ricky Shawn, Bradford, CT; 10. Ryan Stone, Wallingford, CT.

Pro Stock Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Todd Owen, Somers, CT; 2. George Bessette, Danbury, CT; 3. Dave Darling, Seekonk, MA; 4. Jeff Zuidema, N. Brookfield, MA; 5. Mike Oā€™Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 6. Jeff Connors, Ellington, CT; 7. Norm Wrenn, Nashua, NH; 8. Rick Martin, Westport, MA; 9. Joe Lemay, Millville, MA; 10. Ron Smith, Oakham, MA.

Late Model Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Corey Hutchings, Salem, CT; 2. Ryan Posocco, Stafford Springs, CT; 3. Marc Palmisano, Hadley, MA; 4. Jeff Hesselton, Auburn, MA; 5. Jeff Zuidema, N. Brookfield, MA; 6. Jeff Hartwell, East Putnam, CT; 7. Dennis Perry, Pawcatuck, CT; 8. Steve Landry, Tyngsboro, MA; 9. Mark Jenison, Cranston, RI; 10. Tommy Oā€™Sullivan, Springfield, MA.

Limited Sportsman Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Danny Cates, Chaplin, CT; 2. Keith DeSanctis, Monson, MA; 3. Scott Cook, Uncasville, CT; 4. Glenn Boss, Danielson, CT; 5. Kevin Riley, Plainfield, CT; 6. Jay Pepin, Ridgefield, CT; 7. Paul Coutu, Jr., Plainfield, CT; 8. Jesse Gleason, Lisbon, CT; 9. Larry Barnett, Ledyard, CT; 10. Chris Bisson, Putnam, CT.

Mini Stock Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Brian Vincent, W. Warwick, RI; 2. Shelly Perry, Ashaway, RI; 3. Steve Michalski, Dayville, CT; 4. Todd Henshaw, Raynham, MA; 5. Andy Publicover, Sudbury, MA; 6. Mike Romano, Pascoag, RI; 7. Ron Rixham, Jefferson, MA; 8. Clyde Caswell, Jamestown, RI; 9. Eric Bourgeois, E. Haddam, CT; 10. Rick Blanchard, Pascoag, RI.

TIS Modified Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Roger Larson, Jr, Milford, MA; 2. Leo Oliveira, Raynham, MA; 3. Richie Ferreira, Raynham, MA; 4. Bart Ramos, Sterling, CT; 5. Chad Hancock, Woonsocket, RI; 6. Tim Sullivan, S. Windsor, CT; 7. Steven LaBreck, Millbury, MA; 8. Shane Michalski, Woodstock, CT; 9. Glenn Boss, Danielson, CT; 10. Mike Viens, Seekonk, MA.