Thursday, September 27, 2007
The Hunt, The Dream. Over?
Going into the final race of the season at Stafford, Pitkat trails a Wisconsin driver by twelve points. It doesn't sound too hard to get around, does it? From what I've found out, Pitkat claims that a field of at least 25 cars started the Sunoco Modified race that he had won on Thursday. The track says that 22 cars started. So who's right? Does Pitkat get six extra points if he was in fact right on the money?
Those six points will either hurt him or help him, depending on where he finishes in the race on Sunday. I'm believing that the dream has come to a close. I don't assume things, but this whole situation must be a gift from God to the Wisconsin gentlemen. (No offense to Pitkat.)
** The story came after I read a blog entry from the Hartford Courant. **
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Final Friday Nighter '07
SK Modifieds: The battle between the only two championship contenders left in the division, Ted Christopher and Woody Pitkat, went down the same path as usual. Though the first caution didn't occur until lap-34, the action was nonstop. Christopher was once again on the outside of the front row, but unlike last week, he had the opportunity to pass Jeff Malave and then Keith Rocco for the lead, failing against both drivers in the process. Rocco would hold off Christopher for his fourth win of the season, with Christopher, Pitkat, and Malave finishing out the board. Christopher and Pitkat have a 36 point gap going into the Fall Final, so I wouldn't be surprised if there were more Modifieds trying to make it into the race than usual in more ways than one. Pitkat's final chance to take the National Championship will be at the Stafford finale, and the more cars that start the feature, the better.
Late Models: In a span of ten laps (yes, ten laps), there were eleven caution flags. I think about half of the field was taken out, and it was nearly a combination of two heat races by the time the race was over, but they got a winner out of all of that chaos. The winner was Ryan Posocco, who in the middle of the cautionfest had made a threewide pass for the lead; Rick Charette and Corey Hutchings being the other two members of the threewide threesome. Hutchings, Jim Peterson, and Wayne Coury, Jr rounded out the board. In the race for the Late Model championship, it's down to Hutchings and Peterson, and it's only a 22 point difference. I'm betting that this race will come down to the final few laps.
SK Lights: With the championship already decided (Chris Matthews), the race could run smoother than usual. Nobody had to really "fight" for position, because they probably knew that this was all for fun. It was one of their more cleaner races of the season -- without taking it lightly -- and there was a first time winner in the CARQuest victory lane. That would be Joe Allegro, Jr, who beat out Brit Andersen, Matthews, and Glen Reen to take down the win. Like I said earlier, the final SK Light race of the season will be run for fun, as Matthews has a 150 point lead over second place Josh Sylvester. So hopefully these drivers can race the race with smiles on their faces.
Limited Late Models: The title could have been wrapped up on Friday. Sean Foster only had to stay more than 50 points ahead of second place come the race's end, and even though he was involved in a lap-3 accident in turns three and four, he was still able to lock up the championship. He is 150 points ahead of Rick Lanagan, who ended up winning his seventh race of the season over Kevin Gambacorta, Joey Ferrigno, and Charlie Newman. So this means that only two of the five features run over the course of the weekend will be run for fun. And this division will be one of those two.
DARE Stocks: The "Year of the First Time Winner" continued with one of the slower features of the season. Though there were three cautions, it didn't faze Rob Lawrence... At least for the first nine laps of the race until Norm Sears took over. But Lawrence overpowered Sears for the lead, that was it. He would win his first DARE Stock feature of the season, followed by Sears, Don Wood, and Dan Flannery. Speaking of Sears, he would take over the points lead after a so-so night by Carla Botticello and after Bill Dunn wrecked on a lap-7 restart. Sears holds a sixteen point lead over Botticello and a 26 point lead over Flannery. Dunn dropped to fourth after the race, and is now 40 points behind the leader.
And that's it for the notes for now. I give major kudos to the track's site for being updated day in and day out. The webmaster keeps things tidy, which is good for the fans and drivers alike. I shall raise a beverage in your honor... If I remember. *winks* Okay, from the notes to the site once again, and this time, it's to remind you fans and drivers that we do have not one, not two, but three days of racing on the schedule this weekend. It's time for the annual CARQuest Fall Final at the track, and this means that six divisions of racing will be out on the half mile to test their mettle. Three of the Whelen All-American Series divisions will crown their champions, while the SK Lights and Limited Late Models will officially crown their champions. The first thing I will direct your attention to is the entry list for the Whelen Modified Tour, which will make their final appearance of the season at Stafford. For more information on the schedule, I will give it to you day-by-day as the weekend actually arrives. So until then, have a happy rest of the week -- which is longer, mind you! -- and I'll see you on the flip side of Friday.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
More Quickies [9/14]
Speaking about heading out, I say we head out to the time machine that'll take us back to the night of September 14. It was the second night of the program known as the "September Series". And boy, did it feel like September. Let's get right to it, shall we? Watch your head; watch your step getting in. It's going to be smooth sailing from here. Everyone ready? Let's go.
SK Modifieds: I thought this was the best race of the night. The final restart on lap-22 came down between Ted Christopher and Frank Ruocco. But they weren't alone, as Jeff Malave was also ready to put himself into contention. But when Christopher and Malave started battling with each other, this gave Ruocco the edge, where he would get a big enough margin to win. It was his third victory of the season. Following him were Malave, who just managed to get by Christopher for the runner-up spot, and Brad Hietala.
Late Models: It was a battle of two possible first-time winners -- Michael Bennett and Wayne Coury, Jr. Bennett had the lead from a lap-12 restart, and Coury was all over his back bumper, but it would prove to be too little, too late as Bennett would score his first career Late Model feature win and his first win since the '05 season, when he ran Limited Late Models. Coury would finish second, followed by Woody Pitkat and Jim Peterson.
SK Lights: Chris Matthews had the championship nearly wrapped up. The stipulation of the night was that he was to finish anywhere except last, regardless of where his closest competitors were. Matthews did indeed finish somewhere that wasn't the back of the pack. He won the race, which was the first race that didn't end in a yellow/checkered situation in nearly a month. The rest of the top-four were Brit Andersen, Josh Sylvester, and Raymond Grassetti.
Limited Late Models: The last time Joey Ferrigno saw the light of victory lane, it was in '06 and he ended up being disqualified against wheel specifications. This time around, however, he wouldn't have to worry about being disqualified. He only had to worry about bad luck getting into the way of a strong performance, which had been hindering his chances of seeing victory lane for quite some time now. He managed to shake all of the bad luck off of him and take down his first career win in the Limited Late Model division. Andrew Durand, Rick Lanagan, and Sean Foster rounded out the board.
DARE Stocks: They managed to pull out yet another green-to-checkered event without cautions. This time, however, they did it with one lead change. John Kasper had the early lead, but Don Wood would manage to get by him not too long after the green was put away. (In fact, I don't even think it was put away before it had changed hands.) Dan Flannery and Norm Sears would also get by Kasper, and the four drivers would run single file until the checkered flag appeared. Wood was the third first-time winner of the night, and the rest of the top-four were in fact Flannery, Sears, and Kasper.
And this isn't it, nor is this all for this week. I still have to tell you faithful readers about the schedule for tomorrow night. It goes something like this:
- DARE Stocks
- Late Model 16 LCQ (if necessary)
- SK Modified 21 Means 21 LCQ (if necessary)
- Limited Late Models (20 minute time limit)
- Late Models
- SK Lights (20 minute time limit)
- SK Modifieds
So until then, I will see you tomorrow. Let's end the last Friday night program on a high note, so we can get the Fall Final in without hesitation. Speaking of the Fall Final, I will give you guys an entry list in a quickie entry tomorrow, written at some point before I leave the house. So now I bid you a good rest of tonight.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Cliff Notes of the 9/7 Program
SK Modifieds: The race for the National Championship in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series took a drastic turn, with Woody Pitkat involved in two of five cautions that occured during the feature. He couldn't bump a bad finish from his record, but Keith Rocco, also in contention, was able to remove one of his finishes with a 50 as he took down the win. Rounding out the board were Kerry Malone, Ted Christopher, and Curt Brainard.
Late Models: History was made when Dillon Moltz became the youngest person to win in a NWAAS race at the half-mile. After making a pass for the lead at the very start of the race on the backstretch, Moltz had to hold off Corey Hutchings on a green-white-checkered restart. Hutchings was passed by Jim Peterson for second, leaving him finishing third. Woody Pitkat was fourth.
SK Lights: For the third straight week, the race exceeded its twenty minute time limit. (I wouldn't be surprised if officials talk to them. Seriously.) It wasn't a bad race, really... It was during heats that was the worst part. During SK Light qualifying, Heather DesRochers and Harry Wheeler got together, ending up with Wheeler slightly on top of DesRochers. To make a long story short, neither driver raced in the feature. But back to the action in the feature, and Chris Matthews was in first when the race was called. Josh Sylvester, Brit Andersen, and Raymond Grassetti finished out the top-four.
Limited Late Models: Andrew Durand took the lead on the fifth lap of the event, and although he was challenged by Charlie Newman and Bill Davis, he still had to worry about two late race cautions... One of which occuring when Newman and Davis got together. This would set the board up as follows: Durand, Sean Foster, Kevin Gambacorta, and Rick Lanagan.
DARE Stocks: Three cautions, drivers in different cars, and a points lead battle set the stage for this feature. But with four laps to go, the battle was between the cars of Dan Flannery and Vince Gambacorta. Gambacorta had already lead on two separate occasions, but Flannery used the outside to make a pass for the lead. It would work, but Gambacorta would remain attached to Flannery's back bumper yet would be unable to stage a comeback. Flannery and Gambacorta finished first and second respectively, followed by Don Wood and Carla Botticello. Botticello would take over the points lead in the DARE Stock race by only eight points.
And there you go. Once again, it's easier to do it this way, because then I know I've gotten everything without stressing myself even more than I already have to. I guess with this method, everyone wins in the end. *nods* Okay, time to put the past behind us. We have to look towards the future! Tomorrow is another week, and another chance for the points races in all five divisions to heat up. The September Series continues with another regular program, and the order of features goes something like this:
- SK Modified 21 Means 21 LCQ (if necessary)
- Late Model 16 LCQ (if necessary)
- Limited Late Models (20 minute time limit)
- SK Lights (20 minute time limit)
- SK Modifieds
- DARE Stocks
- Late Models
Doesn't look like it's going to be too rough of a night, does it? I hope not. From what I've heard, I say that there's a zero percent chance of rain. The only thing you have to worry about is that it might be a bit chilly. So if I were you, I'd take a coat (or two) for you and whomever you might be coming with. I hope to see you at the track tomorrow. Until then, have a safe rest of today.
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Quickie Results [8/31 Program]
SK Modifieds: Ted Christopher snapped Woody Pitkat's five-race winning streak. It was his second win of the season. Brad Hietala, Pitkat, and Todd Owen finished out the board.
Late Models: Corey Hutchings survived three lap-28 restarts in order to secure his second victory of the 2007 season. The rest of the top-four were Jim Peterson, Dillon Moltz, and Michael Bennett.
SK Lights: For the second straight week in a row, the race ended up exceeding the 20 minute time limit. Three of the top-five in points ended up in a last turn crash that brought out the caution -- Brit Andersen, Glen Reen, and Raymond Grassetti -- and the race was ultimately yellow/checkered. Josh Sylvester would once again benefit from this, and scored his second straight win in a row. Chris Matthews, Mark Bakaj, and Scott Nordman finished out the board.
Limited Late Models: A crash on a lap-18 restart would seal the fate of then-leader Andrew Durand and the rest of the top-four cars at the time, giving the lead to Sean Foster. Foster would control the final two laps of the race to take down the win, his fourth of the year. Rounding out the board were Paul Conte, Lori-Jo Rzeszutek, and Michael Chaves.
DARE Stocks: The first and cleanest race of the night saw Jim Brice and Norm Sears battle for the lead within the closing laps. Sears was not able to attempt a pass, and Brice would win his first race of the year. Sears, Todd LaPorta, and Bill Dunn would finish the top-five, and with Dunn beating Carla Botticello, he would become the new points leader.
Also of note: Jesse Hinze, who originally finished tenth in the DARE Stock feature, was disqualified due to his car having an illegal air volume modification plate.
So, that's about it for tonight. Again, I apologize for not giving you full details of any one event. I will try to do better the next time. I will, however, give you a gift called the schedule for tomorrow night's events. We are starting the September Series, boys and girls! Four races remain in the battle for the championships, and I have a feeling the race might be closer than you may think. Here is a rundown of the feature order.
- Late Model 16 LCQ (if necessary)
- SK Modified 21 Means 21 LCQ (if necessary)
- SK Lights (20 minute time limit)
- DARE Stocks
- Late Models
- Limited Late Models (20 minute time limit)
- SK Modifieds
Okay, all deadlines aside, I shall see you tomorrow. I am quite positive that we will get this program in. Until then, have a safe rest of today.