Thompson, CT (April 5, 2008): New England racing season is officially
underway as the traditional Icebreaker commenced at Thompson
International Speedway on Saturday afternoon. The main attractions are
slated for tomorrow, Sunday, April 6, 2008 beginning at 12 Noon with
the Northeastern Midget Association, six divisions of NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series Racing, and the headlining Whelen Modified Tour.
On Saturday, James Civali of Meriden, CT, stole the show when he
turned a lap of 18.585 seconds and an average speed of 120.097 to earn
the Coors Light Pole. Bobby Grigas of Marshfield, MA, was second on
the clock with a time of 18.613 seconds. The top five in qualifying
included Todd Szegedy, Ronnie Silk and Jimmy Blewett. After the redraw
it will be Grigas leading the field to green as the Whelen Modified
tour embarks on NASCAR's 60th year of Modified racing. Silk, Blewett,
Szegedy, and Civali will make up the top five for Sunday's 150 lapper
that is scheduled to go green at approximately 3:15PM.
Bert Marvin of New London, CT, bested a strong field of Sunoco
Modifieds to earn the first checker of the 2008 season for the Whelen
All-American Series at Thompson. A strong field of Sunoco Modifieds
totaling 34 took the green flag for the first of two feature events
scheduled for Icebreaker weekend. Bert Marvin led the field to green
after his heat race victory but quickly gave up the front spot to
Keith Rocco. Woody Pitkat followed through into second before the
first caution flew for a spin by Danny LaJeunesse.
On the restart, Bert Marvin got out of shape exiting turn two. A
number of top running cars were collected as the scramble ensued.
Kerry Malone, Josh Steeves, and Bobby Grigas, who was making his first
Sunoco Modified start, and others sustained damage.
Contact between the leaders, Rocco and Pitkat, on the second attempt
at the lap four restart resulted in both cars making heavy contact
with the outside wall. Several other cars were collected as well
including Shelly Perry, Ken Bouchard. Pitkat was complaining of
shoulder pain and was transported to the local hospital as a
precaution.
Marvin inherited the lead when racing finally resumed with Doug Coby,
Danny Cates, and Josh Sylvester in two. After a handful of cautions
for minor spins racing finally got underway with Marvin and Coby
waging a short battle for the lead while Jimmy Blewett, who came from
deep in the pack, raced hard with front running rookie Josh Sylvester.
Blewett moved into the fourth position by lap 10. During the longest
green flag run of the event, Marvin began to distance himself from
Coby.
By the halfway marker, Cates had company in the form of Blewett while
the best battle on the field was for the fifth position between
Sylvester, Eric Goodale, and Tommy Cravenho. Up front it was all
Marvin. A caution on lap 20 for a spin by Anthony Burr brought out the
caution and bunched up the field once again.
On the restart, Blewett appeared to be on a mission. He first took the
third spot from Cates. Less than a lap later he took the second spot
from Coby. A caution stopped all progress but lined Blewett up on the
rear bumper of Marvin for the single-file start.
Marvin held his position on three successive attempts to complete the
final two laps.
The final lap was quiet up front with Marvin cruising to victory over
Blewett and Coby. Two up-and-coming drivers Danny Cates and Josh
Sylvester rounded out the top-five.
"We won the Icebreaker," said an excited Marvin in victory lane. "It
is an awesome accomplishment to beat Jimmy Blewett."
Marvin will look to return the feat tomorrow for the second half of
the twin bill for the Sunoco Modifieds.
Jeff Zuidema of N. Brookfield, MA, looked flawless en route to victory
in the first of the twin 25s for the Late Models on Icebreaker
weekend. Marc Palmisano took the lead from pole sitter Jay Stuart to
start the first Late Model feature event of the 2008 season. Stuart
was not giving up without a fight. Sparks were flying as the two duked
it out for the top spot. An intense battle for the third spot heated
up between Rick Gentes, Corey Hutchings and Jeff Zuidema.
Gentes had made his way to third with Zuidema quickly gaining ground
before the caution flew on lap 11 for a spin by Al Mandarino. When the
racing resumed Zuidema bolted from fourth to second in a single lap.
He quickly went to work on leader Palmisano.
Zuidema led by a nose at the stripe to start lap 15. Palmisano ran the
entire lap fender-to-fender with Zuidema but had nothing for the new
leader. Zuidema stretched his lead over the final laps. Palmisano
settled for the second spot over Stuart, Gentes, and Hutchings.
The Whelen All-American Series divisions participated in qualifying on
Saturday with Danny Fields and Mike Romano claiming Mini Stocks heat
race victories. Jesse Gleason and Scott Cook were tops in the Limited
Sportsman division. Norm Wrenn and Mike O'Sullivan split Pro Stock
qualifying honors. In the Northeastern Midget Association it was Erica
Santos and Adam Cantor taking home heat race victories.
Sunoco Modified Feature Finish (Top-Ten): 1. Bert Marvin, New London,
CT; 2. Jimmy Blewett, Howell, NJ; 3. Doug Coby, Milford, CT; 4. Danny
Cates, Chaplin, CT; 5. Josh Sylvester, Lebanon, CT; 6. Todd Ceravolo,
Gales Ferry, CT; 7. Kenny Horton, Guilford, CT; 8. Glenn Griswold,
Vernon, CT; 9. Brad Vanhouten, Wading River, NY; 10. Ricky Shawn,
Bradford, RI.
Late Model Feature Finish (Top-Ten): 1. Jeff Zuidema, N. Brookfield,
MA; 2. Marc Palmisano, Hadley, MA; 3. Jay Stuart, Preston, CT; 4. Rick
Gentes, Woonsocket, RI; 5. Corey Hutchings, Salem, CT; 6. Tommy
O'Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 7. Conrad Cote, Lisbon, CT; 8. Mark
Oliveira, Blackstone, MA; 9. R.J. Marcotte, Millville, MA; 10. Mark
Jenison, Danielson, CT.
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