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    Wednesday, April 24, 2024

    Rocco caps off another big season at Speedbowl

    Waterford - Keith Rocco completed another dominating season by capturing the Valenti Modified Racing Series 100-lap feature on Sunday, the highlight of a wild final day of racing at the Waterford Speedbowl.

    After heaving rain on Saturday forced Speedbowl officials to turn its Finale Weekend series into a one-day event, 13 feature races were held Sunday as Waterford's 2014 racing season came to a close.

    In addition to Rocco's victory, Corey Barry (SK Light Modified) and Garrett Denton (Mini Stock), secured season championships by winning their respective features in the Whelen All-American Series races, with the other Whelen features going to Ed Puleo (SK Modified), Jason Palmer (Late Model) and Franklin's Josh Galvin (Street Stock).

    In addition, Ryan Bigelow was the NEMA Midgets winner, Dan Cugini captured the NEMA Lite feature, Norwich's Ray Reed won the Super X-Car race, Anthony Marvin captured the Bandolero feature, Preston's Wayne Shifflet won the X-Car race, Dana Dimatteo the Legend Cars race and Preston native Jay Stuart captured the Outlaw Stock race.

    Rocco overcame 11 caution flags, including one red flag, to win his third Modified Racing Series race of the season and second at the Speedbowl. He started fourth, moved to second on lap 2 and took the lead on a lap 11 caution when leader Kyle James encountered mechanical problems.

    Steve Masse hung with Rocco during the middle portion of the race, even taking the lead on lap 50, but Rocco reclaimed the lead following a restart on lap 52 and was never challenged again.

    Tommy Barrett wound up second and Richard Savary third.

    Rocco also let the 50-lap SK Modified feature until engine problems forced him to retire from the race on lap 37. That handed the lead to Puleo, who had moved into second just three laps earlier. Puleo was challenged by Ted Christopher but was able to hold off Christopher and Waterford's Rob Janovic Jr. during a green-white-checkered conclusion to win his third race of the season.

    Palmer's victory in the 50-lap Late Model finale was his fourth of the season. He took the lead from Anthony Ryan Jr. on lap 22, survived a three-wide challenged during a lap 37 restart, and powered his way to the checkered flag. Marc Curtis finished second and Ryan third.

    Denton, only 17, become the track's youngest NASCAR Whelen All-American Series champion when he won the 30-lap Mini Stock feature, his fifth win of the season. He passed Oakdale's Wayne Burroughs Jr. halfway through the race and never looked back, with Burroughs settling for second and Oakdale's Chris Ivory third.

    Barry clinched the SK Light Modified division title on a high note by winning his sixth race of the year. The race was red-checkered one lap shy of its scheduled 25-lap distance after following the seventh yellow caution flag. Barry was almost collected from the lead after contact with Paul Buzel on lap 21, but held on to beat D.J. Burnham and defending champion Randy Churchill Jr. of Oakdale, who wound up second in the overall standings.

    Galvin, who already had clinched his first Street Stock title, outdueled Ryan Watertown to win the 30-lap season finale. The two ran side-by-side throughout the final nine laps, but Galvin beat Waterman to the checkered flag by inches in a photo finish. Ed Gertsch was third.

    Dimatteo, a past Legend Cars champion at the track, ended a dry spell to win the 20-lap feature while Marvin (Bandolero) and Reed (Super X-Car) won their features despite already having clinched track titles. Shifflet, meanwhile, took the lead on lap 8 and went on to win the 20-lap X-Car feature while Bigelow won his first race in the 25-lap NEMA Midget feature and Cugini dominated the NEMA Lites.

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