Thompson is Sweet Spot for Mod Tour’s Silk; Ceravolo & Zuidema Score Big Wins; Ramstrom & Sullivan Streak; Romano & Sundeen Also Winners

Thompson, CT: The Thompson International Speedway, The New England Dodge Dealers, and Charter Communication joined together to present an action-packed night of racing that included a 75-lap green flag race for the Whelen Modified Tour along with six divisions of weekly racing series action. Ronnie Silk of Norwalk, CT, who has gained an affinity to the Speedway, scored the second win of his career at the historic oval.

Todd Ceravolo of Gales Ferry, CT, took top honors in a tremendous Sunoco Modified war. Sixteen-year-old Derek Ramstrom of Worcester, MA, scored his second straight win in the Pro Stock division. Tim Sullivan of S. Windsor followed suit with consecutive wins in the TIS Modifieds. Jeff Zuidema of N. Brookfield, MA, continued his domination of the Late Model division with his third win of the short season. Mike Romano of Glendale, RI, in Mini Stocks and Scott Sundeen of Douglas, MA, in the Limited Sportsman division also scored victories during Charter Communications’ presentation of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.

Silk took the lead on a late race restart to score the win over Ted Christopher. Early in the race, it was a battle of the young guns with Coors Light Pole Award winner Bobby Grigas III and Kevin Goodale duking it out for the lead. Contact between Flemke and Grigas shuffled the top positions. Eric Beers and Chuck Hossfeld also took their turns at the front of the pack. Christopher led the lion’s share of the laps; however, Silk was strong in the final stages. After taking over the top spot, despite some initial pressure, the young driver was able to turn away the challenges of veteran Christopher. Mike Stefanik, Chuck Hossfeld, and Tony Ferrante, Jr. completed the top five.

Todd Ceravolo of Gales Ferry, CT, scored a hard-fought victory in a talented field of competitors in the Sunoco Modified main event on Thursday night. Ceravolo became the fourth different winner in four weeks of Whelen All-American Series racing at the Speedway in 2008.

“It’s nice to win with a Dodge motor on Dodge night,” said Ceravolo in victory lane.

Ceravolo took command of the 30-lap main event from the drop of the green flag. In the early going, Ceravolo was chased by Bobby Grigas and Danny Cates. Bert Marvin and Jimmy Blewett were getting racy for the fourth spot. Tommy Cravenho, Keith Rocco, and Kerry Malone battled deeper inside the top ten.

Contact with Cates found Grigas falling into the clutches of Blewett and Marvin. Grigas maintained third while Marvin was able to take the fourth spot from Blewett. Rocco continued to battle with Cravenho as Malone looked on.

Ceravolo had checked out on the field with Cates running in third. Marvin was all over the back bumper of Grigas in pursuit.

At halfway, Ceravolo continued to lead Cates. Things really heated up between Grigas and Marvin. They swapped positions back and forth before the first caution of the event flew on lap 17 for a spin for Carl Oberg. The yellow erased the sizeable lead for Ceravolo. Blewett ducked down pit road for service under the caution.

After a failed attempt at a restart, Ceravolo was able to regain his lead. Both Cates and Grigas lost ground as Marvin moved into second followed by Rocco, and Malone. A scary looking wreck slowed the event again on lap 20 that involved Eric Goodale and Anthony Burr.

Ceravolo got the edge on the restart with Rocco charging. There was a tense moment when Rocco made contact with Marvin as they battled for position. Sparks flew when Marvin lost a right front tire. The field scattered when the caution flew. No one was collected during the incident.

On the restart, Rocco lined up to the outside of Ceravolo. With a push by Malone Ceravolo edged ahead once again. Rocco dove low trying in vain to get the lead from Ceravolo. Malone ran strong in third. Pitkat, who started deep in the field, had moved into the fourth position.

Over the final five laps, Ceravolo had his hands full with Rocco. Pitkat had reeled in Malone making a race for third as well. In the end, Ceravolo held on for the victory over Rocco, who slid through turn four coming to the checkered flag making a valiant effort. Malone turned back the advances of Pitkat. Cates rounded out the top five.

Crowd favorite Derek Ramstrom of Worcester, MA, pulled his Charter Communications #35 into Pro Stock victory lane for the second straight week. George Bessette took the lead from polesitter Jim Banfield on lap four. Jay Macedonio cleared Banfield while last week’s winner Ramstrom joined the top three. Norm Wrenn was reeling in the trio as the race approached halfway. Macedonio peeked inside of Bessette exiting each corner. Ramstrom applied similar pressure to Macedonio as the three cars battled at the head of the field.

Ramstrom got a run on Macedonio on lap 17 but could not make the pass stick. Lap after lap the top three battled. Macedonio tried a move on leader Bessette exiting turn two on lap 19. Macedonio bobbled; slowing quickly. Contact with Ramstrom ended Macedonio’s bid at the win.

On the restart, Ramstrom used the coveted outside groove to take the top spot from Bessette on lap 20. Fred Astle, Jr., who had been quiet to this point in the race, moved by Wrenn and into third. With five laps remaining, Ramstrom had checked out on the field with Astle making a bid on Bessette. Over the final laps, Zuidema was getting racy for the fourth spot.

In the end, it was all Ramstrom, handily taking the win. Bessette came home second over Astle. Wrenn held on for fourth over Zuidema.

Jeff Zuidema of N. Brookfield, MA, continues to be the man to beat in the Late Model division. After missing victory lane last week by one spot Zuidema was back on top with his third win in four races. Before polesitter Tom O’Sullivan could work up much of a lead, the caution flew when Mark Jenison, Conrad Cote, and Pete Yetman, all running inside the top five, were involved in an incident. The restart pitted O’Sullivan against the high-flying Rick Gentes.

O’Sullivan jumped out to a narrow lead over Gentes. The two went door-to-door for the top spot for a pair of laps when Zuidema joined the fray. A single lap into the run Gentes edged ahead to take over the top sot. O’Sullivan dropped to third behind Zuidema.

Zuidema took up pursuit of Gentes while it was a three car battle for the third position between O’Sullivan, Marc Palmisano and Jay Stuart. In lapped traffic O’Sullivan was able to hold onto the third spot. Palmisano settled back in line with Stuart in tow.

After his dogged pursuit of Gentes, Zuidema was the new leader on lap 13. Once out front, Zuidema immediately stretched his lead over Gentes. Palmisano continued to battle with O’Sullivan and Stuart fell back slightly. The second caution flew when Mike Scorzelli slowed on the front stretch.

Zuidema proved to be up to the challenge on the restart taking a commanding lead once again. Gentes ran alone in second while Palmisano’s relentless pursuit of O’Sullivan continued. Palmisano got a good run exiting turn two on lap 22 to take the third spot. Over the closing laps, Zuidema stretched his lead. He went unchallenged to the checkers for this third win. Gentes came home third followed by Palmisano, O’Sullivan, and Stuart.

Scott Sundeen of Douglas, MA, took over where his son left off in the Limited Sportsman division with a victory on Thursday night. The excitement started early in the feature when front row starters Jason Chicolas, Paul Palen, and Randy Jurcik went into turn one of the opening lap three-wide. Jurcik emerged as the leader followed by Chicolas. By lap two, the elder Sundeen had already started to make his bid. He passed two cars and into the second position on a single lap. It took only one more lap for S. Sundeen to take control of the event.

As the race unfolded, Larry Barnett had reeled in leader Sundeen. Barnett got alongside Sundeen on lap 11. The two went door-to-door for a pair of laps with neither getting a decided advantage. On lap 15, Sundeen was able to pull ahead slightly to reclaim the lead exclusively. Over the final two laps, Barnett dogged Sundeen. He looked to the low groove in the closing laps but could not muster up a win. Sundeen took the victory by a car length to claim consecutive victories for his family. Barnett settled for second. Ed Puleo, Jesse Gleason, and Ernie Larose completed the top five.

Tim Sullivan of S. Windsor made it two in a row in TIS Modified competition on Thursday night to kick-off feature activity. Shane Michalski jumped from his pole starting position to lead the 20-lap TIS Modified main event. His teammate Glenn Boss ran in second while the best battle on the field was for the third position. Leo Oliviera held the spot before giving way to Kurt Vigeant. The man on the move was Sullivan. He moved into third and quickly began to chase down the lead duo.

Sullivan handily took over second from a smoking Boss. On the same lap, Michalski relinquished the lead to Sullivan’s charge. Sullivan was the new leader on lap 14. He withstood a pair of cautions to score consecutive victories. Michalski finished second. Boss held on to stand on the podium. Vigeant and Leo Adams rounded out the top five.

Defending Mini Stock champion Mike Romano of Glendale, RI, scored his first win of the 2008 season to also become the fourth different winner in four races. Early leader Billy Pomposelli put up a good fight leading through lap seven. On lap seven, Scott Michalski was able to steal the lead away.

Michalski’s stay at the front was short-lived with Romano storming into the lead on lap eight. Michalski remained in striking distance over the final stage of the race. On the final lap, Michalski made one last ditch effort on Romano’s lead. The champ went unphased to the checkers. Michalski, Tim Taylor, Pomposelli and Glynn Roy made up the top-five.

Sunoco Modified Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Todd Ceravolo, Gales Ferry, CT; 2. Keith Rocco, Wallingford, CT; 3. Kerry Malone, Needham, MA; 4. Woody Pitkat, Stafford, CT; 5. Danny Cates, Chaplin, CT; 6. Tommy Cravenho, Raynham, MA; 7. Bobby Grigas, III, Marshfield, MA; 8. Jimmy Blewett, Howell, NJ; 9. Josh Sylvester, Lebanon, CT; 10. Bert Marvin, New London, CT.

Whelen Modified Tour Unofficial Top Ten: 1. Ronnie Silk, Norwalk, CT; 2. Ted Christopher, Plainville, CT; 3. Mike Stefanik, Coventry, RI; 4. Chuck Hossfeld, Buffalo, NY; 5. Tony Ferrante, New Hyde Park, NY; 6. Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, CT; 7. Matt Hirschman, Northampton, PA; 8. Bobby Santos, III, Franklin, CT; 9. Kevin Goodale, Riverhead, NY; 10. Ryan Preece, Kensington, CT.

Pro Stock Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Derek Ramstrom, Worcester, MA; 2. George Bessette, Danbury, CT; 3. Fred Astle, Jr., Westport, MA; 4. Norm Wrenn, Nashua, NH; 5. Jeff Zuidema, N. Brookfield, MA; 6. Dave Berghman, Seekonk, MA; 7. Mike O’Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 8. Steve Desmarais, Westport, MA; 9. Jeff Connors, Ellington, CT; 10. Dave Silvia, Warwick, RI.

Late Model Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Jeff Zuidema, N. Brookfield, MA; 2. Rick Gentes, Woonsocket, RI; 3. Marc Palmisano, Hadley, MA; 4. Tommy O’Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 5. Jay Stuart, Preston, CT; 6. John Materas, Voluntown, CT; 7. Jeff Hartwell, Putnam, CT; 8. Andy Gaspar, Andover, CT; 9. Al Mandarino, Lake Grove, NY; 10. Ken Bamford, Coventry, RI.

Limited Sportsman Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Scott Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 2. Larry Barnett, Ledyard, CT; 3. Ed Puleo, Branford, CT; 4. Jesse Gleason, Lisbon, CT; 5. Ernie Larose, Plainfield, CT; 6. Joe Arena, Bristol, CT; 7. Paul Palen, Pelham, NH; 8. Randy Jurcik, Chaplin, CT; 9. Jason Chicolas, Sutton, MA; 10. Joe Campbell, Moosup, CT.

TIS Modified Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Tim Sullivan, S. Windsor, CT; 2. Shane Michalski, Woodstock, CT; 3. Glenn Boss, Danielson, CT; 4. Kurt Vigeant, Oxford, CT; 5. Leo Adams, Putnam, CT; 6. Richie Ferreira, Raynham, MA; 7. Cam McDermott, Scituate, RI; 8. Bart Ramos, Putnam, CT; 9. John Studley, Framingham, MA; 10. Brian Tagg, Oxford, MA.

Mini Stock Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Mike Romano, Glendale, RI; 2. Scott Michalski, S. Killingly, CT; 3. Tim Taylor, Wauregan, CT; 4. Billy Pomposelli, Chepachet, RI; 5. Glynn Roy, Sterling, CT; 6. Leo Defevers, Brooklyn, CT; 7. Tyler Poulin, Millville, MA; 8. Chuck Rogers, Quaker Hill, CT; 9. Fred Michalski, Dayville, CT; 10. Mike Viens, Seekonk, MA.