Pitkat & Trudeau Score Icebreaker Weekend with Saturday Wins

Thompson, CT: Perseverance paid off for everyone at Thompson International Speedway on Saturday to officially kick-off the 2006 season. After playing the waiting game for inclement weather that included everything from rain to sleet to snow, Woody Pitkat and Pat Trudeau of Mansfield, CT found victory lane in the Sunoco Mods and Late Models respectively. Pitkat overcame a trying day to take down his first SK victory at Thompson. The Stafford Springs driver was involved in an incident during practice but recovered to score the victory. Trudeau had a bit of an easier day, taking the lead on lap seven and never looking back.

Woody Pitkat of Stafford Springs, CT picked up where he left off by claiming the victory in the Sunoco Modified division. The young competitor took home top honors back in November at the North-South Shootout in the final event of the 2005 season and went on to win in fine-fashion in the season opener.

The battle for the lead in the first Twin for the Sunoco Modifieds was furious from the drop of the green flag right through to the checkers. In the early going, it was a three-car battle for the top spot between Kerry Malone, Woody Pitkat and Kerry Malone. After a short stint at the point, Malone relinquished the lead to Pitkat, leaving the rookie to battle with Keith Rocco. The two went side by side for a couple of laps before Rocco took command. Ceravolo joined the fray moving passed Pitkat for second and looking for more.

The top-five cars of Rocco, Ceravolo, Pitkat, Bert Marvin and Tommy Cravenho at the halfway marker ran nose-to-tail. Ceravolo made his bid for the lead on lap 12. The sparks were flying as Ceravolo drifted up in the corner opening the door for Pitkat low beneath them both. Pitkat thought the better of three-wide and settled back in line.

A caution for debris on the front stretch set up a restart with 10-laps to go. Contact in turn one on the restart found Bert Marvin spinning from the fourth position also collecting several other cars. The restart once again pitted Ceravolo against Rocco on the front row. Contact between the leaders found Rocco in the outside wall and Ceravolo to the rear for his participation.

Pitkat resumed the lead with the green flag in the air once again followed by Cravenho and defending champ Jeff Malave. The top three began to distance themselves from the rest of the pack. With only three laps remaining, Malave put the pressure on Cravenho for second to no avail.

The win was Pitkat’s followed by Cravehno, and Malave. Ceravolo recovered to finish fourth over Dan LaJeunesse.

Pat Trudeau of Mansfield, CT motored to the victory in the first of two Late Model events scheduled for the weekend. Chris “Moose” Douton took the lead from the drop of the green flag but quickly had his hands full with a charging Trudeau. He made a run on the leader on lap six and made the clean pass for the lead in exiting turn one. R.J. Marcotte, who also had moved past Douton, made hard contact with the wall after sliding in fluid dropped on the racing surface.

Back under green, Trudeau continued to show the way. The battle was heating up for the second position between Douton and Jeff Hartwell. Meanwhile, the best battle on the field was for the fifth position between Ryan Posocco and Marc Palmisano. When the checkered flag flew at the end of the rough and tumble 20-lapper, Trudeau had scored the first Late Model victory of his career. Hartwell ran home in the second position over Douton. Posocco held on for fourth over Palmisano.

The Icebreaker festivities continue on Sunday with a full day of racing activity. The action will kick off promptly at Noon with a scuff session for the Whelen Modified Tour followed by time trials at 12:30. Six-divisions of NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series racing action will follow. The premiere event of the weekend the 150 lapper for the Whelen Modified Tour will cap off the debut weekend .

Sunoco Modified Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs, CT; 2. Tommy Cravenho, Raynham, MA; 3. Jeff Malave, S. Windsor, CT; 4. Todd Ceravolo, Gales Ferry, CT; 5. Dan LaJeunesse, Norwich, CT; 6. David Salzarulo, Monson, MA; 7. Buddy Charette, Woodstock, CT; 8. Jimmy Blewett, Howell, NJ; 9. Bert Marvin, Waterford, CT; 10. Tom Rogers, Jr., Patchogue, NY.

Late Model Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Pat Trudeau, Mansfield, CT; 2. Jeff Hartwell, E. Putnam, CT; 3. Chris Douton, Waterford, CT; 4. Ryan Posocco, Stafford Springs, CT; 5. Marc Palmisano, Hadley, MA; 6. Steve Landry, Tyngsboro, MA; 7. Jeff Hesselton, Auburn, MA; 8. Mark Jenison, Cranston, RI; 9. Mark Oliveira, Blackstone, MA; 10. Conrad Cote, Lisbon, CT.