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www.jeff-pearl.com: 04/02/06 Waterford SK Results
Frank Ruocco Wins Speedbowl's SK-150
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Frank Ruocco grabbed the lead from pole sitter Jimmy Blewett with 12 laps left and then survived a determined challenge from best friend Kenny Horton to capture the Budweiser Modified Nationals SK-150 Sunday at Waterford Speedbowl.
The final restart, with four laps remaining, set up an incredible battle, Horton finishing at Ruocco’s door with Chris Pasteryak and Blewett right behind.
Ruocco’s challenge began with 20 laps left. Others – Shawn Monahan, Ron Yuhas Jr., Pasteryak – had tried to get by Blewett. All failed, Monahan, in fact, winding up in the fourth turn wall.
“I was just trying to be patient,” said Ruocco. “I was getting into the back of [Blewett] almost every lap because he was using the brakes a lot. We’re rolling through the corners at maybe 70 mph and he would hit the brakes. Maybe he was trying to help himself turn, but I was getting into him every lap. I just tried to control how hard.”
With 12 laps left, the hit was just hard enough to disrupt Blewett’s momentum. Before the only other leader recovered, Ruocco, Pasteryak and Horton were all by.
Blewett, unhappy with Ruocco’s move, told the media “He drove straight into the back of me. He never even lifted.”
Apparently addressing previous encounters with challengers, Blewett added “…it seemed…everybody who wanted to pass on the outside wanted to drive into the side of my car. If you want to drive into my car, you’re going to get a lesson.”
Horton grabbed second on the final restart and heading under the white flag was at Ruocco’s door. “I thought I had him,” said Horton, adding “Frank taught me four years ago how to drive a race car. Evidently he didn’t teach me everything.”
Dennis Gada came back from an early crash to grab fifth followed by Jeff Pearl, SK-rookie of the year candidate Jeffrey Paul, Wendell Dailey, Don Fowler and Rowan Pennink.
Rob Summers, who set fast time in Saturday’s qualifying, was all but eliminated in an early crash. Mechanical woes plagued 2005 winner Tom Fox, Rob Janovic Jr. and Ted Christopher. Yuhas fell victim to a broken rear end and finished 18th. |
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| Pos | Driver |
| 1 |
Frank Ruocco |
| 2 |
Kenny Horton |
| 3 |
Chris Pasteryak |
| 4 |
Jimmy Blewett |
| 5 |
Dennis Gada |
| 6 |
Jeff Pearl |
| 7 |
Jeffrey Paul |
| 8 |
Wendell Dailey |
| 9 |
Don Fowler |
| 10 |
Rowan Pennink |
| 11 |
John Bergenty |
| 12 |
Tom Fox |
| 13 |
Brandon Hansen |
| 14 |
Rob Janovic |
| 15 |
Diego Monahan |
| 16 |
Rich Duranti |
| 17 |
Tom Cravenho |
| 18 |
Ron Yuhas |
| 19 |
Rob Summers |
| 20 |
Frank Mucciacciaro |
| 21 |
Dennis Charette |
| 22 |
Tyler Chadwick |
| 23 |
Shawn Monahan |
| 24 |
Ted Christopher |
| 25 |
Tom Rogers |
| 26 |
John Brouwer |
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