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www.jeff-pearl.com: 08/01/09 Waterford Late Model Results
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Hope Valley, Rhode Island native Rich Staskowski led the first 14 laps in the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature. Old Lyme’s Jeff Smith was racing in second, while Dennis Botticello and Bruce Thomas Jr. were making steady progress through the pack to move into the top five when the first caution waved for Michael Lindquist who spun off the racing surface.
Botticello, from Suffield, moved to the lead using an inside maneuver on Staskowski at halfway of the 30-lap feature. North Branford’s Ernie Bertrand followed into second a lap later. Joe Curioso of Pawcatuck moved by Staskowski for third, bringing Thomas in line behind him into the fourth position. While Botticello was comfortably leading up front, Thomas had advanced to third on lap 21 following another restart. A lap later, the nine time winner this season was in second over Bertrand. Botticello and Thomas pulled away from the pack to set up a dramatic finish.
Thomas moved in on Botticello as the laps continued to tick off. Thomas appeared to have the stronger handling car, but Botticello was able to hold off Thomas down the straightaways. As the field took the white flag, Thomas nosed under Botticello making contact entering turn one. Botticello was unable to save his machine from spinning. Thomas was the first to take the checkered flag, but was penalized to the last car on the lead lap immediately following the event for the contact on the leader. It moved Bertrand to the win over Curioso, Tony Macrino of Waterford, Smith, and Staskowski. |
photo courtesy Race Dog Photography |
| Pos | Driver |
| 1 |
Ernie Bertrand |
| 2 |
Joe Curioso |
| 3 |
Tony Macrino |
| 4 |
Jeff Smith |
| 5 |
Rich Staskowski |
| 6 |
Mark Hudson |
| 7 |
Brian Andronaco Jr. |
| 8 |
Dennis Botticello |
| 9 |
Bruce Thomas Jr. |
| 10 |
Mike Lindquist |
| 11 |
Tom Metcalf |
| 12 |
Robert Leblanc Jr |
| 13 |
Vin Esposito |
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