Leonard Adds Name to First Time Winner List
WATERFORD — The R next to Toby Leonard on the New London-Waterford Speedbowl roster stood for Rookie. After 25 enthralling laps in Wednesday’s 25-lap Super X-Car feature, however, that R now stands for something else — Remarkable.
Leonard galloped into the lead on the opening lap and led the rest of the way to win his first-ever Super X-Car feature. Other Wednesday winners were Christian Herman in the X-Cars, Brody Monahan in the Legends and Brad Strickland in the Bandolero feature.
The biggest surprise was pulled off by Leonard, who gave a clue of what was going to happen in the feature when he finished a strong second in the heat race. One the feature started, he erupted like lava flowing from a volcano.
“So many people helped me get here,” an emotional Leonard said in victory lane. “They gave me the opportunity. My plan was to get away, save what I could and keep going.”
The fight was for second, Devin Tate battled with William Rheaume for about 20 laps. Although he tried every move in the Super-X car handbook, he could not figure out a way to get by Tate and eventually was turned on the final lap.
The X-Car race was much more predictable. Herman took the lead on lap 7 and spent the rest of the race expanding his advantage. It was Herman’s fourth win of the season, tying Pete Zaikarite for the division lead. Zaikarite started the feature in seventh position, but went by a determined Corey Caddick late in the race to jackhammer into second.
Monahan took the lead early in the 25-lap feature but was involved in an early altercation with Zachary Martinez. But it took him only 12 laps to recover. He moved into second on a restart and then strutted past PJ Evans one lap later to post his first Wednesday night win.
“We had a different gear ratio tonight,” Monahan said. “And I didn’t think I had enough. But I got the best out of what I had.”
Evans, who finished second, was charging at the end. “Give me a couple of extra laps, and I would have been right there,” Evans said.
Strickland took the lead with nine laps remaining in the Bandolero feature en route to his third win of the season and second straight. He took the top spot from Trenton Starkweather, who led the first 16 laps and finished third. Milania Shilosky finished second.
“I was about to go on the outside and then me and Milania hooked up,” Strickland said.
Ben Levangie’s car wasn’t perfect after qualifying for the Vintage Modifieds. So he made it perfect.
“The crew made one small adjustment after qualifying and the car was great,” Levangie said, who drove the 00 car that was owned by Joe Brady and was driven by some of the best driver in the country.
Gabriel Henry from Groton was a winner in the kid’s Power Wheel race.
Racing resumes Saturday with the final race in the SK Modified Fast 3. Also competing will be the Late Models, the Trucks, the Mini Stocks and the Street Stocks.
Results
25-lap Super-X cars: 1. Toby Leonard, Oakdale,; 2. Devin Tate, Preston; 3.Ben Castro, Oakdale; 4. Dave Yardley, Kensington; 5. Sean Skinner, Ledyard,; 6. William Rheaume, N. Franklin,; 7. Donald “Bud” Kuehne, Clinton; 8. Mitch Bombard, Willimantic; 9. John Nash, Willington,; 10. John Nunes, Middletown,; 11. Jeremy Marcella , Niantic,; 12. Caitlyn Desomma, Richmond, RI; 13. Pipper Beal, Ledyard,; 14. David Ciastko, Madison.
25-lap X-Cars: 1. Christian Herman, North Branford,; 2. Pete Zaikarite Jr., Broadbrook; 3. Corey Caddick, Richmond, RI; 4. Chuck McDonald , Groton; 5. Bruce Sperry, Waterford; 7. Brandon Lindahl, Niantic; 8. Josh Piper, Clinton; 9. Chris Palamar, East Hampton; 10. Matthew Tumolo, Old Saybrook; 11. Richard Nye; 12. Wade Robbins Pawcatuck,; 13. Grant Spaulding, Westerly, RI; 14. Ryan Magliano; 15. Steven Talaba, Ledyard.
25-lap INEX Legends: 1. Brody Monahan; 2. Waterford; 2. PJ Evans, Uncasville,; 3. Shileigh Martinez, North Kingston; 4. Zachary Martinez, N. Kingstown,; 5. Isaiah Newcomb; 6. Richard Helger Jr., Tiverton, RI; 7. Cole Robie, Windham, ME; 8. Riley Paul, Ledyard,; 9. Jordan Rosado, Lisbon,.
15-lap Bandoleros: 1. Brad Strickland, Uncasville,; 2. Milania Shilosky, Colchester; 3. Trenton Starkweather, Chaplin; 4. Allyha Desomma, Richmond, RI.
