Todd Owen Provides the Lightning at Thunder on the Sound

For immediate release from the New London-Waterford Speedbowl

WATERFORD — The 350 SMAC Super Modifieds, the NEMA Midgets and NEMA Lites provided the sound effects for Thunder on the Sound Saturday at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl.
Todd Owen, however, provided the lightning. The Somers driver made a high-voltage move against Eric Berndt early in the 35-lap SK Modified feature and pulled away for his fifth win of the season, tying Berndt for most victories.

Nickolas Hovey, meanwhile, blistered into the lead on the opening lap of the 25-lap SK Lite feature on his way to the first SK Lite win of his young career.

Ed Ryan Jr. took the lead of the 25th and final lap of the Truck feature to grab his third win, Sam Mesick held off John Bavolacco for his second 25-lap Mini Stock win and Brody Monahan cruised to his eighth Saturday night Legends win.

In touring divisions, point-leader Avery Stohr won the 25-lap Northeast Midget Association feature, veteran Randy Cabral was a winner in the 25-lap NEMA Lite event and Scott Watts Sr. won the 45-lap SMAC 350 Super Modified event.

Owen set the standard, however, in the SK Modifieds, winning for the second time in three races.

Berndt jumped by Dana DiMatteo to grab the early lead, but he as no match for the velocity of Owen.

“It is tough when all the good guys are starting in the front,” Owen said. “Eric is such a tough driver.”

Owen said Berndt’s car was tight, which gave him the opportunity to pass him.

Berndt was second and Owen’s teammate, Anthony Flannery, last week’s winner, was third.

Late Model point leader Ray Christian made his SK Modified debut and finished sixth.

Hovey, competing in his rookie SK Lite season, said he has given a few potential wins away this year. On Saturday, however, he was too fast to have anything go wrong. Hovey, starting on the pole, led from start to finish to pocket the win.

“I can’t complain,” Hovey said. “We’ve had a lot of chances for wins this year but something has gone wrong. It was nice to finally get one.”
John O’Sullivan made a late energy surge to finish second.

Ed Ryan had lost the lead to Kyle Gero in the 25-lap Truck race and wasn’t too pleased about it. So he came up with a last-lap strategy to do something about it.
“I think the 19 (Gero) used his bumper one lap early,” Ryan said. “I knew what I had to do on the last lap. It was the bump-and-run.”

Ryan shoved Gero to the curb in turn 4 on the final lap to capture his third win of the year, more than any truck driver.

Gero recovered from the taste of bumper to finish second and Emma Monahan was third. She widened her point lead to 10 over Tyler Chapman.

Mesick had a simple game plan to beat out John Bavolacco, Charles Canfield and Tom Silva to get into victory lane.

“With the gas pedal to the floor,” Mesick said. “I just tried to steer the car the right way.”

He steered it to the front after surviving a tough battle early in the race.

“We’ve worked so hard on this car,” said the popular winner. “It was worth it.”

Monahan, meanwhile, won for the second straight week and now has more wins than anyone else at the Speedbowl with 8.

“The car was amazing,” Monahan said. “I can’t ask for anything more.”

Dylan Cote made a late rally to nose out Wade Oemcke for second place.

Racing resumes Saturday with Military Appreciation Night. All past and present military members will be admitted for $10.  The SK Modifieds®, SK Lights, Late Models, Mini Stocks, X Cars and Super X cars will provide the competition.

35-lap SK Modifeds®: 1. Todd Owen, Somers; 2. Eric Berndt, Cromwell; 3. Anthony Flannery, East Hampton,; 4. Andrew Molleur, Shelton,; 5. Adam Gada, Bozrah,; 6. Ray Christian III, Uncasville; Jeff Malave, Manchester; 8. Rob Janovic Jr, Waterford; 9. John Bercham , West Greenwich, RI; 10. Wendell Dailey , Gales Ferry; 11. Dana DiMatteo , Farmington.

25-lap SK Lights: 1. Nickolas Hovey , Chaplin,; 2. John O’Sullivan III, Salem; 3. Evan Bourgeois , East Haddam; 4. Tom Abele Jr, Norwich; 5. Zack Sangermano, Plainfield,; 6. Isaiah Newcomb, Plymouth, MA; 7. Sami Anderson, Wolcott,; 8. Ethan Durocher, Canterbury; 9. Matt Brewer, Norwich. 10. 5-Jordan Churchill; 11. X6-Geoff Nooney; 12. 42-Stephen Kelogiannis

25-lap Mini Stocks: 1. Sam Mesick, East Lyme; 2. John Bavolacco, Stratford,; 3. Tommy Silva, Gales Ferry; 4. Charles Canfield , East Haven,; 5. Rick LaFlesh, Griswold; 6. Mark Panaroni , Ivoryton,; 7/ Christopher Ivory , Oakdale,; 8. Nicholas Pappacoda , North Branford,; 9. Jesse Oloski,  Salem; 10. Dave Trudeau, Mansfield; 11. Charles Beal, Ledyard,; 12. Tim Baker , Hartford,; 13. Erica Canfield, East Haven,; 14. David Dorr, Gales Ferry; 15. Stacey Zentek , East Haven; 16. Chuck McDonald , Groton, ; 17. Raymond Herman, Groton,; 18. Frank Hull Jr. , East Hampton,; 19. Aiden Sullivan , East Hampton; 20. Hailey Beal , Ledyard; 21. Wayne Taylor , Moosup; 22. Kyle Wing, Moosup.

25-lap Trucks: 1. Ed Ryan Jr., Preston; 2. Kyle Gero , Uncasville,; 3. Emma Monahan, Waterford; 4. Bert  Ouellette, Ellington; 5. Allen Coates , Ledyard,; 6. Sean Caron, East Hampton; 7. Cameron Varricchio. Berlin; 8. Andrew Pellegrini , North Grosvenordale; 9. Brian Norman, Clinton,; 10. Tyler Chapman, Mystic; 11. Mercedes Caron , East Hampton; 12. Anthony Naglieri . Island Park N.Y.

25-lap Legends:  1. Brody Monahan; 2. Dylan Cote, Griswold,; 3. Wade Oemcke , Terryville,; 4. Ethan Avellar, Attleboro; 5. Ty LeClerc , Taunton, MA; 6. Dylan Freeman, Unionville,; 7. Riley Paul , Ledyard,; 8. Scott Limkemann, Lebanon,; 9. Jordan Rosado, Lisbon.