Wild ‘n Wacky Point Battles Tighten Going Into Finale

For immediate release from the New London-Waterford Speedbowl

WATERFORD — No driver was able to wrap up a championship during the next-to-last Wild & Wacky event of the season Wednesday at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl. Pete Zaikarite and Dave Yardley, however, came close. And Isaiah Newcomb and Brad Strickland ended the night knocking on the door.

Newcomb, by virtue of his third win of the season and Zachary Martinez’s third-place run, pulled to within one point of Martinez in the battle for the championship.

The race is just as tight in the Bandoleros as Strickland finished second and point leader Milania Shilosky was fourth, cutting Shilosky’s advantage to four points.

The titles in all four division will be decided next week on championship night Wednesday, the final event of the Wild & Wacky 2022 .

Zaikarite, who dominated the 25-lap X-Car feature for his sixth win of the season, leads defending champ Chuck McDonald by 28 points with one race left to put a virtual padlock on his second X-Car title. He had to survive a physical battle with Corey Caddick, however, to make it to the winner’s circle.

“Corey had a real fast car tonight,” Zaikarite said. “My hat is off to him. It was a tough race.”

Zaikarite vaulted into the lead early, but could never shake loose from Caddick. His winning margin was only 0.096 seconds.

Devin Tate had come close to victory during the past two shows, but needed some extra energy Wednesday to hold off a fast-charging William Rheaume.

“It seems the last couple of weeks, the car is getting better and better,” Tate said. But he also doesn’t know why.

“I don’t know how it happened,” Tate said, “But we’re here.”

Rheaume said there was nothing he could do to prevent Tate’s second win of the year.

“He was hooked up,” Rheaume said. “We just didn’t have enough.”

Yardley finished fifth and leads Sean Skinner by 18 points. He needs to finish 17th or better Wednesday to nail down his second Super-X car crown.

Newcomb was under pressure from Brody Monahan for the entire race, but never lost his intensity in the 25-lap Legends event.

“I just knew I needed to go as fast as I could,” Newcomb said.

Monahan, who got off to a slow start, moved to within striking distance late in the race, but didn’t have enough race left to make a serious threat.

Martinez was involved in an early altercation and rallied to finish third.

“Those things happen,” Martinez said. “But we did a good job of moving back up through the field.”

While Martinez is ahead by 1, the tiebreaker between the two drivers is tied with three wins apiece.

Joey LeMay. In only his second Speedbowl appearance, torpedoed past the field for his first win in the 20-lap Bandolero feature.

“I love this place,” LeMay said. “I was just looking back in my mirror and I was hoping no one would make a run at me.”
Strickland came close, but fell short.

In the Bandolero tiebreaker, Shilosky has the edge with five wins.

The Bandoleros return to the Speedbowl Saturday in the first leg of a special three race series. They will be joined by the SK Modifieds, the SK Lights, the Late Models, the Street Stocks, the Open Street Stocks  and the Legends.
All First Responders in attendance will be admitted for $10.

25-lap Super-X Cars: 1. Devin Tate, Preston; 2. William Rheaume, Franklin; 3. Ben Pollard, Oakdale,; 4. Sean Skinner , Ledyard,; 5. Dave Yardley, Kensington,; 6. Donald “Bud” Kuehne , Clinton; 7. Mitch Bombard , Willimantic; 8. John Nunes, Middletown; 9. Toby Leonard, Oakdale; 10. John Nash , Willington; 11. Jim Reilly ; 12. Caity DeSomma, Richmond, RI; 13. Pipper Beal  Ledyard,; 14. David Ciastko, Madison.

25-lap X-Cars: 1. Pete Zaikarite Jr., Broadbrook; 2. Corey Caddick, Richmond, RI; 3. Wade Robbins , Pawcatuck,; 4. Chuck McDonald , Groton,; 5. Ryan Magliano Salem; 6. Richard Nye ; 7. Steven Talaba, Ledyard; 8. Matt Martel     Stafford; 9. Christian Herman , North Branford; 10. Bruce Sperry , Waterford,; 12. Tim Burgess , Norwich; 12. Grant Spaulding , Westerly, RI; 13. Jamie Ventura , Colchester,; 14. David Grengs, Stonington; 15. Keith McDonald, Griswold.

25-lap INEX Legends: 1. Isaiah, Newcomb, Plymouth, MA; 2. Brody Monahan, Waterford; 3. Zachary Martinez, N. Kingstown, RI; 4. Shileigh Martinez, North Kingston; 5. Kevin Davis,     Somers; 6. Richard Helger Jr. , Tiverton, RI; 7. Riley Paul , Ledyard; 8. Luke LeBrun , Newton, MA.

20-lap Bandoleros: 1. Joey LeMay, North Smithfield, RI; 2. Brad Strickland, Uncasville,; 3. Trenton Starkweather, Chaplin; 4. Milania Shilosky, Colchester; 5. Allyha DeSomma , Richmond, RI