Zuidema, Barnett, Tagg & Taylor Whelen All-American Series Winners

Thompson, CT (July 11, 2009): Ryan Truex of Mayetta, NJ, used tire conservation to win the annual visit of the Camping World East Series event at Thompson International Speedway. Thompson regular Derek Ramstrom of W. Boylston, MA, led wire-to-wire to score a popular victory in the Pro All-Star Series (PASS) feature event.

Jeff Zuidema of N. Brookfield, MA, was back in top form in the Late Models as part of the Pepsi Full-Fendered Frenzy. “Leadfoot” Larry Barnett of Moosup, CT, extended his point lead in the Limited Sportsman division. Second-generation driver Brian Tagg of Oxford, MA, scored his first career win in the TIS Modifieds. Tim Taylor of Wauregan, CT, scored his fourth Mini Stock win of the season.

Ryan Truex of Mayetta, NJ, scored the second win of the season and of his career; joining his famous brother as a winner at Thompson Speedway. After setting fast time during qualifying, Steve Park of E. Northport, NY, who cut his teeth at Thompson early in his career in a Modified, started from the pole position. To the delight of the crowd, Park enjoyed a comfortable lead for the opening portion of the event.

The first glimpse of serious competition came on lap 37, when Eddie MacDonald was able to get by Park in turn two after a restart. A bobble by MacDonald on the same lap opened the door for Park to retain his lead. Under green, Park was able to stretch his lead over MacDonald. Once Truex had worked his way around MacDonald, Park watched as his lead dissipated a bit more with each passing lap. Truex tried on a number of occasions but finally made the pass for the lead on lap 75. Once out front, Truex was able to move out to a sizeable advantage.

The final caution of the event flew on lap 91 for a spin by Jody Lavender. A great restart, gave Park the advantage. A single lap later; however, Truex was able to reassert himself as the leader again. Matt DiBenedetto got around MacDonald for third. In the closing laps, Truex was again able to stretch his lead. Truex went unchallenged to the checkers. Park finished a solid second followed by DiBenedetto. MacDonald and Alan Tardiff completed the top five.

Derek Ramstrom of Worcester, MA, led from the drop of the green flag and held back a host of veterans to score a popular victory in front of his home track crowd. Ramstrom took the lead early and had checked out a sizeable advantage over Kelly Moore and DJ Shaw during a long green flag run. The first caution of the event flew on lap 55 for  an incident involving Shaw, who was running strong in third.

Another serious threat, Ben Rowe, came to rest in turn two on the restart with a flat tire.  Back under green, things got racy from third on back with Richie Dearborn, Kelly Moore, and Johnny Clark. Point leader Adam Bates made hard contact with the outside wall to bring out the caution once again. The final run to the checkers allowed Ramstrom to run unchallenged. Richie Dearborn held back all advances of Johnny Clark to finish second. Travis Benjamin and Kelly Moore rounded out the top five.

After a sweep on Icebreaker weekend, Jeff Zuidema of N. Brookfield, MA, had been shut out of Late Model victory lane. That all changed on Saturday night when Zuidema scored the win in a heated main event. Rick Gentes took the early lead but quickly felt the pressure from Tommy O’Sullivan. O’Sullivan, who was in search of back-to-back wins after scoring a victory on Thursday night, was in the hunt for the repeat for much of the race.

A restart on lap five set up the battle that would be the highlight of the event. O’Sullivan used the outside groove to get a slight advantage over Gentes. The two swapped the lead back and forth lap-after-lap with neither gaining much of an advantage. Zuidema looked on from third.

On lap 12, O’Sullivan and Gentes made contact exiting turn two. The contact continued down the backstretch. Zuidema saw his opportunity; making it three wide with O’Sullivan and Gentes. Zuidema came out of turn three as the leader. Contact between O’Sullivan and Gentes coming out of turn four sent Gentes spinning and the caution flying; negating the change of the lead. On the restart, O’Sullivan resumed the lead followed by Zuidema and John Materas.

Zuidema asserted himself a lap after the restart as the new leader. The pass stuck as he immediately gained some daylight at the head of the pack. The top three got strung out while there was a great battle for the fifth spot between Oliveira, Yetman, and Gentes.

At the checkers, it was Zuidema scoring the win over O’Sullivan and Materas. After the event, O’Sullivan was penalized and relegated to a last place finish. Materas was credited with the second-place finish. Mark Oliveira, Pete Yetman and Gentes rounded out the top five. Stafford Speedway hotshoe Ryan Posocco of Stafford, CT, made his first appearance of the season at Thompson to finish sixth.

Larry Barnett took his third Limited Sportsman win of the season after a spirited battle for the lead with Joe Arena. Arena took over the top spot from Scott Sundeen to set the pace early. Barnett was on the charge early quickly; making tracks to the head of the pack. Barnett was second by lap five and pressuring Arena for the lead. They were in a virtual dead-heat at the stripe to complete lap five. The two went door to door lap-after-lap while the Sundeen family looked on from third and fourth positions.

Barnett was able to get the edge by a small margin a single lap after halfway. In lapped traffic, Barnett was able to free himself from Arena.  Once out front, Barnett was able to stretch his advantage by several car lengths over Arena. The running order remained unchanged over the final two laps. Barnett took down the victory over Arena. Scott Sundeen edged his run on Jay for the third position.  Joe Coates completed the top-five.

Each week second-generation driver, Brian Tagg of Oxford, MA, has shown great progress and maturity. The experience paid off when Tagg earned his first career win.

Continuing a tradition started by his father Tom, who was a fan favorite in the Sunoco Mods for many years.

Tagg capitalized on his pole starting position to lead Brian Sullivan early. For the first half of the event, Tagg was able to maintain a five car length advantage over Sullivan. Behind the leaders, there was plenty of action for the third position as Richie Ferreira, Glenn Boss, RJ Marcotte and Cam McDermott jockeyed for position. The battled got too intense with contact between Marcotte and Boss. Boss went spinning while Marcotte was penalized for his involvement. Tagg watched his lead disappear.

On the restart, Tagg was able to grab the advantage but had pressure from Sullivan. McDermott ran along in third followed by Ferreira and John Studley. Over the final laps, Sullivan could get alongside Tagg but could not grab the lead away from the determined young driver. Tagg took down the popular win followed by Sullivan, McDermott, Ferriera and Studley.

An action-packed Mini Stock main event found Tim Taylor of Wauregan, CT, in victory lane. Taylor was locked in a heated battle for the lead with his young son Nate before taking the lead and ultimately the win. Taylor took the lead from Nate on lap four. Once out front, it was anything but smooth sailing for Tim, who had his hands full with both Nate and Scott Michalski. The father son duo went door-to-door for several laps with Sc. Michalski lurking within striking distance. During the long green flag run, T. Taylor was able to distance himself from the battle between N. Taylor and Sc. Michalski.

Thursday night winner Brad Caddick went up in smoke to bring out the caution on lap 13. On the ensuing restart, Michalski got a great run on Taylor but had to settle back in line in second. Randy Churchill had moved into the third spot after the restart. Taylor sailed under the checkers for his fourth feature win of the season. Sc. Michalski continued to have a consistent season finishing second. Churchill, N. Taylor and Eric Bourgeois completed the top five.

Camping World East Series Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Ryan Truex, Mayetta, NJ; 2. Steve Park, E. Northport, NY; 3. Matt DiBenedetto, Grass Valley, CA; 4. Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, MA; 5. Alan Tardiff, Lyman, ME; 6. Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville, CA; 7. Jesus Hernandez, Fresno, CA; 8. Ryan Duff, Hazard, KY; 9. Jonathan Smith, Beacon Falls, CT; 10. Brett Moffitt, Grimes, IA.

Pro All Star Series Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Derek Ramstrom, W. Boylston, MA; 2. Richie Dearborn, Hollis, ME; 3. Johnny Clark, Hallowell, ME; 4. Travis Benjamin, Morrill, ME; 5. Kelly Moore, Scarborough, ME; 6. Steve Legendre, Danville, VT; 7. Steve Desmarais, Westport, MA; 8. Scott Alexander, Orrington, ME; 9. Ben Rowe, Turner, ME; 10. Nick Ribbe, Kington, MA.

Late Model Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Jeff Zuidema, N. Brookfield, MA; 2. John Materas Voluntown, MA; 3. Mark Oliveira, Blackstone, MA; 4. Pete Yetman, Peru, MA; 5. Rick Gentes, Woonsocket, RI; 6. Ryan Posocco, Stafford Springs, CT; 7. Randy Waterman, Killingly, CT; 8. Mike Scorzelli, Malta, NY; 9. Ken Bamford, Coventry, RI; 10. Damon Tinio, Mendon, MA.

Limited Sportsman Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Larry Barnett, Moosup, CT; 2. Joe Arena, Bristol, CT; 3. Scott Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 4. Jay Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 5. Joe Coates, Eastford, CT; 6. Jesse Gleason, Lisbon, CT; 7. Paul Coutu, Jr., Thompson, CT; 8. Kevin Bowe, Pawtucket, RI; 9. Gerald Sevigny, Brooklyn, CT; 10. Joe Plonski, Worcester, MA.

TIS Modified Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Brian Tagg, Oxford, MA; 2. Brian Sullivan, S. Windsor, CT; 3. Cam McDermott, Scituate, RI; 4. Richie Ferreira, Raynham, MA; 5. John Studley, Framingham, MA; 6. Jay Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 7. Leo Oliveira, Raynham, MA; 8. Glenn Boss, Danielson, CT; 9. R.J. Marcotte, Millville, MA; 10. Denis Legere, N. Reading, MA.

Mini Stock Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Tim Taylor, Wauregan, CT; 2. Scott Michalski, S. Killingly, CT; 3. Randy Churchill, Niantic, CT; 4. Nate Taylor, Wauregan, CT; 5. Eric Bourgeois, E. Haddam, CT; 6. Steven Michalski, Brooklyn, CT; 7. Chad Baxter, Pascoag, RI; 8. Steve Romjue, Coventry, RI; 9. Fred Michalski, Dayville, CT; 10. Brent Gleason, Lisbon, CT.