Welcome Back: Ken Cassidy Jr. In Mini Stock Victory Lane For First Time In 2013 At Waterford

WATERFORD – On May 19, 2012 Ken Cassidy celebrated his seventh Mini Stock division victory of the season at the Waterford Speedbowl.

Ken Cassidy Jr.

Superman seemed invincible. In 2013 it has seemed someone found a way to hide some kryptonite within Cassidy’s chassis.

Saturday, in the sixth event of the season, the Lisbon driver finally shook the early season demons, rolling to victory in the 25-lap Mini Stock feature at the Waterford Speedbowl.

“It’s about time,” Cassidy said. “My guys work so hard. We’ve been struggling with some stupid stuff here. We didn’t do too bad tonight with a bent rear and a sticky throttle. … What an awesome night.”

Bill Leonard of Charlestown, R.I. was second and Garrett Denton of Hope Valley, R.I. third.

Last year Cassidy finished the second with a division record 12 victories in 21 starts, on the way to his fourth track championship and his first NASCAR Division IV short track national title.

Over the first five events this year Cassidy had two seconds, two thirds and a 13th place finish.

“I think last year we did a little too good,” Cassidy said. “To meet the standards this year, seconds and thirds just weren’t doing it for us. I was getting down on myself a little bit. Going home and working on the car was the only thing we could do.”

Cassidy went to the outside of Leonard in a battle for the lead and took that lead with eight laps left. The side-by-side battle continued until Cassidy cleared Leonard off of turn two with three laps remaining.

“The throttle was sticking on me,” Cassidy said. “The return spring broke. So when I lifted the throttle stayed on and I’d have to pull it up with my foot. That kind of scared me a little bit so I was kind of floating it in there a little easy.”

Said Leonard: “That was a great battle with Kenny. It’s always fun to run side-by-side with him And when you’re running side-by-side you know you’re doing pretty good because obviously Kenny does well here.”