Nick Ladyga Scores Dramatic Legends Victory At Waterford Speedbowl

WATERFORD – Nick Ladyga used a crossover move in the final corner to overtake Giovanni Giarratana and win the 20-lap Legends feature Saturday at the Waterford Speedbowl.

It was the first victory of the season at Waterford for Ladyga, of Voluntown. Giarratana, of Newington, held on for second and Dylan Izzo of Westport third.

Giarratan looked as if he had the event won before Ladyga started chewing up ground between them late. On the final lap Ladyga got a massive run off turn two and went to the outside of Giarratana on the backstretch. In turn four Ladyga dove to the bottom under Giarratana and won the drag race to the checkered by one one thousandth of a second.

“I wasn’t sure, it was really close,” Ladyga said. “We were neck and neck. I was looking at the scoreboard back there, maybe it was going to give me any kind of clue. I’m glad I got the win. I knew I just had to pace myself and run him down and then I was able to do the crossover coming out of [turn] four and I was able to get him.”

Said Giarratana: “The motor just started cutting out. I was looking at the oil temperature gauge. The temperature seemed fine but the more laps we were putting on the motor it just started cutting out with two laps to go, before they even threw the white flag. I did everything I could to stay in front. The lapped car kind of got in my way. What are you going to do? We’ll definitely beat him next time.”