Anthony Nocella celebrates victory in the Valenti Modified Racing feature Saturday at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl
WATERFORD – Getting by with a little help from his friends has paid off hugely in 2017 for Anthony Nocella on the Valenti Modified Racing Series.
Last year Nocella won four series events. This year he’s on pace to match that number quickly, and the season for the division is only four races in.
Nocella, of Woburn, Mass., won the 100-lap Valenti Modified Racing Series event Saturday at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl Blastoff 2017.
Les Hinckley III of Windsor Locks was second and Jeffrey Gallup of Agawam, Mass. third.
It was the third victory in four series events this year for Nocella. He won the season opener on May 19 at Stafford Motor Speedway and was victorious on June 17 at Speedway 51 in Groveton, N.H.
“We were able to get a couple guys last year to help me out and it definitely paid off,” Nocella said. “We were able to get four wins last year so we were definitely improved over the years before. This year a couple other guys that we always knew and helped out some, they wanted to come aboard to and it’s definitely paying off. We’re making sure the car is well prepared every week. … It gives you a little more confidence. And going off the weeks before gives you some confidence. I just want to keep the momentum going here and keep picking off wins if we can.”
Nocella started 18th Saturday at Waterford and methodically worked his to the front.
“I tried to pace myself most of the race. I knew Keith [Rocco] and [Jeffrey] Gallup, a few of those guys went pretty hard there for a while and kept crossing each other over so I knew they were hurting their tires a little,” Nocella said. “I tried to just save what I could there and figured I could make a nice run for them there at the end.”
Nocella moved in behind Gallup in the lead just before caution flew with 29 laps remaining.
On the ensuing restart Nocella was able to use the outside lane to clear Gallup off of turn two and take over the lead for good.
“We started to close in on Gallup, then that restart there I got up on the outside of him and I knew our car was pretty good on the bottom and if I could keep him down I could clear him,” Nocella said. “We got a good restart there, and I think he spun the tires a little and I was able to get a little advantage on him getting into [turn] one and just squeeze him a little bit and clear him up off [the corner]. I knew we had a good car after that.”
Great race. One of the best i have seen. And a few takeaways. Nocella is pretty stout this year. Rocco proved again that he really isn’t very good in a tour car. Gallup is stepping it up. Kenny Barry really should take pointers from Hinckley about how to set up a car. He came from dead last to first in 50 laps. Used the car up and came in under caution, reset the car up and again came through the field to second. Was catching Nocella but just ran out of laps.
Crowd was real good, the concession stands looked confused, but i think they will figure it out.
The Super Modifieds at Stafford were a sight to behold and the SK feature a classic. But the racing value of the weekend goes to the Speedbowl. That was a monstrous amount of entertainment for the same ticket price as Stafford.
What do you have against Ken Barry knuckles? Do you really think Les does not talk with Kenny on set up since it is a SPAFCO? Really? Give credit where credit is due that is why they call it a team effort.
Think the Rocco car was fastest all day till the rf shock broke. Didn’t he lead the first 50 laps or so?
I was thinking the same thing. That may have been the best mrs race I’ve seen at the bowl. Plenty of fans there considering the cry babies on here complaining about the ticket price.