THOMPSON – It was an event that proved wild and unpredictable at the front from the start.
Then Ronnie Williams brought a dominant calm to the table at Thompson Speedway.
Williams went to the lead and then went unchallenged on the way to victory in the first of two 20-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified features Sunday at Thompson Speedway.
The two features are the opening segments of the 20/20 Shootout Sunday. After the two 20-lap features the overall winner of the day is decided through a 10-lap lap shootout finale.
It was the second victory of the season at Thompson for Williams, the reigning SK Modified division champion and current points leader at Stafford Speedway.
“We’ve had a fast car all day,” Williams said. “I knew [car owner Adam Skowyra] and these guys brought me a good piece today. I was really looking forward to it and I think it showed out there that we were just a fast car. We got to the lead and we were just hoping to not have a caution.”
Troy Talman of Oxford, Mass. was second and Keith Rocco of Wallingford third.
The wildness began early at the front. Todd Owen got by Justin Albernaz for the lead on lap four with Talman following to second and Rocco to third.
On lap five Talman got by Owen for the lead. A lap later Rocco got by Owen for second in turn one and then pounced on Talman for the lead down the backstretch. Behind the battle for the lead it was Williams moving to third place on lap six.
Talman went back by Rocco for the lead on lap seven, but Rocco fought back a lap later to return to the front of the field.
Talman kept up the trading up front by going back to the front through turn one on lap nine, pulling Williams to second place.
On lap 11 it was Williams making the final move up front, going by Talman for the lead for good coming off of turn two.
Great job by Ronnie and The #50 team. 2nd win of the season. In the teams 1st season of competition. Took a little while but great job. Go get them in race 2