Todd Owen made his first victory of the 2021 season at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl an enriching experience.
Enriching in his wallet that is.
Owen won the 50-lap Fast Five SK Modified feature Saturday at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl.
Owen, of Somers, earned a $3,000 first place prize for the event. It was the first of five Fast Five events planned for this season for the SK Modified division at Waterford.
Joey Gada of Salem was second and Timmy Jordan of Plainfield third.
It was the eighth career SK Modified victory at the Speedbowl for Owen.
Much of the first 33 laps of the event saw an intense battle up front with Keith Rocco leading, Mike Christopher Jr. in second and Owen in third. Rocco, the track’s all-time winningest SK Modified division driver and the track’s overall all-time winningest driver, was making his first start of the 2021 season at the Speedbowl.
With 17 laps remaining Christopher made a diving move under Rocco in a bid for the lead. Contact sent Rocco to the wall and had limping off the track with a right front flat. Rocco didn’t return to the track. Christopher was penalized to the rear of the field for the incident but retired with mechanical issues.
Owen inherited the lead, but on the lap 33 restart Cory DiMatteo used the outside lane to get by Owen for the top spot.
But Owen was able to rally back a few laps later to regain the lead for good.
Jason Palmer of Berlin scored his third victory in four events in the 30-lap Late Model feature.
Ray Christian of Uncasville was second and Glen Boss of Danielson third.
Wayne Burroughs Jr. topped the field in the 25-lap SK Light Modified feature.
R.J. Marcotte of Millville, Mass. was second and Ethan Durocher of Canterbury third.
Jason Chicolas of Sutton, Mass. prevailed in the 25-lap Street Stock feature.
Ryan Waterman of Danielson was second and Al Stone III of Durham third.
Rob Richardi Jr. of North Easton, Mass. won the 25-lap Pro Four Modified feature. Jordan Churchill of Lisbon won the 20-lap Legends feature.
Rocco was not happy with MCJ after wreck, and left his car to walked toward MCJ’s car on the track. Dangerous, but SOP for Speedbowl conflicts in the past.
Goos guys do finish first. Congrats to Todd and his top notch team
Great racing all day
Rocco deserves some credit for his success including a racing business and a beautiful family . At the same time he is an arrogant ,selfish driver who is willing to wreck other competitor’s at will with the stupid “divebomb” move that has now become the preferred way to pass. or “move ” someone and cant handle being raced as he does to others …we used to call it an “attitude problem”. right now Rocco is in a slump. doesn’t have the juice, people aren`t intimidated anymore and some are outspending and outworking you. humility goes a long way but don’t ever expect to see it . you got a taste of your own medicine from someone who is like family to you and that’s how you behave ?. get over yourself. probably hid behind one of the senior members of the Pane family when the fists started flying . this isn’t your year Kid !
The observation that exiting a car and making threatening moves is dangerous is spot on. Otherwise the notion that a confrontation between Rocco and Mike Jr could escalate beyond a verbal jousting I couldn’t imagine being any more unlikely. Mike Jr is not his uncle or even his dad. Rocco has that hip replacement and he’s no kid anymore.
Is this an extension of the Thompson dust up. “Christopher made a diving move under Rocco in a bid for the lead”. Reverse the names and it’s what happened at Thompson only at Thompson Mike Jr .ends up in the marbles and here Rocco the wall. I can imagine Mike Sr in Mike Jr’s ear during the race reminding him of that and that this may be a good time to return the favor.
Whoever wrote this last write up, you have to be the biggest freaking idiot, another one who probably doesn’t even go to the races, so you should just shut your mouth, an go punch yourself in the face real hard and then go hide in your hole you MORON !!
That was for, no more rock and roll; not the Doug guy. an Jr. had no reason or experience to try to pull off that move in the first turn especially, an the only one that should be talking to Jr. On the radio should just be his Spotter no one else, maybe then he won’t drive like he has Ants in his Pants 😉✌️
Can’t wait for sids view. This should be an epic episode. I’m hearing but can’t confirm talk of a fire extinguisher being involved in the pits during the aftermath.
I wouldn’t describe MCJ’s move as “diving”, as he began to move under Keith on the front straight. He continued to gradually move under the 57 in turn one, and contact (the 82’s right front tire into the 57) took place in turn two. My guess is that it was more a case of the 82 drifting up than the 57’s turning down, but we’ll have to wait for Sid’s View for clarification. Also, Keith appeared to sprint to the pits after he was restrained by the track crew. So, it looks like his surgeon did a good job with the hip replacement.
Charlie Brown contributed this gem, “Whoever wrote this last write up, you have to be the biggest freaking idiot, another one who probably doesn’t even go to the races, so you should just shut your mouth, an go punch yourself in the face real hard and then go hide in your hole you MORON !!”
Thank you.
😝😝😝🤣🤣🤣😝😝🤣🤣🤣😝🤣🤣🤣
CHARLIE BROWN ! were you Lucy and peppermint Patty at Thompson?? guess Rocco is so skilled he can dump Christopher without walling him but Jr cant do the same ?? go get your 5cents of psychiatric help. Rocco chopped down on his own brother at Thompson a few years ago destroying two late models and had the audacity to approach the victim.. his own twin . Arrogance at its finest . I have heard Rocco’s spotter encourage aggressive driving he and his spotter are fools !
Does Doug, aka: Insipid Cybil, have yet another new screen name?
“ hate me because I’m beautiful and smarter than you.
“And just a reminder, I was right, again.”
“See, I was right. Even Earl can finally get it.”
“wmass01013, you were correct when you addressed me as “genius”.
“Hey Doug, I was right again.”
STARRING DAREALGOODFELLA
THE 2021 DAREALGOODFELLA INSULT COUNTER DAY 158
335 This is not a tiny brain in a magnifying glass, it is an egg in a frying pan: (mocking WeldingWonders confusing him with Doug)
336 Things were fine until Doug went all Dougie, and then he got himself slapped silly. As usual.
337 Doug might read the article, but he rarely understands it.
338 Missy loves when cars wreck out, she moves up.
339 Doug’s, (and Insipid Cybil, WeldingWonders, RickyinMass, and his other screen names) cover song:
340 To the nimrod that said to use a stop watch (fanin4)
341 A promoter is a carnival barker, like Trump (Josh Vanada)
342 To the nimrod that recommended use a stop watch… firstly, you are an idiot.(fanin4 a second time)
343 NASCAR Wilson likes to dole out fines with a hair trigger finger
344 Charlie Brown contributed this gem, “Whoever wrote this last write up, you have to be the biggest freaking idiot, another one who probably doesn’t even go to the races, so you should just shut your mouth, an go punch yourself in the face real hard and then go hide in your hole you MORON !!” Thank you. ( To Charlie Brown for insulting NO MORE “ROCK” JUST DISCO DIVEBOMB)
345 Does Doug, aka: Insipid Cybil, have yet another new screen name?
TOTAL INSULTS IN 2021 THROUGH DAY 158……………………………345
NEW TRAUNCH OF INSULTS SINCE DAY 146……………….…………..11
AVERAGE INSULT COUNT PER DAY THROUGH DAY 146.. …………2.18
PROJECTED INSULT TOTAL FOR 2021 BASED ON 2.18/DAY…………796
Agree with Rafter Fan, Buy no way was that contact intentional .Mikey held the inside lane coming down to the end of the front stretch and into turn one. Seemed like the car jumped up the track when Mikey got back on the throttle slamming into Rocco’s nerf bar . Car showed the same behavior 3 or 4 laps prior to the incident .
I think NO MORE ROCK JUST ROLL’s comment was 1000% SPOT on about ROCCO and A COMMENT from CHUCK about being the biggest freaking idiot when ALL of his comments have been all IDIOTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND DADUMB thinks it was good says it all!!!
You know,Funny how when the shoes is on the other foot Rocco gets upset.Have seen him at the Bowl run Yuhas,James,Chadwick,Jordan,Owen and many others into the marbles or the fence.Another thing…….was a fan of Ted Christopher, Loved watching him….but Ted did not invent the Divebomb or the Crossover moves.And let’s be clear.Stefanick,Bouchard,Evans,Flemke used those moves often and I dont Remember any contact,if any at all, in most cases.Rocco is talented enough to not have to pay a bumper on anyone.Racing has changed and it’s sad to see some with deep pockets and no talent bang or plow their way to the front.Rocco is responsible for one thing of which I give hom credit.His success and dedication to racing has caused many to raise the bar and their game.Would of parody at Stafford and Waterford.Good to see.
You know,Funny how when the shoe is on the other foot Rocco gets upset.Have seen him at the Bowl run Yuhas,James,Chadwick,Jordan,Owen and many others into the marbles or the fence.Another thing…….was a fan of Ted Christopher, Loved watching him….but Ted did not invent the Divebomb or the Crossover moves.And let’s be clear.Stefanick,Bouchard,Evans,Flemke used those moves often and I dont Remember any contact,if any at all, in most cases.Rocco is talented enough to not have to lay a bumper on anyone.Racing has changed and it’s sad to see some with deep pockets and no talent bang or plow their way to the front.Rocco is responsible for one thing of which I give hom credit.His success and dedication to racing has caused many to raise the bar and their game.Alot of parody at Stafford and Waterford.Good to see.
Thanks to Vault Productions we couldn’t possibly have better video of the incident. Multiple camera’s inside cars and out including Christopher’s and Rocco’s reaction in the paddock.
What I saw was Mike getting under the 57 mid front stretch and in my view entering one too close to the apron. Then smoke from the front tires indicating he’s locking them up knowing he went in too hot, sparks from the rear and he turns right noticeably into the 88. Rocco’s reputation aside looked like driver error on the 82.
Rocco had reason to get hot but he’s done this a long time so why so much in this race? Could be frustration of losing a big pay out combined with a frustrating year.
This is what happened in Africa when the elder elephants 🐘 were poached and killed off. Elephants are intrinsically highly social and very civilized. When the elders were killed off, there were no adults left to raise the young, teach them manners, respect and civility. That left the young elephants to themselves with no adult supervision, and they formed ruthless gangs, terrorizing other elephants and animals, and invading and pillaging villages.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzyJXfHC6rI
Watched the Sid’s View video, looked like #82 had room and #57 tried to pinch him down a little in turn 1. after initially bumping wheels, Christopher may have broke a tie rod causing the turn into Rocco. That’s what Christopher’s in-car view looked like to me. A racing deal, you see an opening and try to fill it before it closes.
FAST EDDIE KNOWS ! ! they were banging wheels a couple laps prior. this was a mechanical issue when the brakes were applied while getting pinched ..car moved into Rocco. no intent here . the guys in the car know what happened. Rocco is a crybaby hothead who has lost his racing mojo ! .get over it champ !
The 82 lost it… you can see it when he hit the brakes and smoked the tires, then the LF was cut like he was trying to get to the infield. The 82 went in harder than the car was able to hold, the rest is history.
They had plenty of room as they entered, the 82 was too hot and lost it, hit Rocco.
Move along. Happens quite frequently.
DA REAL will issue a retraction when Mike Jr tells what happened… Shawn what is Jr saying? you KNOW he will admit a mistake.. sorry no human error ..mechanical failure here . see you at the speedbowl DAREAL !! I will buy you something off the food truck !