Check Out Time: Anthony Flannery Runs Away With Victory In Speedbowl Late Model Feature

Anthony Flanner celebrates victory in the Late Model division Saturday at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl

WATERFORD – Week after week during the 2015 season Anthony Flannery looked just on the edge of returning to victory lane in the Late Model division at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl.

Saturday the East Hampton driver finally reached that goal.

Flannery drove ran away from the field on the way to victory in the 30-lap Late Model feature Saturday at Waterford.

Jim Banfield of Glastonbury was second and Ray Christian III of Groton third.

“This is awesome,” Flannery said. “It’s been a long time coming. My crew worked so hard. I’ve got to thank all my friends, family and my sponsors for putting up with me being in the garage and bothering them to come help me every night to get the car going. I’m just really happy. This is for my crew and my sponsors.”

It was the second career Late Model victory for Flannery and first since Sept. 1, 2012. He did not compete in the division the last two years. He got his first Late Model victory in 2011.

Keith Rocco, the dominant force in the divison the last three seasons, missed the event. Rocco was competing in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event Saturday at Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway.

Rocco had won four of the first six events this year. Jason Palmer won the other two events before Saturday.

Flannery went by Christian for the lead on lap five and was never challenged again. Banfield was a straightaway behind at the checkered.

“We had a great run,” Banfield said. “We were a little loose, but we were throwing things at it all day. We’ve been struggling a little. We’ve just been working on it and learning the track.”

The division standings saw Rocco 18 points ahead of second place Jason Palmer going into Saturday’s event, with Flannery in third, 25 points off the lead.

Palmer finished and moved into the points lead. Flannery moved to second in the standings, one point behind Flannery. Jeff Rocco is now third in the standings, four points out of the top spot. Keith Rocco is fourth, nine points off the lead.