John Virgilio Takes First and Second At Whip City Speedway
By Mark McKeon - October 4, 2008 

WESTFIELD, MA  Sixteen year old John Virgilio finished second in the 750cc Mini Sprint feature at Whip City Speedway on Saturday night and then returned to the field of battle to claim his first ever 1200cc Mini Sprint victory with a last lap, fourth turn pass on teammate Jon Moore.

The lead changed hands three times on the final lap.  Moore, who started dead last in the 12 car field, passed Virgilio, who had started on the pole, heading into turn one. Virgilio, who was driving with a maturity that belies his age, maintained his composure until he had the opportunity to use both his head and his left foot.

“Jon likes to run the high line and when he’s up there, he’s so fast that nobody can catch him.  I saw he was coming up to some lapped cars and I thought they were drifting up a little so I figured my only chance was to head for the bottom.  After we went by the checkered flag, I had no idea whether or not I won,” Virgilio said.

In the 750cc feature, Virgilio tried a very ethical move that exists to get by Eddie LeClerc, but it was all for naught.  LeClerc, who will alternate next season between his Mini Sprint and a NEMA Lite Midget, was simply untouchable.  He was smooth as silk all night and never missed his marks when it mattered most.  Peter Dance charged hard, starting 12th in the 16 car field and finishing third.

Brian Boudreau started 9th in the 270cc Mini Sprint feature and was in second place by the second lap.  He took the lead from Kevin Tefft on the 11th lap and held off a challenge from Mark Irving.

The green-to-checker 600cc event contained two separate and distinct contests.  While Jay Coppo, Luke Greenwood and Jim DeCambra battled for the lead, Anthony Nocella- who started 12th, Matt Seymour and Paul Bigelow fought for fourth.  DeCambra lost a motor and at the finish it was Coppo, Greenwood, Seymour, Nocella and Bigelow.

After an early race battle with John Marangio, Charlie Pease went on to handily win the  750 Sportsman feature. It was his fourth victory of the season and earned him double points.

The always exciting Wingless Quad 4 Midget main event ended with another victory for Tony Montesi.  Bethany Viets finished second in the car usually driven by her father.  Vince Jacobs was third, followed by E.J. Douville and Eli Deshaies.  Thom Ring raced in the heat, but was unable to get the car to fire for the feature.

Ryan Charland picked up his second Mod Lite win of the year, in an exciting race which saw championship points contender Brian Peterson come from 11th to finish second.  Ryan Nicewicz, who leads Peterson by only 6 points with one week of racing remaining, finished third.

270cc: BRIAN BOUDREAU, Mark Irving, Kevin Tefft, Bryan Russo ,Brayton Round III, Dylan Menditto, Grant Sabo, Kurt Conklin, Shayne Prucker, Frank Russo, Jeremy Sorel, Scott Franqueza, Alex Curley, Kelly McCarthy, Chase Bennett.

600cc: JAY COPPO, Luke Greenwood, Matt Seymour, Anthony Nocella, Paul Bigelow, Greg Smith, Ricci Hirth, Susan Lescynski, Ryan Bigelow, Arthur LeBlanc, Jim DeCambra.

750cc: EDDIE LECLERC, John Virgilio, Peter Dance, Mike King, Ed Adametz, Rick Stone, Rich Blanchard, Dan Schaubert, Paul Rose, Jason Wood, Joe Platt, Lowbed Johnson, Richard Lemelin, Mark Dupuis, Rob Walendy, Mike Parolo.

Modified Lite: RYAN CHARLAND, Brian Peterson, Ryan Nicewicz, Tim Johnson, Brett Crowther, Roger Angers Jr., William Carter, Jake Latkofsky ,Rick Ashlaw, Wayne Abair.

1200cc JOHN VIRGILIO, Jon Moore, Doug Norrie, Josh Walts, Jon Walts, Mark Dupuis, Dennis Lamke, Jamie Beaudry, Pat Potter, Bob Dance, Dan Nappi.

750 Sportsman:  CHARLIE PEASE, Kristen Phillips, Robby Spino, John Marangio, Matt Brown, Jack Fogarty, Mark Taylor, Jim Langenback, John Missale.

Quad 4: TONY MONTESI, Bethany Viets, Vince Jacobs, E.J. Douville, Eli Deshaies.

Novice: E. J. ADAMETZ, Dylan Irish, Jake Higginson, Corey Lemelin, Ryan Fujimoto.

Turquoise:  JEFFREY CHAMPAGNE, Ryan Irish, Kyle Smith, Alex Blanco, Kate Lafreniere, Alex Adamsky, Cullen Pike, Michael Langevin, Kaitlyn Brice, Nora Lemelin.

Junior: DYLAN CAMPBELL, Makayla Lucia, Kara Franqueza, Justin Walts, Josh Wood, Anna Coons, Mike Hauser, Elliot Daly, Dylan Dexter.

Lite: STEVE ROCKWOOD, Dylan Campbell, Scott Kalber, Ryan Bigelow, Will Coons, Scott Franqueza, Audrey Camerota.

Heavy: JAKE SAPOWSKY, Tim Gallant, Bruce Dodge, Ryan Rivet, Roy Gauthier, Justin Dube, Eric Jorgenson, Jason Wood.

Limited Karts: GARY HUBLARD, Roger Fujimoto, Scott Kalber, Charlie Chaponis, Steve Rockwood, Ryan Bigelow.

250cc Youth: TYLER JACKSON, Alex Curley, Wayne Ibitz, Tony Massaro, Jim Santa Maria.

4 Cylinder from Sept. 20: ED BANACH, Jamie Beaudry, Darren Sallee, Fred Cheney, Mike Clammella, Kyle Wayner, Keith Holtman, Stephanie Banach, Keara Ludiker.

4 Cylinder from Oct. 4:  DAN D’ADDARIO, Jamie Beaudry, Ed Banach, Kyle Wayner, Fred Cheney, Darren Sallee, Keara Ludiker.

2 STROKE: ROGER ANGERS  Jr., Ernie Whidden, Jason Wood.