Bridesmaids Revisited at Whip City Speedway
As Rich Crooker and John Virgilio Triumph.
Whelan Modified Tour’s Glen Reen Places Second.
 
By Mark McKeon
 
            WESTFIELD, MA  Last season, 750cc Mini Sprint chauffer John Virgilio and 600cc pilot Rich Crooker finished second in points in their respective divisions. At this year’s Whip City Speedway season opener, each served notice that he wasn’t satisfied with the runner-up spot by capturing a feature victory.
            Virgilio’s victory came after he took the lead from polesitter Joe Platt on lap seven.  The 20 lap race was slowed by only a single caution flag at the half way mark, when Platt and Kyle Spencer tangled while dueling for second place, with Platt spinning onto the infield near turn 1. On the ensuing restart, Chris Haskell got by Spencer for second, but Virgilio was able to establish a long lead, which he held until the checkers flew.
            Crooker’s win came in an event which was run without even a single caution flag. After winning his heat, Crooker took advantage of the heads-up starting order which is used for the first 3 events of the season at the Whip, until handicapping is instituted.  Hard charging Luke Greenwood came from eighth starting spot to nip at Crooker’s heels, but he was never able to seal the deal.  Defending champ Anthony Nocella was third.
            Rookie Mark Taylor raced like a veteran, winning both his heat and the 750 Sportsman feature.  Whelan Modified Tour driver Glen Reen, who rarely races on dirt, finished an impressive second.  Senior citizens John Missale and Jack McKeon waged a torrid battle for third, racing like they were late for an appointment at the Social Security office; Missale got there first.
            In contrast to the lack of caution flags in the 600cc and 750cc events, the 270cc feature was a Darwinian slugfest in which less than half the starting field survived seven caution flags to reach the checkers: of the 22 cars that started, only 9 were running at the finish.  Seth Carlson, wheeling the Gene Feigel entry which was driven to the championship last year by Kevin Tefft, took the lead on lap three and held it until the checkers.  NEMA Midget owner and three time past 270cc champion Tim Bertrand made one of his infrequent appearances and provided some early competition for Carlson, but Carlson pulled away in the late stages of the race.
            A pair of 360 Sprint Car pilots, Doug Norrie from the Empire Super Sprints and Bubba Broderick from the ASCS Patriots, finished first and second in the hard fought 1200cc Mini Sprint feature. Norrie was a force to be reckoned with all night, leading every lap in both his heat and in the feature. Jon Walts, who won the other heat, was far less fortunate in the feature.  He flipped his car in a violent first lap crash that brought out a red flag.  After being transported off the track by the ambulance, Walts was thoroughly examined and released without a trip to the hospital.
            Tim Johnson won the Modified Lite feature, which suffered from three caution flags in the first two laps. Last year’s champ Ryan Nicewicz was second and the always colorful Joe Anselmo was third.
            The Quad 4 Midget feature was curfewed and will be made-up next week.
            Racing continues ever Saturday at Whip City Speedway, which is easily reached from either Exit 15 or Exit 16 on I-91 and from Exit 4 on the Mass Pike. A single admission gets you two complete shows, an afternoon show starting at 12:30 for Competition Karts and Youth Sprints, with 4 cyl Street Stocks every other week; and an evening show staring at 5:00 pm consisting of heats and features for Mini Sprints, Modified Lites and Quad 4 Midgets.  Admission is just $12 for adults, with children 10 and under just $3.00.
            750cc Mini Sprints: JOHN VIRGILIO, Chris Haskell, Kyle Spencer, Mike King, Joe Platt, Rob Walendy, Dan Schaubert, Kristen Phillips, Michael Parolo.
            600cc Mini Sprints: RICHARD CROOKER, Luke Greenwood, Anthony Nocella, Greg Smith, Matt Seymour, Ricci Hirth, Jim DeCambra, Jeff Linsky Jr., Chris Lennox, Susan Lescynski, Paul Bigelow, Ryan Bigelow.
            750 Sportsman: MARK TAYLOR, Glen Reen, John Missale, Jack McKeon, Tyler Jackson, Jack Fogarty, Makayla Lucia, Mark McKeon, David Williamson, Jennifer Carlson, Brandon Hunt, Shelby Klekotka, Nikki Ouellette.
            270cc Mini Sprints: SETH CARLSON, Tim Bertrand, Joe Scanlon, Matt Galko, Brian Hurd, Joe Welch, Frank Russo, Dylan Menditto, Tara Galko, Bryan Russo, Brian Boudreau, Zach Aszklar, Kelly McCarthy, Scott Franqueza, Jim Santa Maria, Alex Curley, Kendall Segar, Todd Bertrand, Phil Bessette, Mark Irving, Shane Prucker, Cody Chick, Ben Martelle.
            1200cc Mini Sprints: DOUG NORRIE, Bubba Broderick, Jon Moore, Bill Adamsky, Jamie Beaudry, Dan Nappi, Charlie Pease, John Casazza, Bill Singer, Peter Dance, Joseph Szczapa, Paul Corazzo Jr., Paul Rose, Chris Haskell, Christian Wright, R.J. Tufano, Jon Walts, Paul Corazzo Sr..
            Modified Lites: TIM JOHNSON, Ryan Nicewicz, Joe Anselmo, Bob LaForge, John Durst, Tom O’Malley, Rick Ashlaw, Roger Angers Jr., Eric Bacon, Jake Latkofsky.
            250cc Youth: ALEX ADAMSKY, Kara Franqueza.
            4 Cyl. Street Stocks: DAN D’ADDARIO, Mike Tkacz, Fred Cheney, Stephanie Banach, Ed Banach.
            Competition Karts
            Novice: JAKE ELLIS, Kacie Heath, Spencer Brockman.
            Turquoise: JEFFREY CHAMPAGNE, Ryan Irish, Dylan Irish, Corey Lemelin, E.J. Adametz, Nora Lemelin, Alex Adamsky.
            Junior: KYLE SMITH, Kate Lafreniere, Cullen Pike, Mike Hauser.
            Lite: KARA FRANQUEZA, Steve Rockwood, Dylan Campbell, Cole Leether, Mike Dulac.       
            Heavy: RIT DULAC, Bruce Dodge, Gary Sokoloski, Justin Dube, Tim Gallant, Dan Murdzia, Ron Fenner, Jake Sapowsky, Bill Tack, R.J. Currey.