Mark McKeon
08-03-2008, 08:21 PM
Heee’s Baaack: Chris Haskell Fully Recovered,
Back with a Spine Tingling Performance at Whip City Speedway
By Mark McKeon
WESTFIELD, MA Prior to Saturday night, the last time Chris Haskell sat in a race car was on June 14; that night, he debuted a brand new race car and suffered a major crash in his heat. With several bruised vertebrae and in constant back pain, Haskell, whose need for speed is so great that he raced in New Zealand last winter and hopes to go back this winter, was forced to spend his summer sitting on the sidelines, watching the weeks walk by.
All that changed on Saturday when the Southampton, MA, resident received medical clearance to resume racing and promptly won the 20 lap feature in the headline 1200cc Mini Sprints.
“It’s been a frustrating summer, just hanging around the track and not being able to drive. I had no idea where my confidence level would be and I had a lousy heat race, because of a leaky tire. In the feature, I was able to hold the car high, but on the restarts I saw R.J. Tufano’s nose wing a couple of times. To get back and do well is a great feeling. It was an awesome win.”
Haskell started sixth and benefited from a multi car pile up, which occurred before a lap had been completed. Restarting second, Haskell rocketed to the lead on the first lap and didn’t touch down until he landed in victory lane.
The event marked the 1200cc maiden voyage for a couple of regulars in the 750cc ranks. Bill Adamsky finished ninth in his recently purchased car and John Virgilio followed up a strong performance in his heat, with a fifth place finish in the feature.
The rain delayed program, which saw the afternoon Kart features postponed until next week, resulted in first wins of the season for drivers in 4 classes.
Zach Aszklar of Wallingford, CT picked up his first 270cc feature of the year, and won his heat as well. In the 600cc Mini Sprints, Troy, NY resident Chris Lennox claimed his first win of the season by holding off a determined challenge from second place finisher Anthony Nocella, who started scratch. After winning his heat, Lexington, MA driver Paul Rose, who suffered a serious flip in July, was picture perfect in his initial 750cc victory. Jack Fogarty, “The Flying Farmer” from Amherst, MA, got his first 2008 win by leading from green to checker in the non-stop 750 Sportsman events- he also won the heat.
Continuing a family tradition, Bethany Viets won the Quad 4 Midget feature. She was followed by Kelly Ferrell, Scott Viets and Scott Desmond.
Modified Lite points leader Ryan Nicewicz extended his lead by winning his heat and capturing his fifth feature of the season. He held off Joe Anselmo and Bob Poloski enroute to victory lane.
1200cc Mini Sprint: CHRIS HASKELL, R.J. Tufano, Dennie Lamke, Jon Walts, John Virgilio, Bill Guertin, Jr., Bob Dance, Mark Dupuis, Bill Adamsky, Jamie Beaudry, Dan Kingsley, John Casazza, Jon Moore.
270cc: ZACH ASZKLAR, Frank Russo, Dylan Menditto, Kevin Tefft, Brayton Round III, Phil Bessette, Scott Franqueza, Shayne Prucker, Seth Carlson, Kelly McCarthy, Jeremy Sorel, Brian Hurd, Kendall Segar, Bryan Russo, Kurt Conklin.
600cc: CHRIS LENNOX, Anthony Nocella, Greg Smith, Rich Crooker, Sam Christie, Jim DeCambra, Ricci Hirth, Ryan Bigelow.
750cc: PAUL ROSE, Rob Walendy, Joe Platt, Kyle Spencer, John Virgilio, Mark Dupuis, Peter Dance, Michael Parolo. Rick Stone, Jay Haviland, Mike King, Walt Feldman.
750 Sportsman: JACK FOGARTY, Robby Spino, Charlie Pease, Matt Brown, John Missale, Pete Michels, Kristen Phillips.
Modified Lite: RYAN NICEWICZ, Joe Anselmo, Bob Poloski, Brett Crowther, Will Carter, Rick Ashlaw, Brian Hohenstein, Brian Peterson, John Durst.
250 Youth Sprints: JIM SANTA MARIA, L.J. Lombardo, Alex Curley, Hunter Jones.
Back with a Spine Tingling Performance at Whip City Speedway
By Mark McKeon
WESTFIELD, MA Prior to Saturday night, the last time Chris Haskell sat in a race car was on June 14; that night, he debuted a brand new race car and suffered a major crash in his heat. With several bruised vertebrae and in constant back pain, Haskell, whose need for speed is so great that he raced in New Zealand last winter and hopes to go back this winter, was forced to spend his summer sitting on the sidelines, watching the weeks walk by.
All that changed on Saturday when the Southampton, MA, resident received medical clearance to resume racing and promptly won the 20 lap feature in the headline 1200cc Mini Sprints.
“It’s been a frustrating summer, just hanging around the track and not being able to drive. I had no idea where my confidence level would be and I had a lousy heat race, because of a leaky tire. In the feature, I was able to hold the car high, but on the restarts I saw R.J. Tufano’s nose wing a couple of times. To get back and do well is a great feeling. It was an awesome win.”
Haskell started sixth and benefited from a multi car pile up, which occurred before a lap had been completed. Restarting second, Haskell rocketed to the lead on the first lap and didn’t touch down until he landed in victory lane.
The event marked the 1200cc maiden voyage for a couple of regulars in the 750cc ranks. Bill Adamsky finished ninth in his recently purchased car and John Virgilio followed up a strong performance in his heat, with a fifth place finish in the feature.
The rain delayed program, which saw the afternoon Kart features postponed until next week, resulted in first wins of the season for drivers in 4 classes.
Zach Aszklar of Wallingford, CT picked up his first 270cc feature of the year, and won his heat as well. In the 600cc Mini Sprints, Troy, NY resident Chris Lennox claimed his first win of the season by holding off a determined challenge from second place finisher Anthony Nocella, who started scratch. After winning his heat, Lexington, MA driver Paul Rose, who suffered a serious flip in July, was picture perfect in his initial 750cc victory. Jack Fogarty, “The Flying Farmer” from Amherst, MA, got his first 2008 win by leading from green to checker in the non-stop 750 Sportsman events- he also won the heat.
Continuing a family tradition, Bethany Viets won the Quad 4 Midget feature. She was followed by Kelly Ferrell, Scott Viets and Scott Desmond.
Modified Lite points leader Ryan Nicewicz extended his lead by winning his heat and capturing his fifth feature of the season. He held off Joe Anselmo and Bob Poloski enroute to victory lane.
1200cc Mini Sprint: CHRIS HASKELL, R.J. Tufano, Dennie Lamke, Jon Walts, John Virgilio, Bill Guertin, Jr., Bob Dance, Mark Dupuis, Bill Adamsky, Jamie Beaudry, Dan Kingsley, John Casazza, Jon Moore.
270cc: ZACH ASZKLAR, Frank Russo, Dylan Menditto, Kevin Tefft, Brayton Round III, Phil Bessette, Scott Franqueza, Shayne Prucker, Seth Carlson, Kelly McCarthy, Jeremy Sorel, Brian Hurd, Kendall Segar, Bryan Russo, Kurt Conklin.
600cc: CHRIS LENNOX, Anthony Nocella, Greg Smith, Rich Crooker, Sam Christie, Jim DeCambra, Ricci Hirth, Ryan Bigelow.
750cc: PAUL ROSE, Rob Walendy, Joe Platt, Kyle Spencer, John Virgilio, Mark Dupuis, Peter Dance, Michael Parolo. Rick Stone, Jay Haviland, Mike King, Walt Feldman.
750 Sportsman: JACK FOGARTY, Robby Spino, Charlie Pease, Matt Brown, John Missale, Pete Michels, Kristen Phillips.
Modified Lite: RYAN NICEWICZ, Joe Anselmo, Bob Poloski, Brett Crowther, Will Carter, Rick Ashlaw, Brian Hohenstein, Brian Peterson, John Durst.
250 Youth Sprints: JIM SANTA MARIA, L.J. Lombardo, Alex Curley, Hunter Jones.