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THOMPSON --- Danny Cates of Chaplin was stout in his victory in the Sunoco Modified main event July 8 at Thompson International Speedway. Brian Sullivan of S Windsor shined in the TIS Modified annual extra-distance event. While Shawn Monahan of Waterford turned in a repeat winning performance in the Limited Sportsman division and it was a night of firsts in the Super Late Models and Mini Stocks. Larry Gelinas of Buxton, Maine, earned his first-ever Thompson victory in a hotly contested Super Late Model feature. Dwayne Dorr of Ledyar, turned in a dominating performance to score his first Mini Stock victory of 2010. John Falconi of North Grafton, Mass., was awarded the victory in the Late Models.
Sunoco Modified Feature (Top-Ten) Finish: 1. Danny Cates, Chaplin; 2. Ted Christopher, Plainville; 3. Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, PA; 4. Tim Sullivan, S. Windsor; 5. Ryan Preece, Berlin; 6. Ronnie Silk, Norwalk; 7. Keith Rocco, Wallingford, CT; 8. Nichole Morgillo, Yalesville; 9. Henry Stampfl, Norwood, MA; 10. John Catania, Agawam, MA.
TIS Modified Feature (Top-Ten) Finish: 1. Brian Sullivan, S. Windsor; 2. Keith McDermott, Scituate, RI; 3. John Studley, Framingham, MA; 4. R.J. Marcotte, Millville, MA; 5. Shane Michalski, Woodstock; 6. Ryan Morgan, Mystic; 7. Jason Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 8. Denis Legere, N. Reading, MA; 9. Leo Adams, Putnam; 10. Brian Tagg, Oxford, MA.
Super Late Model Feature (Top-Ten) Finish: 1. Larry Gelinas, Buxton, ME; 2. Derek Ramstrom, Worcester; 3. Mike O’Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 4. Jim Banfield, S. Glastonbury; 5. Dennis Maxfield, Fitchburg, MA; 6. Mike Stefanik, Coventry, RI; 7. George Bessette, Danbury; 8. Dave Silvia, Warwick, RI; 9. Daryl Stampfl, Norwood, MA; 10. Matt Zenisky, W. Springfield, MA.
Late Model Feature (Top-Ten) Finish: 1. John Falconi, N. Grafton, MA; 2. John Materas, Voluntown, CT; 3. Tommy O’Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 4. Mark Oliveira, Blackstone, MA; 5. Jeremy Sadowski, Voluntown, CT; 6. Randy Waterman, Danielson, CT; 7. Bob O’Connell, Wrentham, MA; 8. Mark Jenison, Warwick, RI; 9. Jeff Hartwell, E. Putnam, CT; 10. Wayne Coury, Sr., Milford, CT.
Limited Sportsman Feature (Top-Ten) Finish: 1. Shawn Monahan, Waterford, CT; 2. Jesse Gleason, Lisbon, CT; 3. Scott Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 4. Larry Barnett, Bristol, CT; 5. Joe Coates, Eastford, CT; 6. William Wall, Shrewsbury, MA; 7. Joe Arena, Bristol, CT;8. Jason Chicolas, Sutton, MA; 9. Paul Coutu, Thompson, CT; 10. Steve Kenneway, Jr., Lowell, MA.
Mini Stock Feature (Top-Ten) Finish: 1. Dwayne Dorr, Ledyard, CT; 2. Randy Churchill, Jr., Oakdale, CT; 3. Chad Baxter, Pascoag, RI; 4. Scott Michalski, S. Killingly, CT; 5. Scott Jussaume, Danielson, CT; 6. Fred Michalski, Dayville, CT; 7. Mike Viens, Seekonk, MA; 8. Nat Taylor, Wauregan, CT; 9. Chuck Rogers, Quaker Hill, CT; 10. Joe Baxter, Pascoag, RI.
Mechanical woes plagued Danny Cates of Chaplin, CT, throughout practice; but his mount was stout when it counted. Cates drove by the toughest competition to score the popular victory. Ronnie Silk and Tim Sullivan went wheel-to-wheel in the opening laps as they battled for the lead. Rowan Pennink was looking racy in third.
Contact between Silk and Pennink sent Silk sliding back to the third spot just ahead of Keith Rocco. Sullivan held the point with Pennink glued to the back bumper. Cates was making headway in the bottom groove taking the fourth spot from Keith Rocco. Cates made quick work of Silk to get third. Ted Christopher had worked his way around Rocco and waged a great battle for the fourth spot with Silk.
On lap seven, Cates made a bold move to take second from Pennink. Just as Cates was making his move to take the lead from Sullivan, the caution flew on lap eight for an incident in turn two between John Catania and Jodi Johnson. Under the caution, Silk, Rocco, and Ryan Preece headed to pit road for service by their crews.
Sullivan and Cates were even for much of lap nine. Cates was scored the new leader on lap 10. Sullivan also lost positions to Christopher and Pennink. Christopher quickly worked his way into the second spot. Preece, Rocco and Silk were making their way back toward the top five.
Cates stretched his advantage over Christopher. Pennink ran slightly further back in third. Sullivan ran alone in the fourth. Preece took over the fifth position from Dave Salzarulo. Rocco and Silk seemed to stall in the bottom of the top-ten.
The race settled into a groove with Cates methodically clicking off laps. Christopher ran a distant second ahead of Pennink and Sullivan. Preece had caught Sullivan in fourth. An incident with only four laps remaining brought out the event’s second caution to erase Cates’ large lead.
Cates got a great run on the single-file restart to maintain his lead; however, he had his hands full with a charging Christopher. With two to go, Christopher was glued to the back bumper of Cates. On the final lap, Cates was able to get a car-length of breathing room. Despite a last ditch effort by Christopher, it was all Cates at the checkers. After three straight wins, Christopher had to settle for second. Pennink, Sullivan, and Preece completed the top-five.
The TIS Modifieds took their place in the limelight with their annual extra-distance race. At the conclusion of the 30-lap main event it was Brian Sullivan of S. Windso, taking the victory.
After several attempts at the initial start and several rounds of three-wide racing for the lead, John Studley emerged as the early race leader. Studley held the point but had plenty of company in Keith McDermott. Sullivan, meanwhile, had charged through the field. On lap 13, McDermott, with a push from Sullivan, gained the lead from Studley.