THOMPSON — With four races remaining at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, point battles across each of the four NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Divisions are starting to take shape. Tensions will surely start to rise and strategies will start to be formed, heading into the next event, the Inaugural Busch North Throwback 100, on July 8.
The Sunoco Modified Division point battle is currently closest. 2010 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Champion, Keith Rocco, trails former NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver, Ryan Preece, by only two points. With only four races remaining, and over 20 entrants expected at each of those events, the margin for error is small. Rocco knows this, but has more than ample faith in his team. It’s halfway through the season and his confidence refuses to falter. “Don’t worry about the points,” he said calmly, “You got to race to win, and the rest comes with it.“
Scott Sundeen finds himself in a familiar position in the Limited Sportsman Division - atop the leaderboard. The four-time champion has never been worried about the points, only the results. “Right now, I’m not worried about the points” he said, “Anything can happen and I’m there to win”. With no previous intentions of racing for a full season, driver of the No. 55, Shawn Monahan, now finds himself in second place, only four markers behind Sundeen. Monahan has a lot of trophies on his mantle, but none for a Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park Championship. “I’ve given away a lot of championships in my past” he explained, “but that was due to immaturity.” The Waterford-native is focused on earning his first title, a story which he hopes to be able to tell his son one day. “The best thing is to talk to your children about it later” he said, envisioning an older version of himself in the grandstands with his family.
Ray Parent is the only NASCAR Whelen All-American Series driver to have more than one win this season. His two victories have shot him to the top of the Late Model Standings. He carries a healthy 18-point advantage into the Inaugural Busch North Throwback 100 on July 8. His challenger, though, is a formidable one, six-time Champion, Rick Gentes. The pressure isn’t getting to Parent, though. His team’s focus is simple: “Race and just have fun. By doing that I will be racing to win and drive harder. We have been racing great since the Icebreaker and continue to improve, which is awesome.” Leading the standings is not something Parent and his team thought would be likely at this stage of the season, but they aren’t surprised by it, either. “We always hope to run for a championship, but the track is a pretty hard one to run, and I did not race there full time last year, but I have experience and race the way I race.”
Last year’s Mini Stock Champion, Wayne Burroughs, is in the driver’s seat when it comes to defending his title. The reigning titlist isn’t taking that for granted, though, as he remembers how difficult last year’s competition was. A repeat “will be extremely difficult,” the Oakdale driver believes. He’s not letting his previous victory this season dull his competitive edge. At the next event on July 8, he will be featuring a new motor, in hopes of further distancing himself from his competition on his way to his second consecutive Mini Stock Division Championship.
PUTNAM — Putnam Science Academy scored another commitment this past week as Melik Martin from York, Penn., and a graduate of York Catholic High School committed to the Mustangs for the 2017-2018 season.
Martin, who will come to PSA as a post graduate, is coming off a huge April live period. Martin who is fully qualified and a bright student was ready to go off to college, but after a big spring on the AAU circuit with the York Ballers the Division 1 schools began to call in droves.
In May, Martin picked up his first Division 1 offer from Duquesne University in the Atlantic 10. As Martin, his family and AAU coach began to go through the process they decided it was best to spend another year in high school as a post graduate. This way Melik will be able to go through the full recruiting process throughout the summer and upcoming season with the Mustangs.
The 6-foot, 6-inch lefty swingman will bring a lot to the table for the Mustangs as he has the ability to play an inside and outside game. Head Coach Tom Espinosa said, “Melik is a classic kid when it comes to prep school. He is a bit of a late bloomer and hasn’t had a ton of exposure to college coaches. This upcoming summer and season I expect Melik to gain a large following from colleges and be a big part of this years team.”
Martin holds the Duquesne offer along with interest from Townson, Brown, and Robert Morris, to name a few.
Commits to PSA
PUTNAM — Putnam Science Academy has picked up a commitment from 6-foot, 4-inch point guard Kyle Lofton.
Lofton comes to the Quiet Corner of Connecticut after a standout career at Union Catholic High School in New Jersey. Lofton was a four-year varsity starter and averaged 14.5 points per game along with 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals. He was also named all county and first team all conference.
Along with point guard skills Lofton has a 6-foot, 8-inch wingspan that helps him pester opposing guards. Lofton comes to Putnam with various Division 1 interest and is looking to build up his recruitment during his post graduate year.
Head Coach Tom Espinosa said, “Kyle had a storied high school career and we think he will be a valuable addition on the court and in the community.”
Raymond P. Faucher,
Vietnam era vet
THOMPSON — Raymond Pierre Faucher, 80, of Quaddick Rd, died on July 3, 2017 in Boston. Born in 1936 in Webster, he was the son of the late Onesime and Blanche (Ancoin) Faucher. Ray was the husband of 54 years to the late Barbara (Johnson) Faucher.
Ray was the vice president of Superior Bakery in N. Grosvenordale and the president of Superior Cake Products in Southbridge. He was a member of many baker’s associations including his lifetime membership in the Connecticut Baker’s Association, and the American Society of Bakery Engineers. In 1977 Ray was named to the Board of Directors of Cargill Bank and served as chairman of the Board, before becoming president of Cargill Bank Corporation.
Ray served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam era. He was a graduate of Nichols College and the American Institute of Baking. He was a lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus Council 2087, the Saint Jean the Baptist Conseil Marsial, the American Legion Post 67 in N. Grosvenordale and the Valley Springs Sportsman’s Club where he served on many committees. Ray was a communicant of St. Joseph Church and trustee to the Sacred Heart Church in W. Thompson.
Ray was a proud lifetime resident of Thompson and supported his community serving on several town boards including the Thompson Sewer Authority, Industrial Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals and a Justice of the Peace and Notary for the State of Connecticut. He was also dedicated to the Town of Thompson’s Fire Services holding the position of deputy fire chief for many years and acting fire chief for three years. He also served as deputy fire coordinator for Windham County. Prior to the formation of the Quinebaug Emergency Dispatch Service, Ray dispatched the town’s ambulance service. Ray continued his service by becoming president of the Thompson Fireman’s Association and when he moved to W. Thompson he served as the “Honorary” Fire Chief. He was also committee chairman for the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 30.
He leaves three sons, Raymond P. Faucher Jr. (Lisa) of N. Grosvenordale, Peter Faucher of Fabyan and Paul Faucher (Carla) of N. Grosvenordale; three daughters, Kathleen Morin (Donald) of N. Grosvenordale, Susan Trama (Peter) of Thompson and Karen Adair (Perry) of Miami; his sister-in-law Dorothy Seney (Merrill) of N. Grosvenordale; 14 grandchildren, five great-grandchild. He was predeceased by his brother Louis P. “Skip” Faucher
Visitation is from 9 to 11:30 a.m. July 6 in Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale with a Funeral Mass of Christian Burial at noon in St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale. Burial follows in St. Joseph Cemetery. Donations: St. Joseph School; or to the Community Fire Department.
Edward Rainey Jr.
PUTNAM — Edward Rainey Jr., 67, of Putnam, died June 25, 2017.
He was born Dec. 5, 1949, in Putnam and lived in the Brooklyn - Putnam area all of his life.
He worked 30 years at Knox Glass in Dayville and was a volunteer in the Dayville Fire Department. He was an avid sports fan, loved the Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots and Bruins. He loved gatherings with family.
He leaves his mother Eleanor Rainey; sisters, Karen Charbonneau (Robert), Pamela Buhrer (Gary), Janine Koroscil (Thomas), Laurie Trotta (Al), Susan Halstrom (Russell); brother David Rainey (Sandra); nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father Edward Rainey Sr. and his sister Cheryl Lavallee.
The Funeral was private. Donations: Putnam Baptist Church, 170 Church St., Putnam. 06260. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Gloria I. Sarault
DANIELSON — Gloria I. Sarault, 85, of Danielson, died June 24, 2017, at Pierce Baptist Home, following a 14-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
She was born Jan. 23, 1932, the daughter of the late Ernest and Irene Joly. Gloria lived all her life in the Danielson / Brooklyn area.
She was employed at Loos & Company prior to her retirement in 1997. She loved to cook, travel and keep active and was always helping others.
She leaves two daughters and two sons, including Donna Ratelle (Richard) of Danielson, Charlene Catlin of Brooklyn, Frank Malone and Ken Malone, both of Danielson; two sisters, Elaine Mathieu and Lucienne Mathieu; a brother Robert Joly; grandchildren, great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her daughter Charlette Lehto, her sister Beatrice Rose, and her brother Ernest Joly Jr.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. July 6 at St. Joseph Church, Dayville, with burial at St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Donations: Alzheimer’s Association. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
Barbara Wheeler
WOODSTOCK — Barbara (Gauthier) Wheeler, 87, of Webster, formerly of Woodstock, died June 27, 2017, in The Overlook Masonic Health Care Center in Charlton. She was the wife of the late William Wheeler.
Born in 1929 in Oxford, Mass., she was the daughter of the late Jean Baptiste and Ellen (Strack) Gauthier. On June 1, 1946, she was united in marriage to William Wheeler at St. Roch Church in Oxford.
Mrs. Wheeler worked as a stitcher for B & W Footwear in Webster, retiring in 1968. She spent her life caring for her husband who suffered from Multiple Sclerosis.
She leaves her sister, Doris Prouty of Webster; 13 nieces and nephews, and several grand-nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by two sisters, Elaine Johnson and Joyce Wilson.
The Mass of Christian Burial was July 1 in St. Roch Church, with burial in Elmvale Cemetery, Woodstock. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
William Wonoski,
Air Force vet
N. GROSVENORDALE — William B. Wonoski, 83, died June 11, 2017, at the Webster Manor.
He was born in Dudley, son of the late William and Winifred (Kokernak) Wojnowski and lived in Dudley before moving to N. Grosvenordale, 17 years ago. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran and was retired from the Webster Postal Service. He enjoyed fishing, golf and trains.
He leaves his wife of 35 years, Mildred D. (Gaboury) Wonoski; two sons, Kevin Wonoski (Carol) of Dudley, Louis Barone of N. Grosvenordale; four daughters; Linda Theoles (George) of Springfield, Mass., Patricia Ortiz, Mary Stoico and Kelley Horan, all of Webster; a brother; two sisters and 13 grandchildren. He was predeceased by a sister.
A Mass of Christian Burial was June 15 in St. Louis Church, Webster, with burial in Calvary Cemetery, Dudley. Donations: St. Louis School Endowment Fund. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.
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