Viets Repeats at Whip City,  Haskell and Irving End Drought

By MARK McKEON

            Westfield, MA – Scott Viets’ Quad 4 Midget win on Saturday at Whip City Speedway was number two in a row for the veteran chauffer.  He was chased by fast women throughout the event; first by his daughter Bethany, until she dropped out at the halfway point with car trouble, and then by Kelly Ferrell who finished second.

            Former track camp Chris Haskell perennially places on the podium, but until Saturday, he hadn’t visited victory lane in over a year.  He was grateful for his decisive win in the 750cc Mini Sprint feature.  “We really wanted a win,” Haskell said.  “What makes it even better is that a couple of days ago the car was still on jack stands because we were replacing the front clip that I destroyed.”

            Mark Irving is a two-time 270cc champ who now runs a limited schedule and hasn’t had a win since 2007.  He deja vued the competition on Saturday,  winning his heat and then coming from ninth to win the feature.

            Defending 600cc champ Anthony Nocella humbled the field in a feature that was slowed by three caution flags.  Nocella also won his heat.

            Peter Dance scored his second 1200cc victory of the season.  Dance, who moved up after his 2008 championship season in a 750cc, had the car and the talent to make it look easy.

            Long time 270cc competitor Phil Bessette is a rookie in the 750 Sportsman this season.  He swept the heat and the feature in his new class, after starting on the pole in both events.

            Ryan Nicewicz became the first driver of the season to win three features with his win in the Modified Lites.  Joe Anselmo was second.

            Racing resumes this Saturday night 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 1:00 pm for Competition Karts and Youth Sprints, with 4 cyl Street Stocks every other week; and an evening show starting at 6:00 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.  Check out our website at www.whipcityspeedway.com.

            270cc:  MARK IRVING, Wayne Ibitz, Seth Carlson, Brian Boudreau, Joe Scanlon, Matt Galko, Zach Aszklar, Tara Galko, Kelly McCarthy, Alex Curley, Shayne Prucker, Kendall Segar, Phil Bessette.

            600cc:  ANTHONY NOCELLA, Ricci Hirth, Luke Greenwood, Richard Crooker, Brandon Igo, Sam Christie, Paul Bigelow, Jim DeCambra, Chris Lennox, Greg Smith, Matt Seymour, Terry Finney, Barry Coolen.

            750cc:  CHRIS HASKELL, Rick Stone, John Virgilio, Mark Taylor, Kyle Spencer, Mike King, Mike Parolo, Walt Feldman, John Cole, Kristen Phillips.

            Modified Lites:  RYAN NICEWICZ, Joe Anselmo, Bob LaForge, Eric Bacon, Roger Angers Jr., Rick Ashlaw, Bill Carter, Jake Latkofsky, Casey Ouellette.

            1200cc:  PETER DANCE, Jamie Beaudry, Anthony Nocella, Paul Rose, Charlie Pease, R.J. Tufano, Bill Singer.

            Quad 4:  SCOTT VIETS, Kelly Ferrell, Joe Krawiec, Kevin Tefft ,Josh Woollam, Bob Boucher, Jeff  Marcotte, Bethany Viets, John Marangio.

            750cc Sportsman:  PHIL BESSETTE, Jack Fogarty, Tyler Jackson, Shelby Klekotka, Mark McKeon, John Missale, Nikki Ouellette, Makayla Lucia, Gene Ingvertsen, Brandon Hunt. 

            Karts - Novice:  JAKE ELLIS, Spencer Brockman, Kayla Heath, Kacie Heath.

            Turquoise:  DYLAN IRISH, Jeffrey Champagne, Nora Lemelin, Ryan Irish, Kaitlyn Brice, Corey Lemelin.

            Junior:  KYLE SMITH, Kate Lafreniere, Ryan Fujimoto, Anna Coons, Cullen Pike, Mike Hauser.

            Lite:  DYLAN CAMPBELL, Steve Rockwood, Kara Franqueza, Anna Coons, Will Coons, Joshua Bucchere.

            Heavy:  JUSTIN DUBE, Bruce Dodge, Gary Sokoloski, Bill Tack, Jake Sapowsky, Tim Gallant.

            250cc Youth:  KARA FRANQUEZA, Andrew Mullen.

            4 Cy Street Stock:  JAMIE BEAUDRY, Stephanie Banach, Ed Banach, Curtis D’Addario, Darren Sallee