10.11.09

JORDAN WINS 100-LAP FINALE AT WATERFORD

WATERFORD - Tim Jordan and the Jordan Racing team came into the Waterford Speedbowl's Finale with the sole intention of winning. The team accomplished that feat, winning their qualifying heat on Saturday and leading the final 79 laps of the 100-lap main event en route to victory on Sunday afternoon.

Rich Staskowski of Hope Valley, Rhode Island took the early race lead to pace the 100-lap Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models until Tim Jordan took over on the outside on lap 21.  After a few early cautions, the field settled in for a long distance run of green flag competition through the race’s mid-stages.

During that run, Dennis Botticello of Suffield moved to second on lap 27 looking primed to challenge Jordan at the front.  Tom Metcalf of North Stonington, competing in Bruce Thomas Jr.’s championship #35, also looked strong coming through to third as on lap 34.  Staskowski was hanging with the top runners in fourth.     

Botticello began to fade after halfway as the race stayed under green, losing the handles on the #03.  First he dropped second to Metcalf on lap 72, then Staskowski took third from him a lap later.  Mark Bakaj of Lebanon was making steady progress through the field and into the top five when caution finally waved on lap 83 to stop the long run.  Pawcatuck’s Joe Curioso spun in turn two, resetting the field.   

With 12 laps remaining trouble struck the lead pack as Metcalf, Bakaj and Botticello got together in turn three, eliminating Botticello.  But the race belonged to Jordan.  He went on to his third win of the year over Ernie Bertrand of North Branford, Bakaj, Jeff Smith of Old Lyme and Metcalf.

On the race, Jordan said, "We are lucky we ended up winning. On the last restart with a few to go, we must have run over some debris because the right front had little air pressure in it after the race. I asked the guys to look at the tires under the yellow and they said they looked ok. I said to myself to just go for it. After leading the race for that long, there was no way I was pulling off the track. I'm glad we got it done and won. It's a good momentum builder for the off-season."

Link:

Tim Jordan Closes Out 2009 With Second Consecutive Late Model Victory At The Waterford Speedbowl