Published: Saturday, August 02, 2008
Jeff Zuidema of N. Brookfield Mass. Win sat Thompson Int'l Speedway
By Russ DowdContributor
Jeff Zuidema of N. Brookfield, MA, scored his fourth Late Model win of the season in the first of the doubleheader for the division. After an extended rain delay, the Thompson International Speedway was able to get racing action underway on Thursday night with the running of a Late Model make-up postponed from Icebreaker weekend in April.
By virtue of his win that opening race weekend, Zuidema started on the pole with Marc Palmisano and Rick Gentes taking chase. With the division point leader out front the teams quickly got single-file running off laps. Near the halfway marker in the 20-lapper, Palmisano began to get racy as did Gentes. Zuidema was up for any and all challenges moving on to win an uneventful feature. Palmisano; however, did not have as easy of a time maintaining his second position. Gentes had to settle for third followed by Tommy O’Sullivan and Conrad Cote.
In the night capper for the Late Models, Marc Jenison jumped out to the early lead with Marc Palmisano and Tommy O’Sullivan taking chase. O’Sullivan had made his way past Palmisano and headed straight for the leader.
O’Sullivan got a great run getting up along side Jenison. Gentes, who had wrestled his way to the front, made it three-wide heading into turn one for the lead. Jenison was able to get away while the others made heavy contact. Both O’Sullivan and Gentes headed down pit road for repairs.
Back under green, Jenison led briefly before giving up the top spot to Palmisano. Several laps later, Zuidema began to show his hand. After halfway, he had moved passed Jenison for the second spot. Gentes and O’Sullivan had made their way back into contention.
In the end, it was all Palmisano taking the win over Zuidema. The two had flip-flopped positions from earlier in the evening. Gentes, O’Sullivan, and Jenison rounded out the top five.
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