Keepin’ it Short – Dropping the rag at the Speedbowl

Racing in the Northeast has a long and storied history that dates back 1800s when the Agricultural Park that is now the location of Stafford Speedway hosted horse races. Three of the race tracks that are very integral in that history, and are probably the most well known tracks in the area, are all in the state of Connecticut. Stafford Speedway has been around, in some form, since the 1870s. Thompson International Speedway was the first asphalt race track in America and has been in existence since 1938. The youngest of the three tracks–Waterford Speedbowl, built in 1951–opens its 62nd season this weekend.

The Budweiser Blastoff Weekend will encompass three days of racing on the historic 3/8ths-mile oval in 14 different divisions. The weekend’s main event is a 100 lap feature for the Valenti Modified Racing Series. Modifieds are at the core of racing in the New England area and they have been running at Waterford since the gates opened in 1951.

Along with the Modifieds, the NEMA Midgets will be featured because they are celebrating their 60th anniversary in 2012. NEMA Midgets have been a staple in the Northeast and have been a part of the history of Waterford for most of their 60 years of existence. In fact, Waterford has been referred to by quite a few fans as the perfect midget track.

The SK Modifieds will run a 62-lap feature to open their season as the primary Whelen All-American Series division in honor of the 62nd anniversary of the track. The SK Light Modifieds, Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models, Street Stocks and Mini Stocks will also be kicking off their NASCAR seasons as part of the Blast Off Weekend.

In addition to the NASCAR divisions and the Valenti Modifieds, the NEMA Lites, New England Truck Series, New England Four Cylinder Pro Stocks, Legends, Bandoleros, Super X Cars and X Cars will all be racing on the Budweiser Blast Off docket. The Blast Off starts on Friday with practice at noon. Pit admission is $25.00 while the grandstands will be closed.

Saturday will see all 14 divisions on the track for practice beginning at 9:00 AM. Qualifying will start at 3:00 PM including heat races for the Valenti Modified Racing Series. 5:00 PM will see the rag drop on feature races for the NEMA Lites, SK Light Modifieds, New England Trucks, New England Four Cylinder Pro Stocks, Legends, Bandoleros, Super X Cars and X Cars.

Sunday will be the culmination of the three day extravaganza, kicking off with a Pit Party at 9:30 AM. The feature races will start at 12:00 PM as the NEMA Midgets hit the track for a 25 lap A-Main. After the Midgets will be the 62 lap SK Modified Feature, 50 laps for the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models, and 30 lap features for the Street Stocks and the Mini Stocks. The Blast Off will come to a conclusion as the Valenti Modifieds hold their 100 lap feature with all of the laps being green flag laps.

2010 Whelen All-American National Champion Keith Rocco began his racing career at Waterford and is the defending SK Modified Champion. Dennis Grada won the track championship seven different times, the most in track history. Don Collins and Phil Rondeau are the two most successful drivers in the 62 year history of the track. Collins was one of the first stars of the track, winning five track titles, that last of which was secured in 1969. Rondeau’s success came later in the history of the track with six titles in eight years from 1985 through 1992. Collins and Rondeau are the only two drivers in the tracks storied past to eclipse the 100 victory mark.

For racing fans in the Northeast, this weekend is undoubtedly the best way to shake off the Winter doldrums and get back to the excitement of short track racing. No matter what kind of racing you like, there will be some kind of vehicle to tickle your fancy competing at Waterford this weekend. For $35 adults can get into the stands for both days that the grandstands are open while kids between six and 14 can get in for $10. Kids five and under are admitted for free.

This Weekend’s Racing Schedule

Fri : Mar 30th – NEA Speedway ; Harrisburg : AR – USCS 600 Sprint Cars
Fri : Mar 30th – Merced Speedway ; Merced : CA – World of Outlaw Sprint Cars
Fri : Mar 30th – Ocean Speedway ; Watsonville : CA – Taco Bravo Ocean Sprints
*Fri : Mar 30th – Waterford Speedbowl ; Waterford : CT – New England Trucks*
Fri : Mar 30th – Five Flags Speedway ; Pensacola : FL – Pro Late Models
Fri : Mar 30th – Farmer City Raceway ; Farmer City : Ill – World of Outlaws Late Models
Fri : Mar 30th – Humboldt Speedway ; Humboldt : KS – USMTS King of America Modified National Qualifying
Fri : Mar 30th – Malden Speedway ; Malden : MO – Late Models
Fri : Mar 30th – Malden Speedway ; Malden : MO – Modifieds
Fri : Mar 30th – Malden Speedway ; Malden : MO – Street Stocks
Fri : Mar 30th – Jackson Motor Speedway ; Byram : MS – Lucas Oil Dirt Late Models
Fri : Mar 30th – Ace Speedway ; Altamahaw : NC – USAC Eastern Focus Midgets
Fri : Mar 30th – Ace Speedway ; Altamahaw : NC – USAC Midwest Focus Midgets
Fri : Mar 30th – Ace Speedway ; Altamahaw : NC – USAC MOPAR National Midgets
Fri : Mar 30th – Carolina Speedway ; Gastonia : NC – NDRA Late Models
Fri : Mar 30th – Carolina Speedway ; Gastonia : NC – Late Models
Fri : Mar 30th – Carolina Speedway ; Gastonia : NC – Open Wheel Modifieds
Fri : Mar 30th – Carolina Speedway ; Gastonia : NC – Street Stocks
Fri : Mar 30th – Boyd Raceway ; Boyd : TX – Sprint Series of Texas
Fri : Mar 30th – Mountain Creek Speedway ; Grand Prairie : TX – IMCA Modifieds
Fri : Mar 30th – Mountain Creek Speedway ; Grand Prairie : TX – IMCA Sport Modifieds
Fri : Mar 30th – Mountain Creek Speedway ; Grand Prairie : TX – IMCA Stock
Fri : Mar 30th – Mountain Creek Speedway ; Grand Prairie : TX – Street Stock
Fri : Mar 30th – Mountain Creek Speedway ; Grand Prairie : TX – Winged Modifieds
Sat : Mar 31st – Montgomery Motor Speedway ; Montgomery : AL – Show Me The Money Pro Late Models
Sat : Mar 31st – Sayre Speedway ; Sayre : AL – Southern Superstars Early Bird 100 Super Late Models
Sat : Mar 31st – NEA Speedway ; Harrisburg : AR – USCS 600 Sprint Cars
Sat : Mar 31st – NEA Speedway ; Harrisburg : AR – USCS Outlaw Thunder Sprint Cars
Sat : Mar 31st – Calistoga Speedway ; Calistoga : CA – World of Outlaw Sprint Cars
Sat : Mar 31st – Madera Speedway ; Madera : CA – Gerhardt Classic USAC Sprint Cars
Sat : Mar 31st – Madera Speedway ; Madera : CA – 410/360 Super Modifieds
Sat : Mar 31st – Madera Speedway ; Madera : CA – USAC Focus Midgets
Sat : Mar 31st – Madera Speedway ; Madera : CA – BCRA/USAC Midgets
Sat : Mar 31st – Madera Speedway ; Madera : CA – NCMA Sprints
Sat : Mar 31st – Perris Auto Speedway ; Perris : CA – USAC/CRA Sprint Cars
Sat : Mar 31st – Perris Auto Speedway ; Perris : CA – California Lightning Sprints
Sat : Mar 31st – Placerville Speedway ; Placerville : CA – California Civil War Series Sprint Cars
Sat : Mar 31st – Stockton 99 Speedway ; Stockton : CA – SRL Southwest Tour Late Models
*Sat : Mar 31st – Waterford Speedbowl ; Waterford : CT – MRS Modifieds*
*Sat : Mar 31st – Waterford Speedbowl ; Waterford : CT – NEMA Midgets*
*Sat : Mar 31st – Waterford Speedbowl ; Waterford : CT – New England Truck Series*
Sat : Mar 31st – Bubba Raceway Park ; Ocala : FL – Florida Mini-Sprint Association
Sat : Mar 31st – Desoto Speedway ; Bradenton : FL – Sportsman
Sat : Mar 31st – New Smyrna Speedway ; New Smyrna Beach : FL – Super Late Models
Sat : Mar 31st – New Smyrna Speedway ; New Smyrna Beach : FL – Modifieds
Sat : Mar 31st – New Smyrna Speedway ; New Smyrna Beach : FL – Sportsman
Sat : Mar 31st – Punta Gorda Speedway ; Punta Gorda : FL – Super Late Models
Sat : Mar 31st – Lanier National Speedway ; Braselton : GA – Shriner Bowl Super Late Models
Sat : Mar 31st – New Senoia Raceway ; Senoia : GA – Spring Fling 40 Late Models
Sat : Mar 31st – Farmer City Raceway ; Farmer City : IL – World of Outlaws Late Models
Sat : Mar 31st – Farley Speedway ; Farley : IA – Deery Brothers Summer Series IMCA Late Models
Sat : Mar 31st – Waycross Motor Speedway ; Waycross : GA – Late Models
Sat : Mar 31st – Humboldt Speedway ; Humboldt : KS – USMTS King of America Modified Nationals
Sat : Mar 31st – Boothill Speedway ; Shreveport : LA – Ark-La-Tex Winged Modifieds
Sat : Mar 31st – Hagerstown Speedway ; Hagerstown : MD – Late Model Sportsman
Sat : Mar 31st – Hagerstown Speedway ; Hagerstown : MD – Pure Stocks
Sat : Mar 31st – Columbus Speedway ; Columbus : MS – Super Late Models
Sat : Mar 31st – Columbus Speedway ; Columbus : MS – NeSmith Late Models
Sat : Mar 31st – Columbus Speedway ; Columbus : MS – Street Stocks
Sat : Mar 31st – Ace Speedway ; Altamahaw : NC – USAC Eastern Focus Midgets
Sat : Mar 31st – Ace Speedway ; Altamahaw : NC – USAC Midwest Focus Midgets
Sat : Mar 31st – Ace Speedway ; Altamahaw : NC – USAC MOPAR National Midgets
Sat : Mar 31st – Caraway Speedway ; Asheboro : NC – Late Models x2
Sat : Mar 31st – Caraway Speedway ; Asheboro : NC – Street Stock
Sat : Mar 31st – Concord Motorsports Park ; Concord : NC – Late Models
Sat : Mar 31st – Hickory Motor Speedway ; Newton : NC – Late Models
Sat : Mar 31st – Hickory Motor Speedway ; Newton : NC – Limited Late Models
Sat : Mar 31st – Hickory Motor Speedway ; Newton : NC – Street Stock
Sat : Mar 31st – Grandview Speedway ; Bechtelsville : PA – North East Enduro Tour
Sat : Mar 31st – Lincoln Speedway ; Abbottstown : PA – 410 Sprints
Sat : Mar 31st – Lincoln Speedway ; Abbottstown : PA – 358 Sprints
Sat : Mar 31st – Trail-Ways Speedway ; Hanover : PA – Sidewinder Sprints
Sat : Mar 31st – Florence Motor Speedway ; Timmonsville : SC – Allison Legacy Series
Sat : Mar 31st – Greenville-Pickens Speedway ; Greenville : SC – NASCAR K&N Pro East Series
Sat : Mar 31st – C C Speedway ; Corpus Christi : TX – Dwarf Car Series of Texas
Sat : Mar 31st – Lone Star Speedway ; Kilgore : TX – Lucas Oil Dirt Late Models
Sat : Mar 31st – Seymour Speedway ; Seymour : WI – Spring Thaw Wisconsin Dirt Late Model Association
Sat : Mar 31st – Seymour Speedway ; Seymour : WI – Spring Thaw IMCA Modifieds
Sat : Mar 31st – Seymour Speedway ; Seymour : WI – Spring Thaw IMCA Sport Modifieds
Sat : Mar 31st – Seymour Speedway ; Seymour : WI – Spring Thaw IMCA Stock Cars
Sat : Mar 31st – Seymour Speedway ; Seymour : WI – Spring Thaw Street Stocks
*Sun : Apr 1st – Waterford Speedbowl ; Waterford : CT – MRS Modifieds*
*Sun : Apr 1st – Waterford Speedbowl ; Waterford : CT – NEMA Midgets*
Sun : Apr 1st – Speedrome ; Indianapolis : IN – Spring Fling Roadrunners
Sun : Apr 1st – Speedrome ; Indianapolis : IN – Spring Fling Hornets
Sun : Apr 1st – Speedrome ; Indianapolis : IN – Spring Fling Legends
Sun : Apr 1st – Magnolia Motor Speedway ; Columbus : MS – Super Late Models
Sun : Apr 1st – Magnolia Motor Speedway ; Columbus : MS – NeSmith Late Models
Sun : Apr 1st – Magnolia Motor Speedway ; Columbus : MS – Street Stocks
Sun : Apr 1st – Big Diamond Speedway ; Minersville : PA – Season Opener 358 Modifieds
Sun : Apr 1st – Big Diamond Speedway ; Minersville : PA – Season Opener Sportsman
Wed : Apr 4th – Millbridge Speedway ; Salisbury : NC – Autism Awareness Night Mini Outlaws

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