History on the line in SK Modified® championship battle at Speedbowl
Final event of 2012 on Saturday
Waterford, CT — Waterford Speedbowl is rich with history over its 62-year existence. While many drivers hope to make their mark in the record books each spring, few have the opportunity to do so come the end of the racing season. This Saturday, history will be made in the open-wheel SK Modified® division as a pair of drivers battle for the championship in the final event of the year at the track. Modified racing has been the headline attraction at the popular Connecticut shoreline oval since its opening in 1951.
The season-long battle in the SK Modifieds® has come down to two championship hopefuls, Tyler Chadwick of Ledyard and Jeff Pearl of Salem. Each driver has a chance to add their name to Speedbowl lore in memorable fashion. Chadwick would become the youngest SK Modified® champion in
history should he clinch the title, which would be the first of his career. Pearl, the division’s champion back in 1998, could earn the distinction of holding the longest span between titles across all divisions in track history.
Chadwick, born in July of 1988, would best Dave Gada’s distinction as the youngest champion in the SK Modified® era. Gada won the first of his two
titles in 1990, also at the age of 24, however Chadwick would achieve the feat three months younger. Dave Gada is the older brother of 7-time SK
Modified® champion Dennis Gada, the all-time leader in division wins and track championships, and father of current SK Modified® competitor Adam
Gada.
Pearl has been the steadiest driver in the division spanning the past three decades. He’s won races in 18 of his 19 seasons competing in the
open-wheel ranks, including a total of 27 victories over the past 11 years. He looks to add a second championship to his achievements, 14 seasons after his first. Early Speedbowl star Dick Beauregard went 10 years between titles in 1952 and 1962 to currently hold the record. Tom “Sid” Dimaggio, founder and statistician of “Sids Vault” history of the Speedbowl, documented the facts surrounding the championship run on Saturday.
Chadwick currently leads Pearl by 21-points. The division qualified for its final race of the year, a 50-lap finale, back on October 6th before rain postponed the race until this Saturday. Chadwick will start the race 14th and Pearl 16th. Each had their fill of theatrics during twin 35-lap features back on September 22nd, the last time the division competed.
The 50-lap SK Modified® feature is one of four NASCAR Whelen All-American Series feature races on Saturday, joined by 50-lap races for the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model and Street Stock divisions. The Street Stock track championship is also on the line Saturday. The Mini Stocks will complete the final 28-laps of their 50-lap race, halted by the rain on October 7th. Pit gates open at 12:00pm Saturday with the first of four features starting at 3:00pm. Further details are available by visiting Speedbowl.com
Sources: Brian Darling/Waterford Speedbowl PR