Shriners, Guaranteed Spots Saturday Highlights
Waterford, CT — The Shriners, complete with their internationally famous “Mini Cars” will be on hand Saturday night at Waterford Speedbowl. Masters of comedy and hi-jinks, the Shriners compliment five divisions of auto racing including special events for the SK-Modifieds and the Legends.
The 35-lap SK winner earns a guaranteed spot in the Nov.3 North-South Shootout at Concord (NC) Motorsports Park while the 50-lap Legends event is a qualifier for the INIS Nationals Oct. 11-13 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. A large list of Legends will qualify via time trials.
The famous Blues Brothers Sphinx Clowns, complete with motorcycles, “False Alarm” fire trucks and the Sphinx Band, will perform. The “Chanters” will sing the National Anthem. Shriners wearing their Fez or a Shriners T-Shirt will be guests of the Speedbowl.
“We are very pleased to be part of both the North-South Shootout and the INIS Nationals,” says Speedbowl General Manager Bill Roth. “Those guaranteed spots are special. Our competitors have taken advantage of them in the past.”
Both those divisions have “issues” at home as well, namely the point races. SK leader Rob Janovic’s 28-point lead over Shawn Monahan and Dennis Gada, the latter two tied for second, is hardly safe. Gada, who chased winner Jeff Pearl home last week, has left no doubt about his desire for a seventh championship.
“We’ll get the points when and where we can,” offers Gada, the master of the Speedbowl’s outside groove.
Only four points separate Legends leader Chris Bakaj and sensational teenager Michael Gervais Jr. going into the only extra distance, extra-money race of the season for the Legends cars. Mark Bakaj, the ’06 champion, is 30 back. Corey Williams’ record 16.883 seconds run set back in 2003 will be the qualifying target.
Three of last Saturday’s four Whelen All-American Division winners – Bruce Thomas Jr. (Late Models), Randy Churchill Jr. (Mini Stocks) and Dwayne Dorr (Sportsman) did so using the outside lane. “It’s been there all season,” said Thomas who had to starve off a late challenge from Larry Goss. “I’m having a lot of fun out there.”
Churchill, a second year competitor, became the 24th Whelen All-American Division winner this year with an outside move with only three left in a caution free feature.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/Waterford Speedbowl PR