Chadwick Returns In Some Tough Company
Waterford, CT — Finishing fourth in points in the final Waterford Speedbowl SK-Modified standings last year was Tyler Chadwick’s “greatest accomplishment yet” but the 19-year old is hardly satisfied. He’ll return in 2008 “focused on getting that first victory.”
Last season’s top three – champion Rob Janovic Jr., runner-up Dennis Gada and steady Jeff Pearl – are all due back as well and with definite intentions. That trio has eight Speedbowl championships and 110 feature wins among them.
The campaign opens with the SK-150, the centerpiece of the 11th annual nine-division Modified Nationals April 12-13. “If we’re there at the end, I believe we have a shot at winning the opener,” says Chadwick, presently a freshman at New England Tech in Warwick, RI. A one-time Quarter Midget ace, he is about to begin his fourth full season in a SK.
Pearl will be after a second straight SK-150 win. Janovic, Chadwick’s Godfather, begins the title defense while Gada starts his quest for a record seventh championship. The SK-150 traditionally draws a strong field and among the drivers expected are ’06 winner Frank Ruocco, NASCAR regional champion Jeff Malave, Kenny Horton and Rob Summers. All have filed entries. Popular Ron Yuhas Jr., an accomplished extra-distance Speedbowl competitor, is also on the list.
“It is so close, just so close,” Chadwick says of racing at the Speedbowl. “I don’t see racing that close anywhere else and racing side-by-side with guys who were my childhood heroes is very special.” He was, however, “learning all the time” and he’s definitely taking one particular lesson into the coming campaign.
His best ’07 effort was a second. “We led part of the race,” he says, recalling doing “a little rubbing” with Gada. “Then there was a caution and I got a little intimidated,” he continues. “I got too nice, gave Dennis a little bit too much room.” He is quick to point out, however, all three drivers were very good to him as were the Monahan Brothers, Shawn and Diego.
Less than a week after his 16th birthday back in 2004, Chadwick was in a Wild n’ Wacky Wednesday X-Modified. It was actually the car he presently drives – a Chassis Dynamics machine – and before the summer was over he was in full-fledged SK action.
The championship battle for the Speedbowl’s other NASCAR Whelen All American Series divisions – the Late Models, Sportsman and Mini Stocks – also begins with extra-distance events at the Nationals. On the busy agenda as well are the Legends, the Northeastern Midget Association, the Pro4 Modifieds, the AllStar Race Trucks and the Allison Legacy Cars. All qualifying, including SK time trials, will be on Saturday.
The SK-150 shares Sunday with the Late Model (50 laps), Sportsman (30), Mini Stock (30) and Midget (25) features.
Sources: Dave Dykes/Waterford Speedbowl PR.