Speedbowl Veteran Don Fowler Prepares For 2008 Season
When it all began in 1968, Don Fowler probably never envisioned becoming one of the “Elder Statesmen” of the SK Modifieds at the Waterford Speedbowl.
“Hard to believe it’s been that long, but it has,” states the 58 year-old Fowler who plans on yet another season at the shoreline oval.
The Speedbowl opens the 2008 campaign on April 12-13 with the 11th annual Modified Nationals. Highlighted by the lucrative SK-150, the weekend also includes the NASCAR Whelen All American Series Late Models, Sportsman, and Mini Stocks. The NEMA Midgets, Legends, AllStar Race Trucks, Pro4 Modifieds, and Allison Legacy Cars are part of a busy agenda as well.
Fowler began in the Daredevil division, a full-fender support class where many of Waterford’s future superstars got their initial taste of competition. It was a slam-bang affair with abundant fields of cars chauffeured by amateur racers seeking that first trophy.
“During those early years, it was kind of an on & off thing for me,” Fowler recalls. “It wasn’t until a few seasons later when I teamed with car-owner Art Forrest that things really got rolling.”
By the turn of the decade, he was a top driver in the Grand American division, garnering three championships. The first trip to victory lane was in 1972. Within a few seasons, he was doing double-duty, competing in both Late Models and Modifieds.
“My first Modified ride was owned by the late Pete Brockett Sr., a driver of note himself in prior years,” he continues. “One of my earliest experiences involved getting airborne and almost taking down a section of the fence. Back then, none of us wore fancy driving shoes, and I had my sneakers on as usual. I hit so hard that both sneakers flew right off my feet, one of them landing outside of the car. We wrecked it pretty good. I hated tearing-up that car on Pete, but everyone has to start somewhere,” says Fowler.
The first Modified win came in 1990, the latest in 2005. Consistently one of the Speedbowl’s best performers, last year marked another top-10 finish in points for the Clinton, CT. resident. In the most recent edition of the Speedbowl’s season-ending Finale, a broken sway bar late in the race allowed Dennis Gada to sneak-by for the victory. Fowler guided his ill-handling car to a hard-earned second-place finish in the extra-distance event.
As for 2008, much will remain the same for the team.
“We’ll be there on opening day as usual,” he says. “The Speedbowl is after all, our home-base. There’ll be new Mustang tin-work on last years ride, and we may even have another car at our disposal. My crew works hard during the off-season getting things ready. If it were not for them, there’d be no racing for me. Steve Voelker, Dave Morgenstein, John Kwant, my family, the sponsors, and all the others that lend a hand, I can’t say enough about them. It’s truly a team-effort that gets me here every week.”
Sources: Dave Dykes/Waterford Speedbowl PR