Summers Determined SK-150 Contender
Waterford, CT — Rob Summers hopes to at the very least dim some of the memory of last year’s result in the 12th annual SK-150 April 12-13 at Waterford Speedbowl’s Budweiser Modified Nationals.
The $5,000-to win SK-150 is the centerpiece of the 10 division “Mod Nats” which also including the jumping off point for the championship runs in the ‘Bowl’s Late Model, Sportsman, Mini Stock and Legends divisions. The Northeastern Midget Association, NEMA Lites, Pro4 Modifieds, AllStar Trucks and Allison Legacy Cars are also due.
The leader for much of the latter stages a year ago , Summer was passed on a restart with two laps left by eventual winner Jeff Pearl. “It sucks when something like that happens,” he says. “I was kicking myself around for weeks.”
This time, he insists, he will not listen to his crew on situations such as that. “They were concerned about my being black flagged for jumping the start. The guys put my head in the wrong mindset. I let my guard up and took it easy. He [Pearl] jumped and won the race.”
It will not happen again insists Summers who returned later in the season to win a TrueValue Modified event. The Bowl, says the 2005 SK champion, is his “favorite track. Weather its modifieds, supermodifeds, even a late model, I just like racing there.”
He remains a Speedbowl favorite. “I raced a full year there and still get along with everybody,” he says. “When I go back I feel like one of the guys.”
The first of extra-money, extra-distance SK races, NASCAR state champ Woody Pitkat, 2006 winner Frank Ruocco, Ken Horton and Ted Christopher are among the challengers who’ll take on the ‘Bowl regulars including Pearl, defending champ Rob Janovic Jr. and Dennis Gada who begins his quest for a record seventh championship.
Summers set fast time for the 2006 “150.” He also did it in a Whelen Tour car a few years back. He is not, however, caught up in time trials. “The year I won the pole I wrecked on lap five,” he points out. “Last year I really didn’t time that well. We started 11th.”
The pole, he continues, would be “great but it’s the $5,000 at the end of the race you want to go home with.”
SK time trials will kick off qualifying on Saturday (April 12) followed by heats and consolations for the rest of the divisions. The Legends, Pro Four, Allison Legacy, AllStar Truck and NEMA Lite features follow.
Extra-distance events for the Late Models (50), Sportsman (30) and Mini Stocks (30) along with a 25-lap NEMA feature share Sunday with the “150.”
Sources: Dave Dykes/Waterford Speedbowl PR