“Outsider” Horton SK 150 Contender At Speedbowl
Waterford, CT — Kenny Horton actually postponed a scheduled vacation (by a single day) to make the SK-150, the centerpiece of Waterford Speedbowl’s season-opening April 12-13 Budweiser Modified Nationals. He has been “so close” in his two previous starts.
The “Cannonball” brings two key ingredients to the $5,000-to-win battle – he is an outstanding qualifier and more than capable in the Speedbowl’s outside groove.
The $20,000 SK-150 is part of a 10-division Bud Nats that also includes the Speedbowl’s Late Model, Sportsman and Mini Stock divisions. The Legends, Northeastern Midget Association, the NEMA Lites, Pro4 Modifieds, AllStar Race Trucks and Allison Legacy Cars are on the bill as well.
Two years ago Horton came from last to finish second (“I still think we should have won it”) to close friend Frank Ruocco. A year ago he qualified very well and was “definitely a top three car” before a confrontation. Later in the year he set the track’s SK record with a 14.061 seconds qualifying effort.
Horton and Ruocco join an impressive group of “invaders” that includes Jeff Malave, Woody Pitkat, Rob Summers, Ted Christopher and Doug Coby. They’ll take on a “home team” that includes 2007 winner Jeff Pearl, defending champion Rob Janovic Jr., six-time champ Dennis Gada and Ron Yuhas Jr.
“When the outside lane is there, you can race side-by-side out there, you can pass out there and that’s what I love about the Speedbowl,” declares Horton who did just that two years ago. “If I start toward the back I’ll lay back for 100 laps and then use the outside to pass.”
That, he expects, will not happen. He has “always had a fast car at the Speedbowl” and believes he’ll again qualify well and go for the lead early. Either way, the ability to handle the outside lane will play a big role.
The outside was “there” last year. “I took the lead from Jimmy Blewett with an outside move,” Horton points out. “Rob Summers took it away from me with an outside move and then Jeff Pearl took it from Summers with an outside move.”
Three outside moves for the lead, he suggests, might be a record.
“I love the run you can get down the back stretch after going through one and two in the high groove,” he says. He remembers watching Ted Christopher do it in the “150” three years ago and points out Pearl did it passing Summers last year. Gada is an absolute master of it.
Saturday’s qualifying will begin with SK time trials followed by heats for the other divisions. The Legends, NEMA Lites, Allison Legacy Car, Pro4 Modified and AllStar Race Truck features will follow.
A 25-lap NEMA feature and extra distance events for the Late Models (50 laps), Sportsman (30) and Mini Stocks (30) share Sunday with the SK-150. The traditional Pit Party kicks things off.
Sources: Dave Dykes/Waterford Speedbowl PR