Speedbowl ready for Budweiser Blastoff Weekend
Track champions ready to defend turf
Waterford, CT — Waterford Speedbowl will swing open its gates this weekend for the 61st consecutive year with Budweiser Blastoff 2011. Fourteen divisions will see action in New England’s kickoff to racing led by the season opening event for the Valenti Modified Racing Series, the popular Northeastern based open-wheel series. The NEMA Midgets also begin another historic campaign at the Speedbowl at Blastoff.
The Speedbowl’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions also start their championship chases this weekend and four track champions from a year ago seek promising starts to their 2011 efforts.
Keith Rocco will look to pick up where he left off in 2010 when he claimed the Speedbowl’s SK Modified® track championship in record fashion. His 10 victories a year ago were the most ever in a single season in the division. That domination helped catapult Rocco to the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national title, the first by a driver from the ‘Bowl. Ron Yuhas Jr., Rob Janovic, Tyler Chadwick, and Jeff Pearl are among those looking to unseat Rocco. The second-generation Rocco will be busy at Blastoff, wheeling a Valenti Modified and Late Model in addition to the Pane #57 SK Mod.
Tim Jordan scored his second Speedbowl Late Model title and hopes his familiarity of the shoreline oval is a springboard to a successful rookie campaign on the Valenti Modified tour. Al Stone III and Ken Cassidy Jr. are set to defend their Street Stock and Mini Stock titles respectively.
Both were involved in intense championship point battles a year ago, leaving them battle tested and ready for 2011. Jordan’s departure from the Late Model division leaves the door open for a new division kingpin.
Other touring divisions in action include the Pro Four Modifieds of New England, New England Truck Series, Allison Legacy Series and NEMA Lites.
Additional Speedbowl divisions including the Legends Cars, Bandoleros, Super X Car and X Car divisions round out the Blastoff racing card.
Blastoff practice is slated for Friday, April 1. Pit gates open at 10:00am with practice getting started at noon. Pit admission is $20.00, while grandstands are closed for Friday’s practice session.
On Saturday, April 2 pit gates open at 7:30am with practice for all 14 divisions commencing at 9:00am. Qualifying gets started at 2:00pm for all divisions, including the popular Valenti Modified Racing Series heat races. Feature races for the NEMA Lites, Pro Four Modifieds, New England
Trucks, Allison Legacy, Legends Cars, Bandolero’s, Super X Cars and X Carsare scheduled to begin at 5:00pm.
Sunday begins with a Pit Party on the track starting at 9:30am. Features get underway at noon including a 25-lapper for the NEMA Midgets, special 61-lap SK Modified® race honoring the track’s 61st season, a 50-lap Late Model race and 30-lappers for the Street Stocks and Mini Stocks. The Valenti Modifieds will race 100 green flag laps as the highlight of Budweiser Blastoff 2011.
Two day passes for grandstands admission are available for $30.00 for adults, $10.00 for youth age 6 through 14, with all kids age 5 and under free. The Speedbowl offers acres of free parking, including overnight parking.
More details including a detailed schedule of events are available by visiting Speedbowl.com.
Sources: Waterford Speedbowl PR