Speedbowl Next Stop for NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
Mr. Rooter 161 Richie Evans tribute race set for Saturday
Waterford, CT — The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour rolls to the Connecticut shoreline this Saturday, bringing 161-laps of open-wheel auto racing to Waterford Speedbowl. A highlight of last year’s Whelen Modified Tour season, the event was one of the most anticipated races on the schedule. Saturday’s Mr. Rooter 161 event has garnered everyone’s attention once again as it pays tribute to the late Richie Evans.
Open-wheel modified racing is synonymous with the Speedbowl. The division has been the center piece on a weekly basis for the track’s entire 63-year history. Several current NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour competitors are rich with Speedbowl history and experience. There will be no shortage of success in Saturday’s Mr. Rooter 161. Seven of Saturday’s entries have won in the Speedbowl’s weekly SK Modified® division over the years, totaling 83 victories and four track titles. Those who cut their teeth in open-wheel racing at the Speedbowl include 2011 series champion Ron Silk of Norwalk as well as Ron Yuhas Jr. of Groton, a past track champion.
A Speedbowl win is highly coveted by many on the circuit. Coventry, RI native Mike Stefanik, one of the most successful drivers in the tour’s history, is winless at Waterford over his storied career. Silk and Yuhas agree a win at Waterford would be very special. Keith Rocco of Meriden is a two-time Speedbowl SK Modified® champion and currently leads the track’s weekly point standings. Like Silk and Yuhas, Rocco began his racing career at Waterford. A triumph on the three-eighths mile bullring would be a break-through performance for Rocco, NASCAR’s Whelen All-American Series national champion in 2010.
The Speedbowl’s unique mix of straightaway and cornering make it tricky to master. Two well-defined racing grooves will provide the stage for what is expected to be a great showcase of modified racing. Defending race winner and series champion Doug Coby rates the Speedbowl as one of his favorite tracks on the schedule and is well acquainted with the outside groove. He owns weekly racing wins at the ‘Bowl and his Mr. Rooter 161 victory a year ago helped vault him to the series title. Coby, from Milford, is eager to achieve something no driver has ever done in tour history; win back-to-back series races at Waterford.
Pit Gates open Saturday for NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour teams only at 9:30am. Grandstand gates open at 1:00pm for Mr. Rooter 161 practice, which begins at 1:15pm. Time Trials will set the starting lineup for the Mr. Rooter 161 at 5:00pm followed by qualifying races for the weekly divisions. Main events begin at 6:30pm beginning with the SK Modified® race. The Mr. Rooter 161 expected post time is 8:30pm. The detailed event schedule for the Mr. Rooter 161 can be found online at Speedbowl.com.
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Sources: Brian Darling/Waterford Speedbowl PR