SK Light Rookie of the Year Chase Dowling Making Move into SK Modified® Division for 2014 Season at Stafford Speedway
Stafford Springs, CT — After a sensational rookie year in Stafford’s SK Light division this past season, Roxbury native Chase Dowling will make the move into Stafford’s premier SK Modified® division for the 2014 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series season. Dowling won his very first start in the SK Lights and went on to win 6 more features for a total of 7 wins in his first season behind the wheel of a modified. Although his SK Light rookie season was a smashing success, Dowling doesn’t expect to be able to replicate his rookie results in 2014.
“I think my goals for this year are the same as they were before last year,” said Dowling. “We’d like to win one race and win the Rookie of the Year title. Obviously moving up the competition is a lot harder so I’m not going to get my hopes up too high but hopefully at least we can be the top rookie and I’ll be happy. Anything on the podium in the SK’s will be something to be proud of. Everyone wants to go out and win races but being a rookie I’m not expecting to win right away.”
As Dowling prepares for his rookie foray into Stafford’s premier division, he is bringing with him every element that helped him to his 7-win season. Dowling will drive the same chassis, he will have the same crew members, and he will have each of his sponsors, S+S Asphalt paving, Dunleavy Truck And Trailer Repair, All About You Homecare, Carrigan Heating and Air Conditioning, Southwood Auto Parts, and Arbitell Convenience Stores moving up with him. The only differences between 2013 and 2014 will be the number on the side and roof of Dowling’s car, the engine under the hood, and the level of competition on the track.
“We’ll have the same car that we had last year, same crew, and same sponsors,” said Dowling. “The only thing that will be changing is the motor. It’s a lot more convenient for us than if we had a new chassis. We’re going to have a Billy the Kid engine in the car. I think it was the right time to move up. We have the people, the sponsors, and the money, so we have the whole package and there wasn’t a reason not to move up this year. It’s all pretty exciting for me. A lot of people either don’t have the money or the chance to ever move up to the SK’s. Moving up to the SK’s is an awesome opportunity for not only me and my crew, but for all my sponsors as well.”
While Dowling knows he faces a learning curve in making the move into the SK Modified® division, he and his #57 team can lean on their SK Light experience to help make that curve as straight a line as possible.
“I think the SK Lights are a great division to get your feet wet for the SK Modified® division,” said Dowling. “They have the same tires and the motor difference will be what I have to get used to with the horsepower and throttle control. But setup-wise and the stagger with the tires, everything that goes with the car is going to help us this year. I learned how to set guys up to pass and everything in how to drive a modified so it was a great learning division and everything I learned this year will help me out next season.”
As Dowling showed this past season, he is a quick study behind the wheel.
“I think I’ll be able to adapt pretty quickly,” said Dowling. “I’ve been able to do that in everything that I’ve raced so far. We were able to win our first time out of the box with the SK Light but we’re definitely not expecting that to happen again. It’s going to be hard, but I know my team can do it and I have confidence in myself so hopefully we can get the job done.”
Dowling will hit the track for the first time in the SK Modified® ranks during the 43rd Annual Spring Sizzler on April 25-27, 2014. For more information, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.
Sources: Scott Running/Stafford Motor Speedway PR