Jeff Smith Pursuing Wins at Waterford Speedbowl
Former Late Model champion Jeff Smith of Old Lyme, CT is focused on wins. Smith plans to race at Waterford Speedbowl full-time, “as long as we don’t get wrecked real bad and as long as we have money from our sponsors.” Smith may also run a limited schedule at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park if time permits.
Smith finished third in points last season with 21 starts, 2 wins, 14 top 5s and 20 top 10s. Smith believes he is one of the championship contenders for this season along with reigning champion Keith Rocco and former track champion Bruce Thomas, Jr. “Last year we found over the winter (that) my car was screwed up,” Smith said. “So we spent a lot of time and a lot of money and got the car modernized. … We feel that we have a lot better car (and) a lot better chance to go for the title this year.”
“My crew consists of mostly friends and family: my mom, dad, Kristen, Mike, Robert, Jordan, Pete,” Smith said. Al Bond Excavating, Dawley Collision and Custom, Osprey Sportfishing Charters , Al Lane’s Racing School, CJ Tree Works, North East Towing provide sponsorship on the #15 car.
All Late Model teams will have to adjust from Goodyear to American Racer tires. Before rain ended Friday’s practice session at Waterford, Smith was able to try the new tires.
“I like the tire because it’s softer to get more grip, but it cost(s) more and because it’s softer you burn the tire out faster so it’s going to cost more money in the long run because you have to buy more tires. So overall I like the Goodyears better. But it’s what we have to run, so we all will get used to it.”
“The tire has more grip but the tire also has a softer side wall. So we have to change our car to allow for the sidewall difference because the car react(s) differently to them. You have to understand what the tire does when it gets hot and travels through the turn to compensate your car to make your car handle to it.”
Waterford Speedbowl opens its 64 season on Saturday, April 5 with its first NASCAR Whelen All-American Series event. Qualifying heats are at 5:30 PM and features begin at 7:00 PM. Seven divisions will be in action: SK Modified® (35 laps), Late Model 30 laps), Street Stock (25 laps), Mini Stock (25 laps), Legend Cars (25 laps), Super X-Cars (20 laps), X-Cars (20 laps). Adult admission is $17, Youth (6-14) is $6 and children are free.
Sources: Nicholas Teto/YankeeRacer.com