Dowling to Make VMRS Debut at Waterford
Chase Dowling of Roxbury, CT will make his Valenti Modified Racing Series debut at Waterford (CT) Speedbowl Sunday. Dowling will drive the Phoenix Soil/American Lamp Recycling No. 2X for Bobby Judkins in the headline Finale Weekend 100 lap event.
“Bobby Judkins and his son bought the car (from NEAR Hall of Famer Bob Judkins) recently, just so he could put it back on the track for his dad.”
Dowling said that Bobby attended races at Stafford Motor Speedway to watch his nephew Ryan Preece. Judkins asked him to drive the car and “he just kept following through and eventually he said let’s give it a try and we went testing.” Dowling said the tests two weeks ago “went really well.”
Dowling is hoping for a top 10 finish, despite driving an old car. The 30 car field includes track champion Keith Rocco, Stafford titlist Ted Christopher and Tommy Barrett, Jr. “A top 10 would be outstanding for a first run with this new team and new car,” Dowling said. “…I really just want to do it for Bobby and Bobby’s dad. … They’re the ones that are making it happen.”
Dowling expects to also enter Oktobfest at Lee USA Speedway next weekend. He will not enter the season finale World Series of Speedway Racing at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park. Dowling should be ready for the Sunoco Modified feature at Thompson.
“It’s definitely a different style racing once you go tour,” Dowling said. “You’re racing against the best. There’s a ton of equipment, a lot of money on the line, so you have to have really good sponsors and people. You know the connections you have to have. Everything gets bigger and better when you get higher and higher. It’s unbelievable to be where I am right now and the opportunities I’m getting.”
Dowling’s priority for next season is to find an SK Modified® ride at Stafford Motor Speedway. That would allow his father (Mark) to build a new NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour car with the sponsorship money.
“We’ll probably run limited races maybe four, five races next year on the Whelen Modified Tour and then run the (Valenti Modified Racing Series) with Bobby (Judkins) next year too.”
The first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race would be at Stafford Motor Speedway. Other races could be at Monadnock Speedway or Thompson until he gained approval for larger tracks.
Dowling wants to concentrate on weekly racing “to get seat time before you can just jump into something big time.”
Dowling could run the full VMRS schedule next season, but it is up to the car owner.
“It’s really what he wants to do,” Dowling said. “We don’t really have anything planned yet, but it sounds like we’re going to hit it pretty hard next year.”
Dowling finished fifth in the SK Modified® standings at Stafford Motor Speedway with one win, four top fives, and 12 top 10s. He won the SPAFCO Rookie of the Year Award and was the youngest winner in division’s history. The No. 57 car’s sponsors include S+S Asphalt Paving, Dunleavy Truck and Trailer, All about You Homecare.
“It was really good,” Dowling said. “I’m pretty shocked. I’m pretty happy too; couldn’t want anything more. … It really hasn’t sunk in yet, probably after we’re done for the season I’m sitting down thinking about this season it will really mean a lot more than right now.”
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour drivers Ted Christopher, Rowan Pennink, Woody Pitkat and Ryan Preece regularly compete in the division at the historic half mile oval. Christopher is the track’s winningest driver and nine time champion. Preece won six times, missing the championship by 2 points. Pennink won five races including the NAPA SK 5K 100 lap race, despite running a partial schedule.
“When you talk to people they say you got to be around the best to be the best and I think that’s one of the goals we’re trying to go after and I think Stafford’s a great track, a great series,” Dowling said. “Mark Arute does a great job with the track and everything, but they’re bringing the best drivers, some of the top tour drivers there every week and you’re racing against them, so I mean the experience you’re getting right there alone is awesome.”
Dowling drove a Modified on the high banked Lebanon Valley (NY) Speedway for Kenny Tremont in May. They share a mutual sponsor S&S Paving. Dowling said he would be “more than willing to jump in the car again.”
Dowling began his career at age six in Go Karts, but said eventually his parents could not fund him without sponsorship. He moved to Legends Cars, where he won the 2012 Summer Shootout championship at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He won Rookie of the Year and finished second in the SK Light Modified standings at Stafford last year.
“We’re going quick with it because I’m just accommodating to the series and I have a lot of people behind me support me well enough to get me good equipment and we’re just accomplishing what we’re trying to do every year, which is make us be able to move up and have opportunities,” Dowling said.
Sources: Nicholas Teto/YankeeRacer.com