“Second Consideration” For Speedbowl’s ‘Home Team’

Waterford, CT — There is a “second consideration” among the “home team” heading into the April 12-13 SK-150, the headline event of Waterford Speedbowl’s season-opening Budweiser Modified Nationals. The “150” kicks off the run for the 2008 SK-Modified championship.

It is the same for the Bowl’s other NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions, the Late Models (50 laps), Sportsman (30) and Mini Stocks (30) on opening docket along with the Legends. Other divisions due for the two-day affair are the NEMA Midgets, Pro4 Modifieds, AllStar Race Trucks, Allison Legacy Cars and NEMA Lites.

The “home team” – led by defending champion Rob Janovic Jr. – goes into the battle concerned not only with an impressive group of visitors but with points. “In our sport (weekly racing), it’s tough to play catch up,” six-time champion Dennis Gada points out. Gada starts his quest for a record seventh championship at the “Nats.”

Jeff Pearl, the 1998 champion and 2007 “150” winner, is a declared contender as is Dennis Charette. Ron Yuhas Jr., back to the SKs after a couple seasons away, is in the picture. Youngsters Jeffrey Paul and Tyler Chadwick and 58-year old Don Fowler are on the list along with Frank Mucciacciaro Jr. and Jay Miller.

Points, they all say, is not a factor in “150” preparation. The history (it is the first of the extra-distance SK events) and the money ($5,000 to win) is more than enough motivation. It is the same motivation for the visitors – including Mike Hirschman, Ted Christopher, Rob Summers, Jeff Malave, Kenny Horton, Woody Pitkat, and 2006 winner Frank Ruocco.

Pearl admits to taking special delight in beating a stellar field a year ago. Still, when things cool down, the championship contenders look back on their SK-150 finish with glee or with pain. It is the only difference between the two groups.

Most agree on the ingredients needed for victory – time trial well, be patient and take full advantage of the Speedbowl’s outside lane. Horton points out there were three successful outside passes for the lead in last year’s “150.”

Gada is the absolute master of the outside lane. Yuhas is right there as well. Pearl and Fowler are equally apt but Christopher, Summers, Ruocco and Horton have proven they can “live out there” as well. “If the outside is there, you’ve got to use it if you expect to win,” says Horton.

Horton owns the Speedbowl SK qualifying record – a 14.061 seconds effort set at last summer’s Pepsi 300. He is one of a number of 2008 SK-150 entries who have won a pole at the ‘Bowl. The list includes Christopher and Summers who have done it in both SKs and Modified Tour cars. Gada has several poles including two SK-150s. The list also includes Don Fowler, Yuhas and Pearl .

Ruocco, who recalls lying in wait for maybe 100 laps before charging into the lead in ’06, insists in the end it comes down to being patient. Summers agrees, pointing out keeping the $5,000 first place check in mind helps achieve that.

Gada, Christopher and Ruocco will join Pearl in hoping to become only the second two-time winner.

Sources: Dave Dykes/Waterford Speedbowl PR

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