By Dave Dykes                                                                                   (Click on any Photo for Full Size version)

The weather wasn’t the only thing that was hot at Waterford Saturday evening, as the SK’s managed to put on one of the best shows of the season. Former Track Champion Jeff Pearl coaxed a rather ill-behaving racer to victory lane in scoring the 21st win of his still-young career. The 2nd generation driver started the event from the outside front row and managed to hold off spirited late charges from both Dennis Gada and Chris Pasteryak. The race was very close at the final flag with the winner’s margin being one of the closest of the season.
 
Managing to stay in the top-spot following restarts was a bit of a feat in itself for the winner, as a post-race interview found Pearl explaining that his car took at least “four or five laps before it would get going again”. It was a masterful race Pearl drove, and the Salem, Connecticut racers experience certainly showed in holding-off two of the best drivers that currently call the Bowl’ home. 
 
In the Sportsman wars, it was Ronnie Oldman taking his second checker of the season, while it was Ken Cassidy Jr. in the Mini Stocks, and Tim Jordon in the Late Models. Jordon is of course, the divisional points leader as well a shoe-in for Rookie of the Year honors. Mark Bakaj won the Legends main which was an INEX Legends Asphalt Nationals Qualifier.
 
While the Speedbowl’s car-count has been a little on the low-side as of late, Saturday evening found more racers returning to competition. Numbers were up in all divisions with the exception of the Sportsman, which for some reason continues to come up a bit short. It’s rather ironic, simply because that division had in recent years displayed the highest level of participation.
 
Rich Duranti, one of Waterford's original “low-buckers” (and quite possibly one of the busiest drivers at the shoreline oval running both a Late Model and an SK), took a nasty trip into the wall following the detonation of his Late Model motor. Rich stated that his encounter with the Speedbowl Armco was one of the nastiest hits he’d ever taken. Here’s hoping that Mr. Duranti is able to make it back with his Late Model powerplant once again intact this weekend….
 
The Speedbowl once again has a track program, and they seemed to be selling very well. Kudos to those involved for bringing back a weekly book to keep fans informed on what’s going on at the shoreline oval……
 
This weekend, it’s the Speedbowl’s annual “Nostalgia Weekend”, an event not to be missed for those fans that fondly remember the early days of our sport. The clubs of NEAR STARS and ACOT are scheduled to appear for the celebration which includes a huge still show on Saturday evening as well as a running exhibition on Sunday. Also on the docket for Saturday night is a visit from the NEMA Midgets.
 
And with that, it’s a wrap. Contact me at ddykes@originnet.net