Bobby Santos III celebrates a Whelen Modified Tour victory last June at the Waterford Speedbowl (Photo: Darren McCollester/Getty Images for NASCAR)
Multiple sources close to the New London-Waterford Speedbowl and NASCAR have indicated that the track will likely be added to the 2015 Whelen Modified Tour schedule.
Sources have indicated that at this point it’s essentially a matter of finalizing a date for the series to run at the track.
With the track embroiled in the legal issues surrounding the October foreclosure auction and transfer of ownership, the facility was left off the original Whelen Modified Tour schedule which was announced in early December.
When asked in December, after the release of the series schedule, if the Speedbowl could be added to the schedule should ownership issues be resolved, Whelen Modified Tour director Jimmy Wilson said: “Nothing is out of the question from that standpoint. Waterford has been a very good event for the Whelen Modified Tour. I know we would certainly like to have the opportunity to go back there in the future, but obviously a lot of things would have to get settled very quickly to be able to do anything like that. Historically, NASCAR doesn’t normally add to a schedule once it’s released, but in rare instances there are some examples of that happening. I certainly would say it’s not out of the question.”
New London-Waterford Speedbowl general manager Shawn Monahan said he could not comment on the situation Tuesday, but Monahan has made it clear that track management has been in talks with NASCAR to have the Whelen Modified Tour return to the track in 2015.
Wilson was not available for comment Tuesday afternoon. NASCAR spokesman Jason Christley said nothing has been finalized as far as the series returning the track in 2015.
Sources have indicated that should NASCAR put Waterford back onto the series schedule it would likely be for either a May or June visit to the track. Monahan said the track is hoping for an early May opening for the 2015 season.
The Whelen Modified Tour returned to the Waterford Speedbowl in 2012 after a six-year hiatus, and has run the last three seasons annually the third weekend in June.
The June 20 Saturday date this year is an open date currently on the now 14-event Whelen Modified Tour schedule. The series has no events scheduled for May.
This is great news. It would be fantastic to open the season with a Tour event at the Bowl’.
New blood and a popular series would guarantee a huge crowd and start the new season off
on the right foot. Glad the Bowl is back.
With this being a new group to run the track, I would think they might want to get a few regular events under their belt before they tackle a tour race. There are probably going to be some issues that need to be worked out with concessions, tickets, etc, and it doesn’t seem wise to have a trial run at your biggest race of the year.
Hope they can get a tri track mod show this year
But Andy… this group has as much if not more experience running a racetrack than the old Eames crew. If they open with a WMT or VMRS race that’d be fine with me and I’m sure things would go off without a hitch. Whatever the case… the first time cars are on the track I will be there.
May 23rd would be cool with it being Memorial Day weekend, but might be too aggressive for the track management being so soon after trying to open.
I believe the WMT used to run at Stafford on the Friday night of Memorial Day weekend until recently, and they would pack the place!
Andy, is there anything you don’t complain about?
NASCAR brings their own crew in to run the WMT show, so when their cars hit the track, it becomes their responsibility, not the “Bowls. They’re a class act, and the show will be run professionally. That being said, I also know that NASCAR has been impressed with the “Bowls crew. My guess is you will see all the good people that left come back now that you have people in charge that will appreciate their help.
Hopefully May but regardless of the date, it’s EXCELLENT news for the Speedbowl. I think NASCAR willingness to put a race on this year goes a long way towards establishing faith and credibility to the new Speedbowl team! CONGRATULATIONS!!
Andy is obviously unaware of how the tour races work. The tour brings everything to the track, the rest is easy to figure out. The tour only “uses” the track for the event. On the other hand, this would be a great stepping stone for the Bowl.
I think Andy is right on the mark. You need to manage some races before you bring the tour in.
Grey matter you maybe the one who is unaware of how tour races work.
The Modified tour runs the Modified tour race and obviously they dictate how things unfold such as qualifying schedule and race start times but that’s it. The track is responsible for parking, ticket sales, concessions, bathrooms and every other facet of running a racetrack.
I’m pretty sure Shawn Monahan understands this also and would probably like a few weeks to make sure he has all the right people in place to make sure an event like the Mod Tour goes off without a hitch.