Nick Salva celebrates an SK Light Modified victory last year at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl
Opportunity is knocking all over the Modified map for Nick Salva of Prospect this offseason.
In December Salva landed an opportunity to make select starts on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in 2016 for car owner Wayne Darling.
Now Salva will also get the chance in 2016 to make the leap from the SK Light Modified division at Stafford Motor Speedway to the track’s premier SK Modified division with a full-time ride.
Salva confirmed to RaceDayCT Wednesday that his family owned team will partner with Jean-Guy and Brigitte Poulin to field a No. 98 SK Modified at Stafford for the 2016 season.
“I’m bouncing off the walls excited for the chance to do this,” the 23-year old Salva said. “I can’t even explain it. I’m so excited with both aspects. The Tour is just unbelievable to me and now this whole thing with the [SK Modified]. It’s been a very exciting offseason for me.
“To team up with the Poulin’s is huge,” Salva said. “Everybody knows, they’ve had some great drivers in the past and they always supply top-notch equipment. I am so excited and grateful for the opportunity. I can even describe how grateful I am to the Poulin’s for everything they’ve done for me to date and continue to do for me. It’s a dream come true.”
Said Brigitte Poulin: “It’s a good fit. It’s another adventure. I look forward to a good year. I think Nick is a racer that’s just beginning to show what he’s capable of.”
The Poulin’s had been aligned with Ryan Preece of Berlin in the SK Modified division at Stafford, but Preece will make the jump the to the NASCAR XFINITY Series for 2016.
“We like people who appreciate what we do for them,” Brigitte Poulin said. “And the Preece family, it was a most pleasant experience. Ryan was very much like the two sons that I raised to me. It was a wonderful experience. … We had five great years with him that were unforgettable.”
Salva had two victories, seven top-fives and 11 top-10’s in 19 starts in the SK Light Modified division at Stafford in 2015. He had two wins in the division in 2014 and finished second in the standings.
“My first goal going [to the SK Modified division] is to run top-10 and run well and get experience and track time, but I really think we’re going to have a winning combination by the end of the year.” Salva said. “It’s amazing to be going there. Really in any aspect, the SK [Modifieds] are probably the most competitive Modified division out there, even including the tours. I know the [Whelen Modified Tour] is a different level of competition, but the SK’s at Stafford, everybody will tell you, it’s just 40 grueling laps of [all out] racing against some of the best drivers out there every week. Preparing myself for that is my No. 1 priority. You’re out there racing against the best guys in Modifieds every week there.”
Salva said he expects to make at least seven Whelen Modified Tour starts for Darling. The team is expected to run two events each at Stafford and Thompson Speedway and also make starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the New London-Waterford Speedbowl and Seekonk [Mass.] Speedway.
Another young kid moving up the racing ladder that doesn’t quite have the CREDENTIALS for Mario Standards.
Hopefully nick an win the Sk5K race or win the Icebreaker in his first tour start to get on his good side!
Another young kid moving up the racing ladder that doesn’t quite have the CREDENTIALS for Mario Standards.
Hopefully nick can win the Sk5K race or win the Icebreaker in his first tour start to get on his good side!
Nick’s first Whelen Mod Tour race will be at Stafford, at the Spring Sizzler.
This is well deserved, and Nick will make the most of these opportunities. Congrats Nick!
You know, Big Smoke, Mario has a Facebook account (as I’m sure you do) where you can voice your displeasures with him directly via private messaging.
It would be appreciated if you did that instead of hiding behind a fake name (which has an ironic ring to it might I add) and flooding an article with irrelevant negativity and back handed well wishes to a young driver with great opportunities who is looking to make a name for himself amongst some of the best drivers around.
Please and thank you.
I have followed Nick. He better remember these are not SK lights and stop causing accidents. I do think he is a upcoming driver but he needs to be more careful in these divisions. Good luck Nick!!
Saw him spin all by himself at the World Series in an SK Lite. I would only expect that from 01 tour car. I hope he gets his act together.
Congratulations Nick and thank you to the Poulins for your outstanding support of the SK Modifieds past and present. I,ve been watching Nick develop as a driver and its been a pleasure. He’s one that will come from the back to the front almost every race. It’s great to be recognized by the Poulins and put in topnotch equipment so that the talent can truly be shown.
Its amazing how many experts are on this site. just a little info grey matter spin at Thompson was caused by broken axle maybe you should have all the facts before you comment. Good luck nick I’m sure you’ll make the best of your opportunities
If that is the case then, how did an axle break in a car that makes no horsepower and that’s well maintained?