Rendering of one of the cars that will be part of the Tom Abele Jr. owned SK Light Modified stable at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl in 2017
Tom Abele Jr. knows well the ins and outs of being an owner/driver at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl.
In 2017 the Norwich driver will take on the new role of car owner overseeing his own stable of drivers.
Abele confirmed Tuesday that he will field two SK Light Modifieds full-time at the Speebdowl in 2017 for drivers very familiar to fans at the shoreline oval.
Abele will have two-time reigning Speedbowl Mini Stock champion Wayne Burroughs Jr. in the seat of one of his cars and Limited Sportsman division regular Chris Meyer of Norwich in the other car.
Abele said he will be driving an SK Modified at Waterford in 2017 out of Keith Rocco’s stable.
“It’s more for them than for me I guess,” Abele said of fielding the two cars in the SK Light Modified division. “I guess I want to help promote them, try to get them some sponsors and make it work. This is a way to help them move up because I’m not racing my cars this year. I figured just do something with them.”
Said Burroughs: “It’s huge. To be able to jump up from a Mini Stock to an SK Light is something not too many people get to do. I’m very excited about the opportunity. I know I’m getting in good equipment. Tom’s equipment is the best of the best. I know I couldn’t afford to just go out and buy so it works out well for me. It’s affordable for me to go try it and see if I like it and see if I can have success at it before I go out and buy my own stuff.”
In addition to winning the last two Mini Stock championships at the Speedbowl, Burroughs also won the Mini Stock title at Thompson Speedway in 2016. He said he would likely have to stop running his Thompson program with the addition of the SK Light Modified. He said he hopes to still run full-time in the Mini Stock division at Waterford.
Burroughs was hoping to become the first driver in Speedbowl history to win three consecutive Mini Stock titles at the track.
“That’s kind of an issue. … I was kind of looking forward to trying to do that. But I don’t want to squander this opportunity either. It’s a balancing act.”
Meyer finished second in the Limted Sportsman division at the Speedbowl in 2016. He said he will run attempt to run full-time in the Limited Sportsman division at Thompson Speedway in 2017 to go along with the SK Light Modified at Waterford.
Good choises Tom best of luck to both drivers
Been supporting Chris for years can’t wait to see him in a Sk light