Showtime: Part-Timer Bruce Thomas Jr. Grabs Another Late Model Win At Waterford

WATERFORD – Look at the Waterford Speedbowl Late Model division standings and one has to dig far down to find Bruce Thomas Jr. Groton.

Bruce Thomas Jr.

And that’s a fact that doesn’t matter at all to the Groton driver.

Back in 2007, 2008 and 2009 when Thomas won Late Model championships at Waterford, wins were the goal, but points meant plenty.

These days, it’s all about the show. And a show is something Thomas has been putting on regularly in his visits to Waterford.

The now part-time competitor drove away from Jason Palmer over the closing laps Saturday to win the 30-lap Late Model feature.

Palmer, of Berlin, was second and Keith Rocco of Wallingford third.

It was the second Late Model victory in 2013 for Thomas, who has only started four of seven races this year.

“I just want to put on a show for you guys,” Thomas told fans in victory lane.

With 12 laps left Thomas used the high side go around Palmer for second place. Five laps later Thomas went by Rich Staskowski for the lead and never trailed again.

“I had a super car,” Thomas said. “… I just threw it on top and the car stuck. I bounced off the wall one time once on the back chute but that was just good hard racing. I just kept after it.”

Said Palmer: “Bruce got to me and after he got to me I was history.”