On Tap Presented By Ric’s Cafe: Kicking Off The Season At Waterford

On Tap: Presented By Ric’s Cafe

And so it begins, weather pending of course.

With spring creeping up in seemingly the slowest manner ever, the Waterford Speedbowl is set to mark the arrival of the 2014 racing season with the running of Budweiser Blastoff Weekend Saturday and Sunday at the shoreline oval.

The race weekend’s schedule is highlighted by the season opening event for the Valenti Modified Racing Series and a 64-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified feature.

It’s all part of a 13-feature schedule that includes seven feature events for Saturday evening.

Check out below for more information on this weekend’s event.

Where: Waterford Speedbowl

What: Budweiser Blastoff Weekend

When: Friday – Sunday

Schedule

Friday: Practice for all divisions (grandstands closed)

Saturday: Practice and qualifying for all divisions. Features: 25-lap Northeastern Midget Association Lite, 20-lap X-Car, 20-lap Super X-Car, 25-lap New England Truck Series, 25-lap SK Light Modified, 20-lap Legends and 20-lap Bandolero, 5 p.m.

Sunday: Features: 100-lap Valenti Modified Racing Series, 64-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified, 50-lap Late Model, 30-lap Street Stock, 30-lap Mini Stock and 25-lap Northeastern Midget Association, noon.

More: The kickoff event for short track racing in Connecticut for the 2014 season. Schedule features the season opening race for the Valenti Modified Racing Series. … Rowan Pennink begins defense of his 2013 Valenti Modified Racing Series title. … The first of eight events in 2014 at Connecticut short tracks for the Valenti Modified racing series and first of three at Waterford. The division will also compete three times at Stafford Motor Speedway and twice at Thompson Speedway as part of a 17-race schedule. … Steve Masse is the defending champion of the Valenti Modified Racing Series portion of the Blastoff weekend. … In 16 Valenti Modified Racing Series events all-time at Waterford, no driver has more than two victories. Masse, Chris Pasteryak, Jon McKennedy and Doug Coby each have two series victories at the track. Masse and Pasteryak are both expected in the lineup this weekend. … Pennink, Keith Rocco, Les Hinckley III, Bobby Grigas III, Jerry Marquis, Rob Summers, Kirk Alexander and Tommy Barrett Jr. are the other previous series winners at Waterford. … The Valenti Modified Racing Series will have qualifying heats on Saturday to set the starting lineup for Sunday’s feature. … The 64- lap distance of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified feature coincides with the 64-years the facility has been in operation. … Keith Rocco begins defense of 2013 Waterford Speedbowl championships in both the SK Modified and Late Model divisions. … Corey Hutchings is the defending champion in the track’s Street Stock division and Ken Cassidy Jr. is the defending Mini Stock division champion. … For more information check the Waterford Speedbowl website.