Waterford Speedbowl pace car driver Steve Oloski takes evasive action Sunday to avoid getting rammed by Mini Stock driver Ray Christian III (93). who was coming backwards at him while he was pulling onto the track (Photo: Steve Kennedy/Waterford Speedbowl)
WATERFORD – All things considered, Waterford Speedbowl management had to be happy with a job well done by their race management staff on Sunday at the shoreline oval.
With a rainout of all activity on Saturday for finale weekend, seven feature events were added to a Sunday schedule at the track that already included six features.
A noon start on thirteen division Sunday card that also included three qualifying events for the Valenti Modified Racing Series had many around the track thinking laps would be being turned well after 9 p.m.
Not so. The final checkered flag flew at 7:51 p.m. Even the time limits set by track officials before the start of features only came into play for one event, the SK Light Modified division, which was cut by one lap because of the time limit.
The worst parties on track Sunday were actually the track outsiders, the Valenti Modified Racing Series, who put on a wreck-fest of show that saw competitive civility get thrown by the wayside and harpooning going on like the whaling industry was taking over on the Connecticut shoreline once again.
Pacemaker
We couldn’t get a variance to include Waterford Speedbowl pace car driver Steve Oloski into the voting for this week’s Support Performer of the Week Award, but he deserves some sort of award for the show he put on Sunday at the Speedbowl.
Oloski had the save of the day in the Speedbowl pace car during the Mini Stock feature. With a wreck on the backstretch, Oloski was getting ready to pull out onto the frontstretch from the infield access path. At that same time Ray Christian III went spinning toward the infield backwards directly toward an oncoming Oloski.
Oloski was somehow able to drop the hammer into reverse and avoid collision and the jokes that would have surely gone along with air bag deployment in the middle of the show.
What’s Next?
With racing done at the track the waiting game now begins at the Speedbowl.
A foreclosure auction is set for Oct. 18 at the 64-year old facility.
While nobody is talking publicly, there are some rumblings that an auction likely won’t be taking place.
Galvin Moving On?
Josh Galvin proved a nearly unstoppable force this year in his Mr. Rooter sponsored Street Stock, racking up 11 victories on the way to his first division title.
What’s next for the Franklin driver?
Sunday he hinted that he may not be defending his title in 2015 at the track.
“I’m not too sure what we’re going to do next,” Galvin said. “[Mr. Rooter owner] Vin Beedle wants to do something new and he’s been talking about a lot about an open wheel car for us. We’re not too sure if that’s the direction we’re going. It will be interesting to see what develops for us over the winter.”
The Speedbowl did an excellent job. It’s a shame the place wasn’t packed as it should’ve been for what could be the last Finale. Operations were smooth. Racing was fantastic. The Street Stock race was great, the SK race was great. Even the late models with only 11 cars put on a better show than I was expecting. There were a lot more people at the end than I though there would be. Honestly I was thinking 100-200 people would be left for the Outlaw race, it was more like 300-400. As far as the time limits went, they were unused except for the SK Light race which wasn’t that good. Car counts were good. Late Models were light. The VMRS race was a disaster. #66 is an idiot. Wasn’t the first time he’s done something stupid on the track. Too many cautions. 14 cars left at the end of the feature is a disgrace. Maybe someone could’ve had something for Rocco but the series went to single file restarts. Food was awesome. Lines were low at the concessions. I heard a bunch of ridiculous rumors about who’s gonna buy the track. Let’s hope someone does.
Ok here is the million $ question. If the bowl is no longer, what r all the competitors an fans going to do? It would b nice if seekonk added a modified division next year
I wish Seekonk would add a Modified Divison, but who knows what will happen but my guess is more of the same ownership.
Although I don’t like Seekonk and Waterford running on the same night, the last thing New England needs is to lose another race track.
Any news on auction…? Anyone willing to buy?
Tom,
There has been nothing to report so far this week.