Rapid Redemption: Paul French Returns From Vicious Wreck To Get SK Light Mod Win At Waterford

Paul French celebrates victory in the SK Light Modified feature Saturday at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl

Paul French celebrates victory in the SK Light Modified feature Saturday at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl

Editor’s Note: Paul French was disqualified from victory following post-race tech inspection at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl. 

WATERFORD – A week’s worth of work to bring a mangled racecar back to life paid in the most perfect fashion Saturday for Paul French.

After having his car destroyed in a seemingly purposeful act by another driver last week at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl, Paul French returned Saturday to win the 25-lap SK Light Modified feature at the shoreline oval.

“I’ve got to thank [car owner] Gino Difilippo for all he does for us,” French said. “These guys at Horsepower Hill Racing are absolutely unbelievable. This car last week was totally destroyed. It’s brand new.”

Josh Galvin of Oakdale was second and Corey Barry of Plainfield third.

Early in last week’s SK Light Modified feature at Waterford, French was penalized for spinning then leader Chris Correll. Later in the event Correll seemingly intentionally hooked French going into turn one, sending him hard into the turn one wall.

“It’s so gratifying to know the crew at Horsepower Hill can handle anything that’s thrown at them,” French said. “I brought that car home and we were in such good shape by Wednesday the thing was ready to go to the racetrack. Not one thing left undone. … The guys are just absolutely unbelievable. Their hearts are so in it. That’s what it takes to do this. Sometimes it takes something like that, a little adversity, to really show your muscle.”

Saturday French started on the pole and had checked out on the field before a caution flew with six laps left to set up some closing laps drama.

Galvin rode the outside on French for three laps before grazing the frontstrech wall and tucking behind French.

“I just had a little a bit more forward drive off tonight than Josh,” French said. “It was awesome racing that kid. I hope we can do that week in and week out.”

Said Galvin: “The frontstretch narrowed up on me a little bit there. I just kind of ran out of space. For the amount of effort these guys put into the racecar, it would be a shame to leave anything out on the table. You’ve got to give your all out there. I really wanted it bad.”

French dedicated the victory to three-year old Chace Bennett, son of Stafford Motor Speedway Late Model driver Michael Bennett. Chace Bennett was diagnosed with Leukemia earlier this week.

“It really hit me hard,” French said. “Seeing little Chace have to go through something like that is really a difficult thing. I just hope for the best for them.”

Comments

  1. Old Timer says

    Way to go Paul. Congrats, don’t forget to send Correll a bill for last weeks issue! lol

  2. glad the scumbag French got disqualified he’s a cheating POS

  3. Wow, to cheat like that is very sad… Bet If they dug a little deeper they would have found more

  4. CONGRATS PAUL ON RUNNING THE 13 INTO THE WALL,ONLY WAY YOU CAN WIN,CHECK WITH CORRELL HIS PARTS ARE LEGAL

  5. Grey Matter says

    Dedicated the win to a sick young man just to be caught cheating. How despicable can you get? Maybe if Paul would stop running his mouth, he’d learn how to put a legal car together that can win.

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