Ted Christopher celebrates his eighth SK Modified victory of the season Saturday at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl
WATERFORD – In the battle of TC’s at the front Saturday at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl, it was the elder of the pair scoring the knockout blow.
Ted Christopher used a bump and run to overtake Tyler Chadwick for the lead late and won the 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified feature Saturday at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl.
“Ted of old,” Christopher said. “A little bump and run. If he wanted to do it to me he could have, but we had enough to pull away from him.”
Chadwick, of Ledyard, held on for second and Jimmy Zacharias of Candor, N.Y. was third.
It was the second consecutive win and eighth victory overall this season at Waterford for Christopher, who came into the year having gone winless over two seasons running full-time in the division for Prestige Motorsports.
“It’s just gratifying to know that right in the beginning of the year I had a car that I enjoyed driving and I could do what I like to do,” Christopher said. “Everybody brings up my age and this and that and yeah, I’m 57 years old. But when I have something that really drives the way I want it to drive I can get things done. I think we proved that this year so far.”
With Chadwick leading, Christopher went by Dylan Izzo for second on a restart on lap 10. The caution flew again on lap 19 and on the restart Christopher began sizing up Chadwick.
On lap 32 a tap from Christopher to Chadwick opened the bottom lane and Christopher pounced low, taking the lead into turn three.
“I’m not going to spin the guy out, he was running really good,” Christopher said. “But the longer he went the slower it seemed like he got. You’ve always got to try to figure out where the guy’s weak point is. He was probably a little bit weaker [into the corners]. … A little bump and run and off we go.”
Said Chadwick: “The car was awesome all day. We kind of just fell off a little bit. Towards the end I was getting a little bit free and I think Teddy saw that so he started laying the bumper on me a little bit. That’s alright. It was fun. I knew I just had to be smart [with Keith Rocco] in trouble. … I just had to get to the podium and get the best finish we could.”
Keith Rocco came into the evening as the points leader by eight over Chadwick. But Rocco’s night was a disaster seemingly from start to finish. An early wreck sent Rocco to the pits. After returning to the track and fighting back up through, Rocco was involved in a late race wreck and ended up 14th.
It made for a dramatic points battle going into next week’s championship deciding event.
Chadwick will take a four-point lead over Rocco into the final night with Christopher, who came into Saturday fourth in the standings, 20 points off the lead, will go to the final event in third in the standings, nine points behind Chadwick. Rob Janovic Jr. is fourth in the standings, 16 points off the lead, and Diego Monahan is fifth, 20 points behind.
“It was a bad night all around,” Rocco said. “You get that in big time auto racing. You take the good with the bad and just regroup for next week. It’s going to be tough now. It definitely put us behind the eight-ball now.”
Chadwick is looking for his second SK Modified title at Waterford. He won his first in 2012. Rocco is trying to get his third consecutive title and fifth in the last six years. Ted Christopher won his only SK Modified championship at Waterford in 1992.
Do you think Ted is a dirty driver Shaun
Way to go TC
Glad to see Ted bring back the “3 Tap” rule.
What went on last night was good racing. Had the shoe been on the other foot the same thing would have happened.
Here’s how it was taught to me.
The first tap means I’m right behind you. The second tap means I’d like to get by.
The third tap means I’d really like to get by.
Like him or not TC is a skilled racer and has had a lot to do with the good crowds at The Bowl this year.
Actually, TC’s 3 tap rule is as follows:
First tap: Letting you know I’m here.
Second tap: pick your lane.
Third tap: I just chose your lane for you.
Does anyone know if Zacharias came down because his home track races on a different night or is their season over?
What went on last night was good racing. Had the shoe been on the other foot the same thing would have happened.
Here’s how it was taught to me.
The first tap means I’m right behind you. The second tap means I’d like to get by.
The third tap means I’d really like to get by.
Like him or not TC is a skilled racer and has had a lot to do with the good crowds at The Bowl this year.
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Skilled? that’s not skill it’s dirty. I could do that. Some of you have no idea what a skilled driver is.
Yes Ted is skilled I’m not saying he isn’t but this crap they call racing today just isn’t. Glad I’m old enough to remember when Modified racing was dominated by guys that truly were skilled.
The “bump & run” has been around as long as racing itself and tons if drivers use it. Blocking is not racing and if you’re slower get out of the way so others can race by you. Nobody wants to watch a “follow the leader” race. I’ve been going to the Speedbowl for 33 years now and TC is definitely not dirty or the only the one to use that move.
Hey crazy in New York teds got a garage full of cars if you think you can do it let him know I am sure he would let you use a car .
Could you produce a points situation for Saturday’s sk race. What drivers need to to to win the championship
Here is how it works.
Tyler has 589 points, kr is 4 back, tc is 9 back, rj is 16 back.
Win your heat race get 5 points, 4 for second and so forth.
Win the feature get 32 points, 29 for second, 28 for third and so forth.
The math is on you.
Bob,
And keep in mind, Ted Christopher and Keith Rocco will miss their hear races due to the commitments to the Whelen Modified Tour race Saturday afternoon at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. A huge factor.
If both drivers skipped other tour races this season to try and win Waterford championship why wouldn’t one or both skip NHMS this week? The WMT race doesn’t start to 3:30. If you win you will have media commitments almost killing any chance to make it back. I can’t see TC sandbagging it so he does no better than 2nd in the WMT race so he can get back to Waterford.
THAT points chase sounds like a nailbiter!!!
I’ve never understood the mentality of “pull over and let the faster cars pass”. Aren’t we here to race? Given that theory, we should just show up, time trial, hand the trophy to the fastest times, and crack open a bottle of wine. Sounds like solo racing or scca. No thanks. It’s racing, you get the spot you race for, not the one you whine or dump your way into.
Exactly what Bob G says!!
What is racing????? I am still amazed at drivers that complain because a car that they couldn’t pass didn’t get out of the way. Where’s the racing in that?
Back in the day, tc was so well known for the 3 tap rule because his car was so dominant. He was able to knock you out of the groove then drive away from you, key to the bump and run. Up until this year at the bowl and still at stafford, he hasn’t run well enough to resort back to his old ways. Many of the young guns today just send it in and hope for the best. I’m not a tc fan, but he has car control.
NHMS is the BIG stage
There is a difference between racing and blocking . Usually when a guy is blocking and gets passed he doesn’t make a stink about it .
I agree Ted is a skilled driver in all phases, but he can be reckless and that is what makes
him a jerk sometimes
And when TC in on the receiving end of the bumper treatment, he cries foul.
Just a couple weeks ago, he admitted to blocking.
Gotta love it!
57 years young , still gets the job done , hundreds of wins in everything he drives from . He has my vote ! Gotta love it !
Teddy is the man! Is there any chance he’ll skip New Hampshire?
Bob,
No, he said he is racing at NHMS.