Chase Dowling Set To Chase SK Modified Championship At Stafford Speedway

(Press Release from Stafford Speedway)

Chase Dowling

After posting 4 wins and finishing second in the 2017 SK Modified® standings at Stafford, Roxbury, CT native Chase Dowling has changed plans for the 2018 season.

With the help of Ben Dodge and the support of his sponsors, Dowling is set to run for the 2018 SK Modified® championship at Stafford.

“We had a deal to race this year, but that fell through,” said Dowling. “I really wanted to race SK’s this year and thanks to the help of Ben Dodge along with my sponsors Wicked Powersports, S & S Asphalt Paving, Hocon Industrial Gas, and Carrigan Heating and Air Conditioning, we were able to find a car and put a deal together at the last minute. Ben Dodge has been the shoulder that I’ve been leaning on for the past month. He always told me if I ever needed someone to talk to, I should give him a call. We numbered the car 36 in his honor, which is a number that has a lot of meaning for Ben. We’re basically running this deal like we did with my family operation a couple years ago and working on the car every day up here at the shop. There hasn’t really been an LFR car full-time at Stafford so I’m pretty excited to see what we can bring this season. It’s a bit of short notice, but we run the business during the day and then I’m picking away at the car every night. We’re in pretty good shape right now and we’ll be ready to go for the Sizzler.”

Despite the short time left before the first green flag of the 2018 season at the NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler® on April 28-29, Dowling will be ready to hit the track full speed ahead. Dowling also isn’t worried about the lack of track time in the SK Modified® division with an LFR Chassis car.

“I think we’ll be pretty good,” said Dowling. “We’ve never really had an LFR car competing at Stafford so we’re starting with a small notebook for the SK and it’s going to be a learning curve for a little while. I’m sure we’ll get it figured out and Rob Fuller is giving us a lot of time and effort in setting the car up so I don’t think it’ll be too long before we can get back to victory lane. We have all the resources we need behind us to do good. It might be a couple of races before we get the setup down. I think we’ll be a contender every week once the season gets rolling and we’ll see at the end of the year if we’re in the hunt for the championship or not.”

In addition to his new SK Modified® ride, Dowling is making a return to full-time status on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour with Rob Fuller Racing and the #15 machine. Dowling ran the NAPA Spring Sizzler® and the NAPA Fall Final last year at Stafford and he notched a podium effort with a 3rd place finish in the Sizzler® and he finished 4th in the Fall Final. Now in his fourth season on the Tour, Dowling is still in search of his first career Tour victory and he would like nothing more than for his first win to come at Stafford in “The Greatest Race in the History of Spring.”

“I’m really looking forward to the NAPA Spring Sizzler®,” said Dowling. “We have a lot of momentum on our side. We tested some things last year and we had some great top-5 runs at Stafford. It would be pretty awesome to get my first Tour win in the NAPA Spring Sizzler® with Stafford being my home track. With the history of the Sizzler® and the drivers who have won the race in the past, you definitely want to add your name to that list. We have all the pieces to the puzzle to go for the win this year and it would mean a lot to me to win the NAPA Spring Sizzler®.”

With new rules in place for pit stops where teams can only change one tire per stop, Dowling says that it’s anyone’s guess as to who will take the checkered flag. With the race distance being 200 laps, there will also be a pit stop for teams to take fuel and teams cannot take fuel and change tires in the same stop.

“I think that the pit rules will put a lot on the teams with strategy calls,” said Dowling. “We had the new rules in place last year and I think you’re going to see a lot of different leaders and people on different strategies with getting tires at different points of the race. This will make for a great race for the fans to watch. It seemed like in the past the guys with the dominant cars ended up back at the front at the end of the race but this year I think you might see guys with a dominant car hanging on with older tires at the end with some guys making a late charge with fresher tires.”

The 47th Annual NAPA Spring Sizzler® is set for April 28-29. Tickets for the “Greatest Race in the History of Spring” are on sale now at the Speedway Box Office. Tickets are priced at $40.00 for adult general admission tickets, $5.00 for children ages 6-14, and children ages 5 and under are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult. Reserved seating is priced at $42.00 for all ages. As always, Stafford Motor Speedway offers free parking with overnight parking available. Tickets are good for both Saturday and Sunday admission. All ticket prices include 10% CT Admission Tax. Discount Tickets are now available at participating NAPA Auto Parts stores. For a full list of the 72 participating locations throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont, please call the speedway office or visit us on the web at www.staffordmotorspeedway.com/participating-napa-auto-parts-stores.

For more information, or to order tickets for the 47th Annual NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler®, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.

Comments

  1. WeldingWonders says

    I do believe I’m getting a little misty. Not so much for hearing the rumor confirmed. I saw no way such a budding star was sitting out the season. But the incredible coming together of all those resources lead by Dodge, backed by so many sponsors with other commitments and supported by my favorite Rob Fuller. And in an LFR as was originally intended.
    Could be dicey at first. Who knows if they have the right power and the rest and if they can get is all singing in tune pretty quick. But Chase is electric and you can’t supply the juice if you’re not on the track.

  2. I believe Chase brought the power for the 50 last year,so that shouldn’t be a problem, and its wicked powersports not motorsports,which is owned by Bob Charland of LFR northeast fame ,so it’s probably the car Austin Pickens drove a few times last year. Just a guess

  3. Great news. Been Dodge is a stand-up guy,liked by just about everybody involved in racing in New England. Chase himself admitted it will be a learning curve with the LFR SK Car but with the right group helping him I believe that he may well shorten the curve. He said Rob Fuller was helping them allot but made no mention of a crew chief as of yet but with Ben’s resources he is bound to have talent behind him. Wonder if this is the resurrection of Start- Finish Motorsports. Pretty cool the car will be #36 Ben’s Number for years. Liked that he plugged his sponsors in the release. GOOD LUCK CHASE. Looking forward to seeing you in victory lane.

  4. Race 413. says

    So glad the Chase Dowling Saga is over. He has a ride. All indications are it’s a good ride, especially if Ben Dodge is involved. And it’s an LFR car so no conflicts of interest. Will be interesting to see how he makes out throughout the season. Best of luck to Chase Been and the 36 team. Go get em

  5. darealgoodfella says

    Next shiny object…

  6. Just a prediction the championship winning SK will be Pettit powered.

  7. I hope Glenn’s mom makes a turn for the better. Racing needs to take a back seat when family members health becomes a issue. Glad it all worked out for Chase. With Fuller involved he will be fine. Crew chief stil needs to be announced. Don’t think you will get Fuller to Stafford every Friday night. Who is the cc on tour car? Says TBD on line.

  8. WeldingWonders says

    A plug for Hocon Gas. Although not a business, as a higher volume hobbyist Hocon in Suffield was kind enough to extend additional discounts for my propane, argon/co2, argon,oxygen and acetylene shop needs. On the counter prominently displayed is a picture of Stephen Kopcik and his 31 SK. Hopefully they will be adding Dowling and the 36. Maine Oxy and Airgas are also strong locally but it is a pleasure doing business with a company that supports local racing.
    Elect brought the juice with speculation that Dowling may have the old 50 engine and the chassis may have some laps on it. Any more inside information Elect would be appreciated.
    What we know for sure is that Rob Fuller has some of the most sophisticated equipment to set up a car in the region and a vast library of knowledge. It’s going to be difficult tamping down expectations at first but the competition is brutal so expectations need to be managed. Nonetheless it’s difficult to contain the anticipation and drama surrounding this gigantic question mark about to roll out.

  9. Rob P. Here’s my Rob Fuller story. Never met the guy until Monday BTW. I called NE race cars looking for a bump steer gauge. They did not have one in stock. I called LFR and Fuller answered the phone. I told him what I was looking for and he told me he didn’t have one in stock either. I explained I was trying to get my street stock (not LFR mod) ready for Thompson. The guy tells me to come by and he would let me use his. Keep in mind I never met this guy. Heard stories like everyone else but honestly respected the guys accomplishments. I get to the shop and I’m blown away at what this place looks like. Robs not there but the cup style bump steer gauge is sitting by the door. About 10 minutes into my visit Rob comes in. Muddy boots and hoodie. I explain how appreviative I am and he shakes my hand and tells me whenever I need anything to stop by and leaves. You tell me what kind of guy does that. This gauge had to be very expensive and he lets a guy he doesn’t know come in and take it. Guy is just a racer man. I have made up my mind on what kind of guy he is. So I ask Rob P. Have you ever honestly spoke to the guy? How are you judging him and on what basis? I am assuming you see him at a track and he walks by without making eye contact with you. Well I am thinking he has a lot on his plate at a track between helping his customers and running his own car. I’ve never posted here but my buddy told me about your hatred towards a guy that a lot of racers all over the country respect. I just wanted to add my comments out of respect to Mr. Fuller. Hopefully he will make eye contact with me at the track when I see him but if he doesn’t I will understand and appreciate everything he provides to the racing community. Have a great weekend everyone!

  10. Timmy

    Jealousy breeds nastiness. Thats all I will say

  11. Timmy thanks for sharing that. I’ve never met Rob Fuller face to face ,and based my opinions on a few different things, mainly other people. But your story tells me that Rob can’t be the A..hole everyone makes him out to be. That guage is an expensive precise piece and for him to lend it to you,not even knowing you, tells me he is a nice guy. I will therefore retract my hatred towards him . Maybe one day I’ll meet him in person then I can form a real opinion of him. Again thanks for opening my eyes.

  12. WeldingWonders says

    I second Timmy. I’ve emailed a writer at Speed51, Shawn, RYR Engines and Rob Fuller with questions at various times. Shawn always gets back promptly and Rob Fuller went out of his way to answer my questions. Even invited me to stop by and say high at the races. And he did it for simply a fan as I told him going in I was nothing more. That and his social media presence is always positive, never a grudge or nasty and simply the best fan outreach. Ya you bet I’m a fan now.

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