(Press Release from New London-Waterford Speedbowl)
John Curry never met a Mini Stock driver that he didn’t want to help.
“My dad was the first to offer parts or offer help if a driver needed it,” said his son Doug Curry. “He didn’t want to see guys sit out. He wanted to see them race My dad wanted to give what ever he could to help people out..”
John Curry passed away unexpectedly on Nov. 4. His influence, however, is still felt at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl, where he had a passion for racing, especially the Mini Stock division.
To honor his memory, the first John Curry Memorial race will he held Saturday at the Speedbowl. It will be a 46-lap feature — No. 46 was his car number when he competed in the Speedbowl’s four-cylinder Enduro division.
“Racing was everything to my dad,” said Curry, a top competition the Mini Stock division. “He really didn’t like driving — he wanted to be a car owner and crew chief. He wanted to be hands on. My dad loved the Speedbowl. His loyalty to the Speedbowl was second to none.”
Curry said the idea for the race started with conversations with then General Manager Mike Serlucca.
“When Mike left, Rick Turcotte, who is the manager, know about the conversations I had and asked me if it was okay with me and my family if they would put on a race in memory of my dad,” Curry said. “I said absolutely. We started to work on the details and the race is really starting to take off.”
Curry said sponsorship laps were available for the race and in less than one hour, all the laps were sold. There will also be many contingency awards, including the Hard Charger Award.
“It has been a team effort,” Curry said. “A lot of people have been helping me with ideas.”
Curry will be the race, something he said wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for his dad.
“I wouldn’t have even stepped foot in a race car if it wasn’t for his influence, his leadership and his guidance,” Curry said. “And he never gave up on me — that is the big thing. We went through several years of hard ship and bad luck, but my dad never stopped believing in me. He said I had a gift and when the time was right, I was going to be able to showcase my talents behind the wheel. It took a while, but lo and behold, he was right.”
Curry is currently leading the Mini Stock division standings by 14 points over two-time Charles Canfield. He has six career wins at Waterford — including two this season — and two wins at Thompson Speedway, a track here he won the 2019 Mini Stock title.
Curry has his focus set on Saturday’s Memorial race, where he expects a big field of about 20 cars.
“Drivers will have a chance to get some extra money,” Curry said. “It’s tough to bring a car to the track, so the extra cash will help.”
Curry says any contingency money he wins will go to the American Heart Association.
“It didn’t matter if you liked or didn’t like my dad,” Curry said. “Everyone respected him. He was one of the most passionate people you ever would want to meet. “
That passion will extend to the track for the drivers competing in the first John Curry Memorial. It will be a trophy everyone wants to win.
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