Long Way: Matt Swanson Goes Back To Front To Top Milton Cat Modified Racing Series At Waterford 

Matt Swanson took the long road to victory lane Saturday at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl. 

The absolute longest road possible. 

Swanson started last in the 19-car field in the Milton Cat Modified Racing Series feature Saturday at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl. When the 75-lap feature was over it was Swanson celebrating the back to the front victory. 

Swanson was forced to start at the back after a wreck in his heat race. 

“We had a mechanical problem in the heat race,” Swanson said. “We were leading the heat race and lost power in front of the field. The cars behind me kind of just drove into the back of me. Mangled the whole back of the car. We got pushed back in and the guys just went to town replacing parts and flattening parts, doing whatever we had to do to get it right. We started tail in the race and just went out for a Sunday cruise for a while. We got a caution and came in and flipped right side tires and kind of just went to the front.” 

Swanson passed Les Hinckley III for the lead with 17 laps remaining and then held on through a restart with eight laps left. 

“We knew we had a solid race car all weekend,” Swanson said. “We went to practice yesterday. Although it did stink that the car got tore up, we still knew we had a really good piece. I really wasn’t worried about it. I knew we were going to have a piece to go to the front. We just had to strategize properly. When it came down it, we picked a strategy. The guys wanted me to save my stuff. You’ve got to bide your time in these races. I think I saved a little bit more than they expected. At one point the leader was probably five or six cars lengths behind me because I dropped anchor so bad. Luckily the strategy worked out in our favor and we ended up on top at the end.” 

Hinckley, of Windsor Locks, held on for second and Todd Owen of Somers was third. 

It was the fifth Modified Racing Series victory for Swanson. It was the second triumph at the Speedbowl with the Modified Racing Series for Swanson. He got his first Modified Racing Series victory at the Speedbowl on Aug. 8, 2020.