WATERFORD – Anybody that questioned the dedication of Al Stone III in making the move to the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified division at the Waterford Speedbowl this year needed only to look to the pits at the track Saturday to realize Stone means business.
After recording eight victories in his Street Stock car last year and becoming the division’s all-time winningest driver with 31 wins since 2005, Stone decided to make the jump to the track’s premier SK Modified division.
But a winter of dedicated preparation made for a short lived debut for Stone in the division when he crashed early in the 62-lap SK Modified feature at the season opening Budweiser Blastoff on April 1.“I was at [the shop] five times a week until 11 o’clock or 12 o’clock at night and had an hour ride home every time all winter and then you ball it up 15 laps into the first race,” said Stone, who won Street Stock championships at Waterford in 2008 and 2010. “That’s terrible. And that thing was beautiful. I spent all winter on that.”
But a destroyed racecar wasn’t enough to chase Stone from the division. The New Haven driver went out this week and bought a new SK Modified from Ted Christopher and was back at the Speedbowl for this week’s Saturday night opener.
“We’re not giving up yet,” Stone said. “I’m not giving up on anything yet. We bought this car and put all our stuff in it and we’re ready to get back out there.”
—————————————————————
—- Follow The Backstretch at Facebook
—- Follow The Backstretch on Twitter
—————————————————————
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
