Bob Potter Back Behind The Wheel Thrilling Fans Again In An SK Modified At Stafford Speedway

STAFFORD – There was a time at Stafford Motor Speedway when the sight of Bob Potter coming in the rearview mirror would mean sure terror for SK Modified drivers at the track.

Bob Potter with ride along participant Cathy Lent Sunday at Stafford Speedway

This year Potter will be getting the chance to put some fear, and exhilaration, into the hearts of fans at the track.

Potter has been asked by Stafford Motor Speedway management to get behind the wheel of the track’s new two-seat SK Modified car, that will be used to give lucky fans rides around the track.

Potter spent Friday evening testing the new car at Stafford.

“It just made me day getting out there with it,” Potter said. “I was a very happy camper.”

Potter’s achievements behind the wheel of racecars between Stafford are legendary.

The 70-year old won five SK Modified championships at Stafford and ranks fourth all-time on the track’s SK Modified win list with 24 career victories. His last win at the track came in 1999. He won titles in the division in 1988, ’91, ’92, ’94 and ’95.

Potter, who retired from racing full-time after the 1999 season, was inducted into the New England Auto Racer’s Hall of Fame in 2007.

“I’m so honored that they asked me to do this,” Potter said. “It makes me feel good. All the years I raced, it was tough to quit. I’m so happy that I’m getting this opportunity from Stafford to do this. I couldn’t be any happier.”

Sunday at Stafford Potter got his first chance to get a fan on the track, turning laps with Cathy Lent of Newtown riding shotgun in the car as part of the Tech-Net Spring Sizzler show at the track.

“It was strange,” Potter said. “It’s weird when you’re looking over and there’s somebody there with you in the car. But when I was driving I forget that she was sitting there, I was just concentrating on what I was doing. The last couple of laps we got on it pretty good out there.”

Lent won the opportunity to ride with Potter through a charity auction supporting Danbury Animal Welfare.

“It was amazing,” Lent said. “Coming around the turns was amazing. You’re looking at it and you think you’re going to run into the walls. Just the force in the car, you have no idea what it feels like until you’re in that car.”

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