History
  
Waterford Speedbowl opened its doors as New London Speedway on Sunday, April 15, 1951. Bob Swift found the quickest way around on the crushed blue stone surface to go down in history as the first winner. The first event was preceded by a "Preview Practice Session" that drew 8,000 and caused traffic jams on Route 85.

After three events on the original surface - the dust problem was terrible - the track was paved. Now called New London-Waterford Speedbowl, the track took its place on a racing horizon that was filled with tracks, almost all of which are now gone.
Hall of Famer Dave Humphrey captured the first championship by a slim two points over Moe "Moneybags' Gherzi, setting in motion a continuum of close competition that still exists on the three-eighths oval.

From Humphrey to present champion Dennis Gada, the sport's legendary names have taken on the challenging oval in both stock cars and open-wheel machines. Johnny Thomson, considered New England's greatest open-cockpit driver, was a two-time winner at the Speedbowl in 1951.

In 2002, Eric Berndt's $8,027 first-place money at the Modified Nationals was a record for the SK-Modified division. In 2001, Phil Rondeau became the first competitor to go over the 100 win in a single division (Late Models). Dennis Gada is the third straight driver to join his father on the championships list.

That tradition continues as the Speedbowl, now a proud member of the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series, presents not only outstanding weekly action but hosts the area's top touring divisions as well. The Speedbowl's list of Modified champions rivals that of any track.

In-depth statistics from previous years can be found at Sid's Vault.

Waterford Speedbowl's Modified Champions
1951 Dave Humphrey 1980 Bob Potter
1952 Dick Beauregard 1981 Moose Hewitt
1953 Red Foote 1982 Moose Hewitt
1954 Freddy Luchesi 1983 Bob Potter
1955 Don Collins 1984 Moose Hewitt, Gomer Taylor
1956 Bill Slater 1985 Rick Fuller
1957 Don Collins 1986 Bob Potter
1958 Red Foote 1987 Bob Potter
1959 Bill Slater 1988 Dick Ceravolo
1960 Don Collins 1989 Bob Potter
1961 Ted Stack 1990 David Gada
1962 Dick Beauregard 1991 Ricky Young
1963 Don Collins 1992 Ted Christopher
1964 Ray Delisle 1993 Jerry Pearl
1965 Sal Dee 1994 David Gada
1966 Charlie Webster 1995 Jim Broderick
1967 Newt Palm 1996 Jim Broderick
1968 Newt Palm 1997 Todd Ceravolo
1969 Don Collins 1998 Jeff Pearl
1970 Walt Dombrowski 1999 Dennis Gada
1971 Joe Trudeau 2000 Dennis Gada
1972 Dick Dunn 2001 Dennis Gada
1973 Dick Dunn 2002 Dennis Gada
1974 Dick Dunn 2003 Dennis Gada
1975 Dick Dunn 2004 Ed Reed Jr.
1976 Bob Potter 2005 Rob Summers
1977 Moose Hewitt 2006 Dennis Gada
1978 Moose Hewitt
1979 Rick Donnelly