Late in 1984, Speedbowl owner Harvey Tattersall Jr entered into an agreement with Stafford Speedway owner Jack Arute to lease the Waterford Speedbowl. The agreement included a NASCAR sanction for the weekly events and a conversion of the premiere division to Stafford’s upstart SK Modified division.
Operating under the banner 7A Productions and led by GM Ed Yerrington and Race Director Dan Pardi, both of whom held those positions at Stafford and Waterford. Joe Golas also began his decade run as the Speedbowl’s lead announcer in 1985.
The impact of the Arute family leasing the Speedbowl was immediately felt. With the NASCAR sanction backed by Winston & the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco company, affiliated tracks received tons of red & white paint for cosmetic improvements. The track also had its first scoreboard installed on the backstretch for the 1985 season. Another capital improvement made was the turn 4 pit gate. Cars would now exit the track via the turn 3 gate and exit the new turn 4 gate. The turn 2 gate that cars used to exit the track was then eliminated.
The SK Modified conversion was met with some hesitation by some competitors, but eventually attracted the same big stars in the southern New England area. The new NASCAR Modified Tour also debuted in 1985 and held two races at the Speedbowl. They returned once each in 1986 and 1987 as well. The Super Stock division rules were revamped prior to the 1987 season, including allowing racing tires, and was rebranded as Late Models. That season also had the fondly-remembered NASCAR Tri-Track Series which awarded points to competitors who competed at all 3 Connecticut NASCAR tracks.
In September of 1985, the Speedbowl hosted the first Enduro ever held in the State of Connecticut. The event was heavily promoted with well over 100 cars filling the pit area. Enduros continued to be held regularly at the track for the next 15 years, even well after 7A Productions was gone.
While it was reported often at the time that Arute would eventually buy the Speedbowl, Tattersall instead sold the track to a group of local businessman led by George Korteweg in early 1988 which shockingly ended 7A Productions’ operational tenure at the track after only 3 seasons. Although short, the impact of their time operating the track remains today.
OPERATIONAL TENURE AT A GLANCE
| OPERATIONAL TENURE | 1985-1987 |
| SANCTIONING BODY | NASCAR Winston Racing Series |
| DIVISIONS INTRODUCED | 1985 SK Modifieds |
| 1985 Enduros | |
| 1987 Late Models (evolved from existing Super Stocks) | |
| DIVISIONS DISSOLVED | Modifieds, replaced by SK Modifieds |
| REGIONAL SERIES INTRODUCED | 1985 NASCAR Winston Modified Tour |
| OTHER NOTABLE CONTRIBUTIONS | Created new gate in turn 4, eliminated the turn 2 gate |
| Installed scoreboard on the back stretch | |
| obtained the first NASCAR sanction of the Speedbowl’s Saturday events |
7A PRODUCTIONS
SPEEDBOWL PHOTO ALBUM
