Bob Potter

Bob Potter is one of the more legendary drivers in Waterford Speedbowl history, winning races in over 3 decades at the shoreline oval. It all started back in the Bomber division in 1962 when he first starting competing, and by the next season Bob won his first feature race. In 1965, he won races in both the Bomber and Modified divisions. He would win Modified races at the Speedbowl in 17 of the 20 seasons from 1965-1984.

Potter won his first driver championship in 1976, when he drove for 4 different car owners and won races in all 4 cars. He started out the season in the Coventry Racing #11 coupe, winning 4 of the first 7 races. In the second half of the year, he primarily drove Art Barry’s #14, winning 3 more times. When the motor blew in Barry’s car one Saturday night, Potter drove Joe Zenga’s #06 to the heat & feature win. Another motor blew in the #14 during the last event of the year after Potter already clinched the title, and drove a back-up car of Dick Ceravolo to a win in one of the Twin 25 lap features.

Potter won his 2nd Modified Championship in 1980 driving for Henry & Holly Olszewski and a 3rd title in 1983 driving for Roger Bonville – both cars numbered with his familiar #51. The fans were treated to one of the Speedbowl’s more memorable rivalries between Potter and Moose Hewitt during the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.

Potter also won a Late Model race at the end of the 1983 season. The Speedbowl would end the Modified division after the 1984 season. Only Don Collins (95) had more than Potter’s 59 wins in the division.

With the Speedbowl transitioning to the SK Modifieds in 1985, Potter was initially hesitant. However, he would become one of the division’s biggest stars at both Waterford and Stafford Speedways. Potter won SK Modified Championships at Waterford in 1986, 1987 and 1989. The first two for a team involving Dan Coleman, Jiggs Beetham & Fred Doolittle, the last coming in the Ceravolo #31, replacing Dick Ceravolo who won the championship in 1988. He was the first driver to win 6 Speedbowl Championships. He also won 5 championships at Stafford Speedbowl in the SK Modifieds driving for Jiggs Beetham.

In 1992, Potter was involved in one of the most spectacular wrecks in Speedbowl history. Coming out of turn 2 early in the SK Modified feature, he wheel-hopped over Mark Lajeunesse’s #33 and launched into the catch fence and over the outer wall. The fence was damaged around the entire track and the completion of the event was postponed to the following week. Amazingly, Potter walked away with only minor injuries.

Bob Potter’s last win at the Speedbowl came on August 9, 1996 season, a month after his 55th birthday. He was inducted into the NEAR Hall of Fame in 2007 and his hometown Norwich’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. He passed away suddenly on September 18, 2019 at the age of 78.

STATISTICAL SNAPSHOT

BOB POTTER
SPEEDBOWL PHOTO ALBUM