Emma Coates was arguably the first female star of the Waterford Speedbowl. She started winning Powder Puff Derbies in the late 1970’s and continued to do so in the 1980’s. She also competed in the Super Stock division during that era. She had a memorable consolation race win when she spun across the start/finish line at the checkereds and was presented the winner’s trophy next to her stalled car in the infield.
In the 1990’s, her husband Bob “Ink” GreeneI won 3 Late Model races in the 1980’s, 2 while driving Gordon Rodgers’ 6x car. In the 1990’s, he was a 9-time winner in the Mini Stocks. For the 1993 season, Emma returned to competition in the Women on Wheels Mini Stock division. She would earn 6 straight wins in the middle of the season. Emma’s brother Phillip Evans won a Strictly Stock race in 3 consecutive seasons from 1996-1998.
Emma’s two sons Joe and Allen became the 2nd generation in the family to make their mark at the Speedbowl, with each winning numerous races in various fendered divisions. Joe Coates‘ best season was arguably 1991 when he won 3 Strictly Stock races and finished 3rd in points. In 1998, he scored his first Late Model win enroute to Rookie of the Year honors.
Allen Coates became a breakout star in his family, having 3 dominant seasons in 3 different divisions. His first was a then-record 9 win season in the Strictly Stocks (1996), followed by a 13 win season in the Late Models (1998) and then two amazing seasons in the Trucks: he won 7 out of 9 races in 2009, then a record 10 wins in 15 races in 2010. All 4 seasons resulted in Track Championships. Allen was the first person to win championships in 3 different divisions and the 4th driver to earn 6 Speedbowl Championships. He has 88 Speedbowl wins across 5 different divisions and is widely considered one of the greatest drivers in Speedbowl history.
Emma’s nephew Phil Evans (not to be confused with her brother who has the same name) began winning races in the Mini Stocks in the 2000’s. He won 25 times from 2001-2011 and is one of only 3 drivers to win Mini Stock races in 10 different seasons. Although a championship eluded him, Phil was consistently one of the best in the division during the 2000’s. Phil also won 2 Street Stock races in 2013.
The 3rd generation of Speedbowl racers in the Coates-Evans family started with Allen’s children. His 3 children Allen Jr, Corey and Cassandra all raced in the truck division at some point in the 2010’s, with Corey Coates winning 7 times from 2010-2014. He was also the 2013 SK Modified Rookie of the Year and won a Street Stock race in 2015. His brother Allen Coates Jr won a pair of Compact Enduros and that championship during the 2024 season.
Another member of the 3rd generation is Phil Evans’ son P.J. Evans, who racked up 21 wins in Legend Car and Bandolero races plus the 2024 Legend Car Championship before the age of 20.
The Coates-Evans clan has won races in 6 different decades (1970’s-2020’s) in 6 different divisions (Late Models, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, Trucks, Legend Cars, Bandoleros). In 22 of the 25 seasons from 1996-2021, at least one member of their family won a Speedbowl race.
STATISTICAL SNAP SHOT
| TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS | Allen Coates – 1996 Strictly Stock |
| Allen Coates – 1998, 2001-2002 Late Model | |
| Allen Coates – 2009-2010 Truck | |
| P.J. Evans – 2024 Saturday Legend Car | |
| Allen Coates Jr – 2024 Compact Enduro | |
| CAREER WINS | 175 – Emma Coates (9), Bob Greene (12), Philip Evans (3), Joe Coates (5), Allen Coates (88), Phil Evans (27), |
| Corey Coates (8), Allen Coates Jr (2), P.J. Evans (21) | |
| SPEEDBOWL FIRSTS | First family with 9 different Speedbowl winners |
| Allen Jr became the 9th winner on June 1, 2024 – 28 days before Adam Gada became the 9th winner in his family | |
| OTHER NOTABLE STATS | 3 generations of Speedbowl race winners |
| 6 different divisions with a Speedbowl win collectively | |
| AWARDS & HONORS | Bob Greene – 1992 Mini Stock Best Appearing Car |
| Joe Coates – 1998 Late Model Rookie of the Year | |
| Allen Coates – 2001 NASCAR ShorTrack New England Region Champion | |
| Phil Evans – 2002 Mini Stock Best Appearing Car | |
| Phil Evans – 2007 Mini Stock Pit Crew of the Year | |
| Corey Coates – 2010 Truck Rookie of the Year | |
| Allen Coates – 2010 Truck Pit Crew of the Year | |
| Corey Coates – 2013 SK Modified Rookie of the Year | |
| Phil Evans – 2013 Street Stock Most Improved Driver | |
| Phil Evans – 2014 Street Stock Pit Crew of the Year | |
| Corey Coates – 2015 Street Stock Rookie of the Year | |
| Corey Coates – 2015 Street Stock Pit Crew of the Year | |
| P.J. Evans – 2018 Bandolero Most Improved Driver | |
| P.J. Evans – 2018 Bandolero Best Appearing Car |
COATES-EVANS FAMILY
SPEEDBOWL PHOTO ALBUM
