Gada Family

The Gada family is the Speedbowl’s most accomplished family and have had at least one member of their family compete at the Speedbowl for over 60 years and counting. In fact, 2-time Speedbowl Champion Bob Gada recalls his father taking him to the Speedbowl property as a kid in 1950 when the track was being built so it’s safe to say the Gadas have been around the Speedbowl throughout its entire existence.

The first driver in the family was Chris Gada, who was called by his middle name Pete by most of his family but known as Wally Gada during his racing days. He began driving in the late 1960’s in the Daredevil division and was later joined by his older brothers Bob and Larry. Larry, the oldest brother, was the 1970 Daredevil Rookie of the Year and Bob won the championship the following season. Also in 1971, the brothers became the first trio of siblings to each win a Speedbowl feature in the same division in the same season. Along with Mike Daignault, the Gadas became synonymous with Fords in a division that was otherwise dominated by Chevys.

During the 1970’s the Gada brothers also fielded the #271 Ford Mustang-bodied modified. It was first driven by Pete Gada, then they teamed up with Joe Trudeau who drove it for most of the 1970’s and won 5 times.

By the mid-1970’s, the Daredevil division had evolved into Grand Americans and Bob Gada was only brother still competing. He won his 2nd championship in 1979, the last year of the division. Bob’s 17 wins in the division are 4th best all time. He also won a Modified race in 1982.

Bob had 4 sons, who all began racing in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. Mike Gada was the first of the next generation to win a Speedbowl race, scoring a win on September 9, 1978. He would win 7 races in the division from 1978-1981. Bobby Gada next won in 1980. He then had a breakout season in 1982 winning 7 times to co-lead the division, an era Bobby describes as the most fun he had during his racing career. Dave Gada won 5 Super Stock races from 1983-1985 and then Dennis Gada scored 2 wins in 1987.

The four brothers would all move onto the SK Modifieds, with each of them winning in that division as well. Bobby Gada won a race in 3 consecutive years (1985-1987) and Michael won 7 times from 1985-1999. Dave Gada had a breakout year in 1989, winning a 50, 100 and 200 lap races. He would win 13 races from 1989-1996 and 2 championships (1990, 1994). He became the first driver to join his father on the Speedbowl Track Champions list. Ironically enough, Dave’s brother Dennis was the runner-up to the 1990 title and brother Mike was the runner-up in 1994. Dennis, who won Rookie of the Year in 1990, would win races in 1991 and 1994. Dave, Mike and Dennis all won a SK Modified race in 1994, joining their dad & uncles as another trio of brothers to win Speedbowl races in the same division in the same season.

Bobby Gada would go on to compete on the NASCAR Busch North Series from 1988-1992, winning a 100 lap race at Riverside Park Speedway on August 29, 1992 leading every lap.

Dennis Gada would team up with Harry Wyant in the middle of the 1997 season and would go on to rewrite the SK Modified record book. They would win 43 races together and a record 5 straight SK Modified Championships from 1999-2003. Dennis had 62 SK wins overall and a record 7 SK Modified Championships during his career, winning 2 more titles as driver/owner in 2006 and 2008. His twin sister Deb competed in the Mini Stock division in the mid-1990’s as well.

The 3rd generation of Gadas started racing in the Legend Car division in the mid-2000’s with both Dennis’ son Joey and Dave’s son Adam competing. They both moved up to the SK Modifieds by the 2010’s. Joey won 5 races during 2013-2021 to become the 8th Gada with a Speedbowl win. Adam Gada became the 9th Speedbowl winner in the family when he won the June 29, 2024 SK Modified feature.

As of 2026, Adam Gada remains the only current Gada who competes regularly at the Speedbowl, maintaining his #27 car in the same garage his grandfather & great uncles built cars in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. With Joey Gada’s children currently racing go-karts, it’s highly probably that the 4th generation will continue this family’s Speedbowl tradition for years to come.

STATISTICAL SNAP SHOT

GADA FAMILY
SPEEDBOWL PHOTO ALBUM