K Corporation

George Korteweg was a successful businessman who enjoyed auto racing, with his sons Dan and Wayne both racing quarter midgets as kids. Dan later began flagging at quarter midget events, and then eventually becoming Frank Sgambato Jr’s assistant flagman at the Waterford Speedbowl in 1984.

The Kortewegs were otherwise largely unknown in New England racing circles until the most unpredictable change in operational control of the Speedbowl came in early 1988. Operating as the K Corporation, with George as their President, the Kortewegs and a group of private investors known as Waterford Sports Center, Inc. would purchase the Waterford Speedbowl from Harvey Tattersall Jr. It was such a sudden change from the popular belief that Tattersall would sell to Jack Arute, that the K Corporation actually leased the facility for the 1988 season until the purchase was finalized the next year.

The Kortewegs made an immediate impact and repaved the facility for the first time since the original pavement was laid down in 1951. They also paved the south pit area and put guardrails in front of the wooden railroad ties around the perimeter of the track. They also tore down and rebuilt a new scoring tower and press box.

On the track, the K Corporation introduced a new entry-level division called Strictly Stocks for the 1988 season. It started with a 4 car race, but quickly grew to the division with the highest car count (and is now the current Street Stock division). However, the NASCAR sanction for the weekly events did not continue. Many believed it was because of the late switch in operational hands prior to the 1988 season, but the Korteweg family later confirmed the high sanctioning fees at the time did not fit in with their business plan. They continued as an independent, and with the local Anheuser-Busch distributor as the sponsor, dubbed it the Busch Racing Series.

They continued holding Enduro events, even introducing a 4-cylinder class and all-female races for both classes called Women Wheels. In 1991, the 4 divisions were part of what they called the Sunday Stocker series that ran periodically throughout the season. In 1992, the Enduro divisions were renamed Pure Stocks (8 cylinder) and Mini Stocks (4-cylinder). The Kortewegs also allowed the SK Modifieds to run 4-barrell carburetors from 1992-1994 (technically making them not SK Modifieds by Stafford’s rulebook).

Chris Hopkins, Bill Long and then longtime tech inspector Mark Geer were the Race Directors during the K Corporation era. Joe Golas was joined by Bob Freeman in the announcers booth and Moose Hewitt’s daughter Kim was the PR Director from 1988-1993. From 1992-1994, Dan Korteweg was the head flagman while still the General Manager, the only person in Speedbowl history to hold both positions simultaneously.

The Kortewegs faced new challenges to attract fans when the Foxwoods Resort & Casino opened in 1992 and a couple years later the New York Yankees planted a Double-A affiliate team in near by Norwich, CT. After the 1994 season, the Kortewegs sold their interest back to the Waterford Sports Center Inc ownership group, and largely left the local racing scene.

OPERATIONAL TENURE AT A GLANCE

OWNERSHIP TENURE	1988-1994 (as part owners)
OPERATIONAL TENURE	1988-1994
SANCTIONING BODY	unsanctioned (promoted as Busch Racing Series)
DIVISIONS INTRODUCED	1988 Strictly Stocks (evolved into current Street Stock division)
	1991 Mini Stocks
	1991 Pure Stocks
EVENTS INTRODUCED	Autumn Excitement (1988-1990)
	Waterford 200 – The Showdown (1989-1994)
	Chill Out (1989-1993)
OTHER NOTABLE CONTRIBUTIONS	repaved the track completely prior to the 1988 season
	repaved the south pits
	began to utilize the north pit area (originally for Strictly Stock competitors)
	installed guardrails around perimeter of the track in front of wooden railroad ties
	rebuilt the scoring/press tower