Ed Reed Sets Sights On ‘Bowl Mod Title

Waterford, CT – Eddie Reed Jr. likes the way the numbers look. "It’s dynasty," says the popular driver of his hopes to capture the 2002 Waterford Speedbowl Modified championship.

"This is my third year," explains Reed. "The first year I finished third. Last year I finished second so there’s only one spot left for me. I’d like to win a whole bunch of races this year but if that doesn’t happen, I need the championship."

And, Reed continues, "this is [car owner] Flash Gordon’s 20^th year as an owner. He’s got four or five championship but never a Modified championship. I would like to get it for Flash in his 20^th season."

The Speedbowl gets off the mark April 13-14^th with the sixth annual Modified Nationals, a 150-lap SK event topping the busy weekend. The Speedbowl Late Models, Mini Stocks and Sportsman are also on the agenda along with the Northeastern Midget Association, the Pro-4 Modifieds, the Legends Cars and the American Race Trucks.

After qualifying eighth, Reed wound up second in last year’s Nationals right on the bumper of winner Eric Berndt. He is part of a cast of players including Berndt, Ron Yuhas Jr., Jeff Pearl, Johnny Brouwer Jr. and Mark LaJeunesse dedicated to ending Dennis Gada’s championship streak at three. "Dennis and [car owner] Harry Wyant are real good but what are the odds of winning four straight?" asks Reed.

After several near misses, Reed captured his first Modified victory last summer, besting Yuhas and Gada in a classic duel. Reed put added luster on the victory with a last-lap, third-turn move that brought the crowd to its feet.

"That got the so-called monkey off my back and now I know I can do it," says Reed, one of the Speedbowl’s many second-generation drivers. Reed, who ran off three straight seconds early last season, was in the point race throughout.

"If I had eight or nine years experience like Dennis the last two years might have been different," Reed says. "I have just two years of experience but I feel pretty comfortable in the car and I’ve learned enough to believe we have a championship caliber team."

Reed and Gordon have compiled an impressive resume. Between 1996 when Reed was Rookie of the Year, and 1999, they formed one of the Speedbowl’s top Late Model entries, winning the championship in ’97. Coming to the Modifieds in 2000, Reed captured another top Rookie trophy.

"I seem to do things in fours,"says Reed, pointing out he also had four seasons in the Sportsman division before coming to the Late Models. He has been among the point leaders almost every year and has learned "you can’t afford to fall way behind early and hope to catch up later. That," he says, "is very tough if not impossible."

Showing "a new sponsor, a new body style (Mustang) and a new paint scheme (black and white with an orange stripe)," Reed is ready. He sees himself in a group that also includes Berndt and Yuhas – "guys who are getting real good."

All qualifying for the Nationals, including SK time trials, will be done on Saturday. The top 20 in time will go directly to the feature, the top six, eight or 10 inverted. The Mini Stock (30), Legends Cars (25), American Race Truck (25) and Pro-4 (25) features will be on Saturday night. The Late Models (50), Midgets (25) and Sportsman (30) join the SKs on Sunday.