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Birthdate:2-19
Nick
Name: Rocket Rob
Hometown:
Manchester, CT
Occupation:
Hoosier Tire East
Website:
www.robsummers.net
The
2005 season finds Rob Summers return to NASCAR weekly racing series.
After a two-year hiatus from racing, Summers will compete full-time
in the SK Modified division at the Waterford Speedbowl in Waterford,
CT. Summers took time off to concentrate on the daily operations of
his family owned business, Hoosier Tires East, Inc. He assumed the
management of the company from parents Bob and Connie, who entered
semi-retirement.
Although,
no stranger to the grind of weekly short track racing, Summers competed
for many years at the now defunct Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam,
MA, it is the first time that the Vernon, CT driver has tackled the
ranks of the SK Modifieds. Summers became acclimated to the ultra-competitive
yet often aggressive division rather quickly. In only his second start
in an SK, Summers visited victory lane.
His
goal for the 2005 season is simple…”to win races”.
For
Summers, the return to weekly racing is a welcome endeavor. The racer
at heart missed the excitement of being behind the wheel. Even in
his self-imposed “vacation” from racing, Summers was unable to stay
away from the race track completely. He ran in select races for the
Eric Sanderson-owned Flamingo Motorsports Team during the 2003 and
2004 seasons.
Summers
has enjoyed a rewarding career. There have been strings of top-finishes,
a collection of Bud Poles and track records. Like any racer, Summers
has experienced his share of lows as well with stretches of bad luck,
mechanical woes, freak accidents, and team turnover. Through it all
though Summers has persevered! Today he stands more poised for success
than ever before.
This
season he will focus on consistency; building on the highs of seasons
past.
His “never give up” attitude comes from a lifetime dedicated to the
demanding lifestyle of a racer. The first signs of competitive prowess
came at the tender age of five when Summers began his career in a
Quarter Midget at Little T Speedway in Thompson, CT. It wasn’t long
before his name was synonymous with winning in the tight-knit community.
In 1980 he moved on to the grueling and physical sport of BMX racing.
Here, too, he excelled, winning over 250 races including the BMX World
Championship.
His
attention turned back to the Motorsports arena in 1985 behind the
wheel of a competition Go-Kart. In less than five seasons, Summers
amassed 200 race victories and multiple track championships on both
dirt and asphalt surfaces. Summers and his team captured the 1989
Silver Cup Championship, an eight-race program that ran through the
streets of eight major cities. The five years in Go-Karts were instrumental
in the development of Summers as a driver. Competing on a variety
of surfaces allowed him to become a versatile driver, honing skills
that would give him an edge later in his career.
Somewhere
in the midst of feature wins and Kart championships Rob Summers’ focus
began to change. Racing became less of a hobby and more of a career
ambition. In 1994, Summers took a new approach to racing and established
R.V.S. Incorporated, a Motorsports venture designed to escalate his
career to the next level.
The
first order of business for R.V.S. Incorporated was getting seat-time
in a Legends Car for Summers. A feature win in only their second start
was the beginning of an astounding seven-win rookie season. Constantly
moving forward, Summers made the shift to NASCAR in 1997, shedding
his fenders and moving to the ground-pounding excitement of open-wheel
Modifieds. He competed for several years at the bullring at Riverside
Park Speedway in Agawam, MA where he earned Rookie of the Year honors
and collected multiple feature wins.
In
1999, Summers took the ultimate step in Modified Racing, competing
on the Featherlite Modified Series, NASCAR Touring. It is often said
that just qualifying for a Tour race is a feat in and of itself. Not
only did Summers qualify for all seven of the races he attempted in
his “rookie” season, but he sat on the pole for two of those events.
Summers
had a breakout season in 2000 on the Modified Tour. The sophomore
driver had earned the Bud Pole Championship award capturing four Bud
Pole Awards during the course of the year, breaking qualifying records
at Stafford Motor Speedway (3) and Richmond International Raceway.
Week-in and week-out Rob Summers was a strong competitor. In a short
time Summers had caught the attention of the fans and gained the respect
of his fellow Modified competitors.
During
his five seasons as a regular on the Modified Tour, Summers has driven
for his own team as well as for car owners Gary Gaydosh, Bob Garbarino,
Gary Tito, Billy “Bear” Calicchio, Ben Dodge, Tom Sylvester, and Flamingo
Motorsports. He Mod Tour career stats include 10 top-five and 23 top-ten
finishes.
Today
Rob Summers is an accomplished driver. He goes to the Waterford Speedbowl
with the experience and confidence of a veteran driver and an enthusiasm
renewed by possibilities.
Fellow
Speedbowl competitors will undoubtedly be seeing red this season,
the paint of the beautifully prepared #11 for “the Rocket” Rob Summers
as it heads to victory lane.
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