Dick Watson

Competitor
CLASS OF 2003

Dick Watson began his career at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl. From that first race in 1953 until his retirement in 1976, Dick competed at tracks across New England including; West Haven Speedway, Plainville Stadium, Lonsdale Speedway, Seekonk Speedway, Norwood Arena, Thompson Speedway and Stafford Motor Speedway. He also competed on both the dirt & asphalt surfaces at Langhorne Speedway in PA.

Dick started driving “cut downs” in the early 1950’s. Watson carved a name for himself, winning first race in 1954 at Plainville Stadium with his own #4 car and continued regular wins for owners like John Lasier of Middlefield, Ct. in a flathead Ford Sportsman; Then at Waterford Speedbowl with John Barnett in the #7-11 “Gold Scorpion”; the famous Bill Congdon’s #76; One of Dick’s most well known rides is the Bob Garbarino V-4, “Mystic Missile” which he drove at Waterford and in 1965 earned the Connecticut State Modified Championship. In 1966, Watson started running NASCAR tracks around the region with Garbarino. They ended up winning the Thompson Speedway World Series by season’s end.

In 1969, Watson competed in the NASCAR Grand National (now Cup Series) event at Thompson Speedway. He was running fifth on lap 180, with eventual winner David Pearson, when a mechanical failure forced him out of the race with an 17th place finish.

In 1972 Watson turned back to Waterford Speedbowl driving Norm Kies’ #21; and Fred Beaber’s Checkerboard #716. Watson hung up his helmet after a violent crash during a qualifying heat at Waterford Speedbowl in 1976, where he suffered a concussion, lower back injuries, and several broken ribs. He finished with 21 Modified victories at the track.

In the 1990’s, the Waterford Speedbowl held events that featured retired drivers in Street Stocks that were wildly successful with the fans and Watson was the most successful on the track, winning the race 4 different times (1993, 1995, 2000, and 2002). They were the last wins of his long career.

Dick Watson passed away on October 24, 2004.