Phil Rondeau

Competitor
CLASS OF 2016

“Farmer Phil” Rondeau from Baltic, CT began racing at the Waterford Speedbowl in 1983. He won in his eighth time out, eventually earning Super Stock Rookie of the Year honors. He quickly became the most dominate Late Model driver in southern New England.

He won his first championship in 1985, then went on an incredible tear from 1987-1989 where he won 3 straight Late Model Championships at both Waterford Speedbowl & Stafford Speedway. He was the 1987 NASCAR Tri-Track Champion (Waterford, Stafford & Thompson combined) and 1988 Dual Track (Stafford & Thompson). He also won the 1989 Thompson Speedway Late Model Champion becoming the first drivers to win 3 championships at each of the Connecticut short tracks in the same year. Rondeau also won the 1989 Race of Champions Street Stock race at Pocono Raceway.

He would win back-to-back Late Model titles at Waterford in 1991-1992, becoming the track’s 2nd 6-time champion. He would then finish runner-up to the title another 6 times between 1993-2001. He also raced SK Modifieds for several years, winning 5 times. In 2001, he earned the Pro Stock Championship at Thompson.

Rondeau sporadically raced regionally on the NASCAR Modified Tour (1990), Busch North Series (1997) and the Hooter’s Pro Cup Series (2002). He also memorably battled with Ted Christopher in the televised Funkmaster Flex Late Model Invitational 100 at Waterford in 2004. He retired at season’s end as the Speedbowl’s career wins leader and the only driver to win 100 races in a single division (Late Models).