Anglance has modest goals for his rookie Speedbowl season

Nick Anglace’s 2018 SK Modified Light goals can be summed up in two words — seat time. If a Rookie of the Year Award should occur as a byproduct of that goal, it would be an added bonus.

Anglace, who has just turned 16 and is a sophomore at Oxford High, says that his objective for the upcoming season at New London-Waterford Speedbowl is to run as many laps as possible. Prior to this season, his SK Light experience has been limited to 40 laps. Inexperience is something he will have to overcome

“Our plan is to get as familiar as we can in this car and learn how it handles,” Anglance said. “I have good equipment. My dad works on the car and has everything down.

“Sure, I want to run for Rookie of the Year. But our main goal is to finish every lap of every race. Then we’ll take what we learn into next season and go for an SK Light championship.”

Anglance got his start in motor sports racing go-karts at the Nutmeg Kart Club in 2009. After a season, Nick took a break while his dad Vinny resumed his career, which started in the SK Modified division at Waterford in 1991. While Vinny competed in the SK Modified division, Nick paid attention.

“Last year he let me drive his SK Light at practice at Waterford,” Anglace said. “At first, I was very careful, and then after a few laps, I dropped the hammer down. I was setting lap times that were comparable to the Speedbowl regulars.”

That led to Anglance making his first start in an SK Light feature at the Speedbowl. He stunned everyone by finishing sixth in his initial race.

“That finish gave us the message that we may have something,” Anglace said. “During the first laps of the race, I really wasn’t that comfortable. I was more concerned about not wrecking. But about halfway through the race I got a feel for the car.

“The sixth-place finish was a surprise. I wasn’t expecting to do that well. I just wanted to avoid the wrecks,”

Anglace did a lot more than that.

He gives the credit for his early success to his dad, who has been involved in racing for more than 25 years.

“He has been huge,” Anglace said. “He finances the car, and when I’m at school, he’s busy working on the car. I grew up watching him race, and I always said that one day, I wanted to be that guy in the car.”

Anglace will be driving an car formerly owned by Tom Fox and has been driven in the past at Thompson Speedway by Glenn Griswold.

“I have to thank Anglace Racing Enterprises, my dad’s parts and fabrication business, for allowing me to race. I also want to thank my cousin Andrew Balkom and Mark Anglace. And especially my dad.”

The Anglace team will be in action during the 2018 Blastoff at the Speedbowl, which will be held from May 4-to-6.

“A great season would be no DNFs,” Anglace said. “If I can keep those to a minimum, I could have a shot at Rookie of the Year. 

“I’m not out to set the world on fire. I just want to learn something.”

With any luck, the teenager may be able to do both.

In addition to the SK Lights, 14 other divisions will be involved in the Blastoff, one of the biggest opening weekends ever held at the Speedbowl.

Regular divisions include the SK Modifieds, Late Models, Sportsmen, Mini-Stocks, Legends, Trucks, X-Cars, Super X-Cars and Bandoleros.

The Valenti Modified Touring Series will be on of thew touring series in the house, along with the NEMA Midgets, the NEMA Lights, the TQ Midgets and the Pro Four Modifieds.