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RUSSELL DOWD,
THE VOICE OF THOMPSON SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS PARK,
TO RETIRE IN 2016 |
Russ
Dowd, the Voice of Thompson Speedway Motorsports
Park (TSMP) for over thirty years, has announced his
retirement. Dowd, a resident of Woodstock, CT, has
spent some 46 years behind a microphone.
Dowd has been a familiar part of the Thompson
landscape most of his life. He first raced go karts
on the old Thompson ¼ mile oval and then raced
NASCAR Modified cars until 1980. Shortly thereafter,
Thompson’s race director, the late Bill Slater
convinced Dowd to join Rich Bonneau in the
announcer’s booth at Thompson. He then went on to
announce at tracks up and down the east coast
including thirteen years at the Stafford Motor
Speedway. He also worked at The New London –
Waterford Speedbowl, Westboro Speedway, Riverside
Park Speedway, Pocono and many more but he always
considered Thompson to be home.
“For nearly four decades, Russ’ voice has boomed
over our PA,” recalled TSMP General Manager, Josh
Vanada. He’s become synonymous with the character of
our facility, and our presentation has been, in
large part, his. We will certainly miss him, and all
the contributions that he has made over his
accomplished career. We wish to express our sincere
gratitude for his dedicated service, attention to
detail, and his deep care and concern for Thompson’s
best interest. Thank you, Russ, and
congratulations!, Vanada concluded”
Dowd began his broadcasting career in his teen years
when he announced Go Kart races at Woodstock, CT
Fair. He went on to develop his skills and got his
first radio job in 1969 while serving in the U. S.
Army in Washington, DC. After leaving the military,
Dowd returned home and went to work at WESO & WQVR
radio in Southbridge, MA. He was soon named News
Director and then Operations Manager. He spent the
next 27 years running those stations.
“I leave the announcer’s booth with very mixed
emotions,” Dowd said. “Thompson Speedway has been a
huge part of my life. Not only have I worked the
announcer’s booth, but have served as the Track’s
General Manager and its Director of Operations.
Thompson is in my blood. However, there comes a time
when things must change and I feel that that time
has come. I can’t begin to thank Don Hoenig and his
family enough for all of these wonderful years. I
also wish to thank virtually everyone I have had the
privilege to work with over the years. It has been a
very special experience and I feel fortunate to have
been able to be a part of this historic speedway.”
In 2014, Dowd was named the Best Short Track
Announcer by voters on the Speed51.com web site.
“I certainly will miss being on the PA system on
race days. I’ll miss the fun that we have had over
the years in the booth and will miss the camaraderie
that exists with a great group of people who work
and have worked in race control. I have had a chance
to work with some of the very best announcers in the
business and I was able to learn from each one of
them,” said Dowd. I have been very fortunate to have
been in the booth for every race held at Thompson
since I became an announcer and have had the
pleasure of doing play by play of all 130 NASCAR
Whelen Modified Tour races that have been run at
Thompson along with Tour races at both Stafford and
Waterford, Riverside Park and elsewhere”.
Dowd’s retirement does not mean that he will
disappear from the Thompson scene. He will continue
to provide assistance to his administrative
successor to make for a smooth transition. Fans can
also expect to see him on some race days and he
might even make an occasional guest appearance on
the track’s PA system.
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Source:
Theresa Condict / Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park
Posted:
January 8, 2016 |
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