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Legendary Modified Racing Team Owner Bob Judkins Passes Away

Legendary Modified race team owner Bob Judkins, who fielded cars for a who’s who list of the best Modified drivers over decades, passed away Thursday, October 25, 2018 in Middletown, CT. Judkins was 83.

Judkins started building Modifieds in the early 1960’s and over time he fielded cars for a multitude of top drivers including Ed Flemke Sr., Bugsy Stevens, Rene Charland, Gene Bergin, Ron Bouchard, Brett Bodine, Reggie Ruggiero and Jerry Marquis.

Judkins was well known for his number 2X Modifieds. According to the New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame, it was Flemke who got Judkins to renumber his car to 2X while racing with the Eastern Bandits.

Judkins was also the driving force behind what became known in Modified racing in the early 1970’s as the “Pinto Revolution.” In 1971 Judkins introduced a Pinto style body on a Modified for the firt time, bucking the longtime trend of the pre-World War II coupe bodies on Modifieds.

NASCAR officials first balked at the idea of the change and refused to allow the Judkins Pinto bodied cars to compete. Stafford Speedway owner Jack Arute Sr. pushed NASCAR founder Bill France to allow the bodies. Progress won, and so did Judkin's cars.

Judkins was a 2003 inductee into the New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame.

Information courtesy of racedayct.com