( WATERFORD , CT ) Jeff Malave is coming to the Waterford Speedbowl for the SK-150 April 12-13 without a lot of experience on the historic five-eights oval. He is not overly concerned.

“I’ve got good equipment; I’ve got a good crew,” he boasts. “In situations like this you have to use your head and stay out of trouble.” The “150” will be the first of what he expects will be several Speedbowl appearances this year.

Malave is part of a strong group of visitors for the “150,” the headline event of the Speedbowl’s 12th annual Budweiser Modified Nationals. The agenda also includes the Speedbowl’s Late Model, Sportsman, Mini Stock divisions along with the Northeastern Midget Association, NEMA Lites, Allison Legacy Cars, Pro4 Modifieds and AllStar Race Trucks.

A definite charger, Malave hopes to add a Speedbowl line to an impressive showing at Connecticut ’s other two ovals. He is definitely excited about the Speedbowl’s outside groove. “The people I’ve talked to say it’s there and you’ve got to get your car to operate out there,” he says.

In the “visitors” group along with the likes of Kenny Horton, Frank Ruocco, Ted Christopher and Woody Pitkat (his Davidson Specialty Foods teammate), Malave, who did compete in the 2000 SK-150, is looking for his experience at the tight Freeport Speedway and on the Whelen Modified Tour to help out as well.

“Couple years back I raced Seekonk for the first time,” he says. “It was in a Whelen Tour car and I set second fast time and finished fourth in the race.”

And there’s time trials. “I love it,” he says. “I wish more people would do that for us.” The SK-150 was the first-ever extra-distance, extra-money race for the division. It was also the first to qualify via time trials. Malave will find himself among the top guns shooting for Jimmy Blewett’s “150” qualifying standard of 14.233 set last year.

Time trials are first on the Saturday (April 12) schedule followed by heats for all the other divisions. Features for the NEMA Lites, Legends, Pro4s, AllStar Trucks and Allison Legacy Cars follow.

The traditional Pit Party is first on the Sunday docket. The SK-150 will share Sunday with a 25-lap Midget feature and extra-distance races for the Late Models (50 laps), Sportsman (30) and Mini Stocks.