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Following the third race of the 2016 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, it seemed the future of driver Ron Silk and team owner Danny Watts Jr. couldn’t be any brighter.

It was in the third race of the 2016 season that Silk gave Watts his first win as a series owner when he was victorious on May 14 at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl.

This year the third race of the season proved the end for the pairing.

Watts confirmed exclusively to RaceDayCT Wednesday evening that Silk has decided to leave the team immediately.

“It was just a host of things,” Watts said. “It’s OK, I’m good with it. I just wish him well. He’s got a lot of things on his mind. We couldn’t click. And, I don’t know, I’m fine. I hope everything goes well for him. I’ve already moved on. We’ve got to get ready for the next race. … There are absolutely no hard feelings at all.”

Silk was not immediately available for comment.

Silk, the 2011 Whelen Modified Tour champion, joined forces with Watts, a journeyman driver with the series, prior to the start of the 2016 season.

Silk went on to finish eighth in the series standings last year for Watts with the lone victory at the Speedbowl. He had four top-five’s, nine top-10’s and one pole in 17 events in 2016.

This year the team had a 16th place finish following a wreck in the season opener on March 18 at Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Speedway. Silk was 13th in the Icebreaker 150 on April 9 at Thompson Speedway before an eighth place finish in Sunday’s NAPA Spring Sizzler 200 at Stafford Motor Speedway.

Watts said he is committed to finishing the season and will have a driver for the next series event on May 13 at Langley Speedway in Hampton, Va.

“I have two guys on the hook,” Watts said. “I haven’t made my decision. I have some options. I’m just waiting for me to make my decision. I had to step back and catch my breath and talk to my guys and talk to a couple other people and decide what I want to do. … I’m weighing my options. I’ve got to fill the seat for Langley and then in the meantime I’m just kind of regrouping. But I’m not going to stop. Just because one thing didn’t work doesn’t mean another thing won’t work.”

Silk has made 165 Whelen Modified Tour starts dating back to the 2003 season. He has 10 career series victories and 59 top-five finishes along with 10 career poles. He has finished fifth or better in the series standings six times in nine full-time seasons.