(Stafford Springs, CT)—As Stafford native Cory Casagrande gives chase to
the Limited Late Model championship this season at Stafford Motor Speedway,
he will have a new primary sponsor on his car with Shark Cycle. Casagrande
won three races in his rookie season of Limited Late Model competition last
season, and the new sponsorship from Shark Cycle might just be the extra
ingredient that Casagrande needs to challenge for the championship this
season.
“Everyone needs help and this sponsorship is good for us,” said Casagrande.
“One of my sponsors, Andresen Overhead Doors, is good friends with Bob
Charland from Shark Cycle, and we got to talking at the end of last season.
Everything came together for this year and you need as much help as you can
get throughout the season. Gas and tires alone is over $100 per week and no
matter how much sponsorship you have, it always seems like it’s not enough
as you get closer to the end of the year.”
In only 2 short seasons, Casagrande has firmly established himself as a race
winner and viable championship contender. In his first season of DARE Stock
competition in 2010, Casagrande won 3 races and he finished 5th in the
points standings. Last year saw Casagrande move up to the Limited Late
Model division and he again won 3 races and finished the season 7th in
points despite missing a race. With such a history in only a short period
of time, Casagrande is looking to build upon that success and challenge for
the championship this season.
“I think we should be up there this year,” said Casagrande. “I think we’ve
lost about a tenth or two out of where we were with the car last year, but I
’m sure we’ll find that time back as the season goes on. We’re hoping to
get more wins that we had last year and make a run at the championship this
year. We got the issues we had with the transmission sorted out, I figured
out my shifting problems, and everything on the car is the best, so there is
no reason why we shouldn’t win races this year. It’s all up to me, if the
car isn’t winning, then I’m doing something wrong. If things work out for
us, I definitely think we can be contenders this year.”
While Casagrande was one of the drivers to look out for each week last
season, he will have to contend with several newcomers this season as well
as several returning drivers as he tries to claim a track championship.
“The main goal for us this year is the championship,” said Casagrande. “I
think at the end of last year we were one of the fastest cars in the
division along with Shawn Thibeault, D.J. Burnham, and George Nocera, Jr.
Shawn and George have moved up, but D.J. will be back and I think guys like
David Arute and Josh Wood will adapt to the division pretty quickly, so who
knows what will happen this year. With the new rules, everyone has pretty
much the same engine and everyone has to run the same gear, so I think the
racing this year will be like what you see in the SK Lights. I have a great
crew with Shawn Hosey, Rick Casagrande, Derek Beebe, Albert Royce, and Andre
Nowzari and I have great support from Shark Cycle, Andresen Overhead Doors,
Casagrande Builders, BFR Chassis, R.A.D. Automachine, B.A. Muzio, Magnus,
and BMR Competition Tranny’s and Rears, so we’re excited about getting
started this year.”
The 2012 Limited Late Model season will kick off with the 41st Annual
CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler on April 27-29. Tickets for the CARQUEST
Tech-Net Spring Sizzler are available and on sale now through the SMS Box
Office. Tickets are priced at $38.50 for adult general admission tickets,
$5.00 for children ages 6-14, and children ages 5 and under are admitted
free of charge when accompanied by an adult. Reserved seating will be priced
at $42.00 for all ages. All ticket prices include 10% CT Admission Tax. As
always, Stafford Motor Speedway offers free parking with overnight parking
available.