(Stafford Springs, CT)—One year ago, a victory in the SK Modified® feature
event during CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler Weekend sent Ryan Preece on a
path that would lead him to his first career championship. Preece hopes to
repeat his winning ways of one year ago in this year’s CARQUEST Tech-Net
Spring Sizzler Weekend, not only in the SK Modified® division, but in the
Whelen Modified Tour behind the wheel of the #16 Diversified Metals Ford.
Preece took over the controls of the #16 car for the final race of the 2011
season, scoring the pole position and leading 36 laps before a late race
spin left him 26th in the finishing order. Preece kicked off his 2012
season in grand style by winning the pole again and leading 86 laps before a
crash relegated him to a 16th place finish. In 2 starts thusfar with the
#16 team, Preece has 2 pole positions and he has led 122 of 327 laps, but
those results haven’t translated into good finishes as Preece has an average
finish of 21.0 in those two events. Despite his misfortunes, Preece is
excited about his prospects for this year’s CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring
Sizzler, where he hopes to better his career best finish of third in the
Sizzler.
“We’ve had a few seconds and thirds at Stafford, so hopefully a win will be
coming our way very soon,” said Preece. “Ever since I started racing on the
Whelen Modified Tour, I always wanted to drive the #16 car, so getting into
this car has been a dream come true for me. The team is very established,
the crew is great, and we’ve jelled together really well and we have a lot
of fun together. We have great support from Diversified Metals, Flamingo
Motorsports, Sanderson/MacLeod, American Lamp Recycling, and R+B
Enterprises, and we everything we need to win the Sizzler, we just have to
be in the right position at the end of the race. If we are leading towards
the end of the race, we’ll be in a good spot, and if we’re second, we know
we have to make a pass on the high side and get the job done.”
While Preece does have one career victory at Stafford, a win in the CARQUEST
Tech-Net Spring Sizzler would be extra special to Preece as he would join
his grandfather Bob Judkins as Spring Sizzler champions.
“Winning the Sizzler would really mean a lot to me,” said Preece. “My
grandfather has won the race and I remember winning the August race at
Stafford and how that felt, I can only imagine what a great feeling it would
be forme if we could win the Sizzler this year.”
In addition to trying to win the Sizzler, Preece will begin defense of his
Stafford SK Modified ® track championship by trying to repeat his Sizzler
victory of one year ago in the 40-lap SK Modified® division with his #40
J.G. Poulin Drywall sponsored machine.
“We’re in really good shape with the SK,” said Preece. “The car is just as
good as it was last year, and we have everything that we need to win races
with CD Chassis and Pettit engines and our great sponsors Hitchcock Pool
Water, J.G. Poulin Drywall, Sullivan and Sons, and American Lamp Recycling.
We were able to win the SK race at the Sizzler last year and we hope we can
win it again. We almost did the double at the World Series and it would be
pretty cool if we could win both races at Stafford. The cars are so close
now that it’s hard to win on both the Tour and in the SK’s, but we’re going
to have a lot of fun trying to win both races. I’m very fortunate to be
associated with the teams I’m with right now and I’m looking forward to
Stafford with both the 16 and 40 cars.”
The 2012 CARQUEST TECH-NET Spring Sizzler gets underway Friday, April 27
with a practice session for Stafford’s weekly divisions. The practice
session will be open to the public at no charge. Action continues on
Saturday, April 28 with Coors Light Pole Qualifying for the Whelen Modified
Tour cars, along with heat and consolation races for Stafford’s weekly
divisions. Saturday will wrap up with feature events for the SK Light,
Limited Late Model, and DARE Stock divisions. The Sizzler continues on
Sunday, April 29 with the CARQUEST Belts & Hose Pit Party followed by
Stafford’s SK Modifieds® and Late Models joining the Whelen Modified Tour in
feature action.
Tickets for the “Greatest Race in the History of Spring” are on sale now at
the Speedway 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.
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