by Jay | Jul 26, 2014 | Connecticut, Stafford
Rowan Pennink Wins Inaugural NAPA Auto Parts SK 5k at Stafford Speedway
(Stafford Springs, CT)—Stafford Speedway returned to NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing action with the Inaugural NAPA Auto Parts SK 5k, which paid the winner $5,000 out of a purse of over $27,000. Stafford Speedway held an online vote prior to the race with fans able to vote on the qualifying procedure, the number of laps for the feature, the tire rule, and how the lineup would be handicapped. The qualifying, tire rule, and handicapping procedures were decided by the fan vote prior to the race but the lap number remained a mystery to everyone. A weighted draw was held just prior to the start of the race with the top-3 fan choices of 76, 80, and 100 laps in a bucker. The 100-lap chip was drawn, making the race 100-laps long. After a 2014 season that has seen more downs than ups for Huntingdon Valley, PA driver Rowan Pennink, he used a strong move in turns 3+4 to take the lead from Ryan Preece as they were heading towards the white flag and took home the $5,000 winner’s check.
In other feature action during the night, Jay Stuart recorded his second consecutive Late Model feature victory, Dylan Menditto won the SK Light feature, David Arute took his first Ltd. Late Model checkered flag of the 2014, Frank L’Etoile, Jr. picked up his first win of the 2014 season in the DARE Stock feature, and Mike Christopher, Jr. picked up his first win of the year in the Legend Cars feature.
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by Jay | Jul 26, 2014 | Connecticut, Stafford
Woody Pitkat Looking to Get 2014 Season Back on Positive Track at Stafford in Call Before You Dig 811 150
(Stafford Springs, CT)—The Call Before You Dig 811 150 that is scheduled for August 8th at Stafford Motor Speedway will kick off the second half of the 2014 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season. As the second half of the 2014 NWMT season gets started, one driver who will be looking to change their fortunes around is Woody Pitkat, driver of the #88 Buzz Chew Chevrolet.
Pitkat and the #88 team began the 2014 season with a strong effort, winning the pole for the season opening race and scoring top-7 finishes in each of the first four races of the year. After the Waterford race in June, Pitkat was fourth in the points standings and only 8 points behind Justin Bonsignore, who was the points leader at that stage of the season. Since that time, Pitkat has recorded three consecutive finishes of 20th or worse, which have dropped him from fourth down to tenth place in the standings, 58 points behind Doug Coby. If there is one track where Pitkat can turn his fortunes around, it would be Stafford, which is his home track.
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by Jay | Jul 25, 2014 | Connecticut, Stafford
NAPA Auto Parts SK 5k Voting Results Are In at Stafford Motor Speedway
(Stafford Springs, CT)—The fans have spoken and the race format for the NAPA SK 5k, $5,000 to win SK Modified® race this Friday has been set. Fans have had the opportunity to vote on the race format on the Stafford Motor Speedway web page, www.staffordspeedway.com, since late March. Over 5,000 votes were cast for a variety of options for the NAPA SK 5k including; race distance, qualifying procedure, tire change procedure, and how the starting grid will be determined.
The results are in:
Qualifying Procedure: Heats
Tire Change: No Tire Change Allowed
Lineup: Invert the top 12
Race Distance: Top 3 distances; 76, 80, 100 laps
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by Jay | Jul 25, 2014 | Connecticut, Stafford
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Returns to Stafford Aug. 8 for Call Before You Dig 811 150
(Stafford Springs, CT)—Stafford Motor Speedway will host the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour for the third of four visits during the 2014 season on August 8 for the Call Before You Dig 811 150. When the NWMT teams take to the track, two of the favorites have to be Bobby Santos, III and Doug Coby.
Santos and Coby have combined to win 11 of the last 18 NWMT races at Stafford dating back to the 2010 NAPA Spring Sizzler. Santos has won the Sizzler 3 times, the NAPA Fall Final twice, and the May race once, leaving him winless in the August event. Coby has won the Sizzler once, the May race twice, and the August race twice. Coby is also the defending champion of the Call Before You Dig 811 150, taking the checkered flag ahead of Donny Lia last year.
In addition to his 6 race victories at Stafford since 2010, Santos has also been the man to beat in qualifying. Santos has 6 pole positions at Stafford since 2010 and he was a former track record holder at Stafford, becoming the first driver to break the 100mph barrier at Stafford for an average lap speed. Santos’ track record time has since been bested by Ryan Preece in 2012 but Santos has established himself as a Stafford master in the previous 4 and a half seasons worth of NWMT races at the Connecticut half-mile facility.
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by Jay | Jul 21, 2014 | Connecticut, Stafford, Touring Series News, VALENTI MODIFIED SERIES
Keith Rocco Notches Second VMRS Victory for 2014
By Crystal Snape
STAFFORD SPRINGS CT — The 4th annual Lincoln Tech VMRS 80 lap feature looked like Keith Rocco would cruise to victory early on in the race, as he came from his second row starting position and took control on lap five, passing points leader and defending champion Rowan Pennink.
The Meridan, CT driver pulled out to a comfortable lead while behind him racing action was heating up as Pennink, Todd Szegedy, Ted Christopher, and a host of others were bumping and grinding on each other, trying to gain any advantage.
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by Jay | Jul 19, 2014 | Connecticut, Stafford
Keith Rocco Wins 4TH Annual Lincoln Tech 80 At Stafford Speedway
(Stafford Springs, CT)—The Valenti Modified Racing Series made its second of three visits during the 2014 season to Stafford Motor Speedway for the 4th Annual Lincoln Tech 80. Taking the checkered flag was Keith Rocco, who joined Tommy Barrett, Jr. as the only VMRS drivers to win more than one race at Stafford.
At the drop of the green flag, Rowan Pennink took the lead from the outside pole with Keith Rocco, Todd Szegedy, and Ted Christopher all getting by polesitter Jeff Rocco. Rocco made a move to the inside of Pennink in turns 3+4 to take over the race lead on lap-5. Woody Pitkat was now applying pressure to Jeff Rocco’s bumper in a fight for fifth place. Pitkat was able to make the pass on lap-8.
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