Stafford Springs, CT — With the spring season fast approaching, yet another season of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series competition is set to kick off at Stafford Motor Speedway with the 39th annual Tech-Net Spring Sizzler Presented by CARQUEST. “The Greatest Race in the History of Spring” will officially begin Stafford’s 52nd season of hosting weekly NASCAR events.
The Tech-Net Spring Sizzler is the oldest and longest running race on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour schedule. The Sizzler tradition began in 1972 with Fred DeSarro winning in front of a standing room only crowd of over 10,000. Jack Arute, Sr. bought the rights to the race in 1973, and it has since become the signature event of the half-mile, with some of the greatest names in modified racing tasting the fruits of victory.
Since the inaugural Sizzler in 1972, there have been 22 different winners with 8 drivers winning the race multiple times. Of those 22 winners, 9 drivers have won a Whelen Modified Tour championship. In 2003, NASCAR released a list of the top-10 modified drivers of all-time, and of those 10 names, 8 were Sizzler winners: Richie Evans, Mike Stefanik, Geoff Bodine, Tony Hirschman, Bugsy Stevens, Fred DeSarro, Jimmy Spencer, and Reggie Ruggiero. Other names who have driven to Sizzler victories include Ed Flemke, Maynard Troyer, Bob Polverari, Greg Sacks, Brian Ross, Ted Christopher, Jeff and Rick Fuller, Mike Ewanitsko, Jan Leaty, John Blewett, III, Jerry Marquis, and Doug Coby. Ted Christopher’s win last season leapfrogged him ahead of Mike Stefanik for the most career Sizzler victories with 5. Stefanik has 4, while Rick Fuller, Maynard Troyer, and Richie Evans have 3 Sizzler wins each.
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