Stafford Previews 2008 SK Modified® Season

By admin March 18, 2008 Stafford

Stafford Springs, CT — With the 2008 Tech-Net Spring Sizzler less than a month away at Stafford Motor Speedway, another season of SK Modified® racing at the Connecticut half-mile is fast approaching. Ted Christopher enters the 2008 season lined up directly in the crosshairs of the SK Modified® field as drivers will be looking to dethrone Christopher from the champion’s seat. Christopher enters the 2008 season fresh off his record sixth track championship and only three feature wins away from 100 career wins at Stafford. Christopher has won 83 SK Modified® races, 7 Whelen Modified Tour events, 6 ProStock races, and 1 Camping World Series East event for a grand total of 97 wins.

One of Christopher’s chief contenders for the 2008 track title will be Woody Pitkat, who returns to Stafford after an 8 win season that saw him win 5 races in a row during the summer. Keith Rocco will also return to Stafford after driving to 4 SK Modified® feature wins last season, second to only Pitkat. Frank Ruocco, the 2006 track champion, will be looking to return to the consistent form of his championship season after winning 3 races last year to put himself back atop the SK Modified® field.

A driver who had a strong and consistent but quiet 2007 season was Curt Brainard. The Stafford veteran posted 15 top-10 finishes in 20 races to finish the season in fourth place. Brainard will be looking to race his car back into CARQUEST Victory Lane for the first time since the 2000 season and find himself atop the points standings at season’s end. Another veteran who will be looking to return to form is Lloyd Agor, the 2005 Stafford SK Modified® track champion. The 2008 season at Stafford will be Agor’s 30th season on the local racing scene and he will be looking to add to his career total of 15 feature victories, which places him 7th place on the all-time Stafford SK Modified® winners list.

Defending Stafford Late Model champion Corey Hutchings will make the move to the SK Modified® division this year to run for Rookie of the Year honors as well as defend his track championship in the Late Model division. Another former champion who will be returning to the SK Modified® ranks is Doug Coby, who won the 1998 Late Model and 2000 ProStock championships at Stafford. Coby will team with Zach Sylvester at Johnson Motorsports to form a formidable two-car effort in pursuit of a championship.

Other drivers who will be sure to count among the championship contenders for the 2008 season include Eric Berndt, Bo Gunning, Willie Hardie, Brad Hietala, Todd Owen, Jeff Malave, Kenny Horton, and Chris Jones. The division will also see Whelen Modified Tour competitor Jimmy Blewett take the wheel of Ed Partridge’s car for a full season to make a run at the track championship.

Stafford Motor Speedway asked several SK Modified® drivers for their thoughts and goals for the upcoming 2008 season:

Lloyd Agor: “Our goal is to run better than we did last season. We’re looking to be competitive, win races, and get better finishes than we did last year.”

Eric Berndt: “Our goal is to win races and go for the championship.” Jimmy Blewett: “We’re looking to be able to be consistent and win some races”

Curt Brainard: “We had a good season in 2007. It would be good to continue that run in 2008 with a few wins and be able to contend for the track championship.”

Ted Christopher: “Our goal is to find sponsorship in order to run the whole season. I will also be running the Whelen Modified Tour full time. I really want to win my 100th career feature win at the Stafford this year.”

Matt Gallo: “My goal for this season is to be competitive and be an upfront runner with good finishes. A win at Stafford in an SK Modified® would be a big accomplishment for my self and my team.”

Glenn Griswold: “My goal is to win races and compete for the championship.”

Willie Hardie: “Our goal is to win races and the wins will take us to the championship.”

Brad Hietala: “My goal is to be able to run competitively. We ran good last year, we want to win some races this year.”

Kenny Horton: “It is going to be a very competitive season at Stafford. The field of SK Modified® drivers will result in some great racing. My team is looking to have a successful year and have fun at the same time. We want to stay consistent, get a couple of wins and finish ahead of my good friend Frank Ruocco.”

Corey Hutchings: “The goal for this year is to have fun, win races and contend for the title.”

Chris Jones: “I appreciate the opportunity to compete again at Stafford. There is a strong field of veteran and rookie drivers in the SK Modified® division, it should be some good racing. I would also like to see my son, Christopher, race an SK at Stafford in 2008.”

Jim Larson: “My goal is to try to afford to get the car to the track every week, be competitive, and get top-ten finishes.”

Jeff Malave: “To win the championship.”

Wade Mattesen: “We are teaming up with Bill Gaston and running two cars this season. We plan on running Stafford full time. Want to win at least one race and end the year with a solid top ten finish in the point standings. With our second car we are trying new tracks to see what we can learn and we are looking to just have some fun racing.”

Todd Owen: “My goal is to run in the top-five all season and to contend for the championship.”

Richie Pallai Jr: “My goal is to be a top contender every week and to win the championship.”

Woody Pitkat: “Our goal is to win as many races as possible and compete for the championship.”

Glen Reen: “Our goal is to win rookie of the year.”

Keith Rocco: “Our goal is to win as many races as possible and have a good finish in the point standings.”

Frank Ruocco: “Our goal is to win more races then we won last year.”

Fran Siana: “My goal is to win races and finish in the top-15 in points. Be able to stay clean and out of trouble.”

Zach Sylvester: “This is my third year with Johnson Motorsports, the last two years have been building years so this is the year we are ready to run for the championship.”

As one can attest from the quotes above, the 2008 SK Modified® track championship at Stafford Motor Speedway will be a hotly contested race as race wins and championship contention are seemingly the goal of each driver as they head into the 2008 season. The SK Modified® drivers will make their 2008 season debut during the 37th Annual CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler. The SK Modifieds® take to the track for the first time on Saturday, April 26 with qualifying heats and then take to the track for their first 40-lap feature event of the 2008 season on Sunday, April 27.

Tickets for 37th Annual Tech-Net Spring Sizzler presented by CARQUEST are on sale now and can be obtained by calling the speedway office at 860-684-2783 or by stopping by the office in person. Tickets for “The Greatest Race In the History of Spring” are priced at $35.00 for Adult General Admission, $38.00 for Reserved Seating, $5.00 for children ages 6-14, and children ages 5 and under are admitted FREE when accompanied by an adult. Parking is available on the speedway grounds FREE of charge, with overnight parking for campers and RVs available.

For more information about the 2008 season at Stafford Motor Speedway, contact the front office at (860) 684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.

Sources: Scott Running/Stafford Motor Speedway PR.