Dillon Moltz Looks to Translate Success of 2008 into Championship Run in 2009 at Stafford Motor Speedway
Stafford Springs, CT — Last season at Stafford Motor Speedway, just about everything went right for Dillon Moltz in Stafford Speedway’s Late Model division. He won both 100-lap extra distance feature events and picked up a total of five wins, 11 top-5, and 15 top-10 finishes, which during most seasons would be enough to win a championship. But as good as Moltz and his team were last season, they couldn’t match the consistency of Ryan Posocco, who won his fourth Late Model track championship with 7 wins and 16 top-5 finishes. Moltz ended the 2008 season second in the points standings, and he is looking to build upon that success and move one notch higher at the end of the 2009 season and become track champion.
“I can’t really say we were disappointed with anything that happened last year,” said Moltz. “For sure it was a little disappointing that we didn’t win the championship because that’s always the goal at the start of the season, but it was my first full season. The fact that we finished second behind Ryan, who is now a 4-time champion, it was an honor for me. Ryan and the Kretschman team, they did everything right last year and they deserved to win the championship. It certainly wasn’t for a lack of effort on my part or the team’s part, we tried our hardest every week. We had a few problems here and there and we salvaged what we could on our bad nights while Ryan and his team were solid all year long.”
With seven victories in just over a year and a half in the Late Model division, Moltz is primed to make a run for the championship in 2009. His team returns with the same chassis and engine combination with sponsorship from AAA Driving Center, Premier Heating and Plumbing, Arbitell Convenience Stores, and W.R. Allen Construction.
“Everything is the same for us this year,” said Moltz. “We just had the motor refreshed and we’re almost finished putting the car back together. We’re going to come out and do the same things we did last year and go for the championship. We always have the car prepared before we get to Stafford and we know what we need to do when we get to the track. Every time I go out there I’m learning something new.”
One thing that Moltz and his team learned in an hurry was how to master the extra distance events. Moltz won both 100-lap feature events last season, joining Ryan Posocco as the only Late Model drivers to win two extra distance events in the same season.
“I think the extra distance races really fit my driving style,” said Moltz. “When I was racing in the PASS series, all of the races were 100 laps, which really helped me develop a mindset for extra distance racing. I think a lot of guys are so used to racing 30 laps that they maybe use up their equipment a little quicker than I do and they have nothing left for the end of the race. I remember last year, we ran our fastest lap of the race on lap-99, which is why we were able to win both extra distance races.”
Moltz will begin his pursuit of a Late Model track championship at the 38th Annual Tech-Net Spring Sizzler presented by CARQUEST on April 24-26.
Tickets for “The Greatest Race in the History of Spring” are now on sale at the Stafford Motor Speedway box office. Tickets are priced at $35.00 for adult general admission tickets, $5.00 for children ages 6-14, $38.00 for reserved seats, and free for children ages 5 & under. Tickets are good for admission to the Saturday April 25, and Sunday, April 26 portions of the Tech-Net Spring Sizzler, with the Friday, April 24 practice session open the public free of charge. As always, Stafford Motor Speedway offers free parking with overnight parking available.
For more information, or to order Spring Sizzler tickets, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.
Sources: Scott Running/Stafford Motor Speedway PR