Published at January 26, 2012
in Stafford.
Stafford Springs, CT — Stafford Speedway's SK Modified® division will welcome another new member for the 2012 season as Danny Cates will join the division. Cates has several top-5 points finishes in the modified division at Thompson Speedway, finishing as high in the points standings as second. Cates came to Stafford for the 2011 CARQUEST Fall Final in preparation for a full season of SK Modified® racing in 2012, where he intends to run for Rookie of the Year honors.
"This is something new for us," said Cates. "We ran at the Fall Final and we had a lot of fun and we really liked the track. You'll find competition is tough at any track you go to, but at Stafford, it seems like it's a bit tougher. We had a few problems during the weekend, but we were pretty fast. I had seen hundreds of races at Stafford but that was our very first time out on the track."
Cates proved to be a fast study during the CARQUEST Fall Final, placing as high as 4th in the practice sessions leading up to the feature event. In the feature, Cates started 22nd and he worked his way through traffic to come home in 7th place at the end of the race. Cates will look to build upon this experience as he readies himself for the 2012 season.
Continue reading ‘Danny Cates Joins SK Modified® Rookie Class for 2012 at Stafford Speedway’
Published at January 26, 2012
in Stafford.
Stafford Springs, CT — Former Wild Thing Kart driver Tyler Hines is the newest addition to the ever growing SK Light rookie class at Stafford Speedway for the 2012 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series season. Hines will take the reins of the #19 Gunsmoke Stables Ford that was driven the past several seasons by Steve Greer for his rookie season in the SK Light division. It was thanks to an association with the Greer family and a phone call from Steve Greer that will see Hines living his dream during the 2012 season.
"Steve's niece Kayla started racing Junior Outlaws in the Wild Thing Kart Series, and they bought one of our old karts," said Hines. "We became friends with the Greers and we helped them work on Kayla's kart. After the season was over, my dad got a call from Stash Butova, (both Frank Ruocco's and Tyler's crew chief) stating that Steve wanted to offer me a chance to drive in the SK Lights. When the SK Light division first started, I dreamed of racing at Stafford on a Friday night and now I have the opportunity to do that. I can't wait for the season to get started, this is a great opportunity for me to be able to move into bigger and faster cars. It was a thrill for me to have Steve offer me a seat in his car."
Unlike most rookie drivers, Hines will be able to head into his rookie season with some experience behind the wheel of a modified, which came through a connection to Frank and Jesse Ruocco. Hines got his start in racing by taking one of Ruocco's Wild Thing Karts out onto the track, and the connection with the Ruocco family led to Hines taking a few laps in Jesse Ruocco's SK Light.
Continue reading ‘Tyler Hines Will Be Living a Dream as an SK Light Modified Rookie at Stafford Speedway in 2012′
Published at January 26, 2012
in Stafford.
Stafford Springs, CT — For the 2012 season at Stafford Motor Speedway, the paddock area will have a new look as SPAFCO Race Chassis will become the new parts vendor, taking over a position that Reliable Welding and Speed had occupied for the past 9 seasons.
"We're looking forward to coming on board and helping support all the racers at Stafford," said Ken Barry, co-owner of SPAFCO Race Chassis. "We're really excited about getting the opportunity to be the parts supplier to Stafford, and we can't wait to get started this season."
Reliable Welding and Speed, owned by SK Modified® competitor Brad Hietala and his wife Linda, had provided parts supply to the Stafford paddock area every season since 2003. But the Hietalas made the decision to focus their efforts on their #9 SK Modified® with driver Chris Matthews for the 2012 season, opening the door for someone to take over the parts vendor position, and SPAFCO Race Chassis filled that opening.
Continue reading ‘SPAFCO Race Chassis Taking Over Parts Truck Duty at Stafford Speedway from Reliable Welding & Speed’
Published at January 26, 2012
in Stafford.
Stafford Springs, CT — Stafford Motor Speedway has announced that it will once again partner with the very best in tires and wheels to bring racing fans the 12th Annual Town Fair Tire Summer Blast-Off on Friday, June 15th. The 2012 season will mark the 14th consecutive season that Town Fair Tire has been partnered with Stafford Motor Speedway's race program.
Town Fair Tire first joined the SMS team in 1999 as a PitStopper Magazine sponsor, and from there they became a billboard sponsor and began setting up displays on the midway to showcase their lines of tires and specialty rims. Town Fair Tire stepped up their involvement to become the title sponsor of Town Fair Tire Summer Heat for the 2007 season and Town Fair Tire then sponsored the Summer Blast-Off program for the 2008 season. From 2009-2011, Town Fair Tire was the title sponsor of Stafford's August NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event. For the 2012 season, Town Fair Tire will once again be the title sponsor of the Summer Blast-Off program, featuring Stafford's five NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing divisions as well as a fireworks display to light up the skies. In addition to their sponsorship of the Summer Blast-Off in 2012, Town Fair Tire will once again be seen in the PitStopper Program as well as on the backstretch as a billboard sponsor.
"Stafford Speedway has been a great way for us to be able to advertise our tires and wheels," said Jim Uliano, V.P. of Marketing for Town Fair Tire. "Stafford Speedway brings the very best in weekly racing to the fans of New England and we're happy to be a part of helping to bring that high level of competition to the fans. We've enjoyed some very exciting moments at Stafford over the years, and I'm sure that this year will be no different and the race fans will be able to enjoy a great night of fun, excitement, and fireworks at Stafford."
Continue reading ‘Town Fair Tire to Sponsor 2012 Summer Blast-Off Program at Stafford Motor Speedway’
