Keith Minchella Moves to Limited Late Model Division at Stafford to Challenge for 2009 Rookie Honors
Stafford Springs, CT — The Limited Late Model division has added another rookie contender in Keith Minchella. Minchella will be one of the more unique rookie drivers looking to win Reliable Welding and Speed Rookie of the Year honors at Stafford this season. Minchella and his friend, Vincent Balboni, are do-it-yourself racers that build their own chassis, cars, engines, transmissions, which has become a dying breed in this age of chassis and engine builders supplying parts to weekly racers.
“We have always built our own chassis, along with the engines and transmissions,” says Minchella. “We enjoy being able to put everything together and we save a ton of money building things ourselves. I think it also gives us a better knowledge of our equipment, that way when we have a problem with the car we are on the same page. Doing it ourselves may put us behind in some areas, but in other areas I think we have an advantage.”
Minchella went on to say that he wouldn’t have even considered doing this with out having Balboni as part of his team.
“He’s one of the smartest guys in the pits,” says Minchella. “Lots of other teams want his advice and time, but I got him to come on board with me. Vincent was with me back in my Riverside Late Model days, and we won a lot of races together and we went real good. I’m thrilled to have his help for the 2009 season.”
Minchella originally signed up to campaign a Late Model at Stafford for the 2008 season, but work and another family member going racing delayed his coming to Stafford to the upcoming 2009 season.
“We started out last year with a new Late Model chassis, but with work and my daughter cutting her teeth on Monday night kart racing, I needed to devote time to make sure she got started on the right foot,” said Minchella. “Now that she’s up to speed, I can turn my attention back to building and racing my car at Stafford.”
Despite a wealth of Late Model experience at tracks across New England like Riverside, Thompson, Waterford, and Monadnock, Minchella will enter his rookie season at Stafford without ever having turned a lap at the Connecticut half-mile. But that fact alone hasn’t dampened Minchella’s enthusiasm for the upcoming 2009 season.
“I have never turned a single lap at Stafford, so I’m really excited to race this year,” said Minchella. “I’ve run at tracks all across New England, but never at Stafford. I’ve raced at Thompson a few times a year and I love the speed so I can’t wait to try my luck at Stafford. We’re realistic about our goals, we just want to be able to make it to every race and have fun while we’re racing. If we can get some top-5 finishes, that would be great for us. And who knows, maybe I’ll become a forty-two year old Rookie of the Year.”
Minchella will carry sponsorship from his Suburban Auto Glass business as well as trying to bring about awareness for breast cancer.
“The car will have Suburban Auto Glass on it and I hope to run a few informational groups on the car as well this year,” said Minchella. “I have a few friends battling breast cancer and I would love to get the word out about this disease. It’s a silent killer that impacts everyone. I’ll also have a group that deals with depression and mental illness on the car this season. They’re both tough topics, but anyone can be effected by these things so I want to help in my own way.”
Minchella will make his Stafford Motor Speedway debut at the 38th Annual Tech-Net Spring Sizzler, scheduled for April 24th through April 26th. 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 to the public free of charge.
For more information, 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