Stafford Motor Speedway Kicks Off 2009 Season with 38th Annual Tech-Net Spring Sizzler presented by CARQUEST
Stafford Springs, CT — With the spring season fast approaching, yet another season of NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series competition is set to kick off at Stafford Motor Speedway with the 38th annual Tech-Net Spring Sizzler Presented by CARQUEST, scheduled for April 24-26, 2009. “The Greatest Race in the History of Spring” will officially begin Stafford’s 51st year of hosting weekly NASCAR Whelen All-American Series 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 as the idea of Dick Berggren, Lew Boyd, and Bruce Cohen as a way to hold a prestigious race in the springtime during a time period where prestigious races always took place in the fall. After Fred DeSarro won the initial Sizzler in front of a standing room only crowd of over 10,000, Jack Arute, Sr. bought the rights to the race from Berggren, Boyd and Cohen in 1973, and it has since become the signature event of the Connecticut half-mile, with some of the greatest names in modified racing tasting the fruits of victory.
Since the inaugural Sizzler in 1972, 22 different drivers have won the Tech-Net Spring Sizzler, with 8 drivers winning the race multiple times. Of the 22 Sizzler winners, 8 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 drivers 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, Doug Coby, and Donny Lia.
Last year, Ted Christopher won his fourth career Tech-Net Spring Sizzler to join Mike Stefanik at the top of the Spring Sizzler winners list. Maynard Troyer, Richie Evans, and Rick Fuller each have three Sizzler victories, while Greg Sacks, Reggie Ruggiero, and Mike Ewanitsko are all two-time Sizzler winners. Troyer’s three Sizzler victories came back-to-back-to-back, the only driver in Sizzler history to win the race three times in a row.
This year’s 38th Annual edition of the Tech-Net Spring Sizzler will feature six divisions of racing, with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour headlining the weekend’s festivities. Stafford’s five Whelen All-American Series divisions, SK Modified®, Late Model, SK Light Modified, Limited Late Model, and DARE Stock, will all make their 2009 season debut.
The 2009 Tech-Net Spring Sizzler gets underway Friday, April 24 with a practice session for Stafford’s weekly divisions. The practice session will be open to the public at no charge. The paddock area opens to Stafford’s weekly teams at 9:00am with practice running from 12 noon to 7:00pm.
Action continues on Saturday, April 25 with spectator gates opening at 10:00am. Racing begins at 1:30pm with Coors Light Pole Qualifying for the Whelen Modified Tour cars. Following time trials will be heat and consolation races for Stafford’s weekly divisions, with feature events for Stafford’s SK Light, Limited Late Model, and DARE Stock divisions wrapping up the day’s events. The SK Light and Limited Late Model feature events will each be 20-laps while the DARE Stock feature will be 15-laps.
The Sizzler continues on Sunday, April 26 with spectator gates opening at 10:00am. Stafford’s famous CARQUEST Belts & Hose Pit Party will run from 11:00am to 12 noon with feature racing beginning at 1:00pm. Stafford’s SK Modifieds® will take to the track first for a 40-lap feature event. The Whelen Modified Tour 200-lap Tech-Net Spring Sizzler will take the green at approximately 2:30pm, and Stafford’s Late Models will conclude the weekend with a 30-lap feature event.
Tickets for the “Greatest Race in the History of Spring” are on sale now at the Speedway Box Office. Tickets are priced at $35.00 for adult general admission tickets, $5.00 for children ages 6-14, and children ages 5 and under are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult. Reserved seating is priced at $38.00 for all ages. As always, Stafford Motor Speedway offers free parking with overnight parking available.
For more information on the 38th annual CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler®, or to order 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