Josh Sylvester Teams with Silberman Motorsports for Run at SK Modified® Rookie Honors at Stafford Speedway in 2010
Stafford Springs, CT — Former SK Light Modified Reliable Welding and Speed Rookie of the Year winner Josh Sylvester has teamed up with Don Silberman to take a run at the Stafford Motor Speedway Reliable Welding and Speed SK Modified® Rookie of the Year honors in 2010. The Silberman car has previously reached victory lane at Stafford with Bo Gunning and was piloted on a part-time schedule during the 2009 season by Fran Siana.
“I put an ad on the classified section of the Stafford website, and I had a ton of good names give me a call about getting into the car,” said Silberman. “Josh came down to the shop along with his father, his brother Zach, and Sean Cassells, and we had a great meeting. Josh got along really well with all of the crew guys, so we decided to settle on Josh as our driver. The whole team is looking forward to working together with Josh, and I think we’re going to have a really great year together.”
“I’m really optimistic that we can do good things together,” said Sylvester. “Bo [Gunning] won with this car 2 years ago and any time you get into a winning car, it gives you confidence. I’ve always run a Troyer car and Don’s car is a CD car and the CD cars seem to go really well at Stafford, so it’s going to be fun to try out a CD car. Stafford has the best SK Modified® competition, so I’m looking forward getting onto the track.”
Having already won a Rookie of the Year award at Stafford, Sylvester is keen to win a second award, but says that there is some extra motivation for his foray into the SK Modified® ranks in the form of his brother Zach, who drives the #51 Village Springs car owned by Cassells.
“I’d like to run well, finish in the top-5 in points, and win the Rookie of the Year, but I want to beat my brother every week,” said Sylvester. “There has already been a lot of trash talking between us in the shop and I think that we bring out the best in each other. I think we both drive a little harder when we’re racing against one another.”
Sylvester made his Stafford SK debut last October for the CARQUEST Fall Final and was running well until a mechanical problem dropped him out of the race, giving him a boost of confidence for his rookie campaign.
“We ran the Fall Final with our own car last year and we were in the top-10 after starting like 30th, but we dropped out with a mechanical problem,” said Sylvester. “The lines you run with an SK Light versus an SK are a little different and there is a definite power difference with the engines. You have to be a little more careful on the throttle with the SK car, but I think I’ll get used to the power difference and find a comfort level pretty quickly. The drivers are definitely a lot tougher, but we’re excited about the season.”
Sylvester’s car owner also has his sights set on winning the Rookie of the Year title.
“I have never been to a Stafford banquet and we want a reason to attend one, so the Rookie of the Year is our goal for the season,” said Silberman.
The chase for the 2010 Reliable Welding and Speed Rookie of the Year award begins on April 23-25 as part of the 39th Annual Tech-Net Spring Sizzler Weekend. Tickets for 39th Annual Tech-Net Spring Sizzler Weekend 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 24, and Sunday, April 25 portions of the Tech-Net Spring Sizzler, with the Friday, April 23 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