CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler Entry List Grows to 37 Whelen Modified Tour Teams
Stafford Springs, CT — With the addition of three more teams this week, there are now 37 Whelen Modified Tour teams that have filed an entry blank with NASCAR and Stafford Motor Speedway to compete for a starting position in the 33-car field for the 39th Annual CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler, scheduled for April 24 & 25.
Leading the way among the 37 teams that have filed an entry for “The Greatest Race in the History of Spring” are the two winningest drivers in Sizzler history, Ted Christopher and Mike Stefanik. Between them, Christopher and Stefanik account for a grand total of 9 Spring Sizzler events. Christopher’s win in last year’s CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler broke a tie with Stefanik for the most career Sizzler victories. The win was also the second consecutive Spring Sizzler victory for Christopher, and if Christopher can win this year’s CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler, he will join Maynard Troyer as the only drivers in the race’s 39-year history to win three consecutive Sizzler events.
Christopher’s attempt at a Sizzler three-peat this year will be the 8th time that a driver has put himself into position for the difficult task. Stefanik has attempted the Sizzler 3-peat on two different occasions with this year’s CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler marking Christopher’s second attempt at the Sizzler 3-peat as well. Other drivers who have tried for the Sizzler 3-peat include Richie Evans, Troyer, Mike Ewanitsko, and Rick Fuller, with Troyer the only driver to find success in the quest for three consecutive CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler victories.
The CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler can also be a catapult to launch a driver towards a Whelen Modified Tour championship. In 25 years of Whelen Modified Tour competition, 7 times the winner of the CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler has gone on to capture the Whelen Modified Tour Championship in the same season: Richie Evans (1985), Mike Stefanik (1989, 1997, 1998), Tony Hirschman (2005), Donny Lia (2007), and Ted Christopher (2008).
There are a total of 6 drivers who are looking to make the 33-car starting field for the CARQUEST Tech-net Spring Sizzler for the first time: Danny Knoll, Richie Pallai, Jr., George Brunnhoelzl, III, Justin Bonsignore, Johnny Bush, and Andy Seuss. Pallai has competed in Stafford’s SK Modified® division for the past two seasons and was the SK Modified® feature winner at last years’s CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler Weekend, and George Brunnhoelzl is the defending Whelen Southern Modified Tour champion.
Bobby Santos, III takes over the wheel of Bob Garbarino’s #4 car that has visited CARQUEST Victory Lane four times over the past three seasons with Donny Lia winning 3 times and Chuck Hossfeld winning once. Lia is not entered in this year’s Sizzler, but Hossfeld is hooked up with the Ed Bennett team, which is the team that set the Stafford Motor Speedway qualifying track record in 2007 with Matt Hirschman as the driver. Other drivers who have won a Modified Tour race at Stafford that are entered in this year’s Sizzler field include Ed Flemke, Jr., Todd Szegedy, who owns three career CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler second place finishes, Jimmy Blewett, Ryan Preece, James Civali, and Jamie Tomaino.
The 2010 Tech-Net Spring Sizzler gets underway Friday, April 23 with a practice session for Stafford’s weekly divisions. The practice session will be open to the public at no charge. Action continues on Saturday, April 24 with Coors Light Pole Qualifying for the Whelen Modified Tour cars, along with heat and consolation races for Stafford’s weekly divisions. Saturday will conclude with feature events for the SK Light, Limited Late Model, and DARE Stock divisions. The Sizzler continues on Sunday, April 25 with the CARQUEST Belts & Hose Pit Party followed by Stafford’s SK Modifieds® and Late Models joining the Whelen Modified Tour in feature action.
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 39th 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