Whelen Modified Tour Set For Second Shot At Stafford
Tech-Net Spring Sizzler To Run This Saturday
Daytona Beach, FL — Originally scheduled for April 25, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour’s race at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway is now set to take place this Saturday, May 1.
The Tech-Net Spring Sizzler presented by CARQUEST was to be the season-opening weekend for Stafford, and the second race of the year for the Whelen Modified Tour. Practice and qualifying took place last Saturday, April 24, under sunny skies. But when raceday rolled around, the rain rolled in, so the event was postponed to this weekend.
There have been slight alterations to the raceday schedule for this Saturday’s make-up date. Prior to the race the CARQUEST Belts & Hose Pit Party – the on-track autograph session – will now take place from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The 33 cars of the Whelen Modified Tour will then get a 30-minute practice session starting at 1 p.m.
A pair of Stafford’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions – the SK Modifieds and Late Models – will run their features starting at 2 p.m. The Whelen Modified Tour’s 200-lap race will then take the green flag at approximately 3:15 p.m.
When the teams park Saturday morning, the race lineup will already be set. Bobby Santos captured the Coors Light Pole Award with record-setting lap, and then pulled the pole again in the qualifying redraw. Santos, who also captured the pole and the checkered flag in the season-opening race at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway on April 11, is seeking his first Whelen Modified Tour victory at Stafford.
“I’ve run good at Stafford, and I’ve won some big races at Stafford in other divisions,” Santos said. “I’ve had success there. It’s a track that I like and I think I can do well at.”
Santos will be joined in the front row on Saturday by 2006 Spring Sizzler winner Doug Coby, and the second row will consist of New Jersey neighbors Jamie Tomaino and Jimmy Blewett, both of whom possess career wins at the Stafford half-mile.
Two-time defending winner of the Spring Sizzler – and a four-time winner overall – Ted Christopher will start ninth. Mike Stefanik, who is tied with Christopher for the most Whelen Modified Tour Spring Sizzler wins, will start 18th.
Rain checks from April 25 will be honored this Saturday. For more event information, please visit Stafford’s official website (www.staffordmotorspeedway.com).
Sources: Jason Cunningham,/NASCAR WMT PR