Tony Membrino, Jr. Captures 2010 DARE Stock Championship at Stafford Speedway
Stafford Springs, CT — -In what is becoming a DARE Stock tradition at Stafford Motor Speedway, Tony Membrino, Jr. won the DARE Stock championship after winning the season opening Tech-Net Spring Sizzler feature event. Membrino is the third consecutive DARE Stock driver to accomplish the feat, following Norm Sears in 2008 and Don Wood in 2009.
“It’s pretty exciting to pull off the championship,” said Membrino. “It’s still sinking in, but it’s a real good feeling. For only our second season, it’s pretty awesome to have the year we did. I think our worst finish all season long was seventh and there’s not a lot of drivers at Stafford who can say that. To put my name into the Stafford record books is a pretty awesome accomplishment.”
Membrino placed in the top-10 in all 21 races this season and he finished in the top-5 in 16 of the 21 races with his lone victory of the year coming in the season opening Tech-Net Spring Sizzler.
“We weren’t really racing for points at all this year,” said Membrino. “We were trying to win every race this year and the points just fell into place for us. In the back of my mind, I always knew where we were with the points, but I tried to take it one race at a time and not really let it bother me.”
The first indication that Membrino had that he could be a championship contender actually began with the 2009 season.
“We missed the Sizzler last year and we ended up 5th in points,” said Membrino. “I figured if we could do what we did last year this year that we could be a contender for the championship.”
For a driver who showed up every week with the intention of winning, Membrino had to race cautiously for wins.
“We were on a low budget this year, so staying out of trouble was the biggest thing for us,” said Membrino. “We couldn’t really afford to fix the car if we had a bad wreck.”
After a 5th and 7th place finishes following his season opening win, Membrino finished in the top-5 in 14 of the next 16 races to establish himself as the championship favorite, but nipping at his heels all season long was Jeff Jolly and Kyle Casagrande, who both won three races compared to Membrino’s one victory.
“It got close a couple of times this year, but we never got worried about it,” said Membrino. “There was always the next race and we figured if we stayed consistent like we had been doing all year long, then the points would fall right for us.”
But perhaps the greatest thing for Membrino was to share the championship with his family, who have raced at Stafford for many years prior without tasting the fruits of a championship season.
“Everyone on the team was super psyched to win the championship,” said Membrino. “My dad never won a race here and to win a race was one thing, but to win the championship was really great. It’s exciting for them and it’s exciting for me to be able to share this championship with them.”
Membrino will officially be crowned the 2010 DARE Stock track champion at the 41st Annual Stafford Motor Speedway Champions Awards Ceremony on Friday, November 19, 2010 at the La Renaissance Banquet Facility in East Windsor
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