Ronnie Wyckoff Recalls Inaugural Spring Sizzler at Stafford
Stafford Springs, CT — With the 40th Annual CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler less than a month away, the excitement and anticipation of “The Greatest Race in the History of Spring” continues to build. As part of the celebration of the 40th edition of the CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler, Stafford Speedway is reaching out to drivers who were part of the inaugural starting lineup to be part of a special pre-race show. This week’s Sizzler spotlight falls on Ronnie Wyckoff, who drove Bill Simons’ #9a “Excavator Special” in the very first Sizzler in 1972.
Wyckoff was a well-known modified pilot in his time, taking the wheel for some of the top car owners of the era. Wyckoff starred at Plainville Stadium and he was a multi-time winner of the Riverside 500 as well as recording feature victories at tracks throughout New England. Wyckoff was one of the lucky 33 drivers who qualified for the initial Sizzler, which had over 100 modifieds in the pits, and he came home in 12th place, 2 laps behind winner Fred DeSarro.
“That was a long time ago and I don’t remember that much about the race, but the best part of the weekend was the fact that we made the race,” said Wyckoff. “With all the cars that were at Stafford that weekend, I was happy to just be in the starting field. Stafford always had the best drivers and the best cars, and that Sizzler had the best from the North all the way down to Virginia. It was a great group of people, the track was always a first-class facility, and that is why everyone wanted to race there. I drove for Bill Simons and we were a low buck team, we had a small group of guys working on the car out of a garage at Simons Excavation. When you came to Stafford, you were racing with the big boys like Eddie Flemke, Bugsy Stevens, Fred DeSarro, Leo Cleary, and anytime you got to race with those guys, it was a good time. I remember Stafford having nice people, good food, and a good track, we had a lot of fun going around in circles at Stafford.”
The 40th Annual CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler gets underway Friday, April 29 with a practice session for Stafford’s weekly divisions. The practice session will be open to the public at no charge. The run for the Coors Light Pole position gets underway on Saturday, April 30 with time trials for the Whelen Modified Tour cars, along with heat and consolation races for Stafford’s weekly divisions. In the 31 Spring Sizzler events run since 1980, the fast qualifier has gone on to win the race 7 times. Saturday will conclude with feature events for the SK Light, Limited Late Model, and DARE Stock divisions. The Sizzler concludes on Sunday, May 1 with the CARQUEST Belts and 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 40th 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