Richie Pallai, Jr. Gearing Up for CARQUEST Belts & Hose Pit Party at the 40th Annual CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler
Stafford Springs, CT — The 40th Annual Tech-Net Spring Sizzler will kick off the 2011 race season and Richie Pallai, Jr., the driver of the #39 Bosch Spark Plugs Whelen Modified Tour Chevrolet, will jump into action both on and off the track. Along with the challenges that racing brings, Richie is also assisting the Danbury Animal Welfare Society (D.A.W.S.) increase awareness about animal rescue, adoption and animal service programs through the racing community network.
The first opportunity for outreach will be at the CARQUEST Belts & Hose Pit Party on Sunday May 1st in which fans can receive a CARQUEST Belts & Hose tee shirt for a $5 donation. All proceeds from the tee shirt sales will be donated directly to D.A.W.S.
“The Pit Party is a great way for us as drivers to make a connection with the race fans,” said Pallai. “We’re hoping to have a lot of fans stop by and check out our new paint scheme, which John Catania did for us. Along with checking out the car, the fans can donate $5 and get a CARQUEST Belts & Hose tee shirt, to support D.A.W.S. I will also be running in the CARQUEST Champions for Charities event on June 28th and will be representing D.A.W.S. at that event. The more money raised for D.A.W.S. results in a better starting position in the June 28th event. So it’s a win-win situation.”
In addition to meeting fans and raising money for D.A.W.S., Pallai is also looking forward to getting back on the track with his #39 Bosch Spark Plugs Chevrolet as he is set to begin his second full season of Whelen Modified Tour competition. Pallai ended his 2010 season with strong runs at New Hampshire, Stafford, and Thompson, and he is looking to carry the momentum from those strong runs into the start of the 2011 season.
“We had three good runs to finish out the season last year and we want to carry that momentum into the 2011 season,” said Pallai. “We have a new car for Stafford this season and I should be towards the end of my learning curve. There are still guys with a lot more experience than I have, but we have a notebook built up to lean on now as we go back to the tracks this season. Our test at Thompson went well, we had some minor issues that we sorted out, and we feel great. All the hard work that the guys put in over the winter really showed. Our goal for the Sizzler is to qualify well, run in the top-10, and be there for the end of the race and try to go for the win.”
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. Action continues on Saturday, April 30 with Coors Light Pole Qualifying for the Whelen Modified Tour cars, along with heat and consolation races for Stafford’s weekly divisions. Saturday will wrap up with feature events for the SK Light, Limited Late Model, and DARE Stock divisions. The Sizzler continues on Sunday, May 1 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 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