Wooody Pitkat Substituting for Davey Hamilton in CARQUEST Champions for Charities Event at Stafford Speedway
Stafford Springs, CT — Stafford Motor Speedway SK Modified® and Late Model competitor Woody Pitkat has been announced as a substitute for IZOD IndyCar Series and Indy 500 veteran Davey Hamilton in Stafford’s first ever CARQUEST Champions For Charities event. Hamilton announced today that he will have to miss the Tuesday, June 28th race at Stafford Motor Speedway, which is part of the 8th Annual CARQUEST Extreme Tuesday program.
“We are racing at Iowa on the 26th and immediately following that event, I have to go to Houston for a series of financial meetings,” said Hamilton. Hamilton races a part time schedule that included this year’s Centennial Indianapolis 500. “Our results have been less than we had hoped for so its time for us to examine our program from top to bottom and that’s another reason why I will have to miss CARQUEST Extreme Tuesday. I think the track has come up with a pretty impressive replacement driver for my charity.”
Pitkat is the 2006 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Division 4 Regional Champion, and he will be racing to raise funds for the Victory Junction Gang Camp.
“This is pretty cool,” said Pitkat. “This race is for a good cause and I’m sure it will be a lot of fun. It will be pretty different for sure going around the mini mile when I’m so used to going around the big track.”
The starting lineup for the CARQUEST Champions For Charities race will be determined by how much money each driver raises for their selected charity. The starting grid will be set with the drivers who have raised the most money starting up front. Fans are encouraged to get involved in the event by donating to their favorite driver or favorite charity. Hamilton was at the bottom of the pack and Pitkat will have to scramble for donations with only one week left to go.
“It’s going to probably be tough to come up with donations in one week, but we’ll try to see what we can come up with,” said Pitkat. “Hopefully we can raise 500 or 600 dollars and move a couple of rows closer to the front of the field. But if I have to start in the back, it won’t be any different than starting in the back with the Late Model this year.”
While most of the CARQUEST Champions for Charities drivers have had some form of go kart experience in their past, Pitkat has very little experience to draw off of as he prepares for the 15-lap Senior Outlaw race. But he also may have an ace in the hole.
“I’m sure most of those guys have karting experience, so I’ll probably be at a bit of a disadvantage,” said Pitkat. “My only hope is to start up front with a good kart. But one of the guys on my crew races a kart on Monday nights, so maybe I’ll have to come on down and do some scouting. My goal is to beat Richie Pallai, Jr. and Bobby Santos. If anyone wants to sponsor me for only a couple of dollars, it will move me up a couple of spots right of the bat.”
The Victory Junction Gang Camp was built in honor of Adam Petty and they provide life-changing experiences for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses. CARQUEST Extreme Tuesday will take place on June 28, 2011 and will also feature the ISMA Super Modifieds, NEMA Midgets, and Pro-4 Modifieds as well as the Senior Outlaw Karts.
Tickets for CARQUEST Extreme Tuesday are on sale now at the Speedway Box Office and are priced at $30.00 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 $32.00 for all ages. As always, Stafford Motor Speedway offers free parking with overnight parking available.
For more information, or to order tickets to the 8th Annual CARQUEST Extreme Tuesday event, 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