Corey Hutchings Teams with Barry Fluckiger Racing for 2012 Late Model Season at Stafford Motor Speedway
Stafford Springs, CT — While there are many drivers at Stafford Speedway who will either be making their debuts or switching divisions for the 2012 season, Corey Hutchings will remain in the Late Model division, but be racing for a new team. After two seasons behind the wheel of Billy Snow, Sr.’s #87 car, Hutchings will sit behind the wheel of the #36 owned by Barry Fluckiger. While Hutchings will return to the car number that he is synonymous with, he will be joining a new team in hopes of chasing down his second career Late Model championship at Stafford.
“I’m very exited about the opportunity that has been put in front of me this season,” said Hutchings. “I had a great ride with Mr. Snow the past couple of seasons, but we ended up parting ways and I was pretty shocked to get a call from Barry asking me to drive his car. I wasn’t really sure I was going to be racing at Stafford this season. Barry has the car and the motor and I have a trailer and some spare parts and pieces, so this year will be like a group effort for us. Barry has shown that he has a good handle with the DARE Stocks and Limited Late Model cars, hopefully I can bring some of my knowledge from the past to combine with Barry’s knowledge and we can have some good results and put on some good shows for the fans.”
Hutchings was able to win the championship in his first full season of Late Model racing at Stafford in 2007, but since that championship season, Hutchings has had a struggle to replicate the results of that championship season. He finished 5th in 2008, 4th in 2010, and 6th last season in the Late Model points, but he has only won 4 races since his championship season. Hutchings is looking to get those results turned around and place himself back at the top of the standings this season.
“Obviously we’d like to be contenders for the championship this season,” said Hutchings. “We’d like to get a couple of wins and most importantly have some fun this year. Jerry Loranger is going to be my crew chief and he is going to maintain the car at Barry’s shop, which is a plus for me since I’m over an hour away. But if I have to be at the shop 5 times a week, then that’s what I’m going to be doing. Stafford is the best track in Connecticut and I’d really like to win the championship again so that I can have two championships at all three tracks. We’re a new team, but we’re not really a new team, I’ve worked with those guys before helping out Norm Sears in the Limited Late Model division. The last couple of years was difficult, I was never able to get comfortable in the car. Not for a lack of effort, the guys on the #87 car gave me everything I needed, we could just never get the car comfortable enough to get speed out of it. The most frustrating thing was that we tried so hard, but we couldn’t get it right. But those guys were great to me, I can’t say anything bad about them.”
In order for Hutchings to successfully take home a second career Stafford track title this season, he says getting off to a good start is critical to mounting a championship challenge. The team is also currently without a sponsor, and finding a sponsor or two is also a key ingredient for Hutchings and the Fluckiger team to find championship success in 2012.
“I think the first 5 races are critical to have good finishes,” said Hutchings. “You need to finish those first 5 races and you need to finish those races in the top-5. If you can do that, you have a good chance at being the champion at the end of the year. Right now, we’ve got a couple of sponsors on the hook, but nothing definite yet. Racing is an expensive hobby and if we can find a couple of sponsors to come on board with us this season, that will definitely help us out in getting the car to the front of the pack.”
Hutchings will kick off his quest for a second Stafford title with the 41st Annual CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler on April 27-29. Tickets for the CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler are available and on sale now through the SMS Box Office. Tickets are priced at $38.50 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 will be priced at $42.00 for all ages. All ticket prices include 10% CT Admission Tax. As always, Stafford Motor Speedway offers free parking with overnight parking available.
For more information on the 41st 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