Joey Cipriano Teaming with Steve Greer to Make SK Modified® Debut at Spring Sizzler
Stafford Springs, CT — After finishing third and second in points in his first two seasons of SK Light competition at Stafford, Joey Cipriano, III will team up with Steve Greer to drive Greer’s #19 Gunsmoke Stables Ford Mustang in the CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler on April 29. Greer has had several drivers, including Ted Christopher, James Civali, Doug Coby, and Ryan Preece, behind the wheel of his #19 in limited races in the past, and now Cipriano will be the latest driver to take the reins of the #19. Cipriano and Greer were teammates in the SK Light Modified division last season and now they will be reunited as Cipriano looks to make his SK Modified® debut.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity, Steve’s car has always been fast when it shows up at Stafford,” said Cipriano. “He’s had some really good drivers in the car before me, so I’m hoping I can have a good race. Right now, we only have the one race planned in the SK car, but if some sponsorship were to come our way, then we would like to run more races.”
“We had talked back and forth with Joey last year about possibly doing something, but he was focused on his SK Light efforts and we could never put something together,” said Greer. “I’m not planning on running my SK car full-time this year, but we did want to run some races, and the Sizzler is one of those races. I met up with Joey at a fundraiser he was hosting for his Modified Racing Series team and told him I had an empty seat for the Sizzler and asked if he would like to fill the seat. It’s nice to be working with Joey again, he’s certainly proved he has the skills to drive the car well and win. I won’t put anyone in the car who I think can’t win, and my crew and Joey’s crew work well together, so it was an easy decision to put Joey in the car for the Sizzler.”
As Cipriano prepares for his SK Modified® debut drive, he knows he is following some very capable drivers as the driver of Greer’s car. But he says that he isn’t feeling any extra pressure and that he has a sound game plan for attacking the 40-lap SK Modified® feature event.
“I put enough pressure on myself every week to win races, and I have lots of laps at Stafford, so I’m not feeling any extra pressure,” said Cipriano. “My main goal is to have a good, solid run in the top-10. I think for the first 20 laps the goal will be to keep the car clean and in one piece and try to be there in the second 20 laps to go to the front. Everyone wants to win the race, but I think a good, solid top-10 finish would be a good day for us. I have to send a big thank you to Earl Pelletier, he’s going to be helping us with the car setup and he is driving the car to the track for us, so a big thanks to Earl for all of his help.”
The SK Modified® division kicks off the 2012 season 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