Corey Hutchings Ready to Chase Xtra Mart Bonus Money in this Friday Night’s Xtra Mart Late Model Xtra D at Stafford
Stafford Springs, CT — This Friday night at Stafford, 2007 Stafford Late Model champion Corey Hutchings is ready to chase after bonus money from Xtra Mart in the Xtra Mart Late Model Xtra D 40-lap feature event. Xtra Mart is putting up a $1,000 bonus, with $200 being paid to each of the top-5 finishers in this Friday night’s 40-lap Late Model feature event.
“It’s awesome to have sponsors like Xtra Mart stepping up and offering this kind of bonus money for us,” said Hutchings. “These cars aren’t cheap to run every week and every extra bit of money really helps out. It’s great that they’re putting the money up and we hope we can take home a share of that this Friday night.”
By looking back at the season opening CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler Late Model race, Hutchings will be one of the favorites to place in the top-5 this Friday night. Hutchings started sixth and finished third behind Keith Rocco and Woody Pitkat while turning the fastest lap of the race, giving him confidence in his #36 Fluckiger Race Chassis team that they can take home some bonus money this Friday night.
“We’re really excited about the season,” said Hutchings. “Knowing that we were competitive and right there with those guys, those are some of the best drivers at Stafford, so we’re pretty excited. I think maybe we were just a little too loose on throttle so I couldn’t get really aggressive and go after those guys. If we had a little more bite in the car, I think I could have had something for those guys. The car is really fast, we have a great motor from R.A.D. Automachine, we just need a couple of tweaks here and I think we’ll be really, really competitive this year.”
Hutchings’ Sizzler finish was reminiscent of the season opening race in 2007, when Hutchings was a Late Model rookie at Stafford and he won the Sizzler with the Clark Motorsports #90 team. Hutchings used that season opening win to stay at the top of the points standings all season long and he captured his first Stafford track championship. Now Hutchings is once again with a new team and a strong finish in the first race could help steer Hutchings and the #36 team towards another title.
“It’s a great feeling to start off the season with a great run,” said Hutchings. “I have a good car underneath me and we have a great crew with Barry [Fluckiger] and all the guys. The first five weeks are very important to get good finishes to separate the guys who will be there and the guys who won’t be there for the title chase. I’ve known these guys for a while, so I feel like I’m in a new team, but it’s not really a new team since I know everyone. The car is turning really good and we have a great package together right now, so it’s very similar to 2007. I feel like if the car keeps running like it did on opening day, there’s no reason why we can’t knock off a win early in the season this year. We hope we can keep on running like we did in 2007.”
Hutchings and the rest of the Late Model field will be in hot pursuit of the first Xtra Mart Xtra D bonus of the 2012 season beginning with qualifying heats at 6:15 this Friday night. Tickets for the Xtra Mart Late Model Xtra D program are priced at $17.50 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 is priced at $20.00 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, 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