Kris Fluckiger Ready to Chase Xtra Mart Bonus Money in This Friday Night’s Xtra Mart Dare Stock Xtra D at Stafford
Stafford Springs, CT — This Friday night at Stafford, Kris Fluckiger is ready to chase after bonus money from Xtra Mart in the Xtra Mart DARE Stock Xtra D 20-lap feature event. Xtra Mart is putting up a $250 bonus for the DARE Stock competitors, with $200 being paid to each of the top-5 finishers in this Friday night’s 20-lap DARE Stock feature event.
“It’s pretty cool that Xtra Mart is putting this bonus money up for not only us, but for all the divisions,” said Fluckiger. “Every little bit helps and this will help pay for gas for a week. It’s a really nice gesture from Xtra Mart to help us out.”
But if Fluckiger finishes in the top-5 this Friday night, he has ulterior plans for his bonus money. Fluckiger is donating his race winnings from the first half of the season towards CARQUEST Champions For Charities driver Stan Mertz, who is racing to support the Connecticut Chapter of Autism Speaks. Fluckiger has help from Gary Spinnato of Rent A Racecar, who is also donating his winnings to Mertz’s Autism Speaks efforts, and in 2 races so far, their donation total stands at $130.
“If I can finish in the top-5 this Friday night, we’ll definitely be adding that $50 to our donation total,” said Fluckiger.
The 2012 season has seen Fluckiger get off to a good start with back to back top-5 finishes that places him 4th in the DARE Stock points standings, only 8 points or 4 positions on the track behind Cliff Saunders. Fluckiger is part of the Fluckiger Race Chassis stable of cars that is maintained by Barry Fluckiger, and Fluckiger’s setups have won three races so far this season with 2 wins for Josh Wood in the Limited Late Model division, and Al Saunders’ win last Friday night in the DARE Stock division.
“It’s been a good start to the year,” said Fluckiger. “I figured the setup was going to be a little closer to spot on than we had it, but last week we definitely got the setup where it needed to be. We had a podium last week, but a car got sideways in three and I lost a couple of spots there. I have to find a way once I’m up in front of the field to stay there. The first week I got black-flagged for hitting the 64 and then last week I got freight trained at the start of the race to the back with Al Saunders. Al came back to win the race and we almost got a third. I’m hoping that we can get a win this Friday night. Josh has been killing them in the Limited and Corey [Hutchings] would have had two podiums in a row but he had a flat tire and Al won last Friday, so it’s time for me to step my game up. We all get along really well down here, everyone just wants to help make each others cars better. We have a great group of guys and that makes it easier when we go out on track.”
While Fluckiger says it’s too early in the year to start paying attention to points, he feels that his #28 Star Hardware car has the potential to be a championship contender this season.
“It’s too early in the year to be looking at that, but as long as we can keep going like we have the first two races, I don’t see why we can’t be a contender,” said Fluckiger. “The car is definitely capable, the Saunders twins, Austin Bessette, and Kyle Casagrande are all really fast and those are the guys I have to focus on staying ahead of.”
Fluckiger and the rest of the DARE Stock field will be in hot pursuit of the Xtra Mart Xtra D bonus beginning with qualifying heats at 6:15 this Friday night. Tickets for the Xtra Mart DARE Stock 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