Erica Santos Picks Up NEMA Midget Ride for Stafford Speedway’s CARQUEST Super Sat. Program
Will Sub for Bobby Santos in Champions for Charities Race
Stafford Springs, CT — After originally not having any plans to race this weekend, Erica Santos suddenly has a busy weekend ahead of her as she will pilot the Ed Breault #44 in this Saturday’s CARQUEST Super Saturday event as well as taking over for her brother Bobby in the 15-lap Wild Thing Kart Senior Outlaw CARQUEST Champions For Charities event. The Breault owned #44 is the same car that Santos drove to victory in the 2007 edition of CARQUEST Super Saturday to become the first and so far only female feature winner in NEMA history.
“Pete Zanardi had called me to see if I was going to run our family car in the NEMA race, and when I told him we weren’t going to run it, he told me that Ed [Breault] was looking for a driver,” said Santos. “I called Ed and we’re going to run. I’m pretty excited to be back in that car, it’s usually pretty good at Stafford.”
Santos will be pulling double duty as along with her NEMA Midget duties, she will take over her brother Bobby’s spot in the CARQUEST Champions For Charities 15-lap feature. Santos will lean on her quarter midget experience in the Senior Outlaw feature and she feels confident that she will be able to have a good run.
“I think the quarter midget is pretty similar to the karts,” said Santos. “I think I’ll be a little disappointed if I wasn’t able to keep up with everyone. I’m excited about the opportunity, I think it will be a lot of fun. I’ve always enjoyed running go karts, I’ve done F1 Boston and I’ve always had a good time doing it. This is pretty much the only racing I’m getting to do right now, so I’m really looking forward to it."
Should Santos run into any issues with the Wild Thing Senior Outlaw Kart, she can always lean on her brother Bobby for advice as Bobby participated in last year’s CARQUEST Champions For Charities event.
“I talked with Bobby this weekend, and he thinks I’ll do fine,” said Santos. “Growing up we used to race go karts against each other, and that was about the only thing I could beat him at. If I struggle a bit, I’ll try to talk to some of the guys, but I think I’ll do all right. I’d like to thank Mark and Lisa Arute for giving me the opportunity to be part of this race. When I look at some of the drivers who are in this race, it’s an honor for me to be included and I’m excited for the opportunity.”
Tickets for CARQUEST Super Saturday are on sale now at the Speedway Box Office and are priced at $33.00 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 $35.00 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 to the 9th Annual CARQUEST Super Saturday 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