Wesley Prucker Becomes Latest Addition to Stafford’s 2013 SK Light Modified SPAFCO Rookie Class
Stafford Springs, CT — Stafford Speedway instituted its SK Light division as a way for younger drivers to develop their skills in an open wheel car before moving onto bigger and more complex open wheel competition, and the SK Light roster has added another young driver to its 2013 SPAFCO rookie class. Stafford native Wesley Prucker will be the newest addition to the SK Light field at SMS and Prucker brings with him a litany of wins and championships to the open wheel ranks.
The 16-year old Prucker began his racing career at age 5, and over the past 11 years, he has raced Quarter Midgets, Half Midgets, and Junior Outlaws in 12 states, from Connecticut all the way out to the west coast and California. While Prucker has over 200 wins and 10 championships to his resume thusfar, the 2013 season will mark his first foray into racing on a half mile track.
“I’m a bit nervous and excited to get started at Stafford,” said Prucker. “I’ve raced against Tommy Barrett, Matt Galko, the Membrinos, Paul Buzel, David Arute, and the Casagrandes, so I’m looking forward to racing with some of those guys again as well as my cousin Shayne Prucker. Stafford is only three miles down the road from the house, so we’ll have a lot less traveling to do to get started racing bigger cars on a bigger track. I think we averaged around 12 races a week and we ran three cars at two tracks for nine years, so one race a week on Friday nights will be a step down for us. Hopefully being able to concentrate on one track and one car will help us to run well this year.”
Although Prucker has gotten used to being a contender for race wins and championships throughout his career, he knows the 2013 season will be a learning experience for him. However, the learning curve that he faces hasn’t deterred him at all from thinking about winning.
“This year will be a learning year for us for sure,” said Prucker. “This will be my first time with a manual transmission, so I’m going to be a little worried about shifting. But I’m a quick learner and Shayne is a good source of advice for me. I have an aggressive driving style, which I think will be an asset for me moving forward, but I have to make sure to keep the car in one piece because these modifieds are expensive to fix. My biggest goal for the season is to win a race, even if it’s only a heat race.”
Prucker and his team recently purchased the #64 car that Michael Bennett campaigned at Stafford for the 2012 season and they are in search of sponsorship for their rookie season.
“We were looking at a couple of different cars and we bought Michael Bennett’s car,” said Prucker. “Now we’re searching for sponsorship, and hopefully we can find someone who would be willing to help us out and put their name on our car.”
The 2013 SK Light Modified season kicks off with the 42nd Annual CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler on April 26-28. Tickets for the “Greatest Race in the History of Spring” may be ordered by calling the Speedway Box Office or by CLICKING HERE. 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 is $42.00 for all ages. All ticket prices include 10% CT Admission Tax.
For more information on the 42nd 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