Former Stafford Winner & 2-Time Modified Racing Series Champion Chris Pasteyrak Looking Forward to Shark Cycle 80
Stafford Springs, CT — For Valenti Modified Racing Series veteran Chris Pasteryak, a trip to Stafford Motor Speedway is just what the doctor ordered. Pasteryak is a 2-time VMRS champion (2008, 2011) and his last VMRS victory came at Stafford in the 2011 Shark Cycle 80 race. Pasteryak dominated that 2011 Shark Cycle race, leading all but the first two laps. After going nearly two years without a win, Pasteryak is ready to put an end to his victory dry spell with his #5 Sunoco Race Fuel, Dawley’s Collision and Custom, and ProShock Chevrolet.
“We feel really good about coming back to Stafford,” said Pasteryak. “We have a really good motor from Billy the Kid and the car has been going good. We missed the first Stafford race so we might be at a bit of a disadvantage, but we always seem to go pretty good at Stafford. We seem to have a good handle on the tires right now and we’re looking forward to the race. I’ll take a win wherever I can get them at this point. I’ll be happy if we can win anywhere, but if we haven’t won by the time we get to Stafford it would be great to get a win there. I really enjoy Stafford, I like driving there and I like going there and having won there in the past you always have a little more confidence going back. Another win at Stafford would be just as big as the first because it’s been a while since we’ve won. I think the last time we won was at Stafford in 2011, so another win at Stafford would be a nice way for us to get back on track. We’ve ran well but a lot of this game is luck and if you can run in the top-5 or top-3 long enough eventually things will go your way. We’ve been in position to win races but we’ve got beat a couple of times and a couple of other times I’ve beat myself but that’s just how it goes.”
While racing is an ever-changing game with drivers always looking for new and improved ways to make their cars go faster around the track, Pasteryak has a simple plan when it comes to preparing his car for a race at Stafford.
“I think it was something we hit on one of the first times I came to Stafford,” said Pasteryak. “Since then we haven’t really changed anything on the car. I guess it’s just dumb luck that the track fits my driving style and we like going there. I haven’t messed with the setup I use in the past three or four years and we keep on coming back with that same setup.”
Even though Pasteryak missed the first Stafford race of the 2013 season that was run back in June, he currently sits fifth in the points standings. Pasteryak has recorded 4 top-5 and 7 top-10 finishes in his 9 starts this season and he heads into Stafford on a five-race hot streak. Pasteryak finished 2nd at Canaan, third at Waterford and Beech Ridge, 6th at Seekonk, and 7th at Oxford Plains, which has him on a path that is trending towards getting back to victory lane at Stafford.
“Things have been pretty good the past month,” said Pasteryak. “We missed the first race at Stafford, which was kind of a bummer, but we’ve been around the top-5 or top-10 in every race since and we’ve been running pretty good. I think it will take a good draw to get a good starting spot so you won’t have to drive from last to first, you have to have a little luck, and as always at Stafford your car has to be handling well.”
Tickets for the August 30th Shark Cycle 80 are available and on sale now at the Speedway Box Office. Tickets are priced at $27.50 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 $30.00 for all ages. All ticket prices include 10% CT Admission Tax.
For more information on the Shark Cycle 80, 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