Jimmy Zacharias to Pilot “Ole Blue” #3 at NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler
Stafford Springs, CT — When the green flag falls on the 43rd Annual NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler, there will be a familiar car in the lineup with a new driver behind the wheel. Jimmy Zacharias, the Candor, NY native and 3-time Chemung Speedrome Modified Track Champion, will take over the driving duties of one of the most famous modified cars in “The Greatest Race in the History of Spring”. The #3 “Ole Blue” owned by the Boehler family, will have Zacharias as the newest driver to handle the reins of the famous ride.
“I’m pretty excited to be able to drive a famous car that’s had so much success in previous years in modified racing,” said Zacharias. “My dad had called them and they were talking about Thompson and we were going to use their number 3 for points. They got to talking a bit and we put a deal together for me to get behind the wheel of the car.”
The Boehler “Ole Blue” #3 has been to victory lane at the Spring Sizzler in 1972 with Fred DeSarro and then again in 2004 with Jerry Marquis behind the wheel. Zacharias is relatively new to both the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and Stafford, but he is hopeful that he will have a solid run in the #3 Cape Cod Copper machine.
“I ran the MRS race a couple years ago at Stafford and I feel like I picked things up pretty quickly during that race,” said Zacharias. “Hopefully we can have a good run. I’ve come a long way with my driving ability and I have some great people behind me and with their knowledge and equipment on the 3 team, we should be pretty good. This will be my first time driving a car on the Tour other than my family owned car. I’m going to treat it like I’m driving my own car, take care of the equipment, take care of everyone around me, and do the best I can. There’s a little extra pressure with the success the 3 car has had but hopefully I can fulfill that and be just as good. A win or a top-5 finish would be nice but with this being our first race together and me being new to this, hopefully we can finish somewhere in the top-10.”
While Zacharias has limited experience at Stafford, he is confident that the knowledge and experience that the Boehler team has will trump his relative inexperience at Stafford and they can have a good finish in the Sizzler.
“I think it’s going to take patience; don’t wear myself out, don’t wear the car out, and don’t put ourselves into a bad position to take ourselves out of the race and try to be there at the end,” said Zacharias. “Qualifying is going to play a part, you always want to start the best you can. But it’s not about where you start, it’s where you finish. You have to be there at the end and hopefully stay away from any havoc that happens during the race. A win would mean the world to me in our first race together. It would be the biggest win of my career. You always go to the track thinking you can win and it would be nice to put ourselves into that position and have the team work well together and make the right calls. It definitely helps having all the guys on the team being around modified racing for so long and hopefully it will be a good combination putting them together with my driving skills.”
The 2014 NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler gets underway Friday, April 25 with a practice session for Stafford’s weekly divisions. The practice session will be open to the public at no charge. Action continues on Saturday, April 26 with Coors Light Pole Qualifying for the Whelen Modified Tour cars, along with heat and consolation races for Stafford’s weekly divisions and the NorthEast Mini Stock Tour. Saturday will wrap up with feature events for the SK Light, Limited Late Model, DARE Stock, and NEMST divisions. The Sizzler continues on Sunday, April 27 with the NAPA Auto Parts Pit Party followed by Stafford’s SK Modifieds® and Late Models joining the Whelen Modified Tour in feature action.
Tickets for the “Greatest Race in the History of Spring” are on sale now at the Speedway Box Office. 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 will be priced at $42.00 for all ages. All ticket prices include 10% CT Admission Tax.
For more information on the 43rd Annual NAPA Auto Parts 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