Eric Berndt Getting Hot Just In Time for NAPA Auto Parts SK 5k at Stafford
Stafford Springs, CT — For Cromwell native Eric Berndt and the #66 Cos’ Central Auto SK Modified® team, the 2014 season has been trending in the right direction for them just in time to carry a ton of positive momentum into the July 4th NAPA Auto Parts SK 5k. Berndt encountered some issues in the season opening NAPA Spring Sizzler feature, but in the three races since then he has two fifth place finishes and he nearly won the June 6th feature, coming home second to Ryan Preece.
“The car has been really good, it’s a matter of staying out of trouble, which we got into at the Sizzler,” said Berndt. “Now we’re really happy with the car, we’ve been making some real small adjustments each week to make it better and hopefully we’ve put ourselves into the right opportunity to come up big. This car is pretty equal to our #54 car chassis wise and we have a really good motor package, which seems to be working really good this year.”
Berndt is no stranger to finding success in longer distance SK Modified® events. Berndt has several wins in extra distance events at other tracks and he won the SK 100 at Stafford in 2003. His past success has him excited about his chances in the $5,000 to win NAPA Auto Parts SK 5k on July 4th.
“I’m definitely looking forward to the race,” said Berndt. “Hopefully we can keep our momentum going for that race and we’re still not sure what outlook we’re going to have for that race. I think it’s going to be a great race and I think we’re going to have a great turnout for cars. We just have to see what happens at the end of whatever we run for laps and qualifying. I don’t think we’ll do too much different from what we already do. We’ll probably set the car up for the long distance and one thing about our car is the setups are very easy. It doesn’t matter how many laps we’re going to run, we don’t have to change too much. I’m hoping for a longer race since that allows us to string out a little and I seem to have more luck with the longer races. But whatever way it turns, we’ll be ready to go.”
While Berndt has yet to record a victory this season, he feels like a win is within the grasp of his team.
“I think we’re real close to winning a race,” said Berndt. “A couple weeks ago when we finished second, we had a really good car and the stagger ended up getting away from us with 10 laps to go. I think we might have had the car to beat [Ryan] Preece that night. We’re knocking on the door, it’s just a matter of everything has to line up for us. There’s some real stiff competition in the SK’s, there’s about 10 cars that you can pick out of a hat that can win a race.”
The $5,000 to win SK 5K won’t be the only entertainment at Stafford during the night of July 4th. Stafford Speedway will host Mean Gene and the Flamethrowers, a concert style party rock band that is based out of Long Island, NY. Mean Gene and the Flamethrowers will play both prior to and after the conclusion of the NAPA SK 5K racing program. Along with the band, in true Fourth of July style, Stafford Speedway will have a barbeque taking place on the midway with some great food available to race fans. The midway will also be busy during the July 4th NAPA Auto Parts SK5k event with Big Daddy’s RC Racing on hand; NAPA Auto Parts will have an Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund booth setup to sell tee-shirts with all the proceeds being donated to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund; and the Hartford Wolfpack mascot Sonar will be in the house to greet fans.
Tickets for the July 4th NAPA SK 5K 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 kids ages 6-14, and kids 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. Stafford Speedway offers free parking with free overnight parking for self-contained RV’s available.
For more information on the Inaugural NAPA SK 5K, 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