Defending SK Light Champion Jeremy Sorel Moving Up to SK Modified® Division for 2015 Season at Stafford Motor Speedway
Stafford Springs, CT — Jeremy Sorel came to Stafford Speedway in 2014 as a rookie not only to the track, but to modified competition as well. Sorel was a veteran of Late Model racing down south at Hickory and Greenville-Pickens but his lack of modified experience was never evident as he claimed two wins along with the track championship. Sorel will now look to repeat that rookie success as he will move his #77 Bill’s Repair Service team up to the SK Modified® ranks and challenge for SPAFCO Rookie of the Year honors.
“We’re definitely moving up to the SK’s,” said Sorel. “We had a really good year in the SK lights last year, it was a lot of fun and we’re always willing to try something a little bit different. I think we can be successful. We have good equipment and we have pretty good knowledge of the car after the one season in the SK Lights. I don’t expect to go out there and be running up front right off the bat but you never know. I’m looking to follow a couple of the guys who know what they’re doing in that division during practice sessions and hopefully we’ll be able to pick things up pretty quickly again. Another reason to make the move up is that the SK’s are the number one division that you hear about, so we’re looking to help make a name for ourselves. Right now we’re working on a few sponsors to come on board with us. We have a few people who seem to be interested in coming on board and we’re hoping to have a couple of sponsors to announce in the next month or two.”
Sorel will pilot the same #77 that he drove during his SK Light championship season. While the team is busy updating various parts and pieces on the chassis, Sorel says that his team’s familiarity with the chassis will be a big bonus as they try to get to grips with the car setup.
“Right off the bat it’s going to be all about getting experience again,” said Sorel. “I know it’s going to be tough. I think the SK’s at Stafford is probably some of the best competition in the entire country. I’ve raced Late Models down South but up here it’s a whole new ballgame. Anyone who’s anyone in modified racing is in the SK’s at Stafford. Without last season, I think the transition to the SK’s would be almost impossible. If we can run competitively, then I owe it all to our SK Light experience last season. We made a good transition into the SK Lights and every week we tried something new and we learned something about the track and the car. There was about a 2 or 3 week stretch last year where we were struggling to find the handling on the car, so hopefully we can avoid that this year now that we’ve been through it before and we know what to expect with the track.”
Sorel joins a long list of SK Light champions who have made the step up to the SK Modified® division. Chris Matthews, Joe Allegro, Jr., Michael Gervias, Jr., Matt Galko, Zach Aszklar, and Tony Membrino, Jr. have all made the move into the SK Modified® division after winning an SK Light championship at Stafford. Of those 6 champion drivers, Galko is the only one to have won Rookie of the Year, a feat that Sorel is keen to repeat as there is record $1,100 bonus from SPAFCO Race Chassis & Parts.
“Rookie of the year is another goal on our list and that is an awesome bonus to be racing for thanks to SPAFCO,” said Sorel. “That would really help me out as a driver and everyone on the team as well. I really have to thank SPAFCO for putting up such a nice bonus for us to be able to race for. If we can improve the car from week to week I’ll be happy. If we can get some top-5 finishes and be consistent, that would be great. I’d love to get a win or two as the year goes on and there were a couple of rookie winners last year, so anything is possible. I did some pretty long races down south, 50 and 100-lappers, so I think the longer races might actually play to my advantage. Being able to conserve something for the end of the race is something that we had figured out pretty good down south so hopefully we can transfer that to the SK car this year.”
Sorel will kick off his pursuit of the SPAFCO Rookie of the Year title with the running of the 44th Annual NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler on April 24-26. 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 is priced at $42.00 for all ages. As always, Stafford Motor Speedway offers free parking with overnight parking available. All tickets are good for both Saturday and Sunday admission. All ticket prices include 10% CT Admission Tax.
For more information on the 44th 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