Woody Pitkat in Search of First Modified Racing Series Win in VMRS 80 at Stafford Speedway
Stafford Springs, CT — Stafford Motor Speedway holds some very special memories for Woody Pitkat. Stafford is Pitkat’s home track, he has won titles in both the SK Modified® and Late Model divisions, and Stafford was the site of his first career Whelen Modified Tour victory last August in the CBYD 150. With the Modified Racing Series coming to Stafford for the first of three races during the 2015 season May 22, Pitkat is hoping to create yet another memory at Stafford by capturing his first career MRS victory.
“I was walking through the stands last week and I heard Ben Dodge talking about how I won my first Tour race at Stafford and maybe I could get my first MRS win at Stafford,” said Pitkat. “It was pretty cool to hear him say that and obviously it would be cool if I could accomplish that.”
Pitkat will head into the Stafford race on the heels of a second-place finish in the season-opening MRS race at Monadnock on May 2. Since Pitkat joined the #42 Peter Kulessa owned team in July last year for the second Stafford race, Pitkat has recorded 4 top-5 finishes in 6 starts, including his career best of second back on May 2nd at Monadnock. Add to that his win in the 200-lap NAPA Spring Sizzler back on April 26, and Pitkat is ready to claim his first MRS victory.
“To win the Sizzler and to run as good as we did last year at Stafford with the MRS car, I‘m looking forward to the race,” said Pitkat. “I know everyone on the team is looking forward to the race and would like to thank Steve Greer for coming on board with us for the Stafford race to help us out. I think we built up a good notebook last year and some races we might have missed a little something here or there that kept us from getting to victory lane. We were one of the dominant cars at Monadnock. I think we know what minor adjustments we need to make to get us over the hump and put the car into victory lane.”
A sign of the progress that Pitkat has made with the #42 team in only a short period of time together is the Monadnock race several weeks ago. Even though Pitkat finished second, he feels like he could have done some things differently that might have played out with the #42 going to victory lane.
“I was a little disappointed in not getting the job done at Monadnock,” said Pitkat. “I probably could have taken the lead earlier and set my own pace and tried to make Todd [Szegedy] pass me instead of riding behind Kirk [Alexander]. Either way it was a good start to the season for us and coming to Stafford, we should have a good car. We finished in the top-5 in the two races we ran at Stafford last year and in one of the Stafford races I got sent to the back after stopping for a wreck, so we probably would have had a good shot at winning that race if that didn’t happen. If we can get a good draw for the heat and start somewhere in the top-8 or top-10, we should be able to get up there and battle for the win.”
Pitkat will also be looking to get things turned around in the SK Modified® division. Pitkat and the #50 Skowyra Family owned car have one top-10 finish through the first three races of the 2015 season. Pitkat needs to be on his game on May 22nd as he will be pulling double duty competing in both the VMRS and the SK Modified® divisions.
The May 22 VMRS 80 will be the first of three Valenti Modified Racing Series events to be held at Stafford during the 2015 season. The VMRS returns to Stafford on June 26th and September 4th. Tickets are on sale now for the May 22 VMRS 80 and 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. All ticket prices include 10% CT Admission Tax.
For the 25th consecutive season the month of May is Youth Organization Month at Stafford Speedway. All children 14 and under are admitted FREE when wearing a youth organization team shirt or uniform and accompanied by a paying adult.
For more information, 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
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