Stafford Speedway Set to Host the K&N Pro East Series On June 17, 2016
Stafford Springs, CT — After a 7-year hiatus, the NASCAR K&N Pro East Series will return to Stafford Motor Speedway for the running of the NASCAR 150. The Connecticut famed half-mile will be the only short track New England appearance for the series in 2016.
“We’re looking forward to hosting the NASCAR K&N Pro East Series,” said Stafford COO/GM Mark Arute. “The K&N Pro East Series has always provided a nice mix of up and coming drivers with local drivers and there have been a great deal of K&N drivers that have succeeded at the highest levels of NASCAR. Trevor Bayne and Joey Logano have both won the Daytona 500 and we’ve also had drivers like Martin Truex, Jr. and Austin Dillon, who have won championships in the premier divisions of NASCAR. This season’s K&N Pro Series East drivers could very well be future Daytona 500 or premier series champions.”
“NASCAR and Stafford Motor Speedway have enjoyed a long partnership and we’re excited to bring the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East back to such an historic venue,” said George Silbermann, NASCAR vice president, regional and touring series. “Many names have been made over the years because of their success at Stafford. The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East represents a tremendous opportunity for the best and brightest young stars in the sport to compete, and I know many of them are already looking forward to testing their skills at Stafford.”
Stafford Speedway hosted its first K&N Pro East Series back in 1987 when the series was known as the Busch North Series with Tommy Houston taking the checkered flag. Stafford hosted 28 more K&N Pro East Series races from 1991-2008 with the track proving a tough nut to crack as there were 21 different winners in the 29 K&N Pro East races held at Stafford. Mike Johnson and Kelly Moore lead all drivers with three career wins each at Stafford, Andy Santerre, Mike Stefanik, Brad Leighton, and Martin Truex, Jr. each have 2 wins, and there are 15 drivers who each have 1 career win at Stafford. Each of Stafford’s 21 K&N Pro East Series feature winners have made starts in one of NASCAR’s three premier divisions and well over 50 drivers who have raced at Stafford in the K&N ranks have made starts in a premier series event.
Stafford Speedway’s history with the K&N Pro East Series dates back to 1979 when it hosted the NASCAR North Tour. Hector LeClair, Mike Barry, Jean-Paul Cabana, and Robbie Crouch all won races at Stafford between 1979-1985 before the NASCAR North Series evolved into the K&N Pro East Series in 1987.
The last K&N Pro East Series race at Stafford came down to a memorable finish. After Brian Ickler and Ted Christopher spent much of the 150-lap race swapping the race lead between themselves, the two cars came together with 2 laps to go which handed the race lead and the win to Peyton Sellers. Stafford has also proven to be a tough track to get a handle on. In his only career appearance at Stafford, Logano, who has gone on to become a Daytona 500 champion and he finished second in the 2014 Sprint Cup standings, spun midway through the race and finished outside the top-10 in 11th place.
Stay tuned to Stafford Motor Speedway online at www.staffordspeedway.com for details on the NASCAR 150.
For more information, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.
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