Keith Caruso Ready to Tackle New Challenge in SK Light Division at Stafford Motor Speedway
Stafford Springs, CT — When Stafford Speedway’s SK Lights take the green flag for the 2016 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series season, Millbury, MA native Keith Caruso will begin a quest to add his name to the record books as a Rookie of the Year.
Caruso comes to the SK Light division with an impressive background, having won 5 New England V6 Modified championships and 4 track championships at Hudson Speedway in a 6-year period. Caruso also has experience racing in the Granite State ProStock ranks and he is a third generation racer competing at Stafford. Caruso’s grandfather, Mario “Fats” Caruso, drove modifieds for many years and his Uncle David was the 1990 ProStock champion at Stafford. Caruso will take to the track behind the wheel of the #06 Dur-A-Flex machine.
“I’ve raced at tracks like Monadnock, Seekonk, Thompson, Twin State, Star, Canaan, Lee, a lot of tracks on the Granite State Tour,” said Caruso. “I love Stafford and I’ve always wanted to race there. It’s a great facility and they have everything going for them so I’m really looking forward to getting started. Stafford is a flatter track so that’s going to be a challenge, but I love speed so I think we should be able to do well. We have Dur-A-Flex as a sponsor for now and we’re in the works with someone else right now on some further sponsorship.”
In addition to his experience driving V6 modifieds, Caruso bought the car that Cam McDermott used to win several championships and a ton of feature events at Thompson in the SK Light ranks.
“The V6 modifieds are just like the Pro-4 Modifieds, only with a V6 engine,” said Caruso. “I’m looking forward to getting behind the wheel of a full-sized modified. We want to be able to get off on the right foot and that’s why we shopped around for a car like Cam had. With all the success he had in that car, I think we’ll have a good baseline to get started with this year.”
With a race winning and championship car underneath him and his previous modified experience, Caruso has a modest goal for his rookie foray into the SK Lights.
“We just want to be consistent and be up front,” said Caruso. “Being up front is the biggest thing for us. I feel like if we can run up front then wins will eventually come to us. The drivers at Stafford will be a whole new ball game for me. I came to a couple of races this year to watch the races so I have an idea of what to expect when we get out on the track. Our goal is to get a top-10 finish in the points and we’d like to get a win, but that will come with time. The team I’m with is new to the modifieds, so we’re all going to be learning together.”
Caruso will get his first taste of Stafford Speedway as part of the 45th Annual NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler on April 22-24. 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 45th 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