Duane Provost Looking to Continue Great Start to 2016 Season in Xtra Mart Xtra D Feature This Friday at Stafford Speedway
Stafford Springs, CT — When Stafford Speedway’s Limited Late Model division takes to the track this Friday night, the field will be racing for an extra $500 that will be split among the top-5 finishers thanks to Xtra Mart Convenience Stores. After the first two races of the year, Duane Provost leads the Ltd. Late Model standings with two second place finishes and he’s hoping that the 25-lap race will bring him and the #88 Provost Motorsports team their first win of 2016.
“It’s great that we have that bonus money to race for and thanks to Xtra Mart for providing the bonus,” said Provost. “If we can just do a little bit better than the first two races, we should be pretty good. The car has been handling good, now we just need to get that one final adjustment before the race right and I think we can get a win.”
Entering his seventh season of Ltd. Late Model competition at Stafford, Provost has finished in the top-10 of the points standings in all but one of his previous 6 campaigns. With 8 career wins to his credit and a second place finish in the standings back in 2014, Provost knows how to run up front but he credits a changed attitude for his success in 2016.
“I think it’s just a different attitude we have this year,” said Provost. “A lot of times when you go into a season with expectations it throws you off because you get disappointed if you don’t run well. If you have the attitude of having some fun and see what you can get, it takes some pressure off and you don’t try to push the car harder than it wants to go. Of course you always want to win but I’m not overly disappointed if we finish second or third. It seems like every other year I have more fun at the track. A couple years ago when me and Andrew [Hayes] were going back and forth we had a lot of fun and then last year I don’t know if it was because I was trying harder after finishing second in the standings, but I beat myself up during a few races and made a few mistakes. I think the new approach along with my experience has definitely paid off so far this season.”
With 25-lap feature on tap this Friday rather than the usual 20-lap distance for the Ltd. Late Model feature, Provost isn’t so much concerned with the lap count but rather how the warmer temperatures will affect the car setup.
“We don’t’ really do too much different with the car,” said Provost. “It’s going to be warmer so there will be a difference between practice and the race, so you make a couple of minor changes, but nothing major.”
Provost also feels confident that he can keep his high level of performance up for the remainder of the 2016 season and be a championship contender once the season begins to wind down in September and October.
“I think we can keep it going,” said Provost. “As far as racing and keeping the car at the same level, you can’t predict if you’re going to have a flat tire or get in a wreck, but I feel confident we can have the same speed in the car each week and try to get at least a podium finish each week.”
Tickets for this Friday night’s Late Model & Ltd. Late Model Xtra Mart Xtra D event are priced at $20.00 for Adult General Admission, $5.00 for Children Ages 6-14 General Admission, and $23.00 for Reserved Seating. Tickets can be ordered by calling the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or by logging onto the Buy Tickets section of 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