NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Bringing Season of Parity to Stafford Speedway for Stafford 150 on June 17
Stafford Springs, CT — When the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East comes to Stafford Speedway on June 17 for the Stafford 150, parity will be the theme of the race. The series has seen 6 different winners in the first 6 races of the 2016 season and Stafford Speedway is a track where repeat winners have been hard to come by in the K&N Pro Series ranks. The series record for most winners in a season is 13, which was set back in 1987, the first year of existence for the Series when it was known as the Busch North Series.
In the 29 previous K&N Pro Series East races held at Stafford, there have been 21 different winners with only 6 of those drivers having won more than one race. Eddie MacDonald is the only former Stafford winner who has filed an entry for the Stafford 150 so the odds are high that there will be a 22nd different winner when the checkered flag falls.
The points standings for the K&N Pro East Series is also a tight race with the top-7 drivers separated by 41 points. Justin Hayley leads Kyle Benjamin by 19 points with the most recent K&N East winner Spencer Davis only 4 points behind Benjamin in third. Davis has made 2 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour starts at Stafford so his track knowledge may give him a leg up as he will be racing for his second consecutive K&N victory. Davis and Hayley battled to the line in the most recent K&N race at Dominion Raceway with Davis beating Hayley by a nose in a photo finish that was reminiscent of the most recent SK Light feature finish at Stafford between Daniel Wesson, Joey Ferrigno, and Jay Goff going 3-wide at the checkered flag for a photo finish. With a track that many of the K&N drivers will be seeing for the first time and so many different cars capable of winning, the Stafford 150 is sure to be an exciting and thrilling event.
The Stafford 150 will also present a unique opportunity for fans and media alike to view the cars and haulers as well as meet the drivers during the WEEI 105.5FM K&N Fan Experience on Thursday, June 16. The event will be FREE of charge. There will be a practice session from 3pm-6:30pm on Thursday, June 16, the day before the Stafford 150 and at the conclusion of the practice session, Stafford Speedway will open its paddock area to allow race fans and media to meet and greet the drivers as well as getting a preview of the cars and team haulers from 6:45pm-8:30pm, much like the atmosphere at the track’s season beginning and season-ending NAPA Pit Parties. WEEI 105.5FM will be on hand with a live broadcast during the event, and there will be display trucks on hand from the Connecticut Chapter of Make-A-Wish and CT Truck Wars along with other displays and giveaways. It’s sure to be a festival atmosphere that race fans won’t want to miss out on.
Stafford’s weekly divisions have also provided plenty of excitement during the first three races of the 2016 season. Rowan Pennink has gotten the defense of his SK Modified® track championship off to a great start with 2 wins and he currently leads the points standings with Ted Christopher and Keith Rocco hot on his tail. Tom Fearn currently leads the Late Model standings with 2nd-year driver Michael Wray right behind him in second and veteran Jim Mavlouganes is currently third. The SK Light Modifieds are currently led by Tony Membrino, Jr., who like Pennink won the first two races of the season. Stafford’s Limited Late Models are currently led by Duane Provost with defending champion Al Saunders right behind him in second. But the hot hand in the Limited division belongs to Paul Arute, who has won the last 2 races to climb up to third in the standings. Stafford’s DARE Stocks are tight with Trace Beyer holding a scant 2 point lead over Johnny Walker and Tyler Trott is only 2 points behind Walker in third place.
Tickets for the June 17 Stafford 150 are on sale now at the Speedway Box Office. Tickets 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. Reserved seating is priced at $30.00 for all ages and all ticket prices include 10% CT Admission Tax. As always, Stafford Motor Speedway offers free parking with overnight parking available.
For more information on the June 16 WEEI 105.5FM Fan Experience or the June 17 NASCAR 150, 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