Stafford Speedway Hosting 2016 Legend Cars Asphalt Nationals Qualifier As Part of NAPA Auto Parts Fall Final Weekend
Stafford Springs, CT — When the checkered flag is displayed to the Legend Cars field at Stafford Speedway’s season-ending NAPA Fall Final Weekend on Sat., Oct. 1st, it will not only bring to an end the third full season of Legend Cars competition, but it will punch a direct ticket to the 2016 Legend Cars Nationals for the lucky feature winner.
The 2016 Legend Cars Asphalt Nationals will be held at Waterford Speedbowl on October 6-8. The 3-day Legend Cars extravaganza will give competitors a final chance to accumulate points for the 2016 season to determine their final position in the INEX National Point Standings. Stafford Speedway is represented in the national standings by Dana DiMatteo in 3rd place and Joe Graf, Jr. in 17th place in the Pro division with Noah Korner leading the Semi-Pro division and Teddy Hodgdon is 12th in the Semi-Pro standings. Korner also is the national point leader in the Road Course standings with his brother Glenn in second and Hodgdon in 7th place.
The 2016 season has been a tug of war between Noah Korner and Teddy Hodgdon. The two drivers have traded places in NAPA Victory Lane this season with Korner taking down 5 wins to Hodgdon’s 3 wins. Dana DiMatteo has a single feature victory at Stafford this season but the race for the championship has been a neck and neck duel between Korner and Hodgdon with Hodgdon trailing Korner by only 8 points. Korner has already punched his ticket for the Legend Cars nationals but he will be trying to win the NAPA Fall Final feature in order to wrap up what would be his third Connecticut track championship of the 2017 season in the Legend Cars ranks.
“If we can win the championship at Stafford, that would be 3 championships for the season and I don’t know if anyone has ever swept the championships at all three state tracks,” said Korner. “That would be insane if we could do that but it’s going to be tough because it’s a real close race with Teddy. It’s been an unreal season. We’ve put so much time and effort into this season and it’s really rewarding to see it paying off. I’m hoping that we’ll have 10 or 15 extra cars for that National Qualifier for the Fall Final and we might see a couple of new drivers this Friday night to try out Stafford because there’s not any track that is like it. Stafford is a track that takes time and experience to figure the track out to run at the top level and turn the fastest laps.”
The Legend Cars will partake in all of their racing action on Saturday, October 1st during the NAPA Fall Final Weekend. The Legend Cars will practice, qualify, and race on Saturday along with heat and consolation races for Stafford’s weekly divisions and feature events for the SK Light, Ltd. Late Model, DARE Stock, TQ Midget and Mr. Rooter Truck Series divisions as well as Coors Light Pole Qualifying for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. The NAPA Fall Final will continue on Sunday, Oct. 2ndwith the NAPA Pit Party from 11am-12noon with the SK Modifieds® taking the green flag at 1pm followed by the Late Model and Whelen Modified Tour feature events.
Tickets for the 44th Annual NAPA Auto Parts Fall Final Weekend 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. All NAPA Fall Final tickets are good for admission on both Saturday and Sunday and ticket prices include 10% CT Admission Tax. Visit your local participating NAPA Auto Parts Store for discount ticket offers.
For more information on the 44th Annual NAPA Auto Parts Fall Final Weekend, 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