Over $68,000 in Contingency Awarded to Stafford Competitors in 2018
Stafford Springs, CT — The 2018 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series season at Stafford Motor Speedway awarded competitors an impressive $68,000 in bonus money through the track’s Contingency Program partners. The contingency bonuses were in addition to the weekly purse winnings which increased an average of 10% across the five divisions.
Stafford’s premier SK Modified® division led the way with over $36,000 in weekly contingency, Gamblers Challenge, and TC 13 Shootout payouts. Providing weekly contingency bonuses throughout the season were Dunleavy’s Truck and Trailer Repair, Maybury Material Handling, Starrett Tools, Casagrande Builders, New England Racing Fuel, Sunoco Brand, and Kevin Harvick Inc. Management. Through his company, KHI Management, Harvick presented two weekly $125 bonuses to the leader on lap-13 and the 13th place finisher in remembrance of Christopher’s number 13. 19 different SK Modified® drivers were awarded KHI bonuses and overall 20 different drivers won SK Modified® bonuses.
The June 29 NAPA SK 5K, the biggest payday for the SK Modified® division, distributed over $7,300 in contingency. Dunleavy’s Truck & Trailer Repair Gambler’s Challenge and Wheelers Auto Service heat race bonuses along with the weekly SK Modified® contingency sponsors contributed to the bonuses. Ronnie Williams claimed the lion’s share of the $7,300 in contingency awards with his NAPA SK 5k win worth $5,625 in bonus money after pulling the Gambler’s Challenge winner takes all chip in NAPA Victory Lane.
The purse for the Inaugural TC 13 Shoot-Out on July 13 totaled $7,319 with contributions from the following purse partners, John and Margaret Rosati, John Rayner Real Estate, Justin and Tabitha Manafort, Jeff Ramsey Carpentry, New England Race Fuel, Major Motion Transport, LifeCare Family Chiropractic, NAPA of Tolland, Gaston Racing Enterprises, Wheelers Auto Service, Sign Pro, Whelen Engineering, S.P. Johnson Inc., Julie Winsor, Rick Raducha, Jim Van Sicklin, and NASCAR Whelen All American Series. Glen Reen came home the big winner, pocketing a check for $1,313.
On Friday, May 25, Dunleavy’s Modifiedz Night, the winners of the SK Modified® Late Model, Limited Late Model, and Street Stock feature events all had their winner’s purse doubled. Rowan Pennink scored the win and doubled his purse winnings to $3,000 thanks to Doug Dunleavy. Also providing bonus money for Modifiedz Night was John and Maina Rufrano from Wheelers Auto Service with the second and third place finishers in the SK Modified® and Late Model feature events taking home an extra $200 while the second, third, fourth, and fifth place finishers in the SK Light, Limited Late Model, and Street Stock features each received a $100 bonus.
Stafford’s Late Model drivers took home over $7,300 from contingency payouts. iRacing.com and New England Racing Fuel, Sunoco Brand were the weekly contingency sponsors of Stafford’s top full fendered division. Stafford Speedway posted a Tom Fearn bounty of $500 that was claimed by Al Saunders on June 29, as he broke a Late Model record setting 6-race Fearn winning streak. 11 different Late Model drivers were awarded contingency bonuses during the 2018 season. Tom Fearn claimed the biggest bonus of the season, an $800 bonus from Dunleavy’s Truck and Trailer Repair on May 25 that brought his winnings for that night to $1,750, second to only Paul Arute’s take of $1,961 for winning the August 24 CBYD Late Model 50.
The SK Light division took home over $9,200 in contingency awards during the 2018 season. Weekly contingency was provided by Dunleavy’s Truck and Trailer Repair, Maybury Material Handling, Olson Apartments, and New England Racing Fuel, Sunoco Brand. Overall, 15 different SK Light drivers received a contingency bonus this season. Special contingencies for the season included Wheelers Auto Service and Robert Yates Racing on Dunleavy’s Modifiedz Night. Wheelers Auto paid out $400 split among Mikey Flynn, Geoff Nooney, Teddy Hodgdon, and Brett Gonyaw with Robert Yates Racing’s $250 going to Geoff Nooney.
Stafford’s Limited Late Model division took home over $5,900 in contingency bonuses from R.A.D. Auto Machine and New England Racing Fuel, Sunoco Brand. For the season, 11 different drivers took home a contingency bonus. Special contingencies for the season included contributions from Dunleavy’s Truck and Trailer Repair and Wheelers Auto Service Dunleavy’s Modifiedz Night. Jeremy Lavoie was the lucky driver who had his winner’s purse doubled to $700 by Dunleavy’s with Justin Bren, Gary Patnode, Ryan Fearn, and R.J. Surdell each taking home $100 from Wheelers Auto.
The Street Stock division scored over $6,000 in contingency payouts. Driscoll Motorsports Photography and New England Racing Fuel, Sunoco Brand provided weekly bonuses. For the season, 13 different Street Stock drivers won contingency bonuses. Special contingencies were provided by Casagrande Builders, Del’s Vinyl Siding, Dunleavy’s Truck and Trailer Repair, Gaston Racing Enterprises, and Wheelers Auto Service. The Casagrande Builders Street Stock 25 on May 11 posted an increased purse along with additional bonuses to the top-3 finishers of Mike Hopkins, Brandon Michael and Greg DeMone. Del’s Vinyl Siding contributed an extra $100 to Hopkins as the race winner. Dunleavy’s doubled Johnny Walker’s winner’s purse to $300 on May 25 and Wheeler’s Auto Service paid out bonuses to Travis Hydar, Nicole Chambrello, Brandon Michael, and Trace Beyer for finishing top 5. Gaston Racing Enterprises contributed $1,000 to the June 27 feature event that was distributed throughout the field.
The 2018 Rookie of the Year program totaled $3,500 with NAPA Auto Parts posting $1,000 each to the SK Modified®, rookie David Arute and Late Model rookie Al Saunders. R.A.D. Automachine provided $500 each to the SK Light rookie Bryan Narducci, Limited Late Model rookie Steven Midford and Street Stock rookie Meghan Fuller.
Call Before You Dig provided a total bonus of $4,055 paid out through the CBYD 811 Challenge that rewarded 5 drivers with an $811 bonus through a unique points system based on drivers finishes in feature events. Wesley Prucker, Joey Cipriano, Joey Ferrigno, Tom Bolles, and Tyler Hines were the five drivers who came the closest to scoring 811 points without going over through the August 4th feature event and they each won $811. The 2018 season marked the sixth consecutive season that CBYD and Stafford Speedway have teamed up to present the CBYD 811 Challenge and the program has rewarded competitors with nearly $25,000 in bonus money in that time.
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