R.A.D. Auto Machine Rookie of the Year Bonus Returns in 2019
Stafford Springs, CT — For the 7th consecutive year, Ludlow, MA-based R.A.D. Auto Machine will present a Rookie of the Year Bonus for Stafford’s Street Stock, Limited Late Model, and SK Light divisions. The highest finishing rookie drivers in each division will receive a $500 bonus courtesy of R.A.D. Auto Machine. All drivers who have made less than 5 division starts in previous seasons are eligible to compete in the R.A.D. Rookie of the Year program.
“All of Stafford’s entry-level divisions are great classes with some very talented drivers,” explained Don Wood of R.A.D. Auto Machine. “We enjoy helping out drivers who maybe might not get as much publicity as the drivers in the premier divisions. Over the years we’ve seen a lot of very talented drivers win the Rookie of the Year and have gone on to win races and championships at Stafford. We look forward to keeping track of the rookie battles this year and we wish the best of luck to all the rookie drivers this season.”
The 2018 season saw 44 rookies earn championship points in the Street Stock, Limited Late Model, and SK Light divisions. In the Street Stock division, 2nd generation driver Meghan Fuller won a race and finished second in the championship behind George Bessette, Jr. Tess Beyer joined Fuller as a rookie winner in the Street Stock ranks. The Limited Late Model division saw a tight battle all season long between Steve Midford and Steve Martel with Midford taking the title. In the SK Light division, Bryan Narducci won 5 races and nearly won the championship, coming up just 2 points short of Marcello Rufrano. Narducci wasn’t the only SK Light rookie winner last season as Teddy Hodgdon and Alexander Pearl both found their way to NAPA Victory Lane.
The 2019 SK Light rookie class will see 11 drivers dueling for the $500 R.A.D. Auto Machine bonus. Jonathan Puleo won the SK Light championship at Waterford last season and he will be joined by Wild Thing Kart graduates Steven Chapman and Alina Bryden, Street Stock graduates Sami Anderson and Chris Bagnall, Anthony Forino, Legend Cars graduate Noah Korner, N.E. Truck Series graduate Bert Ouellette, Brian Crunden, Eric Bourgeois, and Joe McCarthy. The Limited Late Model division has Kevin Crosby as the lone rookie driver while the Street Stock division will see Isabella Minchella, Donald Soucie, Dan Butler, Adrien Paradis, III, Steve Kenneway, John Orsini, Marvin Minkler, Ryan Waterman, and Riley Derwin dueling for R.A.D. Auto Machine Rookie honors.
R.A.D. Auto Machine, owned and operated by Don Wood, is the exclusive engine supplier of the Limited Late Model and SK Light Modified divisions. With over 30 years of experience, R.A.D. is an engine rebuilding facility with full-service machine shop capabilities. For more information on R.A.D. Automachine visit their website www.radautomachine.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