Woody Pitkat Looks for One Spot Better in Final Open Modified 80 at Stafford Motor Speedway
WHITINSVILLE, Mass. — Stan Mertz Racing is heading back to the track this Friday, August 20, when driver Woody Pitkat and the team visit Stafford Motor Speedway for the final Open Modified 80 race of the season. The Lincoln Tech Modified 80 will take place with some of the top Modified talent from across New England heading to the half-mile to chase the big prize, with qualifying set to begin at 6 p.m.
Last time at Stafford, Pitkat wheeled the No. 6 Twisted Tea/Truly Hard Seltzer machine to a solid second-place finish, running inside the top-10 for the duration of the race and contending for the win. The strong run was a boost of energy for the entire team after a tough start to the year. After Stafford, Pitkat finished 19th during a tough day with the Tri Track Open Modified Series at Monadnock Speedway last weekend.
A return trip to Pitkat’s home track, where he is second on the all-time wins list with 78, could spell the first win of the year for Stan Mertz Racing. Pitkat will also compete in the No. 22 SK Modified on Friday for car owner Dan Avery, as the former champion is set for double-duty.
“It’s a short week and the car has been prepared well,” Pitkat said. “We were good there the last time we ran. We will have to go out there and see what happens. Thank you to all of our sponsors and our team for their hard work to make this happen.”
Stafford’s race day schedule includes practice beginning at 3:45 p.m., with the first qualifying heat beginning at 6 p.m. The drop of the green flag in the Lincoln Tech Open Modified 80 is set for 9:15 p.m., and the race will air live on FloSports.TV.
Sponsors of the team include Twisted Tea, Truly Hard Seltzer, Axis Engineering Group, Black and White Grille (Spencer, MA), TowBoatUS, Cape Towing & Salvage, J&S Motors, Pomfret Wine & Spirits, Mike Holmes & Son Excavating, Earnest Performance Shocks & Kenneth Blackmer Transport.
For more information on Stafford Motor Speedway, visit StaffordMotorSpeedway.com. For more information on Stan Mertz Racing, visit StanMertzRacing.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Sources: Souza Media/Kyle Souza
Image by Tom Morris Racing Photography