LaPlante Racing Products Raises the Bar on Safety at Stafford Speedway
(Stafford Springs, CT)—LaPlante Racing Products has joined the Stafford Speedway contingency program. For the 2024 season, LaPlante Racing Products will reward each SK Light 3rd-place finisher with a $75 bonus.
“Stafford is a track where you’re made to feel welcome as a competitor and they have the best competition and marketing, so I figured why not start at the top?,” said Paul LaPlante, owner of LaPlante Racing Products.
LaPlante is promoting his Steering Coupling Device (SCD), which he designed and manufactured to lessen the severity of wrist injuries to drivers resulting from violent frontal impacts.
“This goes back to 2016 when I was going out for a practice session,” said LaPlante. “I remember Teddy [Christopher] had broken his wrist and Keith [Rocco] had broken his wrist. I thought it makes no sense that drivers were breaking their wrists and there were constantly a lot of wrist injuries, so that’s how I came up with the idea. I remember watching Danica Patrick when she would crash, she would take her hands off the wheel and hold them to her chest. I was always taught, and I think it’s an instinctive thing with most drivers, that you don’t take your hands off the wheel until the car comes to a stop. I was talking with Keith [Rocco] about this and he told me that there’s no way he was taking his hands off the wheel. I designed and fabricated the parts and I ran it for a couple of years to properly test it out and when Matt Hirschman broke his wrist in August, I talked with him about the product and I sent him two devices. Ryan Stone and Phil Moran have also both asked for one, so guys are starting to take notice.”
LaPlante’s Steering Coupling Device affixes to the steering column with no additional modifications or tooling required. The SCD has shown in tests to greatly improve the driver’s ability to grip the steering wheel and walk away from hard frontal impacts with little to no injuries. The SCD comes in two models, the SCD-1, which weighs 2.4 lbs. and retails for $525 and the SCD-2 model weighs .74 pounds and retails for $725.
“The SCD welds onto the steering shaft,” said LaPlante. “When I had it in my TA4 car, I put it down towards the rack and that was the bigger of the two models that I have. I was talking with Hirschman about a design that I had for a lighter one because the Tour guys all want a lighter model so I designed a new model that dropped the weight from 2.4 pounds down to .72 pounds. I can also change the settings on the device for adult drivers versus youth drivers. The SCD can continually be used and it works in perpetuity. It’s not like it’s only good for one use. I just ask drivers to send them back to me every 5 years so I can service the spring pack and make sure that it still meets standards. Both models work the same, just one is a smaller package and there is a cost difference.”
For more information about the SCD, please visit laplanteracingproducts.com or call Scott or Shane at North East Race Cars at 401-710-9992. Drivers can test out the feel of the SCD in a simulator at North East Race Cars shop in Harrisville, RI or they can try the simulator at the upcoming Auto Parts Swap N Sell Swap Meet at the Big E on January 20-21.
LaPlante boasts a background in Mechanical Engineering designing Electromechanical and Mechatronic Assemblies through AIAG (Automotive Industry Action Group) Standards, and he has been a NASCAR Head Tech Official for over 22 years. As a father, husband, and driver himself, everyone’s safety is LaPlante’s top priority.
The first LaPlante Racing Products contingency bonus will be paid during the 52nd Annual NAPA Spring Sizzler® Weekend set for April 27-28. The NAPA Spring Sizzler® kicks off on Saturday, April 27, and will consist of two 40-lap NAPA Duel qualifying races for the Open Modified division as well as qualifying and feature events for the Late Model, Limited Late Model, and Street Stock divisions.
Sunday, April 28th will play host to the 52nd NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler®. Filling out Sunday’s racing card will be qualifying and feature racing for the SK Modified® and SK Light Modified divisions along with last-chance qualifiers for the Spring Sizzler®.
For more information, visit staffordspeedway.com, follow Stafford Speedway on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or contact the track office at 860-684-2783.