2010 Senior Outlaw Champion Dylan Kopec Moving to SK Lights at Stafford for 2011
Stafford Springs, CT — Reigning Wild Thing Kart Senior Outlaw champion Dylan Kopec will be making a step up in competition for the 2011 season, moving from the Wild Thing Kart ranks into Stafford Speedway’s SK Light Modified division.
Kopec scored 6 wins this year in the Wild Thing Kart Series, run on Monday nights at Stafford on the track’s mini mile. Kopec was in a see-saw duel with David Arute for much of the 2010 season and the two drivers headed into the final race of the season tied in points. Kopec won the race to give him the championship and now has his sights set on Stafford’s SK Light Modified division.
“I’m real excited about moving up to the SK Lights,” said Kopec. “The only goal I have for myself is to keep the car in one piece and finish the season. It doesn’t really matter where I end up, I just want to be able to finish the year and not wreck the car. I’m just going to try to get as much seat time as I can and learn about the car.”
Kopec is the son of former Whelen Modified Tour driver Chris Kopec, who has 2 career Whelen Modified Tour victories. While Kopec has many laps around the mini-mile at Stafford, he has no experience on the half-mile; Kopec says having his father as a source of information will be a key factor in his rookie season.
“My dad knows how to set the car up, so I know it’s going to run good,” said Kopec. “The only time I’ve been out on the big track was when I took my dad’s truck around a couple of times, so it’s going to be a learning process and it will be pretty important for me to have my dad around.”
Kopec won’t be the only graduate of the Wild Thing Karts seated in an SK Light Modified during the 2011 season at Stafford. Kopec will be joined in the 2011 rookie class by Jesse Ruocco, who he competed against in the Senior Outlaw division. SK Light Modified driver Kyle Spencer is also a former Wild Thing Kart competitor.
“The only person that I’ve raced against before is Jesse Ruocco, so I’ll have to learn the track and the other drivers,” said Kopec.
Kopec also has his sights set on moving up the ladder at Stafford as well.
“Depending on how well we do, we might eventually make the move up to the SK Modified® division, that’s where I’d like to be racing someday,” said Kopec.
Kopec will look to make his SK Light Modified debut at the season opening CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler, scheduled for April 29-May 1. The SK Lights will be joined by the Whelen Modified Tour as well as Stafford’s other four NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions. Tickets for the “Greatest Race in the History of Spring” are on sale now at the Speedway Box Office. Tickets are priced at $35.00 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 $38.00 for all ages. As always, Stafford Motor Speedway offers free parking with overnight parking available.
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