Distance Still to be Determined for Stafford Speedway’s NAPA Auto Parts SK 5k

By admin July 18, 2014 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series, Stafford

Stafford Springs, CT — With the rescheduled NAPA Auto Parts SK 5k just around the corner on Friday, July 25th,, at Stafford Motor Speedway, the drama continues to build for a race unlike any race ever run at the Connecticut half-mile track.

An additional unique twist for the NAPA Auto Parts SK 5k is how the racing distance will be set.  Fans have been voting on the race distance since early March and currently the 3 front-runners are; 100, 80, and 76 laps.  The distance will be determined by a weighted average draw of the 3 highest votes. To make the distance draw the fans choice, the distance amounts in the hat will be a multiple of the votes received at www.staffordspeedway.com.  For example if there have been 1,000 votes cast for 100 laps and 600 votes cast for 76 laps there will be 10 chips with 100 laps and 6 chips with 76 laps in the hat.  On July 25th the chips will be placed in a hat and the race distance will be chosen while the drivers are on the grid to start the event.  Adding a level of uncertainty to the race distance is just another twist in a race that promises to be a classic.

The race will feature an SK Modified® record purse of over $27,000 with the winner guaranteed to take home at least $5,000.  Adding to the purse will be a payout for each of the qualifying heat races; SK Modified® drivers will race for a bonus of $250 per heat winner, $150 for each heat race 2nd place finisher, and $100 to each heat race 3rd place finisher.  With over 30 cars expected to be in the Stafford paddock area for only 26 starting spots, the race to qualify could be just as exciting as the main feature.

“I think the heats are going to be pretty interesting,” said 8-time Stafford SK Modified® champion Ted Christopher.  “We’ve never done that before so it should be fun.  Of course people are going to try stuff in the heats. There’s money on the line and we’re all racers, why wouldn’t we try something?”

The NAPA Auto Parts SK 5k race will pay $5,000 to the winner, with 10th place guaranteed to take home $1,000.  Last place will pay a minimum of $450, so there will be a hefty check for each of the race’s 26 starters to take home.

In addition to the record SK Modified® purse that will be up for grabs, for the first time ever, Stafford Motor Speedway has asked the fans to speak up and make their voices heard to determine the race format via voting on the Stafford website at www.staffordspeedway.com.  Fans can vote on the race distance, the qualifying procedure that will be used, a tire rule for the race, and how the starting field will be lined up.  The race fans have spoken and with over 4,500 votes cast thus far for the race, there are still several voting segments that will be decided in the final week of voting.

As well as being the richest SK Modified® race in history, it should also be one of the most competitive.  4 of Stafford’s SK Modified® regulars currently occupy top-7 spots in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour points standings with Doug Coby leading, Ted Christopher third, defending NWMT champion Ryan Preece sixth, and Woody Pitkat seventh.  Add to that group drivers like Eric Berndt, Keith Rocco, Todd Owen, and Frank Ruocco, who have all won extra distance SK Modified® races at Stafford, plus a group of hungry rookies and veterans all wanting to take home the $5,000 winner’s check, and the on-track action is guaranteed to deliver an exciting and thrilling night of open wheel competition.

The $5,000 to win SK 5K won’t be the only entertainment at Stafford during the night of July 25th.  Stafford Speedway will host Mean Gene and the Flamethrowers, a concert style party rock band that is based out of Long Island, NY.  Mean Gene and the Flamethrowers will play both prior to and after the conclusion of the NAPA SK 5K racing program.  Along with the band, Stafford Speedway will have a barbeque taking place on the midway with some great food available to race fans.

Get your tickets today for the July 25th NAPA Auto Parts SK 5k.  Tickets are available online at www.staffordpseedway.com, by calling the speedway office at (860)-684-2783, or by stopping by one of the participating NAPA stores.  A listing of participating stores can be seen at www.staffordspeedway.com. Stafford Speedway offers free parking with free overnight parking for self-contained RV’s available.

For more information on the Inaugural NAPA SK 5K, or to order tickets, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.