Tight Championship Races Abound at Stafford This Friday, Aug. 7 for the 19th Annual Town Fair Tire 150
Stafford Springs, CT —As the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour comes to Stafford Motor Speedway for its third of four visits during the 2009 season, there is a tight championship fight. Following the Tour’s stop in Riverhead last week, Todd Szegedy took over the points lead from Ted Christopher, marking the first time all year long that Christopher has not occupied the top spot in the championship standings. Ryan Preece’s victory at Riverhead last week moved him into third place in the standings, only 59 points behind Szegedy, while Christopher is a mere 22 points behind Szegedy. All three drivers have enjoyed success at Stafford in previous events and have to be considered among the favorites to drive to CARQUEST Victory Lane this Friday night in the 19th Annual Town Fair Tire 150.
Christopher has had the most success of the three at Stafford with 9 career wins and 4 career pole positions. Christopher won the Tech-Net Spring Sizzler this year in April, and he finished second behind Jimmy Blewett in the TSI Harley-Davidson 100 in May to give him an average finish of 1.5 at Stafford thusfar during the 2009 season.
Todd Szegedy has three career victories and two career pole positions at Stafford Motor Speedway and he once held the Stafford Motor Speedway track record. Szegedy finished second behind Christopher in this year’s Sizzler and he finished third in the TSI Harley-Davidson 100 for an average finish of 2.5 at Stafford thusfar during the 2009 season.
Ryan Preece certainly knows the fast line around Stafford Motor Speedway, but he has not enjoyed the best racing luck when it comes to finishes. Several times Preece appeared to have victory within his grasp, only to have it snatched out of his hands. At the 2008 Spring Sizzler, Preece set fast time and appeared to have the best car, but he blew an engine while leading just before the half-way point of the race. Then in last year’s Town Fair Tire 150, Preece again appeared to be on his way to victory, but a penalty for contact with Szegedy on the last lap of the race sent him to the end of the lead lap cars and made Jimmy Blewett the winner. Coming off his win at Riverhead last week, Preece is primed to put his car into victory lane at Stafford for the first time. Preece has finished third in this year’s Sizzler and 10th in the TSI Harley-Davidson 100 for an average finish of 6.5 at Stafford thusfar during the 2009 season.
The Whelen Modified Tour championship chase is not the only tight points battle that will be at Stafford this Friday night. All five of Stafford’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions have tight point battles as drivers look to put themselves in championship contention over the final month and a half of the 2009 season leading up to the season ending CARQUEST Fall Final Weekend, where the 2009 track champions will be crowned.
In addition to chasing the Whelen Modified Tour crown, Ted Christopher is also the Stafford SK Modified® points leader by 34 points over Jeff Malave. Keith Rocco has the most wins in the division with 4, but he sits third in the standings, 86 points behind Christopher. Ryan Posocco currently holds the Late Model championship lead by 22 points over Jim Peterson, with Dillon Moltz sitting in third, 44 points behind. Two rookies occupy the top spots in Stafford’s SK Light Modified division. Michael Gervais, Jr. leads Erica Santos by 46 points, with Ted Cain in third, 50 points behind. Andrew Durand holds the Limited Late Model points lead by 30 points over Carla Botticello with Dan Flannery in third, 48 points behind. Stafford’s DARE Stock division has the tightest points race, with Cliff Saunders and Kyle Casagrande tied for the championship lead. Don Wood is third, only 6 points behind, while Jeff Jolly and Bill Dunn are tied for fourth, 10 points behind Saunders and Casagrande.
Tickets for the 19th Annual Town Fair Tire 150 are now on sale at the Stafford Motor Speedway Box Office. Tickets are priced at $30.00 for adult general admission tickets, $5.00 for children ages 6-14, free for children ages 5 & under, and $32.00 for reserved seats. As always, Stafford Motor Speedway offers free parking with overnight parking available.
For more information on the 19th Annual Town Fair Tire 150, 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.
Sources: Scott Running/Stafford Motor Speedway PR