(Press Release from Stafford Motor Speedway)
Jon McKennedy celebrates victory in the inaugural Exit Realty Modified Touring Series event at Stafford Speedway on June 2 (Photo: Jim DuPont)
When the Exit Realty Modified Touring Series comes to Stafford Speedway this Friday, July 21st for the Lincoln Tech 100, Jon McKennedy will be looking to make it back to back victories at the Connecticut half-mile. McKennedy won the first ever appearance for the new series at Stafford back in June with a drive that saw him have to come from the back to the front several different times. McKennedy only led 4 laps in the race, but they were the most important laps, the final 4 laps of the race. A victory for McKennedy would be two in a row in the MTS and it would be his third consecutive touring series victory at Stafford as he won the VMRS 80 at Stafford last September.
“I feel good,” said McKennedy. “Stafford has been a pretty good track for me the past couple of years and we’ve won the last 2 times we’ve been to Stafford with the MRS and the MTS against a strong group of competitors. I think we have a real good chance on Friday. It’s a long race at 100 laps so we just have to stay out of trouble and put ourselves into position for the end of the race and see how things play out. We were pretty strong the whole race. We had a lower control arm break in our qualifying heat race so we basically started last and we drove up to third before the competition caution. We made some adjustments under that caution to try to make the car better and we restarted in the back and came back to the front. Then we pitted later and changed a tire and came from the back again, so the car was really good and we’ll be bringing the same car back for this race. We’ll make some small changes to it for the weather and the track conditions and we’ll hope for the best.”
The Lincoln Tech 100 will serve as the opening round of the Modified Touring Series Sunoco Quest for the Cup in which 12 drivers will accumulate points over the next 4 races to set up a top-5 in the standings for the final race of the 2017 season at Monadnock in September. McKennedy, as well as the other 11 championship hopefuls, will be looking for a good finish to kick off their championship quest on a high note.
“There’s 12 guys locked into the championship deal and for us, we always try to go as hard as we can in the races and try to keep our nose clean and let the points fall where they fall,” said McKennedy. “It’s tough to say how that might impact things, I think most guys have the same kind of driving style where they try to win every race. It’s still a bit early to worry about points, I think if it was the end of the year it might be a little different. It’s important to get off to a good start, but if you have a bad race, there’s still 3 more races to get back into the championship quest.”
With the Lincoln Tech 100 being shortened from 125 laps down to 100 laps and no competition caution, McKennedy says that will open things up for the team to try different strategies and will result in a great race for fans.
“I’m glad they changed to 100 laps,” said McKennedy. “I think overall you’ll see a better race and guys will be up on the wheel much longer throughout the race rather than saving the car for later. As far as strategy goes, a lot of times you go into a race with a strategy in mind and it doesn’t work because of how the cautions fall. You put a few ideas together and depending on when the cautions fall and how your car is running, you make your strategy decisions from there. It should be an interesting race with a lot of good cars. As good as our car ran in June, I feel good, we’ll just have to dial the car in to the conditions. It seems like Stafford is pretty sensitive to weather so we’ll have to keep an eye on that and make adjustments accordingly. I think everyone is going to see a real good race and it should be interesting.”
Tickets for the Lincoln Tech 100 are available and on sale now at the Stafford Speedway box office. Tickets are priced at $30.00 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 seat tickets are $32.00 for all ages. All ticket prices include 10% CT Admission Tax. Stafford Motor Speedway offers plenty of free parking along with overnight parking available for self contained Recreational Vehicles. Stafford’s five NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions will join the Exit Realty Modified Touring Series in feature action.
For more information, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.
$30 is too much for this show, Stafford will not not draw many fans…. I don’t think anyone cares about the Chase except the teams
STEVE GO to a ball game and pay twice that to park
I probably would go if they didn’t have so many divisions. 3 modified divisions and $20 would be perfect for a family of 4 to enjoy. $120 plus is just too expensive.
Wish I could go to a MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL game again. I haven’t been in like 10 years. I have a house and family to support that are my priorities. I shouldn’t have to plan and bank so much for a MINOR LEAGUE SHOW. No offense to any of the competitors. It is what it is. JMO.
Steve’s back! We missed you buddy! FYI kids 6-14 are $5 and 5 and under are free so a “family of 4” would look more like $70. Its not 1970, get with the times
I look at it as the MTS race / heats, ALONE, costs $12.50. That is too much, no matter what minor league baseball, rugby, or East Australian kangaroo steeple jumping costs. And then, when you think into whose pocket that money is going…..
Affordability is in the interest and wallet of the beholder. I blew off Stafford’s 5K simply cause a 71% increase in price to see the same divisions was too much. Steve is surely right for Steve and I respect that. I will be attending Friday simply cause there is new blood and they go right to the features without having to watch anemic lesser divisions run heats. Literally every race on the track for the night is compelling. And lets face it, there have been so many rain outs any race becomes more affordable from a season standpoint.
Lebanon Valley has a touring series (DIRTcar Prostock Tour) in addition to its regular show on Saturday night. Do they raise the price of admission versus a regular show? NOPE! Still a whopping $11 bucks for adults, but you’ll have to drop $2 for each kid. It’s a great task to take the family too because the food is not only amongst the best race track food in the country, it like the tickets is very reasonably priced.
Tracks up north have 5 months to make it,, in Stafford s case they already lost a month to rain outs, they deserve to make a profit I don’t see a lot of new tracks opening up,I agree it would be nice to go for less but not going to happen
The 10% CT ticket tax is ridiculous. The tracks didn’t protest because their biggest revenue stream, pit admission, is exempt. That is going to change next year so get ready for even higher prices.
“The 10% CT ticket tax is ridiculous. The tracks didn’t protest because their biggest revenue stream, pit admission, is exempt. That is going to change next year so get ready for even higher prices.”
This is the most short sighted, mindless post I’ve ever seen. Of course the tracks protested the 10% tax. Imagine the state of CT coming in and saying we are taking 10% of your revenue b/c we’re broke. The fact that you think the tracks are ok with this removes all your credibility.
There is no doubt the 10% tax causes CT races to be higher than other area tracks but even backing out the state cut, CT tracks are on the high end for admission prices. I am more curious as to how many laps the MTS series is running tomorrow. The MTS website indicates 125 laps while Stafford has 100 lap distance. Stafford is charging the same $30 they charged for the MTS show earlier in the year which was 125 laps but this race is 100 laps. You would think a MTS championship round would be at an equal distance or more than one or their regular shows. I dont know, am I missing something? Either way with MRS running the same night, I am thinking about skipping this one. I may change my mind as I havent been to Stafford in over a month or so and cant make it the next 2 weeks. Is it official that TC is not running the MTS?
Thursday and believe it or not we have a sterling weather report for tomorrows racing. Hot, really hot to start out. And don’t we all love it as the burned racing fuel lays heavy over the stands and combines with the heat and setting sun for majestic start to a good night. No better time for a hot dog, a cold beer and some great racing. Can’t wait.
When and where did they ever encourage their patrons to call or write their representatives to protest the tax?
Instead they followed like sheep and just added the tax on top of the ticket price and the $17.50 regular show was born…
Don’t worry because the tax will be expanded to the pit area next year. I hope you enjoy paying it…
CG,
The race is 100 laps tomorrow. Teddy said Sunday morning he was withdrawing from the event.
If i was a betting man and I’m not I would say TC will be running the MTS race . I also bet he’s hacking up that cast as we speak .