Confident Bobby Santos III Prepared For Whelen Mod Tour NAPA Spring Sizzler 200 At Stafford

(Press Release from Stafford Motor Speedway)

Bobby Santos III

When it comes to Bobby Santos, III and the NAPA Spring Sizzler® at Stafford Motor Speedway, not many drivers can claim a better record.

In only 8 career starts in “The Greatest Race in the History of Spring,” Santos has recorded 3 wins, 4 top-5, and 5 top-10 finishes for an average finish of 10.9. Santos has also led in four of his eight career Sizzler starts with a total of 488 laps led in those 4 races.

With the NAPA Spring Sizzler® taking the green flag this weekend, Santos is ready to try to add a fourth Sizzler win to his racing resume and tie Mike Stefanik for 2nd place on the All-Time Sizzler Winners List.

“Another Sizzler win would be pretty cool,” said Santos. “Winning at Stafford means a lot and the Sizzler is such a big race. To be in any category alongside Mike would be meaningful. He’s done a lot in a modified and it would be neat to be tied with him in anything. The Sizzler is such a tough race to win that just to be in contention will be nice. I always look forward to Stafford, it’s one of my favorite tracks. I definitely have some good history at Stafford and I like the 200-lap race. Our goal is to be able to put ourselves into position to win and it’s been far too long since we won at Stafford, I feel way overdue for a Stafford win.”

If Santos is going to add a fourth Sizzler win to his credit this year, he and the #44 Tinio Corporation team will have to figure out a different race strategy than in years past as teams will only be allowed to change one tire per pit stop. Santos is relishing the prospect of race strategy playing a large part in who is battling for the win in the closing laps of the NAPA Spring Sizzler® and he likes his chances of being one of the cars in the mix for the win.

“The one tire deal really does change things and puts some strategy into the race,” said Santos. “I feel like for the last 5 or 7 years the races have become pretty predictable with the fast guys all pitting together and there’s a race off pit road. I like the multiple pit stops and multiple opportunities to get on to different strategies during the race. Any time strategy gets involved, it certainly can give someone that maybe doesn’t have the fastest car an opportunity to win the race. Typically you look at the rules and think about what you want to do but at the end of the day you just have to take the race as it comes with the yellow flags. I’m confident we’ll be competitive and there’s a lot of good teams and drivers so anything can happen. If we do a good job, I think we’ll have just as good a shot at winning the race as anyone else. It’s all thanks to the Tinio Family, Olivas Market, my dad and my family, Danny my car chief, and really all the guys who volunteer their time to help us go racing.”

Santos and the Tinio team are not running the full NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour schedule in 2018, which may come in handy during the race with pit strategy calls. Santos and his team have the freedom to make whatever calls they want from pit road without worrying about how a call might affect their finishing position.

“We’ve done a partial schedule last year and this year and in a weird way it seems like there’s less pressure,” said Santos. “We always come to the track trying to win no matter what but it seems like it’s more relaxed and less tension for us than the guys who are racing for points. I don’t think it really hurts us. With our team situation I think that maybe it helps us where we’re not spreading ourselves too thin and we’re better prepared for the races that we go to. I might not be racing a modified 16 or 17 times a year like some of the other drivers but I’m racing other divisions and I think that driving other cars only helps.”

The 47th Annual NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler® takes the green flag this weekend, April 27-29. Tickets for the “Greatest Race in the History of Spring” are on sale now at the Speedway Box Office. Tickets are priced at $40.00 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 $42.00 for all ages. As always, Stafford Motor Speedway offers free parking with overnight parking available. Tickets are good for both Saturday and Sunday admission. All ticket prices include 10% CT Admission Tax. Discount Tickets are now available at participating NAPA Auto Parts stores. For a full list of the 72 participating locations throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont, please call the speedway office or point your web browser to www.staffordmotorspeedway.com/participating-napa-auto-parts-stores.

For more information, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.

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Comments

  1. With his impressive Sizzler record Bobby has to be a favorite to win. 8 starts, 3 wins, say no more. But still sticking with Timmy Solomito he’s due for a Sizzler win. Also think ” Showtime” could be someone to watch in Ed Haveys #1 car, allot of success down south with Meyers driving, car has the potential as does the driver

  2. If they hit the setup, Bobby will be very hard to beat.

  3. Fast Eddie says

    Rob, and Dareal, you guys are reading my mind! Hopefully we’re all correct Sunday night! If there was any wagering to be done, my Trifecta box ticket would be 44, 16, & 1!

  4. Got get em, Bobby! One of the best, and most versatile drivers in the country. This kids been winning since the age of 5, starting with quarter midgets! He won the opener in the USAC Silver Crown Series, this month, in Phoenix.
    What makes him even better, is that he has a great family supporting his racing . Hope he wins every race he enters.

  5. The six will once again find victory lane Sunday at SMS.Change or rip up any and all trifecta, quinella,or any other tickets that are absent the six.Ryan will nail the setup and be on rails all day.Odds are horrible for that bet though.Maybe Fast Eddie just likes long shots, although Bobby Santos is capable of winning anywhere.Leaving Preece or the already desperate deuce out of this trifecta is a recipe for Gamblers Anonymous!

  6. Scares me when nobody is talking about or picking the 2. Could be their weekend.

  7. Fast Eddie says

    Art, it’s much easier and more fun to MY favorites rather than THE favorites when I’m gambling with Monopoly money! 🙂 Real money would probably dictate going with a superfecta box on 6, 2, 16, & 44. I just GOTTA pick the 44! But you’re right, it probably wouldn’t pay much.

  8. It’s crowded with many good cars. That means the driver(s) have to survive the traffic. Preece is one of the best in traffic and close confines. There are a few others that are good in traffic, the rest are hazards.

    We shall see. art seems pretty confident. Traffic and close confines will be a factor as long as there are so many cars that can run together. Like we said before, sometimes it can seem to be more about staying out of trouble.

  9. I got a feeling Rob Summers is going to have a good day. He’s been close, done well. It is time.

    I hope they all have a great day. Better racing, better show.

    Sizzle on!

  10. Pooser very well said should be a great show as long as they don’t drive like boneheads and that doesn’t mean Bobby

  11. Fast Eddie,if we could get payed on a box like that we wouldn’t have to work LOL.dareal,I am confident.When you say traffic and close confines it sounds like we’re talking about a bullring rather than SMS,a big track and breakneck speeds.But it is all traffic and close quarters.I don’t think Ryan will do anything but run hard.That’s the way he stays out of trouble.Rowan Pennick will have a good day in ole blue

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