Ted Christopher Staring Down Another Modified Milestone At Stafford Speedway

STAFFORD – On June 13, 2008 at Stafford Motor Speedway, the merriment was rowdy in victory lane as Ted Christopher celebrated becoming the first drive ever to record 100 victories at the historic short track.

Ted Christopher

But even on that evening, Christoper already had another number in mind: 100 victories in an SK Modified.

Christopher is the face of the division created by former Stafford Motor Speedway owner Jack Arute Sr.

Last Friday Christopher picked up his second SK Modified victory of 2012 at Stafford, and his 96th in the division overall.

“That will mean a real lot getting to 100,” Christopher said. “I hope I can do it this year but I think I’m still driving good enough that if I don’t get it this year hopefully within the next couple years I will. The way it’s going right now, four more is not bad. It’s a possibility.”

Overall Christopher has 116 wins at the track. Twelve of those victories have come in NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour action, six in the track’s former Pro Stock division. He has one one K&N Pro Series East win at the track and one Valenti Modified Racing Series win.

But it was in an SK Modified that Christopher won his first event at the track on May 23, 1986.
“When I got to 100 [victories overall], it was a great milestone and everything to do that at the track,” Christopher said last year. “Then I looked at too as, the SK [Modifieds] is where I started here. That’s been my bread and butter, you could say. I love racing here. It’s been so good to me. I love racing this track. I said to myself that that would hopefully be my milestone to hopefully get to … 100 if I could.”

In addition to still competing weekly in the SK Modified division at Stafford the 54-year old Christopher, of Plainville, also competes full-time on the Whelen Modified Tour, full-time in the SK Modified division at Thompson International Speedway and part-time in a weekly Modified at Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway. He also competes part-time with the Valenti Modified Racing Series and is expected to compete in Friday’s Modified Racing Series Lincoln Tech 80 at Stafford.

Christopher passed Keith Rocco for the victory on lap 27 of the 40-lap SK Modified feature Friday at Stafford. Rocco started on the pole in the event, offering Christopher the chance to take a little shot at his protégé, who has become the most successful SK Modified driver in the area over recent years.

“He usually passes me so that was good passing him” Christopher said. “That’s the worst thing, starting on the pole and losing. I don’t want to rub it in, but, oh well.”

Though Christopher did say he enjoys the shows he and Rocco usually engage in at the front of the field, which typically have fans on their feet.

”It’s usually a great race,” Christopher said of events when he an Rocco battle for the lead at Stafford. “For me, I personally probably give him a little extra room. He probably doesn’t give me extra sometimes, but I want to. At this point, I’m happy with what I do and it’s fast and I still can win in it and everything, but I enjoy where people come out of here knowing that I drove a great race and I ended up winning or whatever. But I want to make it a good race, I’m not going to drive the guy out. I’m not going to be pushing people up in the [crap] and run them down into the grass. I’m just not like that.”

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