On Tap: Back To The Grind At State Short Tracks

There’s a little bit any of all sorts of types of racing for short track fans to find this weekend in Connecticut.

All three tracks will hold regular NASCAR Whelen All-American Series events as usual.

Stafford Motor Speedway will also host its Champions for Charities karting event as part of its Friday night card, leading into Saturday’s 10th CarQuest Super Saturday event in Stafford.

Where: Thompson International Speedway
What: NASCAR Whelen All-American Series event
When: Thursday
Schedule: 30-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified, 40-lap Late Model, 20-lap SK Light Modified, 20-lap Limited Sportsman (2) and 15-lap Mini Stock. Grandstands open: 4 p.m.; Qualifying begins: 6 p.m.
More: The fourth week of Thursday night racing at Thompson in 2013. … Last week, Keith Rocco and Kerry Malone were winners in twin SK Modified features at the track. Malone leads the SK Modified standings by six points over Woody Pitkat. Rocco is in third lace, eight points behind Malone and Ryan Preece is 10 points behind Malone in fourth. … Rocco has three victories in five SK Modified events this year at Thompson. Ryan Preece has the other victory this year. … Rick Gentes won last week’s Late Model feature at the track, though the track’s website has listed the result as unofficial since last week. It’s unclear what the situation is with the event. Race director Jeff Zuidema has not commented on the situation. … This week’s card features twin 20-lap features for the Limited Sportsman feature.

Where: Stafford Motor Speedway
What: NASCAR Whelen All-American Series event
When: Friday
Schedule: 40-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified, 30-lap Late Model, 20-lap SK Light Modified, 20-lap Limited Late Model, 15-lap DARE Stock and exhibition Champion for Charities event. Grandstands open: 5:15 p.m.; Qualifying begins: 6:15 p.m. Features begin: Approximately 7:15 p.m.
More: The sixth week of Friday night racing at Stafford in 2013. … Friday’s racing card includes the special Champions For Charities karting event. Participating in the event are Ted Christopher, Bob Potter, Randy Cabral, Ron Midford, Jr., Doug Coby, Ron Silk, Ryan Preece, Ron Yuhas, Jr, David Arute, Richie Pallai, Jr., Woody Pitkat, Rob Richardi and Stan Mertz. … Christopher won last week’s SK Modified feature at Stafford, his first victory of the 2013 season. Christopher, the track’s all-time winningest drivers, now has 99 career SK Modified victories at the track. … Christopher was the fourth different winner in six events this year at Stafford. Ryan Preece has three victories. Danny Cates and Rowan Pennink also have wins. … Pitkat leads the SK Modified standings by two points over Christopher. Preece is third in the standings, four points behind Pitkat. Doug Coby is six points behind Pitkat in fourth in the standings.

Where: Waterford Speedbowl
What: NASCAR Whelen All-American Series event
When: Saturday
Schedule: 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified, 30-lap Late Model, 25-lap Street Stock, 25-lap Mini Stock and 20-lap Legends. Grandstands open: 3 p.m.; Qualifying: 5:15 p.m.; Features: 7 p.m.
More: The 11th event of the season at the shoreline oval. … Rob Janovic Jr. snapped a year-long winless streak in last week’s SK Modified feature. … Todd Ceravolo has six consecutive podium finishes in the SK Modified division, but it still looking for his victory of 2013. Ceravolo, finished third last week. He had four consecutive second place finishes before that. … Keith Rocco leads the SK Modified division standings. Ceravolo, Rocco’s father-in-law, is second in the standings, six points behind. Reigning division champion Tyler Chadwick is a distant third, 38 points behind Rocco. … Rocco also leads the Late Model division standings at Waterford with a 23-point advantage of reigning division champion Dillon Moltz.

Where: Stafford Motor Speedway
What: 10th CarQuest Super Saturday
When: Saturday
Schedule: 50-lap ISMA SuperModified, 30-lap NEMA Midget, 20-lap NEMA Lites and 25-lap Pro Four Modified. Grandstands open: 3:15 p.m.; Qualifying: 6 p.m.; Features: Approximately 7 p.m.
More: The one appearance annually for the International SuperModified Association and Northeastern Midget Assocation at Stafford Motor Speedway.