On Tap: A Return To Simple Racing Normalcy

The circus that is the Sprint Cup Series has packed up the tents and moved on and out of New England.

It means no runs back and forth this week for Connecticut competitors between the Nutmeg State and the Granite State.

And the Waterford Speedbowl, dark last Saturday, returns back to its usual Saturday slot.

Everybody just gets back to normal.

Where: Thompson International Speedway
What: NASCAR Whelen All-American Series event
When: Thursday
Schedule: 30-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified, 25-lap Late Model, 20-lap SK Light Modified, 20-lap Limited Sportsman (2) and 20-lap Mini Stock. Grandstands open: 4 p.m.; Qualifying begins: 6 p.m.
More: The fifth week of Thursday night racing at Thompson in 2013. … In the track’s last event on July 11, Keith Rocco won for the fourth time in six SK Modified events this year. … Rocco and Kerry Malone are tied at the top of the division’s standings with 266 points each. Woody Pitkat is two poins behind the leaders in third and Ryan Preece is four back from the top spot in fourth. … Preece and Malone are the only other winners in the division this year.

Where: Stafford Motor Speedway
What: NASCAR Whelen All-American Series event
When: Friday
Schedule: 80-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified, 30-lap Late Model, 20-lap SK Light Modified, 20-lap Limited Late Model and 15-lap DARE Stock. Grandstands open: 5:15 p.m.; Qualifying begins: 6:15 p.m. Features begin: Approximately 7:15 p.m.
More: The ninth week of Friday night racing at Stafford in 2013. … The Coors Light SK Modified 80 is the showcase event on the schedule for the evening. The SK Modified division goes double its normal weekly feature distance. … Keith Rocco snapped a season-long winless streak in grabbing victory on July 12 at Stafford. … Ryan Preece has won five of nine SK Modified events this year. The other winners this year include Ted Christopher, Danny Cates and Rowan Pennink. … Despite not having a victory this season, Woody Pitkat leads the SK Modified division standings at the track by two points over Preece. Doug Coby is third in the standings, 38 points out of the lead. … Late Model division standings leader Adam Gray goes looking for his ninth consecutive podium finish Friday. Gray’s only finish outside the top three in nine events this year was an 18th place finish in the first event of the year. Tom Fearn, who won his third Late Model feature last week, is second in the standings, four points behind Gray. Rookie Cory Casagrande is third in the standings, 34 points off the lead.

Where: Waterford Speedbowl
What: NASCAR Whelen All-American Series event
When: Saturday
Schedule: 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified, 25-lap Street Stock, 25-lap Mini Stock, 25-lap SK Light Modified. 50-lap Legends and 20-lap Bandoleros. Grandstands open: 3 p.m.; Qualifying: 5:30 p.m.; Features: 7 p.m.
dThe 13th event of the season at the shoreline oval features national qualifying events for the INEX US Legends and Bandolero’s. … Tyler Chadwick won the Overdrive Radio 100 SK Modified feature in the last Whelen All-American Series event at the track on July 6. Chadwick, the reigning division champion has three victories this year and sits third in the division standings. Chadwick is 48 points behind division leader Keith Rocco. Todd Ceravolo is 29 points behind Rocco in second. Rocco has won five of 12 SK Modified events this year at Waterford. Other winners this year include Kyle James, Jeff Rocco, Joey Gada and Rob Janovic Jr. … The track’s Late Model division has Saturday night off.