Tommy Barrett Jr.
STAFFORD – Stafford Motor Speedway has long been the home of milestones in the racing career of Tommy Barrett Jr.
In 2010, at 15 years old, he became then the youngest driver ever to win a feature at Stafford Speedway when he won an SK Light Modified division race.
Later that year he became a track record setter once again by winning 10 features in the division. In 2012 the Millis, Mass. driver won his first career Valenti Modified Racing Series feature at Stafford.
And that theme of milestone days continued Saturday for the 18-year old, who is in his first season on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
Barrett won the pole in qualifying for Sunday’s Whelen Modified Tour Spring Sizzler 200 at Stafford Speedway.
It was the first career pole in the series for Barrett, who will take the field to green Sunday in his fourth career start in the division.
“I didn’t see why we couldn’t do it,” Barrett said. “I’ve got the best crew behind me, the best team, the best car owner. It means a lot but to me it’s not unexpected.”
Barrett toured the half-mile Stafford Speedway oval with a fast lap of 18.221 seconds (98.787 mph) in qualifying.
After mechanical issues relegated him to a 23rd place finish in the season opening Icebreaker 150 on April 6 at Thompson Speedway, Barrett arrived at Stafford with high hopes for a strong rebound.
“I’m a lot more excited and pumped up,” Barrett said. “I just know I have a good relationship with this place and hopefully I can continue that this weekend.”
Woody Pitkat, who won his first career Whelen Modified Tour pole in the Icebreaker, and finished second in that event, was second in qualifying Saturday with a lap of 18.267 seconds (98.538 mph).
“It’s awesome,” said Pitkat, of Stafford. “For a guy that people say can’t qualify, to put it on the pole one week and then be outside pole the second week, it just shows that I can do it and it gives me more confidence. Obviously the car is very good, it’s well prepared and everybody that works on the car does an outstanding job. It makes my life a lot easier.
“We’ve got 200 laps and we just need to be there at the end. Hopefully we’ll be one spot ahead this time.”
Justin Bonsignore of Holtsville, N.Y., who won the season opening Icebreaker will start third Sunday after a qualifying lap of 18.272 seconds (98.511 mph). Doug Coby of Milford, the 2012 series champion will start fourth and reigning series champion Ryan Preece of Berlin will start fifth.
I hope Pitkat has “confidence” that Lia doesn’t decide to pay him back from the Ice Breaker!!
Go ask lia his side of the story!