On Tap: Presented By Ric’s Cafe
Connecticut short track racing fans get a treat this weekend.
Want to compare the 2014 editions of the Valenti Modified Racing Series and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour? This is the weekend to do it.
The Valenti Modified Racing Series hits the half-mile at Stafford Motor Speedway for the first of three visits to the track this year on Friday night.
And on Saturday night the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is at the Waterford Speedbowl for the running of the Mr. Rooter 161, the only visit of the year to the shoreline oval for the series.
For more details on everything going on this weekend, check out the capsules below
What: Valenti Modified Racing and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series event
Where: Stafford Motor Speedway
When: Friday
Schedule: 80-lap Valenti Modified Racing Series, 45-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified, 30-lap Late Model, 20-lap SK Light Modified, 20-lap Limited Late Model and 20-lap DARE Stock. Grandstands open: 4:15 p.m.; Qualifying: 6:15. Features: Approximately 7 p.m.
More: The fifth event of the season at Stafford Motor Speedway. Events at the track were rained out on May 9, May 16, May 30 and June 13 and the May 23 racing card was stopped by rain three features into the night. … The first of three Valenti Modified Racing Series events of the season at Stafford. The series visits state short tracks eight times this year with three events scheduled at the Waterford Speedbowl and two at Thompson. … Keith Rocco won the division’s season opening event at Waterford on April 13. Tommy Barrett Jr. won in the division’s visit to Thompson on May 29. … Other winners this year include Rowan Pennink, Steve Masse and Richard Savary. … After five events, former Whelen Modified Tour champion and Stafford Speedway SK Modified division regular Todd Szegedy leads the series standings. … Ryan Preece goes looking for his fourth consecutive victory to start the season in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified division Friday at Stafford. After three races, Preece – the 2011 SK Modified champion at Stafford – holds a 28-point lead over second place Ted Christopher in the division’s standings. Keith Rocco is 30 points behind Preece in third and Joey Cipriano 38 points behind in fourth. …. Preece is currently fifth in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national short track standings. … Tom Fearn got his first victory of the season in the May 30 Late Model division feature. … Jay Stuart and Adam Gray are the other winners in the division this year. … Stuart holds a 22-point lead over Gray and Cory Casagrande, who are tied for second in the standings. Fearn is fourth, 24 points behind Stuart. … Joey Ferrigno picked up his victory in just under a year in the SK Light Modified division May 30. … For more information check the Stafford Motor Speedway website.
What: NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Whelen All-American Series event
Where: Waterford Speedbowl
When: Saturday
Schedule: 161-lap Whelen Modified Tour, 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified, 30-lap Late Model, 25-lap Street Stock and 25-lap Mini Stock, Grandstands open: 1 p.m.; Qualifying: 5 p.m.; Features: Approximately 6:35 p.m.
More: The 11th event of the season at the shoreline oval. … The first and only visit of the season to the Waterford Speedbowl by the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. The fourth of eight visits for the division to state short tracks in 2014. … The Whelen Modified Tour opened its season at Thompson with Justin Bonsigore winning on April 6. Bobby Santos III won at Stafford on April 27 and Doug Coby won at Stafford on June 6. … The Whelen Modified Tour returned to the Waterford Speedbowl schedule in 2012 after a six-year hiatus. Doug Coby came out on top of a fierce closing laps battle with Ryan Preece to win in 2012 at Waterford. Coby went on to win the his first series championship that year. Last year it was Preece winning in the closing laps battle with Coby at Waterford. Preece also went on to win his first series title. … Coby leads the standings by five points over second place Bonsignore. Woody Pitkat is third in the standings, nine points behind Coby. … Last week, Keith Rocco won the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified feature. It was the fifth victory of the season for the division’s reigning champion. … In 10 SK Modified division starts this year at Waterford, Rocco has five victories, four second place finishes and one third place finish. … Other winners this year include, Ed Puleo, Tyler Chadwick, Joey Gada, Kyle James and Craig Lutz. … Rocco has built a massive lead over the field in the standings, holding a 98-point advantage over second place Lutz. Ted Christopher is third in the standings, 129 points off the lead. … Rocco won for the sixth time in 10 starts this season in the Late Model division last week at Waterford. … Other winners this year include Jason Palmer (twice), Bruce Thomas Jr. and Vin Esposito. … Rocco holds a 53-point lead over Thomas in the standings. Esposito is third, 105 points behind. … After seeing his four-race winning streak snapped the week before, Josh Galvin returned to victory lane last week in the Street Stock division. … For more information check the Waterford Speedbowl website.
It will b interesting who will draw better…mrs has the upper hand being first race of weekend and cheaper admission but has to contend w date nite and happy hour