(Press Release from Stafford Motor Speedway)
SK Modified division points leader Rowan Pennink goes looking for his fourth victory of the season Friday at Stafford Speedway (Photo: Stafford Motor Speedway)
Thanks to its Xtra D program, Xtra Mart Convenience Stores will contribute $3,750 in bonus money to Stafford Speedway drivers during the 2015 season. This Friday night, June 19, will be the track’s premier SK Modified® division’s turn to take home their piece of the Xtra Mart pie. The SK Modified® top-5 finishers will each receive a $300 bonus from Xtra Mart, meaning the feature winner will take home over $2,000 in purse and contingency bonuses while the 2nd through 5th place finishers will go home with $700 or more.
The extra cash is sure to turn the already high intensity racing up another level in this week’s SK Modified® feature. Through the first 8 races of the 2015 season, Rowan Pennink, Keith Rocco, and Ryan Preece have combined to win 5 races and are separated by only 6 points in the race for the 2015 track title. Rocco and Preece are tied for second in the standings with Rocco holding the tiebreaker over Preece with 2 wins to Preece’s 0 at this stage of the season.
Rowan Pennink leading the SK Modified® standings through the first 8 races of the year is no accident. Since winning the Inaugural NAPA SK 5k last July at Stafford, Pennink and the #99 Van Wickle NAPA Auto Supply team have been white hot and nearly unstoppable. During the 18 race stretch dating back to his 2014 SK 5k win, Pennink has posted an unbelievable 8 feature wins and 13 podium finishes. Pennink also scored more points in the second half of the 2014 season than any other SK Modified® driver and both he and his 99 team have picked up right where they left off last year.
“That’s awesome that Xtra Mart is putting up that money for us,” said Pennink. “I’m excited for Friday. We had a tough week last Friday and got involved in a wreck but we battled back and contended for the win. The 99 has been fast every week and I can’t wait to get to Stafford this Friday and compete for that extra money from Xtra Mart.”
For Rocco, the 2015 season has seen him return to winning ways in the #88 Wheeler’s Auto / Mr. Rooter Plumbing machine. Although he may not be as dominant as when he won 18 races during the 2010-2011 seasons, Rocco has 2 wins and a third place finish thus far in 2015, but what makes him the favorite for this Friday’s 45-lap feature is his record in extra distance races at Stafford. Rocco has three 100-lap SK Modified® wins to go along with a 150-lap win in 2011, a 75-lap win in 2012, and a 42-lap win in 2013. Rocco also has 2 80-lap VMRS wins at Stafford and he will be looking to add to his extraordinary extra distance record this Friday night.
“It’s always nice when you have an added bonus to give the racers a little something extra to race for,” said Rocco. “We usually have a good car and especially on the longer runs, which is what makes us so good in the longer races. Hopefully the odds will be with us Friday night.”
Of the three point leaders, Preece is the only driver without a victory to his credit in 2015. The driver of the #6 J.G. Poulin Drywall / East-West Marine car has been almost as consistent as Pennink in finding his way to the podium with 2 second place and 3 third place efforts this year. While Preece only has 1 extra distance win among his 22 career SK Modified® feature wins at Stafford, he has a flair for the dramatic, twice pulling off Whelen Modified Tour and SK Modified® wins in the same night, once in 2013, and again in 2014.
In addition to Xtra Mart Convenience Stores bonus this Friday, Call Before You Dig and Dunleavy Truck & Trailer Repair along with New England Racing Fuel, Sunoco Brand, continue to support the SK Modified® division with their contingency program participation. Each week, CBYD and Dunleavy provide 1st place bonus money while N.E. Racing Fuel supplies the top-3 finishers with a gas certificate redeemable at the Sunoco truck.
The SK Modifieds® going an extra 5 laps won’t be the only bonus this Friday night. Late Model, SK Light, and Limited Late Model teams will each be racing to win an Ingersoll Rand tool prize pack worth over $500. The winning drivers must run the Ingersoll Rand decal to receive the prize pack.
As part of the 15th Annual Summer Blast-Off, there will be a fireworks presentation at the conclusion of racing to welcome the summer season.
Xtra Mart currently operates nearly 150 stores in 8 states, including all of New England, Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland. For savings visit Xtra Mart’s website at www.xtramart.com, click on the Xtra Email Club tab to receive printable coupons that can be used for special savings at all Xtra Mart locations as well as notifications about monthly sale items, contests and promotions, and new products and services that Xtra Mart has to offer.
Tickets for this Friday night’s SK Modified® Xtra D / Summer Blast-Off program are available and on sale now. Tickets are priced at $17.50 for adult general admission tickets, $5.00 for children ages 6-14, and children ages 5 and under are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult. Reserved seating is priced at $20.00 for all ages. As always, Stafford Motor Speedway offers free parking with overnight parking available. All ticket prices include 10% CT Admission Tax.
For more information, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.
Good timing. Some of the SK top runners will probably be at Lee for the VMRS race, so some of the low buck teams could make a little extra money.