(Press Release from Stafford Motor Speedway)
Michael Gervais (Photo: Stafford Speedway)
When the green flag falls on the 2016 SK Modified season at Stafford Motor Speedway, there will be a new team combination made up of two familiar faces.
Michael Gervais, Jr. will team up with Glenn Johnson to drive Johnson’s #15 SK Modified® in search of the track championship. Johnson has been an owner at Stafford for over 20 years and is still in search of his first championship, while Gervais will be looking to add the SK Modified® title to the SK Light championship that he won as a rookie driver back in 2009. Both parties are looking forward to the 2016 season with sponsorship from Morrison & Johnson, Long Island Performance and NJK Automotive.
“About 3 weeks ago, Michael’s spotter Ray Griffen stopped by and asked about Michael possibly driving the car,” said Johnson. “I thought it over and we set up a meeting where we put all our cards on the table and we made a deal. Michael is a gentleman and Mike Pettit told me that Mr. Gervais was just like me and I’m super excited about going racing this season. I want to win races and a championship and Michael wants the same things. We tried to win a championship with Doug [Coby] and it just didn’t work out for us. I’ve been at Stafford for 22 years now and as everyone knows, the SK Modifieds are a tough game.”
“It’s a good feeling to be able to pair up with someone like Glenn,” said Gervais. “He’s very passionate about the sport and after our meeting we’re both pretty excited. We wrecked our car at Thompson at the end of the year and while we’ve been in the process of getting the car back together we thought let’s look around and see if we can maybe find another team to hook up with and try something new. We talked with several teams and Ray had the idea to talk with Glenn and that led to our meeting. Glenn has been looking for a championship and we’ve been looking for a championship. Glenn definitely has the equipment for us to be able to go out and win a championship so I don’t think it’s a stretch for us to think we can do that.”
Gervais teaming up with Johnson means that Gervais will have to get to grips with a new chassis as Johnson’s car is an LFR chassis. Gervais has previously run Troyer and Chassis Dynamics chassis in his SK Light and SK Modified® experience but he doesn’t think it will be too much of a hassle behind the wheel of an unfamiliar chassis.
“I had a Troyer when I first started and then we ran a CD for many years,” said Gervais. “I’m excited to try out the LFR car and see what it’s all about. I’ve heard really good things about the car and I’m looking forward to seeing how the car feels and if it’s any different than what I’ve been used to. I don’t think driving wise it will be any different but I’m sure what I’ll need in the car will be different with what kind of adjustments the car might need.”
Johnson and Gervais will combine their crew members and Gervais thinks that everything is in place to challenge for wins right away.
“I’m pumped right now,” said Gervais. “We were already excited but to see how excited Glenn was to be working with us, we think it’s going to work out really well. I think both crews will work well together. We all have the same goals to win races and try to win a championship. We definitely want to get at least one win this season and if we can get consistent finishes, I think we’ll all be pretty happy with that.”
Gervais will take his first step towards winning races and making a championship run at the first SK Modified race of the 2016 season which will be a 45-lap feature commemorating the running of the 45th Annual NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler. Action gets underway Friday, April 22 with a practice session for Stafford’s weekly divisions and the Mr. Rooter Trucks. The practice session will be open to the public at no charge.
Action continues on Saturday, April 23 with Coors Light Pole Qualifying for the Whelen Modified Tour cars, along with heat and consolation races for Stafford’s weekly divisions, the U.S. Legend Cars, and the Mr. Rooter Trucks. Saturday will wrap up with feature events for the SK Light, Limited Late Model, DARE Stock, Legend Cars, and Mr. Rooter Trucks. Spring Sizzler action continues on Sunday, April 24 with the NAPA Auto Parts Pit Party from 11am-noon followed by Stafford’s SK Modifieds® in a special 45-lap feature and Late Models joining the Whelen Modified Tour in feature action.
Tickets for the “Greatest Race in the History of Spring” are on sale now at the Speedway Box Office. Tickets are priced at $38.50 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 will be priced at $42.00 for all ages. All ticket prices include 10% CT Admission Tax. Discount Tickets will be available at all 57 participating NAPA Auto Parts stores beginning on Monday April 4th. For a full list of the 57 locations throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Rhode Island, call the speedway office or visit us on the web at www.staffordmotorspeedway.com/participating-napa-auto-parts-stores.
For more information on the 45th Annual NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler, or to order tickets, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.
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