(Press Release from Stafford Motor Speedway)
Ted Christopher (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR)
When it comes to modified racing at Stafford Speedway, you’ll see Ted Christopher’s name plastered throughout the record book. Christopher is the track’s all-time winningest driver with 122 feature wins and is also the winningest driver in NAPA Spring Sizzler history with 6 wins. Christopher missed the 2016 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season opener at Thompson Speedway, but he will be at Stafford with the #00 Jerry & Jerry sponsored machine that is owned by the Brady family on April 23-24.
Christopher ran the Southern Whelen Modified Tour race at Concord earlier this season in the #00 Brady owned car and they finished second to George Brunnhoelzl, III after leading 47 of the race’s 150 laps. Christopher has also raced the #00 Brady machine at Stafford in several Modified Racing Series events with a win in the inaugural MRS race back in September 2010. With a long working history and a second place effort at Concord, Christopher is looking forward to making his first Northern Whelen Modified Tour start of the 2016 season.
“I feel pretty good,” said Christopher. “I have my motor in the car and that motor always seems to run well. We had a pretty good run together down at Concord and every time we’ve run the car at Stafford, we’ve run pretty well. Even though it’s been mostly the Modified Racing Series, it’s still the same racetrack and car so I’m looking forward to it.”
With 6 career victories in “The Greatest Race in the History of Spring” Christopher knows what it takes to put his car into NAPA Victory Lane at the end of 200-laps. Christopher has already started to think about the various strategy options that can be opened up with the race length of 200-laps.
“The Sizzler has always treated me well and hopefully it will treat me well again next Sunday,” said Christopher. “We have to qualify good, have a good stop, and see how things play out in the last 50 laps. It’s a long race and you have to be there at the end. With the spec engine in the car, we’ll have to stop for fuel like a bunch of other guys and there have been Sizzlers in the past that we’ve pitted early just to make adjustments on the car for later in the race, so there’s a bunch of different strategies you can use for the race. I’ve already got all of them in my head, we’ll just have to see how the race unfolds.”
Christopher will also be competing in the SK Modified division at NAPA Spring Sizzler® weekend behind the wheel of his #13 M&T Enterprises, JVIII Construction SK Modified®. The 2015 season marked the first time in 29 seasons that Christopher went through a full season without winning an SK Modified® feature. Christopher finished second behind Eric Berndt at the 2015 season ending NAPA Fall Final feature and he is ready to once again be challenging for feature wins with a brand new car.
“We have a new car for the SK season,” said Christopher. “It’s the exact same style of car as the DiPisa’s car that I run at Waterford. The car ran so good at the Fall Final last year that we copied the setup over to this new car and hopefully we’ll be good. We can’t be any worse than we were last year.”
NAPA 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 is priced at $42.00 for all ages. As always, Stafford Motor Speedway offers free parking with overnight parking available. All tickets are good for both Saturday and Sunday admission. All ticket prices include 10% CT Admission Tax. Discount Tickets are available at 57 participating NAPA Auto Parts stores throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. For a full list of the 57 locations, 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.
Shawn – still no word re: TC’s Thompson plans for 2016?
Rafter,
I thought I responded to your last inquiry on that. Playing it by ear was what Ted told me.
Shawn –
Sorry – I initially thought that you had interviewed Ted (again) for this story. I now see that story came from SMS.
Rafter,
Yeah, as far as Thompson goes I’m guessing he’s not going to run for points there, but if he’s in the hunt for national points later i the season and the numbers work at Thompson you’d probably see him there.
Love him or hate him…. always a better tour race when TC is in it.
Shawn, back to Thompson, is Ted still at 99 career wins there?
Paul,
To the best of my knowledge yes, still at 99 atThompson.
When so many fans depend on a competitor who is almost 60 to make it more enjoyable, isn’t that sport in trouble??…..and hey Shawn do you ever write a story?…you know, the journalism thing…..or is it all just copy and paste?
Far more likely TC ends up with another DNF than a win.
LOL….LOVE it when you wont post the comment…..Cant fool us REAL fans of the sport…..I am embarrassed for you.
Some guy, who is almost 60 that makes the sport more enjoyable?
Hey, Some guy and dareal, why do you guys keep reading this site? Just to ridicule and criticize? You guys need to get a life.
Ted may be almost 60, but he still excites the crowd, and yes, puts fannies in the seats whether you guys like it or not.
I think it is great when a race car driver that is older can still be competitive. It keeps the sport interesting. You notice I said INTERESTING not ENJOYABLE!
Depends on what is considered enjoyable, and that is different for each person.
Let’s face it, there is still a very large portion of the fan base that loves going to the short tracks to see the wrecking. Especially if their favorite driver is the wrecker and not the car being wrecked. Just watch and listen to the people in the stands for evidence.
Sorry not a bleacher warmer (like you) and I don’t take much stock in the BS people put out there from the “stands”. Most of them (again like you) have probably never put their hands on a race car in their life. And who says TC is always the wrecker, plenty of others that do their fair share of wrecking so lets not stereotype people.
Just look here who gets the most comments
Well Clueless Bob….I am Just calling it like I see it…..Just because you do not agree with me does not mean I am being critical…….I understand dinosaurs like yourself are too narrow minded to get that……and by the way I have had the good fortune to have raced my own car once upon a time so I have had my hands on a race car and paid the bills for it also.
My comment was not directed at you some guy, it was at dareal and his comment at 10:12 AM, and you last sentence ditto, been there done that……………..
I guess people don’t understand the concept of the difference between a “press release” and an article… Copy and paste??? Isn’t that the purpose of a “press release”???? Anyways… Thanks to the staff of RacedayCT for publishing the PRESS RELEASES from the local short tracks helping spread the news that tracks and touring series are trying to get to the public eye!
Some guy and darealgoodfella- you two are the cancer of this website. you would be doing everybody a favor if you never publicly stated your opinions again.
JohnnyL, just stick to the facts, and use statistics, and you won’t have to resort to being judgmental.
That’s just my opinion.
humphry said, “And who says TC is always the wrecker, plenty of others that do their fair share of wrecking so lets not stereotype people.”
You have rarely been to a track. It can be said by anyone that TC is the wrecker because that is what happens. Now I will say that the last couple seasons, since TC was booted from the 36, he has dramatically cut back on the wrecking. But the many years before that, he wrecked plenty. And he hasn’t been able to secure top quality rides since the 36 soap opera, or bring success to the teams he has driven for since the 36 debacle. I haven’t figured it out… if it is his eyesight (lack thereof) or just reckless.
Dareal, just continue to warm the bleachers, listen to your race scanner, eat your pizza, drink your coke, visit with your bleacher warming buddies and dazzle them with your brilliance. As I have said before you are a legend in your own mind!
The real good fella :For your information the 36 shut down because Eddie Whelen was tired of being fleeced by Brad La Fontaine ! Just saying