(Press Release from Stafford Motor Speedway)
When it comes to winning at Stafford both Jimmy Blewett and the #4 L.S. Starrett Company team owned by Bob Garbarino know how to get it done.Blewett has 2 career wins at Stafford while Garbarino has won races at Stafford with Tim Connolly, Chuck Hossfeld, Donny Lia, and Bobby Santos, III. Blewett will be looking to add his name to that list of winners for Garbarino and thinks the Stafford 150 could be the perfect opportunity with a new Troyer chassis car.
“I feel like Stafford is one of my strong points and it’s definitely one of my favorite tracks to go to if not my favorite,” said Blewett. “I feel really good going into this race, we had a strong run at Monadnock with a new Troyer that we debuted at Loudon. It didn’t really go the way we wanted it to at Loudon but the guys worked hard on it and we had a better car at Monadnock, so I’m really looking forward to coming to Stafford. I feel like we’re in contention to get a win, I don’t think we’re as close as we need to be just yet but I think that we can do it. If everything goes our way and we can unload fast and qualify up front rather than have to start in the back and put ourselves in a spot where we have to make up all that track position. You want to have good track position so you don’t have to fight those guys and use your car up.”
Blewett and the #4 team have showed speed at Stafford in the first 2 NWMT races this season. They qualified second for the NAPA Spring Sizzler in April before getting caught up in a wreck and finished second behind Doug Coby in the TSI Harley-Davidson 125 back in June. While Coby has set an impressive benchmark for the other NWMT teams with wins in both Stafford races this season, Blewett feels like he can take down a victory in the Stafford 150, which would be a huge win for both him and the #4 team.
“Doug has pretty much been the guy to beat at most of the races this season,” said Blewett. “His team is definitely showing why they’re a championship team and winning races. They unload fast and they make very few mistakes while capitalizing on others’ mistakes. He’s definitely the guy we’re all going to be shooting for. A win would be tremendous and it would definitely mean a lot. With Bob’s history in the sport and our sponsors, Starrett, Mayhew Tools, and everyone who helps out on the 4 car, it would mean a tremendous amount if we could win. We have a really good team of guys that we put together for this season and we all have a strong passion for the sport and to win races. A win would mean the world for us.”
A win would also help Blewett get back into the thick of the race for the NWMT championship. Blewett enters the Stafford 150 sitting sixth in the standings, 56 points behind Coby. Blewett also believes that pit strategy will be wide open with the 150 lap race distance.
“Our focus right now is to win races,” said Blewett. “If you can win races, you’ll be in contention for the championship. At the same time, we’re trying to finish races that we’re not capable of winning and being smart along the way. This way we can bring home a solid notebook and have something to work with for the next race. I think in this race we’ll need a little more patience than the first 2 Stafford races when everyone seemed to go wide open right from the start. There’s going to be some strategy playing out so that you can be there for the end of the race without using the car up in the beginning. Our goal will be to unload fast and be patient to be there for the end of the race.”
The August 5th Stafford 150 will be the third of four Whelen Modified Tour events to be held at Stafford during the 2016 season with the NWMT returning on October 1-2 for the NAPA Fall Final. Tickets for the Stafford 150 are priced at $33.00 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 $35.00 for all ages. 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.
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