(Press Release from Stafford Motor Speedway)
Stafford Speedway has once again teamed up with passionate modified racing supporter Doug Dunleavy of Dunleavy’s Truck & Trailer Repair to bring fans and drivers the biggest SK Light Modified race in the history of the division. Boasting a guaranteed purse of $10,000, the SK Light Modified teams and drivers will be the showpiece of the Friday May 26th event which will also see an increased purse for the SK Modified® division.
“The SK Light drivers are the future of the sport and I have always wanted to give them their own night,” explained Doug Dunleavy. “This event will be 40 laps, double the distance of a regular SK Light feature and will pay a guaranteed $1,750 to the winner.”
The SK Light division has been a breeding ground for talent since its inception in 2006. Drivers such as Stephen Kopcik, Chase Dowling, Matt Galko, Michael Gervais, Jr., D.J. Burnham, Mike Christopher, Jr., Tyler Hines, and Ronnie Williams have all graduated from the SK Light Modifieds to run in the Stafford Speedway’s premier SK Modified® division on a weekly basis.
“This show is going to be big,” continued Dunleavy. “We will cap the night off with a fireworks display to celebrate Memorial Day Weekend and will have special admission pricing for all veterans and active military. This will be a show to mark on the 2017 calendar. I know the SK Light guys are excited, we are going to put them on the big stage, it will be their night.”
The excitement for the event is already brewing. Engine builder Don Wood of R.A.D Automachine has committed to $1,500 in bonus money for the top 3 finishers in the SK Light race with R.A.D motors, with $750 going to the top R.A.D finisher, $500 to the 2nd, and $250 to the 3rd bringing the potential winning payout to $2,500. In addition to the increased purse money additional bonuses will be added and announced in the coming months.
In addition to the increased purse in the SK Light Modified division, the SK Modifieds® will also have over $4,000 added to their normal weekly purse and will compete an additional 10 laps, bringing their feature to 50 laps.
“We are excited to announce this event for our SK Light teams,” explained Stafford COO/GM Mark Arute. “This is an excellent purse throughout the entire field. We’re just as excited as Doug to showcase the SK Lights and this will be a fun night. The SK Lights will be the headliner and if last year’s SK Light racing is any indication the racing will be spectacular.”
The Inaugural Dunleavy’s Truck and Trailer Repair Modifiedzz Night is scheduled for Friday May 26th. The SK Modified® division will run 50 laps, SK Lights 40, Late Models 30, Limited Late Model 20, and Dare Stock 15.
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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There are fans, there are big fans, there are huge fans, and then there is Doug Dunleavey! Thanks to people like you and the TTOMS crew, we regular fans have some great racing events to go to. THANK-YOU!!
Thank you !
Only 500 less than what the winner gets in the new modified touring series at riverhead gets. 40 laps compared to 125.
That’s an expensive wreck fest
Awesome, thanks Doug !!
Always excited to see the support and passion of fans and businesses like Doug’s and others. Hope the night is a huge success. Just hope, because the night is a regular point event, that the lack of a handicap by invaders won’t keep them away. I know Doug has expressed that teams should show up the three previous weeks to pad a handicap, but for many the time and money to run two nights a week can be a huge burden, for invaders that is. One way to draw the cars in, IMO, is to qualify all cars that show or to pay the consi, maybe adding a few extra laps to give extra seat time. Let’s face it, the car is what brings the crew and fans that more than covers that extra purse, not the driver. More butts in the pits and stands, more hot dogs and beer the track sells. Oh, and by the way, the cost of admission should not be more than a regular show. The extra sponsors are putting up the extra purse from what I am understanding from the article.
I think this should be a non points race. Draw numbers from a hat for qualifing, start heads up from where you finish. Top 10 draw numbers from a hat to determine their final starting position.
Great to see the SK Lights get this attention.
Absolutely great attention since they don’t get squat to win on a regular night. These cars are expensive toys to race for what they get.
You know the admission will b more.. the fans will get the short end again. No one wants to pay for extra laps and fireworks. A free popcorn or beverage with your ticket would be better for all fans. That’s how you will fill the stands
What a waste of time and money. This is a joke. Same with the SK Modifieds. All this does is hurt Modified racing with these fake Modifieds and 1970’s purses. LOL
This event should be followed by future events and the Speed Bowl who ever is running it should take notice. Car counts in this division are good. To me this is the future of weekly modified as long as the motor expense is kept in check. I have said it before that the SK lite could be a premier division. Jack Arute many years ago dropped the tour types for SK’s. I could see this happen in the not so distance future with the lites over the SK. Keep it simple and cost effective and pay these guys a few extra bucks!
Unfortunately the SKL engine rules are out of control. From what I heard to build a competitive engine you are looking at close to 15k for a lousy 602 crate engine. This is not what this division was intended to be.
This could be a great race, this could be exciting and this could be great for the SK Lites but… not at Stafford. In fact this is dumbest idea. You’re going to run a division that could be up to 35+ cars for a purse close to what MRS pays out without spotters… anywhere but Stafford. These guys run on limited budgets, have limited crews and now they’re just going to wreck the field. Great idea, poorly executed.
Grey Matter – I believe spotters cause more trouble than not, if you look at the field of skl’s seems to me money is really not an issue – they know that they are racing for nothing and they continue to show up every week. I think stafford is the best show around and wish all the skl teams good luck – they deserve this purse- thanks to Doug
I would think the Pro 4 modified would make for a better cost effective entry division for the modifieds. Does anyone know the price difference between and average car from each?
The fact that you guys are complaining about this event shows you’re knowledge of the sport, lacking in all departments. And Humphry you need to fact check; new SKL motors are not even close to 15k. More like 6. You can buy a complete car for 15k. I appreciate the tracks trying to keep the weekly racers happy and you should to.
Thank Mark Arute and Doug Dunleavey to promote the weekly asphalt modified race car of the future. 602 dirt late models are the new hot weekly race car in the Southeast. My first modified race I went to was in 1965 at Plainville Staduim. We all need to face reality and the future of weekly asphalt modified racing needs the 602 asphalt modified and six tracks run this car at the present time. Please look at what the 602 sportsman dirt modified has done to keep drivers and owners in the sport in the Northeast.Thank you Mark and Doug!
Thank Mark Arute and Doug Dunleavey to promote the weekly asphalt modified race car of the future. 602 dirt late models are the new hot weekly race car in the Southeast. My first modified race I went to was in 1965 at Plainville Staduim. We all need to face reality and the future of weekly asphalt modified racing needs the 602 asphalt modified and six tracks run this car at the present time. Please look at what the 602 sportsman dirt modified has done to keep drivers and owners in the sport in the Northeast.Thank you Mark and Doug!
Thank Mark Arute and Doug Dunleavey to promote the weekly asphalt modified race car of the future. 602 dirt late models are the new hot weekly race car in the Southeast. My first modified race I went to was in 1965 at Plainville Staduim. We all need to face reality and the future of weekly asphalt modified racing needs the 602 asphalt modified and six tracks run this car at the present time. Please look at what the 602 sportsman dirt modified has done to keep drivers and owners in the sport in the Northeast.Thank you Mark and Doug!
The cost of the first wreck due to NO spotters would pay for 5 teams to have radios…….then there will be 5 more wrecks. Radios are cheap!! Buy used radios like used cars and used equipment like most (not All) SKL teams already have. It’s a safety issue. just like a soft wall. Should be for all cars
Thompson has them Waterford has them Riverhead has them
SKL Fan, Thompson has big wrecks, Waterford has big wrecks. Sure doesn’t seem like spotters are the issue then. This race is going to be a great show for the fans and great for the drivers.
Thank you Dunleavy? I guess.But isn’t it the increased admission price that pays most of the purse? I appreciate the regular shows at $18 and can’t wait for show the SK Lights and SK’s put on. The rest of it with the 13 care features with cars spread out all over the track you can have.
How did racing ever survive before spotters came about?
It would be nice to see some racers from other tracks get guaranteed starting spots for this race.
The Thompson 300 used to start 55 cars (and most of them without spotters)!
That’s the thing, martin98. If the track promotes the event correctly, the sponsors like Dunleavy, RAD, and hopefully others will foot the bill on the increased purse. The track will benefit by having increased competitors, crew, and fans. Selling more food and souvenirs. Win-win? The competitors and their support groups shouldn’t be burdened to pay the increased purse. They are the show.
The sk lites are the premiere division of the future? I hope not. They’re OK but I wouldn’t be too excited to see Rocco or Preece racing sk lites at their home tracks. Between Waterford and Stafford there are still plenty of sk’s that come out weekly. I guess maybe if you guys are talking about the distant future.
I am super stoked that Doug is doing what he is doing. We are not talking back in the day…..we are talking now !!! It’s sad they don’t allow and use the same rules for spotters as the other tracks. And no gaurranteed spots, come earn your place in the field
Tic fan, before you bark to loud, check my post, I did not say the new engine was 15k I said a competitive engine (ie. built engine) was 15k. And even the new engine with oil pan, dressings, clutch, flywheel, bearing, bell housing, carb, distributor etc. is not going to be a 6k deal. For god sake, this is a lousy 602 truck engine that has got way out of control from what is was designed to be. I would bet you are looking at least $7,500.00 ready to go initial investment for the new engine. Read the rules on the Thompson site then what happens when it needs a freshen? Goes back to only the chosen engine builders and more money so eventually you are back to the built engine. It is just a viscous cycle unless you do what Riverhead does. At least the cost is better controlled for the competitor.
Humphry, you just went from saying a motor is $15k to a motor is $7500. By my calculation that is half. If anyone is paying $15k for an 602 motor they’re getting ripped off. I’ll keep barking to keep you’re posts in check.
OK tc fan, the existing built engines that were run last season and I mean the 355 cu. in. are pushing 15k from what I am told, the new engines stock 350 cu. in. as described in the Thompson rules ready to race with the bolt on’s my guess are $7,500. I can’t spell it out any clearer than that.
How do the supers do it ? No spotters no mirrors, no wrecks
Only feeble-minded drivers need spotters.
Spotting is actually for someone who doesn’t want to do anything work at the track, but still say they are port of a team, to do.
It’s called respect Elect, pure and simple.
Humphry, do you think you know? or do you know? Sounds like you have no idea what you are talking about. When was the last time you priced a SK Light motor out. Donny at RAD can give you real numbers give him a call: http://www.radautomachine.com/contact.html
TC fan, maybe I should be asking you the same question since you seem to be well versed about the cost of SKL engines. Please enlighten me since you called me out or fact check me everytime I make a comment.
Humphry is correct about respect, and it’s also a heavy dose of experience. Everyone in them has a lot of experience, if not in a super, definitely in other cars. They can see, hear, and feel someone near them and drive accordingly. Proper decision-making behind the wheel by using those skills separate the great drivers from the good ones. They don’t have a problem giving someone room who’s obviously faster on a given night. They know when the conditions are reversed, they’ll get it in return.
Humphry, in fact I do know, which is why I called you out. Just want to make sure everyone else know’s that you have no idea what you’re talking about.
TC fan, I am done with you, if that is the best you can come up with “in fact I do know” for a come back. Really? LOL………