(Press Release from Stafford Motor Speedway)
Keith Rocco celebrates victory in the final SK Modified event of the 2017 season at Stafford Motor Speedway (Photo: Fran Lawlor)
Capping off a pre-season of improved purse structures, Stafford Speedway management is proud to announce the SK Modified® and Late Model divisions will be receiving an enhanced purse in 2018.
These increases for the SK and Late Model divisions follow the previously announced purse increases for the SK Lights, Limited Late Model, and Street Stocks.
“Our commitment is 100% behind our weekly competitors and we will continue to focus our efforts in supporting their programs,” explained Stafford Speedway General Manager Mark Arute. “We are looking at a strong contingent of drivers and teams for the SK Modified® and Late Model divisions and the increased weekly payouts will ensure an exciting season.”
Both the Late Model and SK Modified® weekly purses will increase by just under 10% for the new season. The SK Modified® division will have a base purse of $1,500 to win with a total purse of $8,560 while the Late Model base purse will be moved to $800 to win with a total purse of $5,375. Last place payout will move to $150 and $120 for the SK Modified® and Late Models respectively.
“We have a great group of contingency sponsors supporting all our divisions for the 2018 season,” continued Mark Arute. “Between their support and the increase in the weekly base purse, 2018 is shaping up to be a great year for our weekly program. With our signed contingency partners, Starrett Tools and Dunleavy’s Truck and Trailer Repair, the SK feature pays $1,800 to win, $150 to start, while the Late Model feature will pay $925 to win, $120 to start with the additional bonus from iRacing. We have boosted payouts throughout the entire field for both divisions and continue to work with potential contingency sponsors to keep adding to these weekly numbers.”
With under 50 days till the NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler and the official start to the 2018 race season at Stafford Speedway drivers and teams are busy preparing for the new season.
In the SK Modified® division, 2017 track champion Keith Rocco comes into the new season as the heavy favorite after a dominant end to last season.
The Late Model division is shaping up to be another highly competitive season with 7 of the 8 feature winners from 2017 returning to the division in 2018. Glen Reen, the 2017 Late Model champion will enter the season as an early favorite but will be contested by the deep field including former champions Michael Bennett and Tom Fearn.
The 2018 Stafford Motor Speedway season kicks off with the 47th Annual NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler® on April 27-29. Tickets for the “Greatest Race in the History of Spring” are on sale now at the Speedway Box Office. Tickets are priced at $40.00 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 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 Spring Sizzler® tickets will be available beginning the week of Monday, March 19 at participating NAPA Auto Parts stores.
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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Wonder what happens to the left over money from the LM purse. 24 payouts with a best of 14 cars showing up at least $1340 a week left at the end of the season that’s a good chunk of money
They should distribute the excess evenly to the guys that race that night
Now all they need to do is adopt the ACT rulebook for the late models or will it be another year of features with 12-15 cars? ACT rules are used at most New England and New York tracks and could greatly improve the car count on Friday Nights.
Thanks to Stafford Speedway for helping all their race teams! They are THE modified track!
I suggested the ACT deal in another thread and got KO’d by Stewart Fearn and the reality as it exists now. Too costly to current teams to switch. Issue over.
The idea that the purse is a pot of money that gets divided up among the cars that show up is a fantasy. You contribute to the show, you get paid what is advertised. People not racing isn’t reason to divert money from the spot they never took to the guys that did show up. Some tracks actually have a lower purse structure for a field that doesn’t meet a minimum number of cars.
Maybe take all the extra money and have an extra distance event fall final weekend. No points just a good purse and make it so you have to race at least 12 races to be eligible. Sort of like an all star race deal. As far as the ACT movement don’t see it happening any time soon but I agree something needs to happen 10-12 cars does not a good race make. Still think best move would be to merge the LM& LLM Fields as I’ve stated before
They should host an ACT race for Thompson and Waterford cars and see how many show up could use the leftover money from LM&LLM races for the purse.
Thompson should increase the purse for the late models it has been the same for 15 years
Does anyone know how the the purses at Thompson compare to Stafford?
It’s a big if but if Waterford opens and does have it’s ACT show we’ll see what kind of crowd it draws. Thompson does well and Lee drew 28 cars and a great crowd last year. ACT is on the rise and Stafford is trapped between their current rules with teams invested in them and the ACT rules. Something has to give.