The Setup: Whelen Modified Tour NAPA Spring Sizzler 200 At Stafford Speedway

(Press Release from NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications)

Justin Bonsignore

PIT BOX: Justin Bonsignore Looks To Continue Sizzling Start

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour roll into Stafford Motor Speedway for the 47th Annual Spring Sizzler at the historic Connecticut oval Sunday.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Justin Bonsignore and Jon McKennedy have shown, in the first two races of the season, they’re championship contenders after offseason changes. Now the tour heads to Stafford, and a host of drivers are looking to join the fray.

Bonsignore took advantage of a late-race fuel miscue by McKennedy to score the win at Connecticut’s Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park. He’ll take the points lead to Stafford, where he has just 10 top fives in 31 races there and yet to win.

Among the drivers looking for a breakthrough: Craig Lutz and Chase Dowling each opened the season with back-to-back top 10s and sit just eight poins behind Bonsingore.

Doug Coby leads active drivers with 10 tour wins in 51 races at Stafford, and will look to get his season back on track in his chase for a sixth NASCAR title. Defending Sizzler winner Ryan Preece has seven wins and is coming off an impressive victory in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway last weekend.

Bobby Santos III is the last driver to win back-to-back Spring Sizzlers (2013 and 2014).

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The maximum starting field is 33 cars, including provisionals.

Qualifying groups will be determined by each vehicle’s overall fastest single lap from the official practice sessions.

The first 27 cars will secure starting positions based on group qualifying session. The remaining six spots will be awarded through the provisional process.

Each group qualifying session will be five (5) minutes in duration and the fastest single lap speed of each vehicle will determine starting positions 1st through 27th. Adjustments or repairs may not be made on a vehicle after the vehicle enters the track to begin the qualifying session. Vehicles may not
return to the track or make any further qualifying laps unless directed to do so by a NASCAR Official or in the event of a caution. If a vehicle returns to pit road, the vehicle’s qualifying attempt is complete.

The NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler 200 will be 200 laps (100 miles). Maximum of three (3) crew members permitted over the wall at any time during the event. Teams may only change one (1) tire on a single pit stop. Teams will be permitted to swap/move tire locations.

The maximum tire allotment available for this event is eleven (11) tires per team. Four (4) tires used for qualifying must be used to begin the race. The tire change rule is four (4) tires, any position.

LOCAL FOCUS

The Spring Sizzler isn’t just the third race on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour calendar, it also marks the opening weekend of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing at Stafford. Keith Rocco is the defending SK Modified champion, taking the title over a pair of rising young starts: Chase Dowling and Ronnie Williams.

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