(Press Release from Stafford Speedway)
Ted Christopher (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR)
Since the announcement of the Inaugural TC 13 SK Modified® shootout, scheduled for Friday July 13th in honor of Ted Christopher, the out pouring of support from the Stafford Speedway racing community has been strong.
Stafford Speedway announced a $1,300 payouts to be paid to the winner of the event but was in search of supporters for the remaining purse. Short track racing supporters have stepped up in a big way. NAPA Auto Parts of Tolland, LifeCare Family Chiropractic, Gaston Racing Enterprises, Wheelers Automotive, and George Bierce have each committed $500 to the purse for the July 13th TC 13 Shootout. In addition to the purse donations, Peter Rappoccio from Sign Pro will be sponsoring the winner’s trophy for the TC 13 Shootout.
“We announced this event a few weeks back and the support has been amazing,” explained Stafford Speedway CFO Lisa Arute. “We are looking to get the total purse to $6,000 for the 13 lap shootout. With our current support and previously announced $1,300 winners payout we are at $3,800. We sincerely appreciate all those who have pledged money for this event, it’s a great way to honor Ted and will be a great show for the fans.”
“I read about this race in the paper and I think it’s an awesome idea,” said Ed Nelson, owner of NAPA Tolland. “Giving back to this race is the least we could do. I hope we see more people step up because I think this is going to be an exciting race. If guys are running for the championship, they’re not going to hold back in the 40-lap race so you can invert and start up front for the TC Shootout. I was a big fan of Teddy’s and we actually used to sponsor Mike Christopher years ago. I got to know Teddy on a little more personal basis through sponsoring Mike and this is a great way to remember Teddy, especially right after the Fourth of July holiday. I couldn’t think of a better way to honor Teddy than what Stafford is doing with this race.”
“I’m at Stafford every Friday night, so I’m always looking forward to the races,” said Sean Noel, owner of LifeCare Family Chiropractic. “To have a special race for Teddy is great and I think it’s great that Stafford is honoring his memory and I’m glad to be a part of that. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing how the SK race plays out to set the lineup for the 13-lap shoot out. It’ll be fun to see some of the big hitters like Keith Rocco or Rowan Pennink fight their way to the front from the back. In these types of situations I always say that you don’t have to be a small business to get involved in something like this. If five fans got together and each put up $100, that would be a great way to be involved in a special race that’s honoring who I think is the best driver to have ever raced at Stafford.”
The previously announced TC 13 shootout will be held, Friday July 13th directly following the regularly scheduled 40-lap SK Modified® feature with the top-13 finishers transferring into the shootout. The top-13 will be inverted and the TC 13 shootout will be held with the winner receiving $1,300. Teams will not be allowed to pit following the 40-lap feature and will not be allowed to pit during the shootout.
Any businesses or individuals looking to support the TC 13 Shootout can contact the track office at 860-684-2783 or contact the office via email or social media. In addition to the on track action, Stafford and Bud Light have also lined up plenty of off track action including a Bud Light Happy Hour to be held from the time general admission gate open (5:15pm) to 6:15pm where Bud Light 16 ounce drafts will be $3. After the completion of happy hour, 24 ounce cans will be $2 off for the rest of the evening. Bud Light will also be on hand with a midway display.
With just under 2 weeks left to go until the Bud Light Open Modified 80 and TC 13 Shootout take the green flag, teams are encouraged to contact the speedway office to register for the Mod Open 80-lap event or complete the online form. Tickets for the Bud Light Open Modified 80 are priced at $30.00 for adult general admission, $5.00 for children ages 6-14, and children ages 5 and under are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult. Reserved seat tickets are $32.00 for all ages. All ticket prices include 10% CT Admission Tax. Stafford Motor Speedway offers plenty of free parking along with overnight parking available for self contained Recreational Vehicles.
For more information, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.
THANKS to all the people and businesses that stepped in to support the TC SHOOTOUT. Teddy was an awesome competitor and wether you liked him or hated him, people always watched him pick his way through the field. He not only did well in SK Modifieds, but drove just about everything with wheels, recording wins in many cases. Although he was taken too soon, through events like this his legacy will live on. God bless TC
So now that we’re a week and a couple days out where do we stand.
After seeing the entry list frozen for weeks at 19 the needle has kicked up a bit. Savory, Salzarulo and Silk have joined the list bringing it up to 22. 5 no shows in June Holdridge, Jankowiak, Rufrano, Malaave and Ruocco are still there leaving a baseline of 17 cars not counting the VMRS conflict with Lee. Looks like the strongest VMRS cars will blow off Lee and Silk adding his name is really interesting. Part of the fun is not know who will show and this should be really fun. Initial indications are the field will be weaker numbers wise but still strong in terms of quality. We’ll see.
Staffords doubling down on the Shootout payoff and letting the Open purse languish is probably an indication of a sketchy anticipated Open field of cars. It’s fruitless to second guess the Stafford management but failure to beef up the open race headline number is just baffling. Did they give up and decide to ride the success of the SK’s in to save the day? Who knows but the show is well worth the added clams and not having to watch LLM and LM anemic heats is always a bonus in my book.
I hope that this will be one event we’re only regular drivers are allowed. Please Stafford don’t let outsiders in on this as Ted was A Regular and a weekly driver should only be allowed to win this EVENT.
Oh man Henry are you talking about Preece. He’s the only outsider I could ever envision winning or even getting a top finish. And as a frequent and popular visitor and prior regular are you suggesting he be excluded? That would be tough.
I would consider Preece to be a Stafford regular, up till 2016 he had raced there weekly. It was the opportunity to drive in Xfinity that stopped him from racing there, same with last year. It’s the toilet bowl drivers that would be considered outsiders, along with a few Thompson teams. But I do agree NO outsiders in the shoorout
TC was an outsider… he invaded at other tracks. Racers are racers, let them race and welcome all of them.
DAREAL
TC was juat better than others ..
Hey dareal kinda like my iq is a bit higher than most
I got a lot of $$$$
DAREAL
TC was juat better than others ..
Hey dareal kinda like my iq is a bit higher than most
I got a lot of $$$$
Malave was there but had to withdraw after mechanical issues during practice.
OK Sharpie so Malave may be in and Dana DiMetteo just signed up so an informal base line is 19 cars. That’s OK so far isn’t it?