(Press Release from Thompson Speedway)
Woody Pitkat
The start to the 2018 season hasn’t gone exactly how Woody Pitkat had planned in the Sunoco Modified division at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.
In the first three races, Pitkat had one second-place finish, but finished 11th and 17th in the other two races, and also left the track with a wrecked modified. Last week, as part of the Throwback 100 for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East night at Thompson, Pitkat was able to rebound and finish third.
“I think we’ve found more speed than we ever had with the car, but we’ve had no luck. The first race we got put in the infield, the second race we finished second, and then in the third one we didn’t transfer through the heat race and we got caught in another wreck,” Pitkat said.
Pitkat, the rest of his competitors, and the fans that watched Keith Rocco win the first three Sunoco Modified races of the season know that Rocco has been at the top of his game. Ryan Preece was the first one to knock Rocco off the top this past Saturday, and Pitkat will be hoping to add his name to the list of winners next.
“I kind of thought maybe that night I finished second to him I had something for him, but he’s definitely on his game right now, for sure,” Pitkat said of Rocco. “I think we are getting closer, but right now, he has definitely set the bar pretty high.”
Even though the Sunoco Modified hadn’t gone exactly as planned, the Late Model division was going better for Pitkat. He put together some solid finishes in the first three races, and finished ninth last Saturday night. He currently sits fifth in the championship standings, 24 points from the top, in striking distance.
“We’ve a little bit more luck with the Late Model, we really might be leading if we didn’t get spun out (earlier in the season), but you can’t look at what has happened behind me, we have to look forward,” Pitkat said.
The opportunity to compete in the Late Model ranks gives Pikat a chance to relax a little bit. Although that may sound strange that Pitkat could relax in a race car on the high-banks at the speeds he is going, compared to what he does in the Sunoco Modifieds and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, it provides him with a breath of fresh air.
“That’s what I always liked, when I was running Late Models over at Stafford, it reminded me of running my four wheeler was I younger,” Pitkat said. “It’s a little bit less stressful, and I have a really good team behind me that gives me what I need. I have no pressure doing it, I can just go out there and have fun.”
With just seven races on the schedule this season, Pitkat has enjoyed the chance to spend some time at home with his family during the summer.
“Right now, with my life, my wife, and with the kids, it works good for me,” he said.
Pitkat, the Sunoco Modifieds and the Late Models, will all return to action on Wednesday, August 8, when the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour returns to town for the 29th annual Bud “King of Beers” 150.
For more information on Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, visit www.thompsonspeedway.com, and follow the track via social media.
Really hope Woody can put together a couple of good finishes, and maybe pull off a win before the year ends. I’ve known Woody since he was 10 years old jumping his quad over grams pool. Watched as he went up through the ranks, from Dare, when he used to drive his dare car from his house in Stafford, to Monson for some maintenance, all the way up to the NWMT. He’s a great guy and family man now. Boy how the years fly by
Woody should race at soapybox derby. might be able to win there
uless he race against Jeffrey
I really hope Woody gets a win this year as well..
I’ve been following him a long time… He’s been off ever since that kid that Kieth has drive the 3 roughed him up and moved him. Hopefully he’s not in his head now.
Oh how fickle we fans are. He’s 4th in points in the VMRS series and usually can be found in the front. Not too shabby. Finished 5th in the first Stafford Open with the second best lap time. Forth in points at Thompson with a couple top 5 finishes. Not so good in the NWMT in 6 appearance but it’s hard to impress the new boss with an off the rack suit. So what’s a guy have to do to get a little love from the fans.? He’s doing fine.
He finished 2nd to Kieth the next race out and probably would have one if Kieth didn’t knock his front end out of his car. Would have won the stafford MRS race if there was a caution with 6 to go. Would have one the Loudon MRS race if his team didn’t run him out of fuel.
On the Tour side where do we begin? The list goes on and on with that crap box but when you bring a motor to a 1 mike track that hasn’t been touched in 2 and a half full season’s your not gonna compete with the top 10. Also it seem’s Danny watt bit off more then he can chew and would rather commit his efforts more to the K/N series then the WMT!
Time for Woody to run and try something new
I’m not trying to insult him, I said I want to see him win. Here’s a theory! The 3 takes him out one week and then Kieth takes his front end out the next… Maybe that’s why Kieth pays that kid to drive the 3… To intentionally take Woody out of the championship So Kieth wins it??? Hmmmmmm…
As I’ve said before, I’ve known Woody since he was 10. Throughout his career he’s had some good years, and some that sucked. This year will fall into the sucked category. Woody drives to win races and championships, and although he’s in the top 5 in both divisions at Thompson and the VMRS he will be disappointed about this year. As far as the 82 tour mod, Danny Watts needs to update his equipment, and keep the engine fresh for Woody to have any chance of success.
Love to see Woody win in the Jeff Hartwell owned #91 late model !!!!