(Press Release from NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications)
Chase Dowling (Photo: Jim DuPont)
If Chase Dowling and Co. are going to catch Justin Bonsignore, they’re running out of time. They need to start making progress Friday at Stafford with the Starrett Tools 150. The race marks the official start of the second half of the season and is the first of three races in 14 days.
Starrett 150 LogoDowling won the pole, led 69 laps and finished second in the NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler 200. Bonsignore was eighth, his only finish outside of the top five this season. But the Long Island driver has built a 32-point lead over Dowling and 66 over third-place Timmy Solomito after eight of 16 races.
Spring Sizzler winner Ryan Preece, who has taken home three of the last four tour races at Stafford, will miss the race to run the NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Watkins Glen. That opens the door for a new winner. In addition to Dowling, Craig Lutz and Ronnie Williams Jr. are among the top candidates to score their first tour win Friday night.
Williams has dominated the SK Modified Division at Stafford this year, building a 62-point cushion on multi-time champion Keith Rocco. Lutz is looking to bounce back from a 19th-place finish at New Hampshire, and was fifth at Stafford in the April after winning the pole in this event last year.
RACE: STARRETT TOOLS 150
PLACE: Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway
DATE: Friday. Aug. 3
TIME: 9:15 p.m. ET
TRACK LAYOUT: Half-mile oval
2017 WINNER: Ryan Preece
2017 POLE: Craig Lutz
EVENT SCHEDULE: Friday — Garage Opens: 1:45 p.m., Practice: 4-4:30 p.m.; Final Practice: 5:10-5:40 a.m.; Group Qualifying: 6:35 p.m.; Starrett Tools 150: 9:15 p.m.
TWITTER: @StaffordSpeedwy
HASHTAG: #Starrett150 #NWMT
CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The maximum starting field is 31 cars, including provisionals.
The first 25 cars will secure starting positions based on the group qualifying session for the STARRETT TOOLS 150. 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 25th. 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.
Vehicles will proceed immediately to inspection after making qualifying attempt. Vehicles will be impounded after qualifying/inspection. Vehicle must qualify on race set up.
The Starrett 150 will be 150 laps (75 miles).
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.
Leave a Reply