(Press Release from Stafford Motor Speedway)
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The 48th edition of the NAPA Spring Sizzler® at Stafford Speedway will see a Sizzler® legend return to the half-mile facility. Bob Polverari, the winner of the 10th NAPA Spring Sizzler back in 1981, will serve as the Grand Marshal of this year’s NAPA Spring Sizzler® and will send the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour field on its way with the most famous words in motorsports, “Drivers, start your engines.”
“It’s an honor to be the Grand Marshal of this year’s Sizzler®,” said Polverari. “I was very happy when Mark Arute gave me a call and asked me to be the Grand Marshal. I’m looking forward to giving the command and I’m very honored that Mark asked me to do it.”
Polverari’s 1981 Sizzler victory still holds as the greatest Sizzler® in history. Polverari began the 80-lap race from the 13th position and didn’t take the lead for the first time until lap-71, when Maynard Troyer dropped out of the race with a faulty clutch. Troyer had inherited the lead on lap-58 from Richie Evans, who earlier in the day had set a new track record in qualifying. Evans was the race favorite and held the race lead from laps 24-57, after starting 10th due to a 10-car invert from qualifying. A flat tire brought him to pit road under caution on lap-58 and Evans had to restart at the rear of the field. The #61 quickly charged back towards the front but it looked like he might run out of time before he got back to the lead. A caution with 4 laps remaining for a spin on the frontstretch by George LeBlanc gave Evans the opportunity he needed to reclaim the lead. Evans quickly took second from Reggie Ruggiero on the restart and he and Polverari proceeded to treat the standing room only crowd of over 13,000 to to a thrilling duel, racing side by side for the final four laps. The dynamic duo came off the fourth turn heading towards the checkered flag still side by side with Polverari nipping the “Rapid Roman” by a nose at the finish line with the official margin of victory listed as approximately one foot.
“It was a lot of years ago, but I remember that race like it happened yesterday,” said Polverari. “The biggest reason why I can’t ever forget it was that Richie was a great friend of mine and to be running up front with him and the caliber of drivers like Reggie Ruggiero, George Kent, Maynard Troyer, and Corky Cookman, it was a great day and it was a great race to win. You go to every race thinking you’re going to win and I was only able to win a few races at Stafford so it was something that wasn’t going to happen every day. I had run second in the past at the Sizzler racing for Don Flynn, so I knew we were capable of winning the race. Plus when you’re racing against drivers like I just mentioned, that also lessens your chance of winning. But we were very fortunate that day, the car was set up just right and we had everything going for us. The big trick was to stay low and don’t let those guys get underneath you to get an advantage and the opposite of that is what happened. Richie was able to get to my inside and we ran a couple laps side by side and how I came out ahead coming out of the fourth turn I’ll never know, but we beat him to the line by a couple of inches. I’d say that Sizzler® win was definitely at the top of the races I won in my career.”
In 12 Career NAPA Spring Sizzler® starts, Polverari scored 1 win, 3 top-5, and 6 top-10 finishes. Polverari’s 1981 Sizzler® victory was one of three modified wins he had in his career at Stafford. Polverari really made a name for himself at Riverside Park Speedway, recording five modified track championships and 4 wins in the prestigious Riverside 500. Polverari began his Riverside career in 1954 and fittingly won the final modified feature event held at Riverside in 1999. Polverari is a 2003 inductee into the NEAR Hall of Fame.
“I loved Riverside,” said Polverari. “I raced there for a lot of years and the track just kind of grew on me. Winning the last race at Riverside was a big day for me and my car owners at the time. I started racing at Riverside when I was 16 years old and to win the last race there was fitting and it really meant a lot for me. There’s not a day that has gone by since I got out of racing in 2005 that I haven’t missed being behind the wheel.”
The NAPA Spring Sizzler® spans 3 days kicking off Friday, April 26th with a full afternoon of practice for Stafford’s weekly divisions. The weekend continues Saturday, April 27 with qualifying for all divisions including group qualifying for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour as well as feature racing for the Vintage All-Stars, Limited Late Models and Street Stocks. New for 2019, the Saturday Street Stock feature will be a 30 lap special event as part of the RMSPCO.com Street Stock Triple Crown. Sizzler® weekend is capped off Sunday, April 28 with the NAPA Auto Parts Pit Party and feature racing for the SK Modifieds®, Late Models, SK Light Modifieds, and finally the NAPA Spring Sizzler® 200 for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
Tickets for the “Greatest Race in the History of Spring” are on sale now by calling the Speedway Box Office 860-684-2783 or online at www.staffordspeedway.com. Discount NAPA Spring Sizzler® tickets that include access to the NAPA lunch buffet are available at participating NAPA Auto Parts Stores. For a full list of participating locations throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont, please call the speedway office or point your web browser to www.staffordmotorspeedway.com/participating-napa-auto-parts-stores
You read it right – 13k fans. No empty seats. What are they doing wrong today?
Is it true that Bob has the fastest modified lap time at Thompson?
I remember that day. Great race. Afterwards in the clubhouse, Bob actually took the time to build a beer cup castle with my younger brother, who was about 6 years old at the time. Made my brothers day, still have the pictures. Fast forward to 1998, and I find out my fiance is good freinds with Bob, who she calls sneakers. Small world.
Inverting the top 10. Why not do that now?
Great guy, one time at Riverside when the Sk’s were running, we came in to the pits during a caution for repair. we pulled up to the gate to go backout and the gate person would not open the gate. While arguing with the gate keeper to open it, Bob Polverari who was watching the altercation walked right pass the gate person and opened it himself. Great times- Thanks again Bob. I was at that Sizzler Race also, the whole place standing and cheering till the checker. Will never forget the Great Memories that Polverari gave me during his career.
Bob, you are also one of the all time greats. Just like all those you mentioned in this article. You and the 711 are legendary.
Bob is one of the nicest, out going people that I have ever met. Good for him, I was there when he won. (I have to admit I wanted Richie to win) . First class act and hats off to Bob Go 711