(Press release from Stafford Speedway)
Stafford Speedway officials have announced a $33,000 point fund along with plans for a new Stafford Speedway licensing program for Stafford’s 5 weekly divisions. The announcement comes on the heels of the recent announcement that Stafford will no longer be a part of the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series.
“We’ve replaced NASCAR licensing with Stafford Speedway licensing,” explained Stafford Speedway CEO Mark Arute. “Weekly drivers along with crew members will be required to hold a Stafford Speedway license. A portion of Stafford Speedway TV revenue will be used to establish a point fund for all 5 of Stafford’s weekly divisions totaling $33,000.”
With the departure from NASCAR, participants will no longer need to purchase a NASCAR license to compete at Stafford in 2021. All drivers competing in any of Stafford’s 5 weekly racing divisions will be required to hold a Stafford Speedway Driver’s License. Additionally any crew member that participates in infield pitting will be required to hold a Stafford Speedway Crew license. Stafford Speedway licenses can now be purchased online and are offered at a discount rate until March 1, 2021.
The 2021 Stafford Speedway point fund will increase over 60% compared to the 2020 NASCAR awards. In addition, instead of the top 5 in 4 of the divisions receiving awards, the Stafford Speedway Point Fund will include all 5 weekly divisions. The top 15 in the SK Modifieds and the top 10 in Stafford’s other 4 divisions will participate in the point fund. The 2021 point fund will be partially funded by Stafford Speedway TV sales which allocates 25% of every live stream purchased to Stafford Speedway competitors.
The point fund boasts $15,000 in prize money for Stafford’s SK Modified division, $7,500 for the Late Models, $3,900 for the SK Light Modifieds and Limited Late Models, and $2,700 for the Street Stocks.
“By going independent, we are excited about the new direction we are taking and are optimistic about the opportunities that we can pursue,” continued Arute. “The enhanced point fund will benefit 55 teams, instead of the 20 that were previously recognized. This is an effort to reward the teams that race at Stafford weekly. We believe that our weekly race teams are some of the best in the country and will continue to put our focus on strengthening our weekly series.”
Purchase Your 2021 Stafford Speedway License
Nice job by the Arute’s!!!
So, they established a points fund, which is great. The licencing thing, seems to be along the same guidance as NASCAR licencing requirements, hopefully the Stafford license is cheaper especially for crew members, who, for the most part are there only to work on a car unpaid. Maybe Stafford crew license holders could get line a $5 discount on admission or something to make up. After all, without they are the show. No crew, no car, no race. But again great to see the points fund established.
Just checked the Stafford website. $100 for a season license, on March 1st the cost of the license will go up $25. You can purchase a single day license for $25. Don’t know if this is a savings compared to NASCAR or not, but bottom line you need it to race. If I read it right part of the fee will also help finding the points fund.
Sounds like this is a better deal for the Stafford racers. This prompted a curiosity question for me: For the racers and crewmembers that will need NASCAR credentials to participate in the WMT and at other tracks, will those be honored or will they still also need Stafford credentials? I also have a suggestion for adding to the points fund: a weekly 50/50 raffle. There are other tracks out there that add some serious $$ to their points funds that way.
Will be interesting to see the reactions.
For Stafford competitors it’s got to be a win. If you’re an open team you already have a NASCAR license in most cases so this is another expense isn’t it you may not get full utilization from?
Is the 25% TV money getting blurred now being lumped into the point fund?
If I remember correctly the point fund was a way better in the 90’s for the sk’s But I think this is the same or better than the last few years
Fast Eddie,
First, I can’t see any scenario where any NASCAR license will afford anyone entry without a Stafford license. That really wouldn’t even make any sense since the license fees are going toward funding what the previous NASCAR license funded. I would imagine a big chunk of that being insurance coverage. Stafford is going to have to replace insurance coverage that was part of the NASCAR License program. How would they pay for that if they were allowing people entry without a Stafford license?
Second, it is illegal in the state of Connecticut for a private business to operate a 50/50 raffle. That type of thing can only be run by an officially recognized charitable organization. Organization must get permit and run it with state oversight.
Thanks Shawn, the licensing makes sense in that regard. I wasn’t sure how the Open and WMT categories would be affected by the change. It’s too bad raffles are not an option in CT. I know that has a lot to do with the success of Lebanon Valley. Some of the NH tracks have them as well, although I’m not sure who the benefactors are.
What if you’re going into the pits just to observe, and hang with friends, but not part of the crew? Do you need a license?
Knuckles,
Not sure how that will work. I’m sure they’ll be releasing full details on that at some point.
It sounds like the crew license is merely a full season pass to the infield that works just like a season pit pass. A pit pass gets you inside the fence, the crew license gets you in the infield. Regardless, its just another fee…
All the people in the pit area do not have a license. There are clearly friends, family, etc. that fill the pits that are not part of the racing crew.
The license carries the insurance, and binding rules and responsibilities for the participants, and can be revoked to prohibit that person from participating. For example, substance abuse rules and other behaviors detrimental to the conduct of the track, series, etc. If you ever read your license and rulebook you would know this.
As I read it, only drivers and crew members that enter the infield to participate in infield pitting are required to have a license. Those entering the paddock don’t require the license, but will the track charge us additional admission if we don’t have one like they did with not having a nascar license?
knuckles asked:
What if you’re going into the pits just to observe, and hang with friends, but not part of the crew? Do you need a license?
good question!
i’ve always thought that the pits should be off limits to such people you mentioned, but if they are allowed, my guess is that they will need a license….
As I read it Bob is correct. If your division pits in the infield you need a license otherwise you do not need the license. My guess is Safford will charge a few bucks more at the pitgate if you dont have the license.. I read an additional 75 dollar fee for the SKs so 175 for Sk’s drivers, 100 for all the other divisions drivers. Price goes up 25 dollars March 1. It appears the crew member and car owners are $75, They basically rolled in the web broadcast money and licensing money to come up with the point fund. The good news, they plan on paying out to more drivers than Nascar did. Further down in the point standings and more divisions. I would be interested in hearing what a few of the drivers thoughts are on the changes.
If you finish 10th in SK points you get $400. That only pays for the driver ($175), owner ($75) and a mere to crew licenses at $75 each. A driver and three crew members is about the absolute minimum you need to run weekly, so this license bit is a loss for most teams.
A late model team sending an owner and two crew members to the infield is $325 deep with licenses including the driver. To not lose money, that team must finish better than 9th. With a crew of five, then need to finish 6th or better. This does not help a majority of the teams.
Applying the same to a Street Stock team, it costs $175 for a driver ($100) and an owner ($75) with no crew licenses needed due to no infield pitting. They must finish in the top 8 in points to cover their licenses. 10th or better covers that same nut for Limited Late Model and SK Light teams. Again, this does not help a majority of the teams. Happy licensing to all in 2021!
You didn’t need a nascar licence to enter pit , season pass is the way to go ,and with that you have the privilege of purchasing those $5 hot dogs which I think worked out to about $1 per inch , the pit food both was not an improvement for 2020
“What if you’re going into the pits just to observe, and hang with friends, but not part of the crew?”
The paddock is simply a season pass, a NASCAR license has not been required. The “pits”, as in the infield, has required a license for insurance purposes for as long as I know.
Remember, three Friday divisions don’t have crew in the infield at all.
To clarify, the paddock has been a season pass or one day ticket, no NASCAR license has been required,
Great analysis Analyst. Isn’t there one more step? Comparing what the teams would pay and receive back were the NASCAR licensing in place and are they better or worse off with the Stafford program?
All the armchair racers. Let’s hear from a team owner. THEN and only then, will we know how fair/or crappy this is for teams
I think we already have that answer. So far I’m seeing zero blow back on social media and a bunch of likes.
So will teams and owners lose money more or less, and any faster?
Exactly Doug. I believe article said NASCAR paid down to the 5th spot in 4 Divisions. Stafford ADDING a division, AND paying top 10 in 4, and top 15 in SK’s. As a friend of mine who owned a LM on LI. ANY cash is well accepted!! Enough of the Stafford haters and the NASCAR LEMMINGS
ok lets review: larger point fund then nascar’s, cheaper license fees then nascar, and weekly live streaming for teams to showcase themselves… and yet you some of you idiots say not enough! smh
keep complaining you could have nowhere to race or be towing long distance to compete . you have a choice to pay the fee or choose another venue its that simple . racing may be a hobby for the competitor but its strictly business for the track . you have choices. take COVID out of the equation and you still have a ton of cars sitting in garages gathering dust . the cost of racing is expensive . the cost to be COMPETETIVE has skyrocketed. you only need to look in the mirror. modified shocks, modified “crate” engines with engine builders more than willing to cheat for profit . skirting the tire inventory rules etc.. just institute a “claimer” rule for specific parts. use the published MSRP of said component and have at it! .we are fortunate to have the two CT tracks operating right now. forget NASCAR