Todd Owen goes into tonight’s SK Modified feature at Stafford Speedway holding a 106-point lead in the division standings over second place Marcello Rufrano.
Including tonight’s feature, three SK Modified events remain on the schedule for 2022 at Stafford. Rufrano is the only other driver not already mathematically eliminated from the championship hunt.
If Owen finishes the night tonight with a 102-point lead over Rufrano it would clinch his second consecutive SK Modified championship at Stafford.
Owen’s domination of the standings this year came thanks to a consistency that punished the rest of the competition.
Owen’s only victory thus far in 2022 came in the season opening event for the division on April 24. In 18 starts this season Owen has eight podium finishes, 13 top-five’s and 17 top-10’s. His only finish outside the top-10 was an 11th place on June 3.
Overall Owen has an average finish in 2022 at Stafford of 4.6. In the last 14 events he has an average finish of 4.1 with only one finish worse than sixth during that span, a ninth place on Aug. 19. Of his 13 top-five finishes in 2022, 10 of them have come in the last 11 events.
I think he will Win now he can take a few chances on the Track with the Championship in the bag ……Took a page out of the Alan Kulwicki book
leading the points and taking the 1992 Championship with consistent finishes
to Win by 10 points… If you were not around in 1992- Go to Wikipedia and read the story there. He was offered a million dollars to drive for Junior
Johnson and turned him down twice. He was one of the FIRST to bring
SCIENCE into nascar like Smokey Yunick . Alan was an Engineer and was
more interested in running his OWN TEAM . Last guy to Win the Title being a Owner & Driver single car team. The last race he finished 3rd with Elliot Winning the race . Alan lost the gears in the transmission and had to leave it in 4th gear and hold his breath most of the race that the metal wouldn’t get tangled and wreck 4th gear.. It’s an edge of your seat story.. Put Underdog on the nosecone instead of Thunderbird for the last race, Symbolizing His 278 point comeback to Win in 1992… I highly recommend reading Alans Wikipedia page, He was faced with tremendous challenges growing up and He rose to the top.. He did it His way … Gave us the “POLISH VICTORY LAP” that will forever be with us in Racing .. Much like Todd Owen , does it His way with Chassis Pro .. Racers Racer.. Races Clean as Possible…Piles up consistent finishes week after week….Whats not to like ? Stafford should be quite PROUD to have Owen represent them as SK Champion ….
Suitcase Jake,
To take your comment one step further and tie it all together, Stafford native Peter Jellen was the hauler driver and a crew member for Alan Kulwicki. Peter grew up around Stafford Speedway before moving south. Interestingly, despite his involvment in short track racing, Peter did not move down south looking for work in racing, but ended up going over to volunteer to help Kulwicki’s team. Peter ended up carving out a long and successful career at the top levels of NASCAR, including many years working as a hauler driver and over the wall crew member for Joe Gibbs Racing Cup Series teams. Here’s a story about Peter taking Alan’s truck around Bristol the day after his death: Remembering a team’s emotional tribute to NASCAR champ and boss Alan Kulwicki.
Todd has earned this apparent Track Championship, and it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. He’s a very smart driver, who will not take the unnecessary chance, and bring what is always a pristine piece, back in that same pristine condition. Well deserved Todd!!!
Jake…just for the record,Kulwicki’s had “underbird” on the front fascia for the last race.
Excellent story , I didn’t know about Peter Jellen , Just goes to show how much everyone loves the ” UNDERDOG ” People will go out of their way to help underfunded teams…. Truly a David vs Goliath .. Independent team against the Monster Funded Teams of Nascar… I always pull for ” Old Blue ” for those very reasons… still doing it their own way…thanks for the story
I know of an underdog I lived at 771 Woodtick rd Waterbury CT a half mile away was a Race shop Chassis Dynamics I was 12-13 I met Mike Plaquette Mike had a SK and he would work all week to afford to race on Fridays. I remember one year the fall finale he wrecked the car on Saturday spent all night getting it back to go back racing on Sunday. He kept with his job at CD and now he runs the place. So to me Mike P. Is an underdog that made it. I wish to one day meet Mike again to tell him thanks for being a welcome face growing up
Mike Paquette was in the pits at Stafford yesterday.