Monaco Ford SK Light Double Down Driver Preview At Stafford Speedway


(Press release from Stafford Speedway)

Tyler Chapman has won all three SK Light Modified events this season (Photo: Jim DuPont/RaceDayCT)

This Friday, May 24, will see Stafford Speedway’s SK Lights take center stage with the first of two scheduled extra distance 40-lap feature events with the Monaco Ford Double Down.  Stafford’s SK Light division has seen a total of 40 different drivers attempt to qualify through the first three races of the season.  Here we take a look at each of those 40 drivers and offer their driving stats at Stafford along with car number, sponsor, and chassis.

Tyler Chapman – #41 Chapman Apartment Home Troyer – Chapman and the #41 team have picked up in 2024 right where they left off in 2023.  Chapman won the final 2 points paying SK Light races of the 2023 season and they have won each of the first three races of the 2024 season for 5 consecutive victories.  Chapman’s dominance has seen him earn a maximum 150 of 150 points available and he enters the Monaco Ford Double Down leading the standings by 10 points.

Brian Sullivan – #46 Monaco Ford Chassis Dynamics – The 2020 SK Light track champion has opened the 2024 season with three consecutive podium finishes consisting of one second place and two third place efforts.  Sullivan won the 40-lap Double Down feature event last season which was his first extra distance feature victory of his Stafford career.

Chris Matthews – #29 Vernon Chevrolet Chassis Pro – Matthews is the 2007 SK Light champion and he is also the all-time winningest SK Light driver with 20 career feature wins.  Matthews comes into the Monaco Ford Double Down with three top-5 finishes in the first three races, including back to back podium efforts.  Matthews has one extra distance win to his credit, winning the Dunleavy’s Modifiedz Night 40-lap feature back in 2022.

Ron Midford, Jr. – #76 Constantine Paving and Sealing Bolles Race Cars – Midford is a graduate of Wild Thing Karts now in his third full season in the SK Lights. Midford has enjoyed a great start to the 2024 season with a second place finish in the season opening race to go along with 12th and 7th place finishes in the first 3 races.

Chris Viens – #19 Win Waste Innovations Spafco  Viens has driven part-time at Stafford for 4 SK Light seasons and 1 SK Modified® season.  After a 12th place finish to open the 2024 season, Viens posted back to back top-8 finishes on May 17th to elevate himself to fifth in the points standings.

Nickolas Hovey – #16 Busy Bees Learning Center Troyer – Hovey began his second season of SK Light competition with back to back top-6 finishes before a 23rd place finish dropped him down to sixth in the SK Light standings going into the Monaco Ford Double Down.  Hovey is a 3-time Street Stock feature winner at Stafford and he won his first SK Light race in the non-points season ending feature at last year’s NAPA Fall Final.  

Meghan Fuller – #2 Propane Plus / P.T. Watts TFR – After a disappointing 34th place finish to open the season on May 10th, Fuller has rebounded nicely with consecutive top-5 finishes in last Friday night’s SK Light doubleheader.  Fuller has 10 career Street Stock victories at Stafford and she recorded her first SK Light feature win last August.

Peter Bennett – #50 Bennett Racing – Bennett returns to Stafford’s SK Light ranks after 2 seasons away and he posted finishes of 9th and 6th in last Friday night’s SK Light doubleheader after finishing 32nd in the season opening event.  Bennett is still in search of his first SK Light win with a best finish of 2nd coming back in his rookie season of 2020.

Paul Arute – #82 Supreme Industries Chassis Pro – Arute kicked off his second season of SK Light competition with a 6th and 10th place finish before finishing 30th in the second SK Light feature last Friday night.  Arute has raced in everything but an SK Modified® at Stafford and he has 9 career wins with 6 coming in the Limited Late Model division, and 3 in the Late Model division, including the 2018 Late Model 50-lapper.

Tyler Alkas – #89 Alkas Motorsports Spafco – Alkas opened his 2024 season with back to back 8th place finishes before finishing 32nd in the second SK Light feature last Friday night.  Alkas is in his third season of SK Light competition at Stafford and he has 1 win to his credit, coming back in August 2022.

Amanda West – #15 McKinney Construction Chassis Pro  West scored a fifth place finish in the second SK Light feature last Friday night after opening with finishes of 18th and 19th.  West is still in search of her first SK Light victory in her now sixth full season.

Frank L’Etoile, Jr. – #88 J.G. Poulin Drywall Troyer – L’Etoile is a 3-time Street Stock track champion at Stafford with 15 career wins (14 Street Stock, 1 Limited Late Model).  L’Etoile notched his first top-10 finish of the 2024 season last Friday night after finishing 14th and 21st in the first 2 races. 

Nick Anglace – #10 Anglace Racing Enterprises Anglace Chassis – Anglace has a best finish of 9th place through the first 3 races of the 2024 season.  Anglace has 2 career SK Light feature wins with both wins coming back in the 2021 season.

Robert Bloxsom, III – #32 Robert’s Painting Troyer – After trying his hand at open modified racing for the past several seasons, Bloxsom returns to the SK Light division for the first time since the 2020 season.  Bloxsom notched his first top-10 finish last Friday night with a 9th place run to go along with finishes of 25th and 13th.  Bloxsom has 2 career Limited Late Model feature wins at Stafford coming back in 2016 and 2017.

Casey Vogt – #75 Jim Chiapponni Chassis Pro – Vogt opened the 2024 season with 7th place finish and he has followed that up with finishes of 17th and 27th.  Vogt is in his fourth season of SK Light competition and he is looking for his first feature win.

Cassandra Cole – #09 Norse Inc. / Whelen Engineering Spafco – Cole’s best finish thus far of the 2024 season was a 14th place effort last Friday night.  Cole is now in her 8th season of SK Light competition and is still looking for her first win.

Alexander Pearl – #7 Darling Auto Parts Spafco – Pearl has had a less than desirable start to the 2024 season with finishes of 22nd and 24th sandwiching his best finish of 4th.  Pearl has 11 career SK Light feature wins and is looking to capture his first extra distance victory.

Josh Morrison – #35 Tolland County Foundation Replacement Chassis Pro –The two-time Sr. Outlaw Champion of Wild Thing Karts enters his second season of SK Light racing, and he has a best finish of 12th in the first 3 races of the 2024 season.

Bob Charland – #1 Wicked Powersports Troyer – Charland has had a rough start to the 2024 season with finishes of 27th, 16th, and 15th.  Charland has 3 career SK Light wins with one win each during the 2011, 2012, and 2013 seasons.

Joey Ferrigno – #87 Metro Garage Door Chassis Dynamics – Ferrigno is second on the SK Light All-Time Winners List with 17 career wins, 3 wins behind Chris Matthews and he is also the 2005 Street Stock champion and he has 25 career Stafford feature wins.  Ferrigno has recorded finishes of 11th, 24th, and 33rd through the first 3 races of the 2024 season.

Carsten Cole – #31 Whelen Engineering Spafco – The older brother of Cassandra Cole made his SK Light debut at the end of the 2023 season and is now in his first full season of competition.  Cole has posted finishes of 17th, 33rd, and 18th in his first three races.  Cole is the leading SK Light rookie contender through the first three races.

Sami Anderson #21 AZ Roofing Troyer – Anderson is in her 6th season of SK Light competition and she has posted finishes of 28th, 22nd, and 13th in the first 3 races of the 2024 season.

Jason Chapman – #44 Chapman Apartment Homes Troyer – Chapman was the 2022 SK Light Rookie of the Year and he has posted finishes of 24th, 37th, and 11th in the first 3 races of the 2024 season.

Wade Gagner – #70 Maybury Material Handling LFR – Gagner is back for a second full SK Light season after having raced Street Stocks and Late Models in the ‘80s and ‘90s.  Gagner has 3 career Late Model and 1 Street Stock win at Stafford and he posted a 10th place finish in the first race followed by a 32nd place finish in the second race.  Due to a crash in that second SK Light race, Gagner didn’t start the third race.

Matt Brewer – #51 S.A.B. Tree Experts Chassis Dynamics – Now in his second season, Brewer has a best finish of 11th to go along with finishes of 33rd and 34ththis season.

Norm Sears – #98 Sears & Son Landscaping / Arbitell Racing Chassis Pro – Sears is a 3-time Stafford Street Stock champion with 10 career Street Stock wins and 5 career Limited Late Model wins.  Sears has been racing SK Lights since 2015 and he is still looking for his first win.  Sears has twice finished 23rd this season along with a 16th place finish.

Paul Arcari – #55 Arcari Motor Sales Chassis Pro – Arcari is now in his second full season of SK Light competition with finishes of 13th, 27th, and 28th this season.  His 13th place finish in the season opener is his best career SK Light finish to date.

Anthony Forino – #52 Rubbos Auto Center Chassis Dynamics – Forino has been racing SK Lights since 2020 and his best career finish was 9th in October 2020.  Forino has posted finishes of 20th, 28th, and 19th this season.

Ed Chicoski – #45 Chicoski Racing Chassis Pro – Chicoski has driven part time in the SK Light division every year since 2017 and his best career finish was an 8th place effort in Sept. 2017.  Chicoski has finishes of 16th, 30th, and 26th this season.

Stephen Kalogiannis – #42 Joining Technologies Troyer – Kalogiannis was an SK Light rookie during the 2023 season with a best finish of 9th.  Kalogiannis has posted finishes of 30th, 18th, and 25th this season.


Alina Bryden – #48 Maybury Material Handling Troyer – Bryden is in the midst of her 7th season of SK Light racing and she is still looking for her first feature win.  Bryden has posted finishes of 25th and 17th in 2 starts this season.

Mark Massirio – #99 Connecticut Collision Center Chassis Dynamics – Massirio made his SK Light debut this season and through 3 races he has posted finishes of 19th, 26th, and 29th.

Austin Goff – #07 A+ Fire Protection Chassis Dynamics – Goff made his SK Light debut with a 20th place finish at the end of last season in preparation for his rookie campaign this year.  Goff has thus far posted finishes of 29th, 31st, and 20th.  

Chris Bagnall – #77 Advanced Auto Repair Spafco – The 6 year SK Light veteran is still in search of his first victory at Stafford and he has posted finishes of 21st, 38th, and 31st in the first 3 races of 2024.

Mike Parolo – #72 Multi Mode Logistics Chassis Dynamics – Parolo has made part-time SK Light starts in the 2010, 2011, 2013, 2022, and 2023 with 1 top-10 finish in 27 races.  Parolo has posted finishes of 26th, 29th, and 21st in the first 3 races of the 2024 season.

Aiden D’Agata – #8 Rose Brothers Garage Spafco – D’Agata is a Wild Thing Karts graduate that is joining the 2024 SK Light rookie class.  D’Agata has finishes of 31st, 39th, and 35th this season.

Steve Midford – #3 Constantine Paving and Sealing Chassis Pro – Midford has one season of Limited Late Model competition under his belt at Stafford and he made his SK Light debut last season with a single start that yielded a 19th place finish.  Midford has finishes of 35th and 34th in 2 starts this season.

Dean Lambros – #67 Metro Garage Door Chassis Dynamics – Driving Joey Ferrigno’s #67 car, Lambros has made one start this season that resulted in a 35thplace finish.

Pete Lopuch – #71 Jensen Tire & Auto Troyer – Lopuch has been a part-time SK Light driver since the 2011 season and his lone start of the 2024 season thus far resulted in a 36th place finish.

David Webb – #92 Webb Racing LFR – Webb has dabbled as both a full-time and part-time driver in Stafford’s SK Light  and SK Modified® divisions since 2007.  Webb has 3 career SK Light wins with 2 wins coming in 2009 and a single win in 2010.  Webb did not start the one race he has been in attendance for during the 2024 season due to mechanical issues.

Stafford’s SK Modifieds®, Late Models, Limited Late Models, and Street Stocks will join the SK Lights in feature action this Friday night, May 24.  Tickets for the May 24 Monaco Ford SK Light Double Down program are available now online at StaffordSpeedway.com/tickets and tickets will also be available for purchase at the admission gates.  Tickets are $25.00 for adults, $5.00 for kids 6-14, and free for kids 5 & under.  Reserved seating is priced at $30.00 for all ages and pit passes are $40.00 with a valid 2024 Stafford Competition License and $45.00 without a Stafford license.  If you are unable to attend the event, tune into the live stream on FloRacing, the official streaming partner of Stafford Speedway. 

For more information, visit staffordspeedway.com, follow Stafford Speedway on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or contact the track office at 860-684-2783.

Comments

  1. Why hasn’t Chapman’s engine been removed at sent to a Dyno to be checked ? be win one – Congratulations, win 2 we take a closer look, win three in a row you take the engine comes out

  2. Enduro 59 says

    Of the 40 aforementioned 32 have a near zero chance of ever winning a car race of any kind. I used the word near because with such large fields Stafford could have a Talladega big one and one of the 32 could catch “lightning in a bottle”. Nothing against any of them because history has proven that it takes all kinds to have a thriving local short track program or a touring series.
    Stafford has chosen to mandate that anyone running SK lights must use a Chevy Performance 602 crate engine from RAD. That is good for RAD but not so good for any other engine builder that would like to build a compatible low power engine to race in that class. Also bad for any resourceful team that would like to supply their own sealed 602 engine. That is Stafford’s prerogative to make the rules of their choosing and Stafford’s track record stands on it’s own two feet. I just wanted to make the case that one supplier rules obviously leaves out other potential suppliers.
    Unlike ACT with the embarrassment at New Hampshire of an approved supplier’s engine being found illegal upon close scrutiny, Stafford should not feel compelled to take a closer look at anything on Chapman’s engine other than the RAD seals since RAD is the single source; right? EIRI the same small percentage of people are going to win the large percentage of the races no matter what the rules are. In Shawn’s article above I counted 8 different chassis providers. I wonder how 7 of them would react if they were told only one chassis would be allowed and it ain’t theirs.
    Congrats to Tyler Chapman on winning two in a row. Not trying in any way to hijack the comments on this article; just thinking out loud about a problem I see with Crate engines.

  3. Enduro 59,
    Just a quick glance through the list I found nine of the 40 on the list actually already have SK Light Modified wins at Stafford and 14 of the drivers on the list have wins in other regular weekly divisions at Stafford.

  4. Suitcase Jake says

    This is the type of race that the # 7 Alex Pearl should excel in .. He has great command and patience behind the wheel .. Cruise and Cash … Look for the # 7 to be there in the end … My pick to Win this 40 lap race ..

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