ERICK RUDOLPH
PREPARES FOR STAFFORD DEBUT
Erick Rudolph and the DeLange Racing team recently made their NASCAR
Whelen Modified Tour debut at Thompson International Speedway in the
2008 Icebreaker. The Lockport, New York team is heading east again this
weekend for another first-time visit to one of the renowned Modified
events. They are entered in the 37th Annual Tech-Net Spring Sizzler
presented by CARQUEST scheduled for April 25, 26, & 27 at famed Stafford
Motor Speedway in Stafford Springs, Connecticut. . Billed as "The
Greatest Race in the History of Spring", the Sizzler kicks off the 2008
season at Stafford. Highlighting the program is a 200-lap event for the
NASCAR Modifieds.
At Thompson, Rudolph adapted capably to the NASCAR series and
the high-banked track. He qualified 25th fastest of the 39 cars on hand
and in the race worked his way up into the top fifteen prior to pitting.
After returning to the track he was an innocent casualty in a restart
crash that sidelined him for the remainder of the race. Despite the
disappointing outcome the Ransomville, New York teenager feels there
were positives that will carry over to Stafford.
"It was our first time not only at the track but also with
the NASCAR process," Rudolph explained. "We learned a lot about how
things work and we'll be better prepared at Stafford. We also gained
some valuable experience in terms of how to set up the racecar for time
trials and then the race that will be beneficial to us. I'm excited to
go to Stafford for the first time and see how we will perform."
Car owner Dave DeLange is a lifelong race enthusiast with a
passion for the Modifieds and looks forward to tackling one of the
division's fabled speedways. "Stafford is one of the most celebrated
tracks in Modified history and the Spring Sizzler is a legendary event
won by many of the top Modified drivers. It's a track and race I've long
dreamed of bringing my cars to compete. I'm really looking forward to
our first visit and I'm anxious to see how Erick and the crew will
measure up. I have no doubt we are ready to meet the challenge. I just
hope we have better weather than we did at Thompson."
Modified action begins on Saturday, April 26 with Coors Light
Pole Qualifying for the Whelen Modified Tour cars at 1:30pm. The Sizzler
program continues on Sunday with the famous Stafford CARQUEST Belts &
Hose Pit Party kicking off the day's activities from 11:00am to noon.
The Whelen Modified Tour 200-lap Tech-Net Spring Sizzler is scheduled to
take the green flag at approximately 2:30pm.