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8/19/2010 |
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NEW CHAPTER TO
BE WRITTEN IN STAFFORD MODIFIFED HISTORY WITH INAUGURAL
SHARK CYCLE 100 MODIFIED RACING SERIES EVENT |
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 Stafford
Motor Speedway has hosted modified racing since 1959 with races on dirt and
asphalt including all different types of modifieds such as Whelen Modified
Tour cars, ISMA Supermodifieds, Pro-4 Modifieds, SK Modifieds, and SK Light
Modifieds. On Friday, September 10th, a new chapter will be written in the
SMS Modified history book with the Inaugural Shark Cycle 100 for the
Modified Racing Series.
Formerly the True Value Modified Series, the series has grown from a 14-race
schedule in its first season in 2004 to its current 19-race schedule with
over 70 cars registered to race during the 2010 season. The 2010 Modified
Racing Series season has seen exceptional parity on the track with 10
different winners in 12 races. Only Les Hinckley and Steven Masse have
managed to win more than one race thus far during the 2010 season and fans
can expect to see a great battle for the checkered flag in the Shark Cycle
100 at Stafford with a mix of series veterans and outsiders alike, with some
of the “outsiders” having much more experience at Stafford than the
regulars.
“I would say we have an advantage because we know the track a lot better,”
said Jeff Malave, who will bring his #3 Davidson Co. / TSI Harley-Davidson
sponsored car to the race. “I can’t wait for the race, I love racing with
these guys. They always seem to have clean races and I love racing at
Stafford, so to bring the M.R.S. there will be a double positive for me. The
combination of Stafford and the M.R.S. is perfect.”
“I’m looking forward to it, Stafford is a nice facility, good track, it has
good grip, it’s going to be a good race,” said defending Modified Racing
Series Champion Jon McKennedy, driver of the #73 McKennedy Racing car. “I
ran there once with the super and a handful of times with the modified, so I
might have a little bit of an advantage over guys who haven’t been there
before, but its like any other track, after a few practices most of the guys
will adapt pretty quick. I hope we can put on a good show and be able to go
back there, it’s certainly a great facility.”
“Stafford will be a big venue for our series and it will be important to us
since we’re from Connecticut,” said Les Hinckley. “Stafford is the closest
track to us and we put a lot of emphasis on the Connecticut races because we
have a lot of friends and family that come to the races. It’s definitely a
big deal and we’re looking forward to it.”
Although Hinckley is tied with Masse for the division lead in wins, he
remembers his previous Stafford experience as a not so fond experience, but
he looks to have better results with his #06 CMR Racing team.
“I raced a ProStock at Stafford a couple of times in 1997, but I don’t know
if you could call what we did racing,” said Hinckley. “It was pretty ugly,
but that was a long time ago and a totally different deal. I would have
liked to put together a deal to run an SK there a couple of times before we
show up to run our race, but nothing has really materialized yet. I think
that guys will be able to pick it up pretty quick. Stafford is a technical
type of track, so the guys that have laps there will have an edge on us to
start with, but we’ve been to plenty of new tracks and picked up on it right
away, so I think we’ll have a good ballpark setup for when we unload and
we’ll be ok.”
For the Shark Cycle 100, half of the battle will be getting qualified for
the 100-lap main event. Unlike other touring series, the Modified Racing
Series qualifies their cars through heat races, which are determined by the
luck of the draw from a hat.
“We pick out of a hat for qualifying, and a lot of time it’s the luck of the
draw,” said Malave. “We had 34 cars [at Waterford] and they’re all good
cars. We drew 44 for qualifying, so it definitely makes you work a lot
harder to get into the show. I think there will be more opportunities for
passing at Stafford, so it may not be as big a factor as it is on some of
the smaller tracks that the MRS runs at if you draw a high number for
qualifying.”
With the parity that has existed on the MRS tour this season, fans could be
in for a treat as there could very well be some heavy hitters starting
towards the rear of the field that will have to hustle their way through
traffic to be a contender for the checkered flag.
“It’s pretty hard to win, the competition has really stepped up from last
year,” said McKennedy. “We’ve been averaging around 30 cars per event and
the whole field is only separated by 2 or 3 tenths of a second. Almost every
week there’s a different winner. There’s still the same 10 or 15 guys that
are up front every week but now if you’re off just a little it really shows
where in the past if you were off a little, you could still get away with a
good solid finish.”
Having run an ISMA Supermodifed as well as a Whelen Modified Tour car in the
past at Stafford, McKennedy offers his take on what it will take to reach
CARQUEST Victory Lane in the Shark Cycle 100.
“You need a good handling car and you need to keep the car on the bottom,”
said McKennedy. “If you watch the guys who run good at Stafford, they’re way
down below the apron and the key is to keep the car turning and keep it low
in the corners.”
Tickets for the Inaugural Shark Cycle Modified Racing Series 100 event at
Stafford Motor Speedway are on sale now and are priced at $20.00 for Adult
General Admission, $5.00 for Children Ages 6-14 General Admission, $23.00
for Reserved Seating, and $35.00 for Pit Passes. Tickets can be ordered by
calling the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or by
logging onto the Online Ticket Sales section of
www.staffordspeedway.com.
Shark Cycle is located at 11 Willington Ave. in Stafford Springs,
Connecticut. Shark Cycle’s showroom is stocked with Victory Motorcycles,
Polaris and Arctic Cat ATVs, Rangers, Prowlers and Snowmobiles as well as a
complete inventory of used street bikes, repairable motorcycles and ATVs.
Shark Cycle has a large selection of clothing and accessories to customize
your motorcycle and/or ATV. Shark Cycle's Service Department is staffed with
full-time certified and experienced service technicians with extensive
experience diagnosing and servicing Motorcycles, ATVs, Snowmobiles, and Dirt
Bikes. Shark Cycle’s Service Departments are open Monday-Friday from 9:00 am
to 6:00 pm, and Saturday by appointment. Call Shark Cycle at 860-684-7763 to
make an appointment for service.
For more information, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at
860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at
www.staffordspeedway.com. |
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Source: Scott Running
/ Stafford Motor Speedway
Posted: August
19, 2010 |
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