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04/02/2011 |
RONNIE
WYCKOFF RECALLS
INAUGURAL SPRING SIZZLER AT STAFFORD |
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TheWith
the 40th Annual CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler
less than a month away, the excitement and
anticipation of “The Greatest Race in the History of
Spring” continues to build. As part of the
celebration of the 40th edition of the CARQUEST
Tech-Net Spring Sizzler, Stafford Speedway is
reaching out to drivers who were part of the
inaugural starting lineup to be part of a special
pre-race show. This week’s Sizzler spotlight falls
on Ronnie Wyckoff, who drove Bill Simons’ #9a
“Excavator Special” in the very first Sizzler in
1972.
Wyckoff was a well-known modified pilot in his time,
taking the wheel for some of the top car owners of
the era. Wyckoff starred at Plainville Stadium and
he was a multi-time winner of the Riverside 500 as
well as recording feature victories at tracks
throughout New England. Wyckoff was one of the lucky
33 drivers who qualified for the initial Sizzler,
which had over 100 modifieds in the pits, and he
came home in 12th place, 2 laps behind winner Fred
DeSarro.
“That was a long time ago and I don’t remember that
much about the race, but the best part of the
weekend was the fact that we made the race,” said
Wyckoff. “With all the cars that were at Stafford
that weekend, I was happy to just be in the starting
field. Stafford always had the best drivers and the
best cars, and that Sizzler had the best from the
North all the way down to Virginia. It was a great
group of people, the track was always a first-class
facility, and that is why everyone wanted to race
there. I drove for Bill Simons and we were a low
buck team, we had a small group of guys working on
the car out of a garage at Simons Excavation. When
you came to Stafford, you were racing with the big
boys like Eddie Flemke, Bugsy Stevens, Fred DeSarro,
Leo Cleary, and anytime you got to race with those
guys, it was a good time. I remember Stafford having
nice people, good food, and a good track, we had a
lot of fun going around in circles at Stafford.”
The 40th Annual CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler
gets underway Friday, April 29 with a practice
session for Stafford’s weekly divisions. The
practice session will be open to the public at no
charge. The run for the Coors Light Pole position
gets underway on Saturday, April 30 with time trials
for the Whelen Modified Tour cars, along with heat
and consolation races for Stafford’s weekly
divisions. In the 31 Spring Sizzler events run since
1980, the fast qualifier has gone on to win the race
7 times. Saturday will conclude with feature events
for the SK Light, Limited Late Model, and DARE Stock
divisions. The Sizzler concludes on Sunday, May 1
with the CARQUEST Belts and Hose Pit Party followed
by Stafford’s SK Modifieds® and Late Models joining
the Whelen Modified Tour in feature action.
Tickets for the “Greatest Race in the History of
Spring” are on sale now at the Speedway Box Office.
Tickets are priced at $35.00 for adult general
admission tickets, $5.00 for children ages 6-14, and
children ages 5 and under are admitted free of
charge when accompanied by an adult. Reserved
seating is priced at $38.00 for all ages. As always,
Stafford Motor Speedway offers free parking with
overnight parking available.
For more information on the 40th annual CARQUEST
Tech-Net Spring Sizzler®,
or to order tickets, 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: April
2, 2011 |
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