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04/15/2011 |
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GEORGE
SUMMERS RECALLS
INAUGURAL SPRING SIZZLER AT STAFFORD |
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 As
Stafford Speedway gets ready to host its 40th Annual
CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler, we are taking a
walk back in time with some of the drivers who were
on hand for the very first Sizzler in 1972. This
week’s Sizzler spotlight of yesteryear falls on
George Summers, who drove the #31 Firebird for car
owner Ken Curley. Summers ran well in that Inaugural
Sizzler before a failed piston ended his day early.
“I remember we ran pretty darn good in that race,”
said Summers. “I don’t know if we had a winning car,
but I think we definitely had a top-5 car. We were
running up in the top-5 right up until I had a
piston failure, which knocked me out of the race. I
still have that piston sitting on my desk.” The
piston isn’t the only memento that Summers has from
that very first Spring Sizzler.
“After the race was over, Dick Berggren sent all of
the drivers a letter to thank them for coming out,”
said Summers. “Along with the letter, he had Dick
Armstrong make up medallions for all of the drivers
and I still have that medallion today.”
Summers would go onto record a Stafford Modified
victory in August of 1972 and he recorded another
victory in 1981, but he is most well known for his
exploits at Seekonk Speedway. Summers won over 100
feature events at Seekonk and even had a bounty
placed on him for any driver who could beat Summers,
much like the bounty that was established at
Stafford in 1978 for Geoff Bodine. Summers’ racing
career spanned 32 very successful years and he ended
his career on a winning note, driving Art Barry’s
famous #21 to wins at Oxford and Thompson in the
final two races of his career in 1983.
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. 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
15, 2011 |
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