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04/15/2011 |
ED FLEMKE,
JR. RECALLS FIRST SPRING SIZZLER; READY TO MAKE 21ST
CAREER START IN 40TH ANNUAL CARQUEST TECH-NET SPRING SIZZLER |
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In
the 39 year history of the CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring
Sizzler, one driver who has been there to see it all
is Ed Flemke, Jr. From the very first Sizzler
watching his father race to this year’s 40th edition
where he will pilot his familiar #10 Ron Bouchard
Auto Stores machine, Flemke has a lifetime of
Sizzler memories and experiences.
“I’ve been to pretty much every Sizzler,” said
Flemke. “I think the only race I missed was the SK
Modified® Sizzler. When the race first started out,
it was something very different. Back then, tracks
didn’t have “big” shows, they usually just had
normal weekly shows. That first Sizzler was a novel
idea. It was a short sprint race and there was a lot
of hype behind that race. I remember the poster for
the first Sizzler had a dirt modified on it. That
first race, the rules were pretty loose and it was
kind of a run what you brought type of race. Some
cars had fuel injection, some had big carbs, there
were big blocks, small blocks, some cars had
spoilers, some didn’t have a spoiler, and there were
different types of body styles. It was just the
start of the Pinto Revolution and there were Pintos,
Vegas, Gremlins, Coupes, and Late Model body styles,
so there was a lot more variety with the cars than
what fans see now. Also, there was some intrigue for
the fans with those first Sizzlers. What was Maynard
Troyer going to bring out, what was Richie Evans
going to bring to the track? There were new cars,
new color schemes, a lot of things for the race fans
to look forward to. Those first two Sizzlers are the
races that stick out for me. Dad led a lot of that
first race and almost won it and then he came back
the next year and won that race. It was pretty
special to be a part of those first Sizzler races.”
This year’s 40th Annual CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring
Sizzler will mark Flemke’s 21st career start in “The
Greatest Race in the History of Spring.” Flemke’s
best career finish in the Sizzler has been third,
which he has done on two occasions in 2000 and 2004.
Flemke had a strong run in the first Whelen Modified
Tour event of the 2011 season, running as high as
second before finishing 11th, and he is looking
forward to yet another start in the CARQUEST
Tech-Net Spring Sizzler.
“We’re looking forward to Stafford,” said Flemke.
“We have a renewed energy in the team this season.
We had a good start to the year at Thompson, we got
as high as second before we slipped back to 11th. We
tried a little different strategy to get some track
position. We only changed one tire and as the run
went on, the car got a little tight on me and wasn’t
turning as good as it was before the pit stop.
Everyone on the team is really looking forward to
this year.”
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. Action continues on Saturday, April 30 with
Coors Light Pole Qualifying for the Whelen Modified
Tour cars, along with heat and consolation races for
Stafford’s weekly divisions. Saturday will wrap up
with feature events for the SK Light, Limited Late
Model, and DARE Stock divisions. The Sizzler
continues on Sunday, May 1 with the CARQUEST Belts &
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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