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05/30/2014 |
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DEFENDING TSI
HARLEY-DAVIDSON 125 CHAMPION RYAN PREECE
CONFIDENT ABOUT HIS CHANCES AT ANOTHER VICTORY AT STAFFORD |
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For
defending TSI Harley-Davidson 125 race winner Ryan
Preece, the road to a second consecutive victory in
the event looks on paper as though it might be an
uphill fight. Preece qualified 13th for the race
last Friday night, but despite his mid-pack start,
he remains upbeat about his chances of coming
through the field and getting to the front. Preece
had to drive through the entire field to win last
year’s TSI Harley-Davidson 125 after being involved
in a lap-0 crash.
“I think it’s going to be a challenge, but if we
have a car that can go to the outside and can drive
forward, it shouldn’t be a problem,” said Preece.
“It’s one of those things where I think we’re
definitely capable of driving forward. Having track
position is important because you don’t have to pass
as many cars and I think there are a lot of cars who
are starting deep in the field that can possibly win
the race. I don’t think us starting 13th is going to
hurt our chances of winning the race. If you think
about it, that’s right around where I start every
week in the SK.”
This year’s TSI Harley-Davidson 125 will have one
major difference versus other NASCAR Whelen Modified
Tour events at Stafford. With the starting grid
having already been set in time trials last Friday
night, drivers will be able to use the practice
session before the race to fine tune their race
setups instead of trying to strike a balance between
finding a setup that will yield both a good
qualifying effort and be fast in the long run during
the race. NWMT practice sessions are normally held
from 3pm-4pm for Stafford races but for the TSI
Harley-Davidson 125, the practice session will be
held from 5:30pm-6:20pm, which should give drivers a
golden opportunity to dial their cars in for the
conditions that they will be racing under later in
the evening.
“I think the practice will be good for us because
we’ve never really had a practice session at
Stafford at night,” said Preece. “It will be nice to
be able to dial the car in and not have to worry
about speed. We can focus on making the car
comfortable and having a car that can go to
different spots on the racetrack and where other
guys might be falling off, you’re still moving
forward, which should be good for us.”
Two-time defending NAPA Spring Sizzler winner Bobby
Santos, III will start the TSI Harley-Davidson 125
from the pole with Doug Coby alongside him on the
front row, while current NWMT points leader Justin
Bonsignore will start the TSI Harley-Davidson 125
from the 9th position. With the past four winners of
the TSI Harley-Davidson 125 also going on to win the
championship in the same season, and a practice
session that will allow the drivers to focus on
their race setups, the race for the checkered flag
promises to be as hotly contested as ever.
Tickets for the TSI Harley-Davidson 125 are
available and on sale now at the Speedway Box
Office. Tickets are priced at $33.00 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. The TSI
Harley-Davidson 125 will be run on Military
Appreciation Night, so anyone who presents a valid
military i.d. (active or reserved) at the admission
gates will receive a general admission ticket for
only $10.00. Reserved seating is priced at $35.00
for all ages. All ticket prices include 10% CT
Admission Tax. Stafford Motor Speedway offers plenty
of free parking along with overnight parking in
self-contained Recreational Vehicles.
For more information on the TSI Harley-Davidson 125,
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: May
30, 2014 |
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