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ROWAN PENNINK
SEEKING FIRST NAPA AUTO PARTS SPRING SIZZLER WIN
WITH THE BOEHLER FAMILY #3 |
For
Rowan Pennink, the NAPA Spring Sizzler at Stafford
Motor Speedway has been a race that has seemingly
been within arms’ length from Pennink taking the
checkered flag. Pennink has made 8 career starts in
“The Greatest Race in the History of Spring”
recording an impressive 4 top-5 and 6 top-10
finishes. Pennink’s best finish in the Sizzler was a
second place effort back in 2011 and he had another
podium finish with a 3rd place effort in 2014, both
with his family owned #93. When the green flag drops
on this year’s 45th Annual NAPA Spring Sizzler,
Pennink will be with a new team and behind the wheel
of one of the most famous rides on the NASCAR Whelen
Modified Tour, the #3 “Ole Blue” Boehler Racing
Enterprises Modified, with sponsorship from Cape Cod
Copper and Bridgewater-Raynham Overhead Door.
“It’s really cool and I’m really happy about the
opportunity to be driving the #3 Boehler car,” said
Pennink. “I can’t wait to get behind the wheel, the
Sizzler is one of the biggest races of the year on
the Tour and I’m looking forward to the race and
hopefully we can get a good finish and put on a good
show for all the fans. We’ve been so close so many
times at Stafford, it would be nice to get that one
extra spot and be able to put the #3 into victory
lane. I know it’s been a while since the #3 car had
a win and between that and me getting my first tour
win at Stafford, it would be really cool.”
Pennink has driven his family owned car on the Tour
since 2007 but it was a phone call from Michael
Boehler at the conclusion of the 2015 season that
got the ball rolling on bringing the two together
for the 2016 season.
“We ran our Tour car out of Bob Hitchcock and Kelly
Iverson’s shop last year and we had our struggles,”
said Pennink. “When the season was over, Michael
gave me a call and asked if we would be interested
in setting up a deal. We ended up working out a deal
and I’m really excited to be racing for them. We’re
going to use the engines that we ran last year and
they’ll work on the car and maintain it at their
shop.”
The two parties will both be looking to end winless
streaks. The last time the #3 was in victory lane
was August 2009 at Stafford Speedway when Ryan
Preece won the Stafford 150 and Pennink’s last Tour
win was the 2013 season finale at Thompson Speedway.
Pennink is hopeful that he can put an end to both
streaks by winning this year’s NAPA Spring Sizzler
and believes that his winning ways in the SK
Modified® division could help him down that path.
“I sure hope we can win some races this season,”
said Pennink. “Their team has been around a long
time and especially at tracks like Stafford and
Thompson, I think they might have more laps than
anyone, so hopefully they have some good setups and
I can take the #3 to the front. Stafford is one of
the most technical tracks when it comes to driving
and the more you can race there, the more it’s going
to help you, no matter what type of car you’re
driving. I think it helps a lot to run the SK races
at Stafford. The cars drive pretty much the same,
the only real difference is the distance. In the
SK’s, you have 40-laps to get to the front and when
you run well, you’re usually starting mid-pack or
towards the back, so you have to get through traffic
as fast as you can. With the Tour, you can be a
little more patient and decide when you want to make
passes and not take too many chances.”
Pennink is the defending SK Modified® champion at
Stafford and he will have a new crew chief for the
2016 season with Kevin Crowley joining the #99 Van
Wickle NAPA Auto Supply team. Despite the challenge
of a new crew chief calling the shots, Pennink is
confident that he and the #99 team can continue
their run of good fortune that has seen them win 11
features over the last 2 seasons.
“I think it’s going to work out good,” said Pennink.
“Kevin is a great crew chief and though I don’t
think he’s worked with a lot of CD cars we have our
notes from last year and a good team behind me, I
think with him as our leader we can pick right up
where we left off last season.”
Tickets for the “Greatest Race in the History of
Spring” are on sale now at the Speedway Box Office.
Tickets are priced at $38.50 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 $42.00 for all ages. As always,
Stafford Motor Speedway offers free parking with
overnight parking available. All tickets are good
for both Saturday and Sunday admission. All ticket
prices include 10% CT Admission Tax.
For more information on the 45th Annual NAPA Auto
Parts 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:
February 26, 2016 |
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