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TIMMY
SOLOMITO LOOKING FOR STRONG START TO 2016
IN NAPA SPRING SIZZLER AT STAFFORD SPEEDWAY |
 After
completing his second full season of NASCAR Whelen
Modified Tour competition and his first with the #16
R.B. Enterprises/Diversified Metals team, Islip, NY
native Timmy Solomito is looking forward to
returning to Stafford Motor Speedway for the 45th
Annual NAPA Spring Sizzler®. Solomito twice matched
his career best finish of third at Stafford last
year and as much as he is looking forward to coming
back o the Connecticut half mile, he says that
wasn’t always the case.
“We’re really exited to come to the Sizzler® this
year,” said Solomito. “We feel like we have a really
good package for Stafford and our best runs of 2015
with two third place finishes were at Stafford,
which were also my best ever finishes there. It
really boosted my confidence and I’m hoping that we
can squeeze out a win or have a good run. If you had
asked me about a win at Stafford a couple of years
ago, I would have told you no way, but last season
changed my whole outlook. I feel like we could snag
a win at Stafford and help carry some momentum
throughout the entire 2016 season. Our goal for this
year is to run strong, be competitive, and put on a
good show for all the race fans.”
A win for Solomito would be his first on the NASCAR
Whelen Modified Tour. As he and the #16 team prepare
for the 2016 season, they have a full season’s worth
of experience together to build on as well as a new
chassis and fresh engine to attack the field with.
“We have a notebook to fall back on now so that
should definitely help us out and hopefully allow us
to put the finishing touches on what we needed from
last season,” said Solomito. “I have a really great
crew from Eric Sanderson the owner and Sly Saban as
the crew chief, and they’re all a good bunch of guys
who know what’s going on and I couldn’t do this
without their help and support. We have a brand new
Troyer chassis with a fresh Bob Bruneau spec engine
in it that we’re bringing to the table. Everything
felt pretty good when we shook the car down at the
Thompson test this past weekend so I’m looking
forward to getting the season started with a new
piece and hopefully it can bring us some speed and
some good luck.”
Whelen Modified Tour drivers will tell you that
track position at Stafford comes at a premium and
Solomito is no different. When plotting a race
strategy for the 200-lap race, track position is
always in the back of a driver’s mind and getting a
good qualifying effort for the race is the first
step to having good track position and putting the
car in a position to win.
“The Sizzler® is all about conserving in the
beginning and giving Sly and the guys some good
answers as to what the car is doing so we can make
the right adjustments and go for the win at the end
of the race,” said Solomito. “As long as we can keep
all 4 tires on the car and log laps in the
beginning, if we have good track position we should
be in a good spot to make the right calls during the
pit stop and be there for the end of the race.
Qualifying is going to be crucial to get a good
top-5 or top-10 starting position and have a good
start to the race. I think all the spec engine guys
will have to come to pit road during an early
caution for a refuel stop and then find a good
position on the track to run so that when you come
to pit road for tires you’re not dodging cars.
Typically I like to hold off for as long as I can
for new tires and try to get them as fresh as
possible for the end of the race.”
Solomito will have his first opportunity to best his
previous Stafford finishes at the 45th Annual NAPA
Auto Parts Spring Sizzler®. Action gets underway
Friday, April 22 with a practice session for
Stafford’s weekly divisions and the Mr. Rooter
Trucks. The practice session will be open to the
public at no charge. Action continues on Saturday,
April 23 with Coors Light Pole Qualifying for the
Whelen Modified Tour cars, along with heat and
consolation races for Stafford’s weekly divisions,
the U.S. Legend Cars, and the Mr. Rooter Trucks.
Saturday will wrap up with feature events for the SK
Light, Limited Late Model, DARE Stock, Legend Cars,
and Mr. Rooter Trucks. Spring Sizzler® action
continues on Sunday, April 24 with the NAPA Auto
Parts Pit Party from 11am-noon followed by
Stafford’s SK Modifieds® in a special 45-lap feature
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 $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. Discount
Tickets will be available at all 57 participating
NAPA Auto Parts stores beginning on Monday April
4th. For a full list of the 57 locations throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Rhode
Island, call the speedway office or visit us on the
web at
www.staffordmotorspeedway.com/participating-napa-auto-parts-stores.
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:
April 1, 2016 |
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