For the 8th consecutive season, Olson Apartments of Agawam, MA has signed on to continue their participation in the Stafford Speedway contingency program.  Olson Apartments will provide a weekly $75 bonus to each SK Light third place finisher this season, providing an extra $1,650 for drivers during the 2023 season.  Combined with American Sign, Inc.’s SK Light contingency, all 3^rd place finishers will each receive an extra $150 in bonus money in 2023.

“We’re glad to help support Stafford and the SK Light competitors for another season,” said Mark Olson, owner of Olson Apartments.  “We really enjoy being at the track every Friday night and being on the racer’s side of things and talking with all the different drivers and crew members in the paddock area.  We know that the lower divisions race for a smaller purse than the premier divisions so every little bit helps and we hope our contingency contribution can be of help to teams who need that little bit extra.”

Speaking to the parity in Stafford’s SK Light division, the 2022 season saw 11 different drivers record a third place finish after the same number of drivers claimed a third place finish in 2021.  Alexander Pearl led all drivers with four third place finishes, followed by George Bessette, Jr. with three, and Nick Anglace, Bob Charland, and Chris Matthews all scoring two.  Zach Aszklar, Jason Chapman, Cassandra Cole, Derek Debbis, Norm Sears, and Amanda West all notched a single third place effort and all 11 drivers will return to SK Light competition in 2023.

Stafford Speedway PR

SS Racing PR

New Home: After spending the last three seasons with SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt (2020 – 2022), Joe Graf Jr. moved to RSS Racing during the offseason where he’ll spend the majority of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season competing for the Sugar Hill, Ga.-based team.   In addition to RSS Racing, Graf will also compete in a limited NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule driving the No. 19 Toyota Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing.   Fast Start: With a career-best seventh-place finish earned at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway with RSS Racing and two respectable top-15 finishes with Joe Gibbs Racing at Auto Club (Calif.) Speedway and Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway respectively, Graf enters Saturday afternoon’s Pit Boss 250 at Circuit of the Americas 19th in the championship point standings.   RSS Racing’s No. 38 team has also had a solid start to 2023 – which has the team a respectable 21st in the owner championship standings likely guaranteeing Graf into Saturday afternoon’s starting field.   Welcome Aboard: Joe Graf Jr. and RSS Racing welcome G-Coin® as the primary partner of the team’s No. 38 Ford Mustang for Saturday afternoon’s Pit Boss 250.   COTA marks the sixth race of the 2023 Xfinity Series season and 15th race overall from 2021 to 2023 where G-Coin, a product that brings gold into the digital age, making it accessible and giving it true utility will be the primary partner.   The first road course of the season will mark the company’s first event as a primary partner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Joe Graf Jr. at RSS Racing respectively.   Sponsor Intel: G-Coin® (gcoin.com) is a digital title to real physical gold, where 1 G-Coin® equals 1 gram of a 99.99% pure, ethically sourced Responsible Gold™ kilobar. G-Coin® allows for easy savings and sending of real gold with zero transaction fees and near instantaneous settlement times.   With G-Coin®, users can now effortlessly buy, sell, and monitor the value of their gold from the convenience of their smartphone.   Download the app from Google Play or the Apple App Store and Go for Gold!   Thanks For Your Support: With just 15 percent of the 2023 Xfinity Series season complete, Joe Graf Jr. and RSS Racing would like to thank their associate marketing partners: AVOID, Bass Reaper Bait Company,  Bucked Up Energy Drink, CoverSeal, EAT SLEEP RACE Apparel, fgrACCEL, GTECHNIQ, JACOB Companies, Lefcourt Brothers Racing, Love Motorsports, Model Electronics and ShopRite for their continued support.     Catch Him On The Dial: Before Joe Graf Jr. straps into his No. 38 G-Coin® Ford Mustang on Saturday afternoon, the RSS Racing driver will be featured on “The Frontstretch” on SiriusXM Satellite Radio Channel 90 with host Pat Patterson on Saturday morning, March 25, 2023, at approximately 10:00 a.m. ET.   Graf will also spotlight a new commercial featuring G-Coin® in several spots throughout the weekend, including the full four-hour program on Sunday, March 26, 2023.     Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Circuit of the America Stats: Saturday afternoon’s Pit Boss 250 will mark Graf’s second start at the 3.42-mile road course   In his COTA debut last March, he delivered a 34th-place finish after experiencing mechanical gremlins throughout the 46-lap event after qualifying on speed in the 31st position.   Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Career Road Course Stats: At tracks classified as a road course, Graf has competed in 11 NASCAR Xfinity Series races. He holds an average starting position of 28.5 and an average result of 26.5.   Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway | RAPTOR King of Tough 250 Race Recap: In his most recent NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway, Graf and the RSS Racing team showcased the No. 38 JACOB Companies Ford Mustang in the fifth Xfinity Series race of the season.   Without the benefit of practice or qualifying due to inclement weather, Graf continued to showcase speed in his new tenure at RSS Racing but late-race contact with another car caused significant front-end damage to his automobile hindering him in the green-white-checkered finish.   Still, Graf clung to the lead lap and recorded a 25th-place effort. His finish was second best of the RSS Racing trio.   Sneaker Mania: Along with the adrenaline of the Motorsports competition, Joe Graf Jr. also has a vogue for hype sneakers. In his current collection, he owns and wears at least 90 limited edition sneakers – and his collection continues to grow every month.   The current estimated value of his collection tops $100,000.   From the Pit Box: Industry veteran Steve Addington is Joe Graf Jr.’s crew chief.   He will crew chief his 269th NASCAR Xfinity Series race as crew chief on Saturday afternoon and his second race at the prestigious road racing facility in the Lone Star State   In his previous 268 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, he has collected 11 wins, 10 poles, 68 top-five and 118 top-10 finishes.   Hello From The Other Side: Graf Jr. has two teammates at RSS Racing.   Veteran Ryan Sieg will drive the No. 39 CMRroofing.com Ford Mustang, while younger brother Kyle Sieg will drive the No. 28 RSS Racing Ford Mustang.     Ryan Sieg is set to make his 307th career Xfinity Series start overall and third at COTA. His best Xfinity COTA track finish occurred in the 2022 Pit Boss 250, where he finished 11th after starting 35th for his family-owned RSS Racing team.   Kyle Sieg is set to make his 24th career Xfinity Series start overall and first at Circuit of the Americas.    Follow on Social Media: For more on Joe Graf Jr. visit JoeGrafRacing.com, like him on Facebook (Joe Graf Jr.), follow him on TikTok (@JoeGrafJr), Twitter (@JoeGrafJr), Instagram (@joegrafjr) and YouTube.   For more on RSS Racing, please like them on Facebook (RSS283839) and follow them on Instagram (@rss283839) and Twitter (@RSS283839).  Joe Graf Jr. Quoteboard:

On Circuit of the Americas: “I am incredibly thankful to welcome G-Coin® to the RSS Racing and have them onboard for their first race of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season Saturday at Circuit of the Americas.

“Even though our finish did not reflect it, we had a very good race car at Circuit of the Americas last year. We were able to qualify on speed and progress forward before a mechanical failure ultimately hindered our day and kept us at bay from contending for a stronger finish.

“You could say that Saturday is an opportunity for us to rebound and I’d like nothing more than to do that and give my guys at RSS Racing something to be excited about.”

On 2023 Season Outlook: “This is a year of opportunity for me. I’ll be competing for two different teams which brings some pressure for me but only because I want to go out there and do my very best in every race run for both Joe Gibbs Racing and RSS Racing.

“I just need to stay focused, communicate with my team and utilize the knowledge that I’ve gained over the past three years to have my best Xfinity Series season yet.”

Race Information:

The Pit Boss 250 (46 laps | 156.86 miles) is the sixth of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2023 schedule. Practice begins on Fri., Mar. 24 from 5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Qualifying immediately follows at 6:00 p.m. The 38-car field will take the green flag shortly after 4:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. ET) on Sat., Mar. 25 with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the Performance Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Central).

RSS Racing PR

It’s supposed to be the race that secures NASCAR a legion of new fans.

The first-ever street race in Chicago, which marks the return of racing to Windy City after a four-year hiatus from the Chicago Motor Speedway circuit, has been billed as one-of-a-kind as Kyle Larson and co power their way through Chi-town.

It won’t be the first time that a NASCAR Cup Series race has taken place on a road track, but it will be one of the most eye-catching spectacles in the sport’s history as the cars hammer along Lake Shore Drive and pass the Buckingham Fountain.

The concept, coming in a year in which Formula 1 will host its own race on a specially-designed street track in Las Vegas, could attract a whole new audience to NASCAR in North America as the popularity of motorsports grows thanks, in part, to the success of the Drive to Survive series on Netflix.

So, while NASCAR is ready to return to Chicago, is Chicago ready for the return of NASCAR?

There are still concerns over logistical issues that are yet to be resolved, and with race day slowly approaching – the Grant Park 220 is scheduled to be the season’s 18th race on July 2 – numerous technical details are yet to be confirmed.

It can take up to two weeks to set up a street race and then clean up afterwards, and for a city as busy as Chicago that could have major ramifications on road closures and access to key areas.

Grant Park itself is home to summer camps and cultural events, while the nearby Shedd Aquarium has forecast that it could lose between $2-3 million due to road closures and disruption. Shedd marketing officials have revealed that as many as ‘10,000 guests per day’ could be affected by the race at what would normally be its busiest period of the year over the July 4th weekend.

In response, NASCAR have issued a statement revealing their ‘detailed meetings’ with city departments to come up with a traffic management strategy, with residents as much as possible.

But exact details, they say, won’t be ready for a number of weeks yet.

Making Hay In the Sunshine

A NASCAR race under the summer sun should be a doozie.

It’s well-timed too, with NASCAR racing seeing a resurgence in popularity in 2022. According to reports, the TV broadcasts of the Cup Series on Fox and FS1 saw a 6% increase in viewers last season – the best ratings since the 2017 campaign.

Both the Truck Series and IndyCar Series saw gains too as more motorsport fans in America tune in to the latest action.

That gain in popularity is having knock-on effects in other areas too. Many sportsbooks in the United States are now offering betting lines on NASCAR and other motorsports, with fans in Chicago this summer able to bet on the street race given that wagering in the state of Illinois is now legal – just one of more than two-dozen states to relax their laws.

Although they don’t have a NASCAR race to call their own, Canada is another country in which the popularity of motorsports is soaring. They too have now legalized single-game wagering on a province-by-province basis, meaning that many fans are able to enjoy the excitement of sports betting in Canada.

Lines for the Cup, Truck and Xfinity Series championships are readily available, with Larson and Kyle Busch leading the way in the Cup Series odds. There's also a chance to bet on each race individually, too.

With the Chicago street race and a host of other innovations, 2023 is shaping up to be a golden year for NASCAR racing.

RCR PR

Inaugural Journey: After spending the past several seasons as a full-time team in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, AM Racing will embark on its inaugural journey in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this season with driver Brett Moffitt for the entire 33-race tour continuing with Saturday afternoon’s Pit Boss 250 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA).   Future Focused: With AM’s inaugural Xfinity journey set to continue at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, the team has chosen veteran driver Brett Moffitt to lead the team’s campaign from the driver’s seat aboard the No. 25 Ford Mustang.   Moffitt, a native of Grimes, Iowa hails numerous starts across all three of NASCAR’s National Series, including the 2018 Truck Series championship with Hattori Racing Enterprises.   Moffitt, 30, arrives on the scene at AM Racing after a stint at Our Motorsports.     Back For More: The Statesville, N.C.-based team will sport the signage of AM Technical Solutions on the No. 25 Ford Mustang for the fourth of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races this season. Headquartered in Austin, TX, AM Technical Solutions (AMTS) was founded in 1994.   AM Technical Solutions is a Global Architecture, Engineering & Construction firm specializing in the high-tech markets. AMTS has managed over $20B of global capital projects for over 170 different customers in 24 countries and across five continents.   AM Minute: In addition to Brett Moffitt, AM Racing will field an entry in Saturday afternoon’s XPEL 225 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Circuit of the Americas.   Austin, Texas native Logan Bearden will drive the team’s No. 22 Bearden Automotive | Parker Electric Ford F-150 in his second career Truck Series start as the opening act for the Xfinity Series on March 25.   Mainstay AM Racing driver Austin Wayne Self went to Victory Lane this past Saturday night with AM Racing’s Dirt Division. Self-netted his first win of the season in the American Racer Modified Tour at Harris Speedway in Rutherfordton, N.C.   Thanks For Your Support: With the start of the 2023 season underway, AM Racing and Brett Moffitt would like to thank their associate marketing partners for their support: AIRBOX Air Purifier, CForce Bottling Company, Concrete Supply, Destiny Homes, Flying Circle, Kreuz Market, Lane Frost Brand, Mechanix Wear and Mobil 1.   Brett Moffitt Xfinity Series Circuit of the America Stats: Saturday afternoon’s Pit Boss 250 will mark Moffitt’s third start at the 3.42-mile road course   In his previous two efforts, he has delivered one top-10 and two top-12 finishes. His track-best result occurred during the 2022 spring edition of the Pit Boss 250 when Moffitt steered to a track best of seventh after starting 13th for Our Motorsports.   Brett Moffitt Xfinity Series Road Course Stats: At NASCAR Xfinity Series tracks classified as a road course, Moffitt has made 13 starts throughout his career earning one top-10 finishes. He also holds an average finishing position of 25.5.   Brett Moffitt NASCAR Xfinity Series Career Stats: In 89 career Xfinity Series starts, Moffitt has earned two top-five and 25 top-10 finishes, including a second-place outing at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in February 2021.   In addition to 84 Xfinity Series starts, he has achieved 45 NASCAR Cup Series and 92 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts to his credit.   Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway | RAPTOR King of Tough 250 Race Recap: In the most recent NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Brett Moffitt and the AM Racing team continued to showcase their speed in their race cars in the fifth race of the 2023 season.   Without the benefit of practice or qualifying, Moffitt quickly advanced from his 12th place starting position aboard the No. 25 AM Technical Solutions Ford Mustang – last weekend dubbed in a retro black paint scheme.   The Statesville, N.C.-based team remained a factor throughout the race, including finding themselves in contention for the win on a green-white-checkered restart in Stage 3. Ultimately, Moffitt finished sixth – recording the best Xfinity Series finish for AM Racing in just their fifth race.   In five races this season, Moffit has delivered two top-10s, three top-15s and an average finish of 15.8.   From the Pit Box: Industry veteran Joe Williams is Brett Moffit’s crew chief.   He will crew chief his 104th NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday afternoon and his third race at the prestigious road course in Austin, Texas.   In his previous 103 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, he has collected one win (Auto Club Speedway | February 2022), seven top-five and 23 top-10 finishes.   Follow on Social Media: For more on AM Racing, please visit AMRacingteam.com, like their Facebook page (AM Racing) or follow them on Instagram and Twitter @AMRacingNASCAR.    For more on Brett Moffitt, please visit BrettMoffitt.com, like his Facebook page (Brett Moffitt Racing) or follow him on Instagram (@brett_moffitt_racing) and Twitter (@brett_moffitt).

On Circuit of the Americas: “I am very optimistic about returning to the Circuit of the Americas this weekend. We have some good momentum with our AM Racing team right now. We had a strong performance last Saturday night at Atlanta Motor Speedway and the vibe is really strong.   “Circuit of the Americas is the first of several road course races on the 2023 Xfinity Series schedule. It is important to make sure we showcase our potential on the road courses because I feel it will provide the opportunity for our No. 25 AM Technical Solutions Ford Mustang to sneak in a win and propel us into the Playoffs.”   On 2023 Season Outlook: “There has been so much effort put into the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season and honestly, I am so excited about it. I cannot thank everyone on the AM Racing team enough for the opportunity and for taking a chance on me to lead them in the inaugural year.   “I believe we will exceed everyone’s expectations and not only will we challenge for race wins, but we will achieve them and contend for the 2023 Xfinity Series championship.”    Race Information:   The Pit Boss 250 (46 laps | 156.86 miles) is the sixth of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2023 schedule. Practice begins on Fri., Mar. 24 from 5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Qualifying immediately follows at 6:00 p.m. The 38-car field will take the green flag shortly after 4:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. ET) on Sat., Mar. 25 with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the Performance Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Central).

AM Racing PR

Only nine points separated Alberto Naska and EuroNASCAR 2 Champion Liam Hezemans in the 2022 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series title battle, and in the end it was the Dutchman who grabbed the big trophy. After a strong rookie season, Naska will be back to get his revenge and fulfill his dream of winning his first international auto racing title since switching from two to four wheels in his career. The popular content creator and race car driver from Turin will return to powerhouse CAAL Racing and share the #54 Chevrolet Camaro with NWES veteran and EuroNASCAR PRO title contender Gianmarco Ercoli.

As a rookie in the 2022 NWES season, Naska held the championship lead in nine of twelve races, but was edged out by Hezemans in the final race of the season. The Italian is looking straight forward and has only one goal for the 2023 championship: to win the EuroNASCAR 2 title. The 32-year-old will give everything he has to build on the five race wins and an incredible eleven top-5 results he scored last year. Consistency and a strong pace are the strengths of Naska, who has proven to be competitive in a high-level international racing series. 

"My expectation for the 2023 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series is to win races and the EuroNASCAR 2 title," said Naska, who fell in love with "everything" about EuroNASCAR in his rookie season. The content creator and entrepreneur is building on his experience in motorcycle and Legends Car racing and is ready to work hard and improve and take the final step to beat the competition in EuroNASCAR's most unpredictable championship. Mentality is one of the key factors for drivers behind the wheel, and Naska feels well prepared for the upcoming season.

With no racing background in his family, the video game enthusiast found the love of speed and the adrenaline rush of racing all on his own. At the age of 16, his passion grew and he started racing relatively late compared to other racers. Despite this, Naska has always shown a strong pace and the ability to adapt to any situation on the race track, whether on a motorcycle or in a car. The 32-year-old is itching to make a run for the title in the 2023 season, and with the 2015 EuroNASCAR Champion Ercoli at his side, he could chase the NWES Teams Championship for the #54 Chevrolet Camaro with CAAL Racing. 

The 2023 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season will kick off May 6-7 at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain. With all qualifying and race events broadcast live on YouTube, Motorsport.tv and several TV channels around the world, Naska is sure to have a huge Italian audience glued to their screens when the green flag drops for the twelfth season of EuroNASCAR. Will the Italian write another thrilling chapter for the history books?

NWES PR

FRM PR

Imagine if at 16 years old you were the youngest driver in the field and you were making your first appearance in the best wingless sprint car series west of the Mississippi.  Then imagine if you were using a 360 engine while the other 24 drivers in the field were all powered by 410 cubic inch engines.  You would probably be intimidated.  Not so with talented teenage racer Braden Chiaramonte who faced those challenges in the 20^th annual “Sokola Shootout” at Perris Auto Speedway last Saturday night.  The teen performed admirably throughout the event earning respect from fellow competitors and the fans.

One week after winning round #2 of the POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car/California Lightning Sprints “Best of the West” series and placing ninth in the open comp sprint main at Imperial Valley, Chiaramonte arrived at Perris ready to battle with the best in the west.  During qualifying, he began to alleviate any doubts unfamiliar race watchers may have had about him when he was 16^th fastest in the 25-car field with an impressive time of 17.067.

If anyone was still not convinced after qualifying, his heat race surely showed that he was more than capable of competing against that level of drivers.  In the 10-lapper, Chiaramonte finished fourth after continually fending off a series top 10 regular, a USAC National Series driver, and three other 410-powered cars.

For the main, Chiaramonte was coming from the 16^th spot in a stacked field.  There was no way anyone could tell he was a rookie in the group.  He methodically worked his way forward and was up to the 11^th spot.  He was driving past the 10^th-place car when contact sent him into the wall.  When he got clobbered, it flattened the left rear and bent the wheel.  Fortunately, the teen limped back to the pit area, got it changed, and returned to the battle.  Even though he had to restart at the rear and there were not a lot of laps remaining, he managed to get back to the 16^th position at the finish.

“Fun Night last Saturday at Perris Auto Speedway,” the teen told his followers in a post on Facebook on Tuesday.   “Running with the 410s, qualified 17^th out of 25 cars.  Finished fourth in my heat and started 16^th in the main.  Was up to 11^th and passing 10^th.  Got put into the wall and got a flat.  Overall, it was a fun night of racing. Big thanks to everyone for all the help.” 

As it stands right now, Chiaramonte is racing this Saturday.  He just does not know where!  He plans on running for “Rookie of the Year” in Northern California’s winged Sprint Car Challenge Tour.  The season opener for that series is slated for Saturday at the Placerville Speedway.  However, like all of California, the famous track has been pounded by recent storms.  More rain was scheduled for Thursday and temperatures are going to be cold on Saturday.   If that show gets canceled, the plan is to travel east to the Central Arizona Raceway in Casa Grande for the ASCS non-wing race.  In addition, if he heads to the “Copper State,” he will take the micro and race it on the same program.  Keep an eye on Chiaramonte’s Facebook page to see where he ends up racing.

Chiaramonte would like to thank all his sponsors who have made this week’s races possible.  RTL Traffic Control, AM Ortega, King Racing Products, Tiner-Hirst Enterprises, and Keizer Wheels.\

As the full 2023 season is just starting to unfold, Chiaramonte and his team are making plans for a busy year. If you are interested in becoming a marketing partner with one of the most talented and personable young drivers in the sport, please feel free to call or e-mail Daniel Chiaramonte This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (619) 988 7563. 

Braden Chiaramonte PR

The field for the 51^st Annual NAPA Spring Sizzler® set for April 29-30 continues to grow and the latest entry is the Mike Curb owned #77 Curb Records / Mohawk Northeast modified, prepared by Gary Putnam with Max McLaughlin as the driver.  McLaughlin has made two previous starts at Stafford, both behind the wheel of the Curb/Putnam #77 car and he is looking forward to returning to the Connecticut half-mile.

“The 77 car is one of the nicest cars out there, Gary [Putnam] builds a beautiful race car, and every time we race I feel like we have a shot to win,” said McLaughlin.  “It’s always fun driving for Gary and Stafford is a really cool place that I enjoy going to. I haven’t been able to get there as much as I would like so when this came up and the schedules worked out, it was definitely something that I was excited to see.  Thanks to Gary for building two race cars this winter and letting me drive again.  Asphalt rides don’t come along too often and Gary has been the only guy to keep me in an asphalt car the last couple of years so I’m very thankful for him and it’s always a good time running for him.”

Despite never having raced at Stafford or in an Open Modified car before his Stafford debut in 2020, McLaughlin posted finishes of 4^th in the 2020 NAPA Fall Final 150 and 11^th in the 2021 edition of the NAPA Spring Sizzler®.  If not for some unfortunate circumstances, McLaughlin feels like he could have won or at the very least been in contention to win both of his previous starts at Stafford, a track that has been notoriously tough for new drivers over the years.

“We had a shot at winning my first Stafford race, but our radios went out during the race,” said McLaughlin.  “We ended up finishing fourth that day but I feel like we should have had a better result.  The last time we were at Stafford we got caught up in a wreck and that race ended up getting rain shortened and we finished 11^th.  I didn’t have any expectations coming to Stafford the first time and I had never driven an asphalt modified before, so it was all new and a lot of learning.  Sometimes when you go in with no expectations, you tend to run a little better.  Gary always gives me a good car, and this is going on our third year together and we all get along really well so if we can get any luck, I think we can win a lot of races for sure.”

In 11 starts with the #77 team, McLaughlin has scored 4 top-5 and 5 top-10 finishes.  Based upon those results and his previous 2 starts at Stafford, McLaughlin thinks he can be counted among the contenders to take the Sizzler® trophy home, but he knows he is going to face some very stout competition.

“I think we can definitely be a contender, we wouldn’t be going to the track if we didn’t think we could win,” said McLaughlin.  “Matt Hirschman is on an absolute tear right now and he’s always pretty good anywhere he goes so I’m sure everyone has their eyes on him.  Then you have your normal guys who are always good and then the Stafford regulars who are always good, so it’s going to be one of the tougher asphalt modified fields but I think we can be a contender.  If we can put ourselves in a good spot towards the end of a long race, we can have a shot at winning.”

In order to be a contender to win the Sizzler®, McLaughlin will first have to qualify for the 100-lap main event through either a 40-lap NAPA Duel race on Saturday, April 29, or the Last Chance Qualifier on Sunday, April 30 before the main event.  McLaughlin is excited about the prospect of qualifying through heats rather than time trials as that format is right up his alley with all his dirt racing experience.

“I’m not too familiar with the format but I’d say that every time you go out on track, if you plan to try to win, you should be in pretty good shape,” said McLaughlin.  “With the qualifying races and the last chance qualifier, it’s just like dirt racing and that’s what I do 100 times a year.  It’s exciting and I think that brings on good racing.  You have to race hard but also race smart in the Duel races in order to save the car so you have something that you can race with on Sunday.  It’s a cool format and I prefer that rather than deciding qualifying with one lap.  I won the pole at Oswego once, but other than that, I don’t qualify well at all so I’m definitely a fan of the heat races for sure.”

McLaughlin’s father Mike notched a total of 6 feature wins at Stafford with 5 modified wins and 1 Busch North victory.  A NAPA Spring Sizzler® victory would not only be huge for McLaughlin, but it would help turn around the fortunes of the #77 team who with McLaughlin have been so close to several wins only to see them slip away.

“A win in the Sizzler® would be special,” said McLaughlin.  “My Dad has a lot of history at Stafford, we have a lot of friends in Connecticut, Gary is from Connecticut, and Stafford is a track that’s pretty special to me, so to be able to win the most prestigious modified race would be pretty awesome for sure.  The Sizzler® is a race that I’ve always watched but I’ve never been able to get to it with my dirt racing schedule.  We’ve been so close to winning with the #77 team, we stayed out at Richmond and Martinsville and a caution never came out, we were running third at Jennerstown and lost a lap in the pits, and then we put ourselves in contention to win at Martinsville a couple months ago and we ran out of fuel.  We’ve had a lot of bummers so it would be nice to be able to turn things around and get the 77 team that big win that we’ve been so close to getting so many times.  We’re all very hungry and everyone on the team is really pumped up.”

The 51st Annual NAPA Spring Sizzler® kicks off on Saturday, April 29, and will consist of two 40-lap NAPA Duel qualifying races for the Open Modified division. The 40-lap races will each pay $3,500 to win and will set the field for Sunday’s NAPA Spring Sizzler®. The American Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Models will also make their return to Stafford Speedway on April 29th with a 75-lap feature with over 40 cars expected for the race.  Limited Late Model, Street Stock, and Vintage All-Star divisions will complete Saturday’s racing program.

Order 51st NAPA Spring Sizzler® Tickets

51st Annual NAPA Spring Sizzler® Entry List

Sponsor a NAPA Spring Sizzler® Lap

Sunday, April 30th will play host to the $20,000 to win 51st NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler®.  Filling out Sunday’s racing card will be qualifying and feature racing for the SK Modified®, SK Light Modified, and Late Model divisions along with last chance qualifiers for the Spring Sizzler®.

For more information, visit staffordspeedway.com, follow Stafford Speedway on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or contact the track office at 860-684-2783.

Stafford Speedway PR