Marvin Minkler Ready for Sophomore Street Stock Season at Stafford Speedway , Ct.

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Stafford Springs, CT)---Marvin Minkler came to Stafford Speedway’s Street Stock division last season as a rookie driver with virtually zero racing experience.  After posting three top-10 finishes in 15 starts last season, Minkler is ready to take his #71 CT Oil Kings Chevrolet to the next step and start posting some top-5 finishes.

                           

“Last year was my first season without having any prior experience so I knew it was going to be a huge learning curve and there was tons of learning both on the track and in the shop,” said Minkler.  “Last year our goal was to get track time, finish races, and get some top-10 finishes, which wasn’t very often but we hovered around 10^th all year.  This year we’d like to start getting some top-5 finishes and maybe then we can start to be in the conversation about getting a win, but I’m a realist and I know I have to crawl before I can walk.”

Minkler got a late start to last season, purchasing a car in March, less than 2 months away from the season opener.  With the late start, Minkler quickly got his #71 car together so he could race but as the season wore on, he found several things that weren’t right and has spent the winter fixing the car so it will be practically brand new when the curtain is raised on the 2020 season.

“We’ve updated everything on the car this winter,” said Minkler.  “I purchased the car in late March last season so it was a scramble just to get it on the track.  There were a lot of things that were bent so we’ve done a complete rebuild with a new rear clip, new rear end, and the car just got back from powder coating.  Not being a guy who grew up around cars, it’s been a lot of fun to get under the car and turn a wrench and learn what’s going on.”

In order for Minkler to meet his 2020 goals, he will have to contend with a new rules package for the Street Stock division that sees the cars add a Ford 9” rear end and the removal of restrictor plates from the engines.  With the new rules in place, Minkler feels like handling will become a big factor in determining who is running up front and winning races during the season.

“I think everyone has a lot to learn with the new package we have with the Ford 9 inch rear end and no restrictor plates,” said Minkler.  “The experienced drivers will probably adapt quicker than the newer drivers, so I’d look for a lot of the same faces from last season to be on the podium again this season.  With the plates on the car last season, there wasn’t a big threat of spinning the tires so I think this season will be more about having throttle control and drivers will have to work on the handling of their cars a little more than in the past.”

One area that Minkler needs to work on in 2020 is his consistency.  Minkler finished 11^th or 12^th in 9 of his 15 starts last season and with some extra consistency, those near top-10 finishes will start turning into top-10’s and get him closer to his goal of top-5 finishes.

“If we can get in the top-10 every week and be close to the top-5, that would be a good season for us,” said Minkler.  “I have to work on my consistency this season.  Last year, I’d have a really good lap time one lap and then I would fall off the next lap, which was a byproduct of being a rookie.  If I can be a little more consistent, we can run with the drivers who are up front rather than hanging with them for a couple of laps before fading backwards.”

Minkler is working on nailing down sponsorship this season to go along with CT Oil Kings  and he is very grateful to the Rent a Racecar team for all their advice and help maintaining his #71 car.

“Right now I’m working on sponsors for this season,” said Minkler.  “My car is kept at the Rent A Racecar shop and Paul Varricchio and all the guys at Rent A Racecar do a ton of work on the car and they help point me in the right direction so I’m very grateful for all their help.”

Kyle Busch dominates in NASCAR Gander Mountain Truck Race, Las, Vegas

Posted by Wayne G. Barber   Race #2    Las Vegas, Nevada

1  51 Kyle Busch Cessna Toyota (57th career and 7 in a row)
2  Johnny Sauter Tenda Ford
3  Austin Hill United Rentals Toyota
4  88 Matt Crafton Damp Rid/Menards
5  99 Ben Rhodes Carolina Nut Ford
6  Zane Smith # The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
7  Todd Gilliland Speedco Ford
 8  Tanner Gray # Ford/Ford Performance
9   Stewart Friesen Halmar International Toyota
10  Sheldon Creed Chevy.com/Trench Shoring Chevrolet



Next race; March 14, Atlanta Motor Speedway

Denny Hamlin wins back to back at the Daytona 500

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

#11-Denny Hamlin won the rain-postponed Daytona 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway Monday evening on the second overtime attempt. The win is his 3rd Daytona 500 win and 38th career win.
#12-Blaney finished 2nd followed by #17-Buescher, #36-Ragan, #4-Harvick, #14-Bowyer, #62-Gaughan, #32-LaJoie, #6-Newman, and #42-Larson.
Coming to the checkered flag, #6-Newman was leading the race but got bumped in the rear by #12-Blaney. Newman shot into the outside wall and flipped upside down.  His car was then hit full force by #32-LaJoie, sending the #6 down the track on its roof.
The biggest accident of the race came with 16 laps remaining when #22-Logano appeared to push #10-Almirola into the rear of #2-Keselowski and send him spinning. According to NASCAR, 19 cars were involved in some fashion. There was a 12 minute red flag for track cleanup.
The race went into overtime after a caution with two laps remaining that collected 8 cars and forced a 10 minute red flag.
During the first overtime attempt, contact between #16-Haley, #14-Boywer and #34-McDowell brought the caution out leading to the final restart.
Pole winner #47-Stenhouse, Jr. finished 20. He was penalized with 40 laps remaining for passing below the double yellow line. He fell back in the pack and then was rear-ended by #20 Jones while heading to the pits with under 30 laps to go.
Stage 1 was won by #9-Elliott. Stage 2 was won by #11-Hamlin.
There were 23 lead changes among 13 drivers and 10 cautions for 39 yellow flag laps.

Race Chatter Returns 2-17-20

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Tonight's episode can be re-played on https://anchor.fm/wayne-barber

Derek Griffith earned his first career General Tire Pole award in his first career start. (Matt Stamey)

News, Schedules, Sponsor changes, Driver Interviews

Tentatively scheduled at 6:10pm will be red hot
Derek Griffith fresh off the great speed week in Florida

E-Mail the program at waynewnri@yahoo.com

Florida Modified Results

Gander Truck Results

Xfinity Results

Daytona up-dates from rain delay postponement to the afternoon.

Thank You, Grandson Graham Barber for co-hosting on tonight's broadcast. Great Job !

Thompson Speedway Joins Late Model Challenge Cup Program

Posted by Wayne G. Barber & photo by Wayne G. Barber Library

Thompson Speedway Joins Late Model Challenge Cup Program

Waterbury, VT – Drivers going after the 2020 New England Late Model Challenge Cup (NELMCC) presented by American Racer now have another venue and state in which to chase the title. American-Canadian Tour (ACT) and Thompson Speedway officials announced today that the Connecticut track has joined the NELMCC program for its inaugural season.

Thompson Speedway becomes the fifth track affiliated with the weekly racing program. The 5/8-mile speedway joins Vermont’s Thunder Road Speedbowl, New Hampshire’s White Mountain Motorsports Park and Star Speedway, and Massachusetts’ Seekonk Speedway. Thompson’s addition also means tracks from four different states will be represented in the NELMCC presented by American Racer.

All scheduled weekly Late Model events at these tracks are eligible for points towards the Challenge Cup. The 10 best results for each registered driver at participating tracks will count towards their total. A special point system is in place based on driver’s feature finishes and event car counts, with bonus points for wins and cars passed.

An additional track also means a boost to the season-long point fund for the NELMCC presented by American Racer. Total awards are now guaranteed to exceed $10,000 with $3,000 guaranteed to the champion. All driver registration fees will be added to the point fund, meaning the total payout will continue to increase as more drivers officially join the roster.

“Adding Thompson Speedway to the Challenge Cup is a good thing for everyone,” ACT managing partner Cris Michaud said. “Having another track provides more opportunities for all weekly drivers involved to chase the championship. This is especially true for southern New England drivers now that another track in their area has joined. It also means more potential rewards for weekly competitors who join, which is the reason this program was created.”

“Most importantly, having five tracks now in the Challenge Cup shows the belief this region has for the weekly Late Model program,” Michaud continued. “Each track uses the ACT Late Model rules, and together, they’re making a commitment to the weekly racer who makes ACT what it is. We’re looking forward to a great season for everyone involved.”

Registration forms and other information for the NELMCC presented by American Racer are now available on the ACT website as well as participating track websites. Drivers have until Friday, April 24 to file their entry. Those who register by Monday, March 2 will be entered into a drawing where two drivers each receive two free American Racer Tires.

For more information, contact the ACT offices at (802) 244-6963, media@acttour.com, or visit www.acttour.com. You can also get updates on Facebook and Twitter at @ACTTour.

Bryan Narducci Focused and Ready for Rookie SK Modified® Season at Stafford

Posted by Wayne G. Barber & Photo by Wayne G. Barber Library

(Stafford Springs, CT)---In only 2 short years, Bryan Narducci has showed he is a quick study behind the wheel of his #01 machine sponsored by The Florida Connection by winning 2018 Rookie of the Year honors and 13 races in the SK Light division.  With plans to make the move into Stafford’s premier SK Modified® division for the 2020 season, Narducci will be looking to carry his success from the SK Light division with him for his rookie year. 

“It’s going to be a little different this season,” said Narducci.  “I’m very excited to get going and every new season you’re excited but there’s a little extra excitement this year for moving into the SK Modified® division because of how competitive it is.  The SK Lights have good drivers and a lot of guys are fast but in the SK’s everyone has the best of the best equipment and in the end it comes down to who can drive the best.  Hopefully we can win Rookie of the Year, I know it’s been somewhat tough for rookie drivers moving up to the SK’s.  It’ll be tough to adapt but at the same time having a good car and good people behind you helps make it a little easier.”

The Stafford Rookie of the Year award isn’t the only rookie hardware that Narducci has his eyes set on taking home this season.

“We want to win Stafford Rookie of the Year but I’d really like to win the Weekly Racing Series Connecticut State Rookie of the Year award as well,” said Narducci.  “I believe that the past 3 Connecticut state rookies have all come out of Todd [Owen’s] shop so I’d like to continue that streak and make it four in a row this year.”

Narducci will look to follow in the footsteps of Josh Wood in 2017, David Arute in 2018, and Tyler Leary last season as the CT state rookie and he will face stiff competition this season in the race for Stafford Rookie of the Year honors.  Narducci is joined in the 2020 SK Modified® rookie class by fellow SK Light drivers Mikey Flynn, defending champion Teddy Hodgdon, and Marc Burke in addition to Lou Torres, Paul Buzel, Nick Giardina, and Patrick Yuhas.

“Rookie of the Year should be a tough fight this season,” said Narducci.  “I’ve raced with Mikey Flynn and Teddy Hodgdon since I was 9 years old so I know they’re going to be strong.  We all got started racing go karts together and they went racing Legend Cars while I went to the Limited Late Models and now here we are again together in the SK’s.  It’s pretty cool to be racing against people that you’ve known for a while.”

Another department that Narducci will find tough to maintain is his streak of winning a race every year.  Since he began racing at Stafford in 2016, Narducci has found his way to NAPA Victory Lane in each of his four seasons, notching 6 wins in the Limited Late Model division and 13 wins in the SK Light division.

“It would be cool to continue that streak but it’s going to be real tough to do,” said Narducci.  “Todd Owen, Keith Rocco, Ronnie Williams, Michael Christopher, Jr., Michael Gervais, Jr., all those guys are fast and it’s not like there’s a week where they aren’t fast, those guys are always fast.  That makes things difficult, but after we start in the back for the first 3 races, hopefully we can start up front and be right up there with those guys and we’ll see what happens.  We’re going to shoot for some top-5 finishes during the year and I know it’s a little far fetched, but if the stars align for us one night, I know the car is going to be good and as long as I can adapt quickly, by the end of the year hopefully we can pull a win off.”

Narducci and his team have stayed busy this winter putting together a brand new chassis for the 2020 season.  In addition to putting a new car together, Narducci has been busy keeping his skills sharp by racing around the virtual Stafford Speedway along with fellow competitor Michael Christopher, Jr. in the iRacing Tour Modified championship series.

“I race a lot with Mike, Jr. and I know it’s not the same but it’s as close as you can get to the real thing without actually being in the car,” said Narducci.  “It helps keep you sharp during the off-season and it’s a good tool to keep the fundamentals of racing like tire conservation in your head.  We’re actually 1-2 in the Tour Mod points, I’m leading and Mike is second, and we’re coming down to the last few weeks.  Mike actually just beat me the other day in a race at Martinsville and hopefully we can race just as well together for real this year as we have on iRacing.”

Narducci’s #01 car carries with it a laundry list of sponsors and crew members that he is thankful for.

“I’d like to thank my Aunt Venetta and Uncle Greg of The Florida Connection, Chris Our, Robert B. Our Construction, Canterbury Mini Storage, everyone on the crew, Todd, Darrell, Frank, Gino, Little Frank, Mike, another Mike, Tom, Alex, David, everyone who helps out during the week, Pioneer Valley Wheel Repair, Rob Walendy, he’s going to be my spotter this year, R.A.D. Auto Machine, Waddell Communications, Preece’s Auto, Sunoco, Hoosier, and all the contingency sponsors and everyone who helps make this possible, I can’t wait to get back out there!”

Narducci will begin his quest for 2020 SK Modified® Rookie of the Year honors at the 49^th Annual NAPA Spring Sizzler® on April 24-26. Tickets for the “Greatest Race in the History of Spring” are on sale now by calling the Speedway Box Office 860-684-2783 or online at www.staffordspeedway.com.