NAPA Auto Parts Posting $1,000 Bonus for Stafford Speedway’s SK Modified® & Late Model Rookies of the Year

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

(Stafford Springs, CT)---With the 2016 season kicking off the third year of NAPA Auto Parts serving as the Elite Corporate Partner of Stafford Motor Speedway, NAPA continues to step up their involvement with the racing program.  NAPA has already given a $45 bonus to each of the 30 SK Modified® starters from the NAPA Spring Sizzler® Weekend, totaling $1,350.  Now Stafford Speedway has announced that NAPA Auto Parts will supply a $1,000 NAPA Gift Card for the track’s 2016 Rookies of the Year from both the SK Modified® and Late Model divisions. 

“NAPA knows how to recognize young talent and we wanted to put our money where our know how is,” said Geoff Watson, GM of NAPA Connecticut.  “We are very excited to support the two Rookies of the Year in both the SK Modified® and Late Model Divisions with $1,000 each to spend on whatever parts, supplies, tools, or equipment these two deserving rookies can use at enhancing their careers.”

At the end of the 2016 season, the rookie driver from each division who has accumulated the most points during the 2016 season will claim Rookie of the Year honors and a $1,000 gift card that will be good at participating NAPA Stores.

The races for the NAPA Auto Parts Rookie of the Year titles should see a thrilling race all season long in both the SK Modified® and Late Model divisions.  Stafford’s premier SK Modified® division features several graduates of the SK Light division among its robust rookie crop for the 2016 season.  Defending SK Light champion Steven Kopcik, along with D.J. Burnham, Bob Charland, Jeff Fialkovich, and Nick Salva have all made the move up the Stafford ladder for the 2016 season.  They are joined in this year’s rookie class by Joey Muccicciaro and Mike Benevides.  Burnham was the best of the bunch during the NAPA Spring Sizzler® weekend with an 11^th place finish, but with only one race down the R.O.Y. race is sure to provide plenty of action throughout the year.

Stafford’s 2016 Late Model rookie class features a pair of drivers coming from Monadnock Speedway and a pair of drivers who are moving up the Stafford division ladder.  Both Tyler Leary and Joel Monahan come to Stafford’s Late Model ranks from the Super Stock division at Monadnock, and both drivers have previously won Rookie of the Year honors in the Super Stock division.  The other pair of drivers in Stafford’s Late Model rookie class are Andy Marchese and Bobby Stirk, III.  Marchese is a veteran of Stafford’s DARE Stock division while Stirk moves up from the Limited Late Model division.  With the combination of previous Rookie of the Year winners and two Stafford veterans, it should be another close race all season long for NAPA Rookie of the Year honors.

NAPA Auto Parts is the title sponsor of Stafford Speedway’s season beginning NAPA Spring Sizzler® and season ending NAPA Fall Final as well as the NAPA SK 5k on July 8.  NAPA will also present the 2^nd Annual NAPA Intrepid Fallen Heroes Track Walk on July 15.  Last year’s track walk raised $7,500 with 100% of the proceeds going to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, which supports military personnel who have been wounded or injured in service and their families.

WHAT:	OPENING NIGHT – BEST FRIEND FRIDAY
WHEN:	FRIDAY, MAY 6, 2016
WHERE:	STAFFORD MOTOR SPEEDWAY, STAFFORD SPRINGS, CT
WHO:	SK MODIFIED®, LATE MODEL, SK LIGHT MODIFIED; LIMITED LATE MODEL, DARE STOCK, & U.S. LEGEND CARS
	DISTANCE:
	SK MODIFIED®: 40-LAPS
	LATE MODEL: 30-LAPS
	SK LIGHT MODIFIED: 20-LAPS
	LIMITED LATE MODEL: 20-LAPS
	DARE STOCK: 15-LAPS
	LEGEND CARS: 20-LAPS
	TICKETS:
PARTICIPANT PADDOCK PASS:	$30.00 ENTRY FEE ~ PADDOCK IS A RESTRICTED AREA MUST BE 14 TO ENTER PADDOCK AREA
ADULT G.A.:	$17.50 (INCLUDES 10% CT ADMISSION TAX) BUY ONE ADULT G.A. TICKET, GET ONE FREE
RESERVED:	$20.00 (INCLUDES 10% CT ADMISSION TAX)
KIDS G.A.:	$5.00 FOR AGES 6-14 (INCLUDES 10% CT ADMISSION TAX) CHILDREN 5 & UNDER FREE
PARKING:	FREE, LOCATED ON SPEEDWAY GROUNDS, OVERNIGHT PARKING AVAILABLE IN DESIGNATED PARKING AREA
TIMES:	FRIDAY, MAY 6, 2016
3:00pm	PARTICIPANT PADDOCK GATES OPEN
4:00pm	NASCAR WHELEN ALL-AMERICAN SERIES PRACTICE BEGINSPractice Rotation: 1) D.A.R.E. Stocks, 2) Limited Late Models, 3) SK Lights, 4) Late Models, 5) SK Modifieds®, 6) Legend CarsOne-Way Raceceiver Check During Each Practice Round for SK Lights, Ltd. Late Models, DARE Stocks, & Legend Cars
5:15pm	MAIN GRANDSTANDS & TICKET BOOTHS OPEN
5:45pm	NASCAR WHELEN ALL-AMERICAN SERIES PRACTICE ENDS; STAFFORD OWNERS, DRIVERS, & SPOTTERS MEETING
6:15pm	DARE STOCK HEATS – 5-LAPS
	LTD. LATE MODEL HEATS – 8-LAPS
	SK LIGHT HEATS – 8-LAPS
	LATE MODEL HEATS – 8-LAPS
	SK MODIFIED® HEATS – 8-LAPS
	LEGEND CARS HEATS – 6-LAPS
	NATIONAL ANTHEM
	DARE STOCK FEATURE – 15-LAPS
	LTD. LATE MODEL FEATURE – 20-LAPS
	SK LIGHT FEATURE – 20-LAPS
	LATE MODEL FEATURE – 30-LAPS SK MODIFIED® FEATURE – 40-LAPS LEGEND CARS FEATURE – 20-LAPS