Spring Sizzler: *Add Clever Title Here*

I am so sorry for not getting this done sooner, but on top of the Rangers still in the hunt for the Stanley Cup and the fact that I had been out of the house one day this week already with another day gone for the computer being a major jerk, I had no time on my hands. And I just plain forgot to write up an entry. So today, I'll take the time to cover both days of the Sizzler. From qualifying to the features to the never-boring Pit Party, whatever I have in my notes (and what I get from the track site) is what you'll get. Let's get this season started, shall we?

First up on the docket, we had Whelen Modified Tour qualifying. A grand total of fourty-two cars took time on the half mile in hopes of getting the Bud Pole Award and possibly some time in the record book as the holder of a new track record. Two cars just couldn't make it out for time (including Mike Stefanik's #16, as there was some sort of problem that I couldn't make over the PA system), but amongst the other fourty cars, there happened to be a shattered record from one of them... Matt Hirschman in the #59 with an 18.009, translating to 99.950 miles an hour. The top eight qualifiers redrew later that day, and it would lead to Tony Hirschman and Reggie Ruggiero sitting on the front row when the race would run the next day.

With the Tour out of the way, qualifying and features for the five Stafford divisions could begin. After all divisions finished with their five, eight, or ten lap races, the stage was set for the first last chance qualifier of the season: The 21 Means 21 feature for the SK Modifieds. Fourteen cars, eight spots up for grabs through the race. There would be some beating and banging going on for them. Not too long after the green flag flew, we had our first feature caution. Kirk Zervas happened to bring out the yellow after he was involved in a single-car incident on the frontstretch. After the delicate cleanup by the "Super Clean" Safety Team (or something to the tune that), we went back to green. At first, one would likely say that Todd Owen would easily get into the feature through the LCQ, even though you couldn't tell that towards the end of the race, he started to have some car issues. On what was originally considered to be the final lap, Owen's car brought out the second and final caution flag of the race, with his car ending up close to the exit of the turn two wall. (Yes, he would be a part of the next day's feature, don't worry.) Now with him out of contention, this opened the door to Zach Sylvester, as he picked up the win. Following him to the line was Lloyd Agor, Dave Salzarulo, and Kerry Malone in a return appearance to Stafford just a few years after winning his track championship.

Now we got to our first official feature of the evening, which just so happened to be the SK Lights. I personally thought that a bunch of these guys weren't going to finish the race based on the number of early race accidents that had occured. The first caution happened on just the second lap of the race when Joe Allegro in the #08 and Paul Colla in the #86 busted their cars up a bit in the turns three and four area of the track. Two laps later, Ray Griffen in the #71 spins in turn four. And on the very next lap, Keith Franklin in the #97 spins (and possibly leaked some fluid in the process) in the first and second turns. At the front of the field, however, Chris Matthews was showing the field that his couple of wins in the season previous were no fluke. He was trying to hold off Glen Reen for the win, but on lap-19, Franklin wrecks his car in turn two, near where I had been taking the notes for this race. This set up a green-white-checkered shootout to the finish, which proved successful for Matthews. He was originally declared the winner with Reen, Brit Andersen, and Glenn Griswold rounding out the top-four. But in post-race inspection, Reen's Modified had illegal brake calibers. This moved Andersen up to second, Griswold up to third, and gave fourth place to Mark Bakaj in the #52.

Then it was time for the Late Model 16 race. It was all green flag racing and it all belonged to Ryan Posocco. He took down the win with Tom Fearn, Mark Lewis, and Scott Cook finishing the board off. I would say more about this, but I had been in a rush due to the fact that Stafford High School was hosting a track and field meet on that day and my mother took a group of students from our town to the event. So I missed the entire Limited Late Model feature. From what the website says, Rick Lanagan was declared the winner with Bill Davis, Charlie Newman, and Andrew Durand completing the top-four. The DARE Stock feature was supposed to go after this, but the rains came and the race was pushed back to Sunday's program.

...Which brings us to Sunday. After the hour that was declared the "CARQuest Belts and Hoses" Pit Party (why the name of that was made longer is anyone's guess) ended, the track was cleared for the first race of the afternoon. This happened to be the SK Modified feature. On the opening lap of the event, there was a three car incident on the backstretch, including Richie Pallai, Jr, Shelly Perry (both of whom graduated up from the SK Light division), and Fran Siana. Perry and Siana would continue the race, while Pallai's day would just go downhill from there, from the result of a caution later in the race. When the starter tried to start the race again, a false start occured, with the culprit being someone I totally don't remember off the top of my head. (Note to self: Write that down next time.) Back to the racing, the third start was a charm and they got four full laps done when the second caution of the race happened. This time, Keith Rocco, Ted Christopher (yes, in the familiar black, blue, and silver #13), and Scott Bennett caused an accident in turn one, sending a red #78 into the safer barrier. A nice cleanup session occured, and when the green flag dropped, a lap was completed before the starter put that away for the yellow. Jim Larsen, Willie Hardie, Wade Mattesen, and Shelly Perry were involved in an accident over in the vicinity of turn three. Everyone except for Larsen would finish the race. They would finally get a half-dozen laps in before the next caution period, which involved Richie Pallai, Jr and Todd Owen, whose weekend was just getting worse by the lap. They would get into an accident in turn one. Your final caution was on lap-25 when Brad Hietala spun in the backstretch grassy area and just didn't get the car started in time to keep the green flag out. Your original top-four at the checkered flag were Woody Pitkat, Lloyd Agor, Jeff Baral, and Jeff Malave. But during the magic that was post-race inspection, Pitkat's Modified was found to have an illegal rear spoiler. He was originally disqualified from the race, but upon further inspection, officials could not determine whether or not the modification could give the car an advantage. Thus he was dropped to the 20th finishing spot and will be handicapped outside of the top-18 for Friday's racing action.

And now, your feature presentation. It was finally time for the Whelen Modified Tour to perform in front of all the fans. I wasn't taking notes for this event, but I could tell you some of the highlights. They include Chuck Hossfeld's car looking like it was run over by an 18-wheeler about 25 laps into the race, courtesy of Frank Ruocco; a red flag to clean up an incident on the frontstretch a little more than halfway through; and Donny Lia holding off Todd Szegedy for the win. It was the first Spring Sizzler win for Mystic Missle car owner Bob Garbarino.

After the 200-lap showdown was over, the Late Models took to the track for their scheduled feature event. Wayne Coury, Jr led the first 14 laps of the race before he was challenged by former Waterford and Thompson driver Corey Hutchings for the lead. Coury relinquished the top spot halfway into the race, and Hutchings dominated the second half in style. He cruised to the win with Woody Pitkat, Mike Quintiliano, and Coury finishing out the board. The race was caution-free.

Finally, the DARE Stocks raced their feature that was supposed to be done the day before. This race, like the Late Models, also ran completely green flagged, but there was no lead change involved in the making of their 15-lap production. Jeff Jolly led every lap possible on his way to his first victory of the season. At the line behind him were Dean Casagrande, Vince Gambacorta, and Todd LaPorta.

With all of the racing action said and done, I officially declare opening weekend a success and over. This brings us to tomorrow night; the first Friday night of the season. All five Stafford divisions will be on hand. And I might bring a camera along with me to take pictures of the action and in the pits. So until we meet again, I bid you a safe rest of today and tomorrow.