Figure that equation out, and it gives you a grand total of 710. As of yesterday, that will be the total number of laps that the Late Models will run in the 2008 season. It was announced that the Late Model 150, which was originally scheduled for August 22, would revert to a second LM 100. The date has not been changed.
According to the track, the reasoning behind the change was to make sure that teams have the time and resources at their disposal, which includes buying and installing fuel cells. It wasn't just the track management who voiced their opinion on this subject. Numerous calls came into the track from the Late Model teams, and they said that a 150-lap feature would require a second purchase of a fuel cell. Scaling the feature down fifty laps will save the teams dollars so that they wouldn't have to go out and purchase said equipment.
Yeah, it shocked me as well. Though I can see why people would be concerned about dollars. It would be a cost saver, that's for sure. Let's hope fuel cells will be conserved and teams don't go into their pockets inbetween May and August.
After my hiatus since May, I've decided on a new lease on life. I've re-emerged from the dark layers of hell with a new location for all things VFT1.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
A Cornucopia Filled With News
Okay, first off, I'd like to wish all of the faithful readers out there a happy Thanksgiving. Hope you stuff yourselves silly. I know I will. Now first thing's first. The important stuff.
High noon has come and gone... And what do you know, the 2008 schedule has been officially released. I was hoping to come on this afternoon and be relieved to see some excitement on the schedule for next season, and I do have excitement planned. Here's what I know after reading the schedule: There is NO word on a Busch East race at the half mile this season. I've gone through the schedule about three times now, and I would hate to tell you guys that they're not racing out there. But alas... I must tell you that the Busch East at Stafford is only a mirage. But the good news is that the Whelen Modified Tour is racing their usual four times in '08 (Spring Sizzler, Fall Final, and the usual dates in May and August).
Going through the thing, the first thing I noticed was that the Late Model 100 will be run three weeks into the schedule. Huh?
You heard me right. You'll see it right. Three weeks into the season, the Late Models will be running their first extra distance race. In June, you'll have the SK Modified 100. So what does this mean? Oh, Stafford had something up their sleeves, and they've delivered the goods. Something was brought back. Well, two somethings were brought back. Mark these two dates on your calendar now and request that time be taken off from work if you have to: July 25 and August 22. Those are the dates of the SK Modified and Late Model 150s! That. Is. Right. It's been quite some time since there has been a 150 for either the SKs or Late Models, but next year, you'll be getting both. (That, to be quite frank with you, was certainly not what I was hoping to see as I checked out the feast. But hey... A blogger's heaven is an extra distance race. And I shall be awaiting every lap of it.) Four years of absence will be just what the doctor ordered. Let's see what happens when an even greater strategy comes into play.
The CARQuest Extreme Tuesday is back. It will be held on July 8 of 2008. ISMAs, NEMAs, and Pro-4 Modifieds... Oh, my!
You can see everything schedule related here.
Also on tap, we had the banquet on Friday night. Other than what I heard about a school bus transporting all of those who were coming in from the Stafford Springs area into the area of the banquet in East Windsor, it appeared to be a fun time regardless. Numerous awards were handed out, including the official crowning of the five track champions of the '07 year. The other winners of awards and the categories that they won in included:
Most Improved Driver: Brad Hietala (SK Modified), Dave Wray (Late Model), Raymond Grassetti (SK Light), Joey Ferrigno (Limited Late Model)
Rookie of the Year: Wade Mattesen (SK Modified), Corey Hutchings (Late Model), Josh Sylvester (SK Light), David Capriati (Limited Late Model)
Most Popular Driver: Woody Pitkat (SK Modified/Late Model), Chris Matthews (SK Light), Sean Foster (Limited Late Model), Dan Flannery (DARE Stock)
Third on the agenda... If you haven't seen them already, Stafford's '08 rosters are being updated as we speak. Don't hesitate to check out who'll be driving what cars in what divisions as the end of April rolls around. And with that being said, I'm out until there's more news. Gas pedal's on the right, and have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving season once again from the faithful blogger at The View From Turn One.
High noon has come and gone... And what do you know, the 2008 schedule has been officially released. I was hoping to come on this afternoon and be relieved to see some excitement on the schedule for next season, and I do have excitement planned. Here's what I know after reading the schedule: There is NO word on a Busch East race at the half mile this season. I've gone through the schedule about three times now, and I would hate to tell you guys that they're not racing out there. But alas... I must tell you that the Busch East at Stafford is only a mirage. But the good news is that the Whelen Modified Tour is racing their usual four times in '08 (Spring Sizzler, Fall Final, and the usual dates in May and August).
Going through the thing, the first thing I noticed was that the Late Model 100 will be run three weeks into the schedule. Huh?
You heard me right. You'll see it right. Three weeks into the season, the Late Models will be running their first extra distance race. In June, you'll have the SK Modified 100. So what does this mean? Oh, Stafford had something up their sleeves, and they've delivered the goods. Something was brought back. Well, two somethings were brought back. Mark these two dates on your calendar now and request that time be taken off from work if you have to: July 25 and August 22. Those are the dates of the SK Modified and Late Model 150s! That. Is. Right. It's been quite some time since there has been a 150 for either the SKs or Late Models, but next year, you'll be getting both. (That, to be quite frank with you, was certainly not what I was hoping to see as I checked out the feast. But hey... A blogger's heaven is an extra distance race. And I shall be awaiting every lap of it.) Four years of absence will be just what the doctor ordered. Let's see what happens when an even greater strategy comes into play.
The CARQuest Extreme Tuesday is back. It will be held on July 8 of 2008. ISMAs, NEMAs, and Pro-4 Modifieds... Oh, my!
You can see everything schedule related here.
Also on tap, we had the banquet on Friday night. Other than what I heard about a school bus transporting all of those who were coming in from the Stafford Springs area into the area of the banquet in East Windsor, it appeared to be a fun time regardless. Numerous awards were handed out, including the official crowning of the five track champions of the '07 year. The other winners of awards and the categories that they won in included:
Most Improved Driver: Brad Hietala (SK Modified), Dave Wray (Late Model), Raymond Grassetti (SK Light), Joey Ferrigno (Limited Late Model)
Rookie of the Year: Wade Mattesen (SK Modified), Corey Hutchings (Late Model), Josh Sylvester (SK Light), David Capriati (Limited Late Model)
Most Popular Driver: Woody Pitkat (SK Modified/Late Model), Chris Matthews (SK Light), Sean Foster (Limited Late Model), Dan Flannery (DARE Stock)
Third on the agenda... If you haven't seen them already, Stafford's '08 rosters are being updated as we speak. Don't hesitate to check out who'll be driving what cars in what divisions as the end of April rolls around. And with that being said, I'm out until there's more news. Gas pedal's on the right, and have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving season once again from the faithful blogger at The View From Turn One.
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Modified Tire News
So... Stafford is changing the way the Modifieds run via tires. First and foremost, American Racer will not be supplying tires for the open wheeled machines in '08 -- that title will be held by Hoosier. The sizes and compounds will be 26.0/13.0-15 M45 for the left side and 27.0/13-15 M46 for the right side. SK teams will be allowed to buy two tires per week, while the SK Lights are only going to be able to buy one tire a week. They're going to be carrying some sort of serial scan number, so that those in charge of tire duty will know how many tires each team is getting. SKs will be allowed to have up to ten tires in their inventory, while the SK Lights will only get up to eight. This may change for extra distance races (SK 100, mainly), and it will be changed if one wants to practice and/or test. If this is the case (the testing/practicing), then only six tires will be the maximum for SKs, while the maximum is four for the SK Lights.
My take? This is kind of not something I was expecting, though I believe Waterford has teams on Hoosier tires to begin with and they have most of the rules (if not, a good number of them) that Stafford has set for the Modifieds. I would assume that this might help teams if they want to go back and forth between tracks each weekend, but this may or may not be the case. Either way, I'm willing to see how this will affect teams if it does.
My take? This is kind of not something I was expecting, though I believe Waterford has teams on Hoosier tires to begin with and they have most of the rules (if not, a good number of them) that Stafford has set for the Modifieds. I would assume that this might help teams if they want to go back and forth between tracks each weekend, but this may or may not be the case. Either way, I'm willing to see how this will affect teams if it does.
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