Ticket Packages for 2010

And here's your third of three parts. Let's just crank these out now before I do anymore forgetful damage.

Along with the news about the banquet and the schedule, Stafford also announced information regarding their season ticket packages. And while most things in life probably got more expensive as time went on, these prices haven't moved a bit. Yes, all of the prices of last season have moved to this upcoming season as well. For 23 weeks in the season (including one Tuesday), you will enjoy the comfort of short track racing without having to pay any more than you have to. Hey, it pays for itself.

The best value of them all is, of course, the paddock pass plan. If you buy your pass right now, before the 15th of December, you will save 52 percent over what you'd normally spend over the course of the season if you didn't.

Ticket prices increase on December 16 and March 16. After May 7, you're out of luck.

All of the necessary information regarding season ticket information is up at the Stafford site right now.

Can You Pencil Me In? Schedule's Out!

This is the second of three parts, and no, I don't think I'm going to finish this within the night. Consider these late ones Thanksgiving day treats.

So... What happened yesterday (Wednesday)? Was something finally released? Well, maybe it wasn't technically Wednesday, but it was this week that the 2010 Stafford schedule of events was released. And you're getting all of it (at least the special events) in a fine list form. Enjoy.

NOTE: This is always subject to change -- may it be rain or just something else.

April 23-25: 39th annual Tech-Net Spring Sizzler
May 7: Bi-annual Late Model 100
May 28: 20th annual Connecticut Classic 125 (WMT date)
June 11: 37th annual Coors Light SK 100
July 6: CARQuest Extreme Tuesday (ISMA, NEMA, Pro-4)
July 23: 7th annual CARQuest SK 150
August 6: 20th annual Stafford 150 (WMT date)
August 20: Bi-annual Late Model 100
October 1-3: 38th annual CARQuest Fall Final

Fireworks nights will be June 18, July 2, and September 3. All kids (14 and under) will be admitted free to the June 18 show if they're with an adult.

Other important dates to remember:

March 28: Connecticut Motorcycle Swap Meet
April 11: Ty-Rods Automotive Swap Meet
June 27: Connecticut Motorcycle Swap Meet
July 24-25: 3rd annual 24 Hours of LeMons
July 31-August 1: USHRA Monster Jam
August 15: Connecticut Motorcycle Swap Meet
October 17: Ty-Rods Automotive Swap Meet
October 31: Connecticut Motorcycle Swap Meet

The Banquet in a Nutshell

Part one in a three-part series detailing things that happened pre-Thanksgiving. All of which should be up by the end of the night.

I'll start with the banquet first, because I know that's pretty much the first thing that happened this week. A couple hundred people showed up to celebrate the season that was at SMS on Friday, November 20. They were also there to officially crown the five track champions and hand out a few more pieces of hardware.

The five track champions, which have already been discussed in earlier entries here, were...

+ SK Modifieds: Ted Christopher
+ Late Models: Jim Peterson
+ SK Lights: Michael Gervais, Jr
+ Limited Late Models: Andrew Durand
+ DARE Stocks: Don Wood

The track's Rookies of the Year (again, mentioned previously in an earlier entry) were...

+ SK Modifieds: Mark Bakaj
+ Late Models: Adam Gray
+ SK Lights: Michael Gervais, Jr
+ Limited Late Models: Dan Flannery

Moving onto all of the stuff that wasn't announced until the awards. Most Improved Driver winners for the year were...

+ SK Modifieds: Richie Pallai, Jr
+ Late Models: JJ Hill
+ SK Lights: David Webb
+ Limited Late Models: Dave Yardley, III

And as for the Most Popular Drivers? Well, they were...

+ SK Modifieds: Woody Pitkat
+ Late Models: Dillon Moltz
+ SK Lights: Heather DesRochers
+ Limited Late Models: Carla Botticello
+ DARE Stocks: Kyle Casagrande

And finally, the Craftsman Mechanic of the Year award went to John Berardi, who worked on both Don Wood and Stephanie Berardi's DARE Stocks this past season.

More to come later tonight. Part two of the three part Tueday event: The schedule notes. Stay tuned.

Rocco Released From Tour Ride

Keith Rocco's time in a Whelen Modified is officially over.

Back on Saturday, Ed Partridge and Rocco split ways. Nobody was at fault here. The reason was that the team would have had to start over again to make the car work for Rocco.

(Sorry for lack of story. The link included will tell you more. Been swamped with stuff again.)

The Schedule Takes Shape

With the calendar still on 2009, the 2010 Stafford schedule is taking shape. Only four definite events are on the schedule so far, and all of them have to do with the Whelen Modified Tour.

The four dates to circle on your calendar for next year (if you have one) are...

+ April 25 (Spring Sizzler weekend)
+ May 28 (a Friday)
+ August 6 (a Friday)
+ October 3 (Fall Final weekend)

That also tells you that the season will run once again from the last weekend in April to the first weekend in October. No word yet on when the rest of the 2010 SMS schedule will be released. When it does come out, I'll give you the important dates.

Rosters (Again) Taking Shape

Along with all of the new rules that are being implemented for the new season, there's also something else coming up. Driver rosters for the 2010 season are already coming into shape. Even though there's not a lot of drivers in each division's roster, we've got driver rosters and they'll be growing as the winter goes on.

2010 SMS Driver Rosters
+ SK Modified
+ Late Model
+ Limited Late Model
+ SK Light
+ DARE Stock

All rosters linked are organized by car number.

2010 Rule Changes

2010 will be a season of change at Stafford. Both in the literal sense and the figurative. The literal sense is implied in the rule changes for all divisions, which were released yesterday. Here's what's changing:

SK Modified
+ Spec engine allowed to run Sunoco Supreme gas
+ Clarification to intake manifold (spec and non-spec)
+ Rearview mirror rule adjustment
+ Roll bar rule updated (anti-intrustion plates and foot protection bar)

Late Model (XYG Rulebook)
+ B and C-engines allowed to run 2nd generation Edelbrock 2101 intake manifold
+ B and C-engines choose between Canton #85-060 or #85-065 carb spacer
+ All engines permitted to run Lobak or Kooks muffler and cowl air induction
+ B-motor converts spec oil pan and option of inspection plug

Limited Late Model
+ Age limit reduced: 15 YEARS OLD
+ Body measurements done with NGB or S2 templates
+ Non-spec engines allowed to run 2nd generation Edelbrock 2101 intake manifold
+ Both engines choose between Canton #85-060 or #85-065 carb spacer
+ Spec engines must have same overall weight and left side weight as non-spec engines
+ Spec engines permitted to run Kooks muffler
+ New gear rule for spec and non-spec engines

SK Light
+ Age limit reduced: 15 YEARS OLD
+ Engine exhaust rule updated (Kooks mufflers and SFI harmonic balancer)

DARE Stock
+ Age limit reduced: 14 YEARS OLD
+ GM ploy front fender permitted
+ Triple reinforced fiberglass roof permitted
+ New rule for battery location

All rulebooks are linked to their respective divisions.

In three of the divisions (those that don't require pit crews out on pit road), the minimum age has been dropped. As already stated, it's 14 for the DARE Stocks and 15 for the SK Lights and Limited Late Models. Should be interesting to see what happens.

Rookies of the Year

Well, I fail more than I already do. The following two articles were written up last month. I don't get to them until November gets here. Anyway... All on-track events at Stafford are officially over. (The last of the '09 swap meets took place on Sunday, and that was it for outdoor action until the spring of '10 gets here.) But there's one thing on the track's to-do list that hasn't been crossed off. That thing is the annual end of season banquet.

Last month, I gave you the stories for the five track champions and the state's Rookie of the Year. Now, I give you the track's Rookies of the Year. Enjoy.

+ SK Modifieds: Mark Bakaj
+ Late Models: Adam Gray
+ SK Lights: Michael Gervais, Jr
+ Limited Late Models: Dan Flannery