#sk modifieds

[noodles1295]

SK Modifed Podium Finishers for May 15th with Honorable Mentions

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SRX Returns in 2022...

The hottest event in town from 2021 is returning to Stafford in 2022.

It was just last week that the track's social media accounts mentioned an announcement at the start of this month. Many people were clamoring about what it could have been. Of course, a day or two before the announcement was made, they had posted a taco emoji with a "superstar" gif... So the surprise was basically spoiled by then.

Last Tuesday, the revelation was made known: July 2nd would be when the Superstar Racing Experience will make a return trip to New England, as this time it will be the third stop on the tour (rather than the debut track). This gives anyone who's going to the event ample time to get to know the series, which is a little more convenient than last time.

As like last year, the SK Modifieds will also be on-hand. Unlike last year, however? The race they're in is going to be a points race. None of this all-star business they were involved in last time.

Also, we don't know who the hometown driver is going to be. Remember when it was revealed that Doug Coby was the local driver in 2021? It won't be so easy to tell just whom that will be this time around. All will be answered as to which driver will be driving with the SRX in July at the Spring Sizzler. According to Stafford:

In 2022, Modified history and SRX history will meet as the winner of the 50th running of the NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler will have the opportunity to run in the Stafford SRX event.

Remember that this is the first time in recent history that the Spring Sizzler will not involve the Whelen Modified Tour. The race that will be determining who the local representative is will be an open Modified race, one of many that Stafford will have on the 2022 schedule (which is a different story within itself).

Tickets were pre-sold for select groups last Friday, and went on sale to the general public the day after. If there's still tickets left, you might want to grab them while they're available. While this isn't a once in a lifetime experience (no pun intended), the 2022 event will probably be just as good as the 2021 one was.

We'll be waiting for you, SRX and CBS.

[viewfromturnone]

Untold: Crime & Penalties Review

On August 31, 2021, Netflix dropped the latest documentary in the Untold series. It has everything to do with Jimmy Galante, a trash mogul who bought his son AJ a hockey team before the 2004-05 UHL season.

If you were expecting anything to be said about the SK Modifieds that he had owned at the time, and Mystique Motorsports... Well, I'm going to be quite honest with you: Nothing was really said about that in the entire thing. Unless, of course, you count the UHL head talking to Jimmy at the top of the documentary. Case in point:

That was really the only thing Stafford Speedway related in the near 1:30 worth of episode. I was expecting the FBI's raid of Galante's properties part to include the footage of Ted Christopher's SK on a flatbed to be shown somewhere in there, but alas, there was nothing.

The documentary mainly focused on Jimmy buying a hockey team and naming AJ as the General Manager as a 17-year-old.

I mean, don't get me wrong. It's a good documentary. You have interviews of both Jimmy and AJ, and Jimmy mentions at one point that he's not allowed to talk about any case-related information.

Even if there's little racing information in there, go check it out. Hockey fans will enjoy this look into the minor leagues. Anyone who wants to learn more about the Galante family, and maybe even learn a little extra that you might not have known about the situation that developed should also take a peek.

Untold: Crime & Penalties is now on Netflix.

[viewfromturnone]

SRX at SMS

Okay, so you’re probably already well aware that the Superstar Racing Experience is coming to Stafford in June, and therefore, tickets are sold out unless capacity limits are upped. Also, you’re also informed about VFT1′s appearance at the track at least once this year, for this same event. (Oh, yeah. Still can’t believe how HQ was given the news that they will be attending this show.)

You’re probably wondering why we’re so late with our take on this tandem with a “best of the best” SK Modified race, with past champions possibly coming to fight with 2021′s best. Let’s go over what we think of all of this.

We think that this is some great news, even as 2021 has brought us Stafford dropping out of the NASCAR banner and putting their races on FloRacing...

But in all fairness, SRX was looking for historical tracks to showcase their short but sweet season. And they decided that they would start their schedule with Stafford. Not going to lie, if there was any track that they could have started at, Stafford was definitely it. The track has been around (in some capacity) for over 100 years now, so SRX picking and starting here was expected. And yet, the news coming out actually surprised quite a few. Including us.

It’s not just the SRX race, of course. Partnering up with the main event is an “All-Star Showdown” for the SK Modifieds. 50 laps (where have you heard that one before?) and past champions returning, along with the top-15 in points - possibly capped at the week before the event - is a nice, healthy addition to the show. We’re wondering just whom will return for this race. Could you see guys coming back for a one-shot in 2021, only to beat 2021′s field? That would be something!

So which past champions would you like to see possibly race in the Showdown? Looking forward to the SRX event? We’re thinking of names, and yes - we’re definitely interested in seeing some big names driving around in an IROC-like series. CBS, we’re coming for you in June.

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I’ve posted this on the Twitter account either last year or earlier this year, but I don’t believe I’ve ever shared this with the actual blog itself.

Around 2007 or 2008, my family was in communication with SMS staff, showing off my work that I put in to the original View From Turn One (which I have linked to in the sidebar on the left). Thanks to my mother, a representative for the track gave me a special position within the ranks of the track: To write for the Pitstopper magazine. I would get a free copy with my work in it, if a new story was included with the issue.

One of the articles, and the only one I was able to scan, was regarding the SK Modified 150, brought back in 2008. This was the article I wrote, welcoming the race back into the fold. I do remember writing at least one or two more articles for the track, including one in which I was name-dropped by the broadcast team due to them reading it.

Perhaps I could ask the track if they could dig up my previous entries? I don’t have any other works, since I got rid of most of my collection a few years ago. (Due to not having enough room in storage around that time.) I’ve condensed my collection dramatically, so dear SMS staff: Please send my works to me?

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Covid-19 and a Way Around It?

If you haven’t been aware by the news of the month, Covid-19 is here. And, unfortunately, it’s been the reason why your favorite event coming up has been either postponed or flat-out cancelled. The CDC has explained that it’s best if no more than ten people are in one area at once (which is why my workplace is actually saying that we won’t be allowing more than 50 customers in the building at any given time).

This is the reason why NASCAR has postponed all races that were supposed to be run through May 3rd to a date that will be announced later. In fact, the announcement regarding that impacted the Whelen Modified Tour’s schedule. The first three races were also postponed to future dates, including Stafford’s Spring Sizzler. Tentatively, of course.

But there is a way that the show can still go on, without leaving the comfort of your couch. Last weekend, NASCAR brought a number of drivers together and pitted them in an iRacing event, televised for FOX Sports. Successfully put together (although we here at VFT1 didn’t exactly see it for work reasons), the craze of iRacing has come to the short tracks.

Put all of that together, and you have this Friday night planned. At 7pm ET, the NAPA Auto Parts 100 will air live on Stafford’s YouTube channel. Drivers who raced in at least one event last year, or are on a roster for this year are eligible to compete in the virtual SK Modified race.

We’ll have to check it out and report back when the race ends. Stay tuned. And stay safe.

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Found on YouTube on the early morning of July 25, 2019.

From the night of May 18, 2012. Why is this being posted, of all videos? Because I never saw the Late Model feature from the retro program seen. And when the SK Light race happened, I got a front-row seat in an area of the track that I will probably never watch a race from again: The infield.

Remember how I made note of (and have done that numerous times since) my time in the two-seater Modified back in 2012? If you look carefully, you can catch a glimpse of me in the firesuit after the race is over. Don’t blink, or you’ll miss me.

[viewfromturnone]

2019 Schedule Preview

Schedule day is here, and it has been officially announced. Some really exciting races have been planned for 2019, and there are a few key changes (if you want call them that) from last year’s schedule. I think that we should go over them now, because last year... My opinion of this was done extremely late.

Tour Races

No surprises right out of the gate. The Whelen Modified Tour comes for three races. Two of them are at the usual points: Spring Sizzler and Fall Final. Their other race is on August 2nd.

Surprising to see that the Modified Racing Series is only coming once, on August 30. They had been coming multiple times over the course of the last few years, so to see them only showing up once is a little unusual. It seems odd, to say the least.

Open Modified Events

The Open Modified races are coming back this season. The three (!) special dates are May 10, June 14, and July 12. A nice step up from last year. Hopefully, more participation?

Extra Distance Races

The SK5K is coming back. No surprise. The 100-lap event is June 28.

The SK Lights will have a 40-lap feature on May 24 (Modifiedz Night).

The Late Models run an 80-lap feature on August 23.

The Limited Late Models get a 25-lap feature on June 7.

The Street Stocks get three (!) 30-lap features this year. This is new. Dates for the events are on Spring Sizzler weekend, Fall Final weekend, and June 21. Points will be awarded for these three features, and the track will name a Triple Crown winner. I am not sure how this is going to work. Will these be separate from the other points races? Stay tuned.

Other Events

Last year’s TC Shootout was a success, so Stafford’s going to do that again on July 12. It’s probably going to be the same format again, since no news was given that it’s going to change.

There’s your schedule in a nutshell. Seems like this is going to be a good season.