STAFFORD SPRINGS, Conn. – Stafford Speedway management has released the weekly schedule for the Connecticut half-mile.
The 24-race slate offers a blend of Stafford’s classic weekly racing events and special events, headlined by three visits for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
“Another season is on the horizon,” explained Stafford Speedway CEO Mark Arute. “2020 was a challenge but with the support of the race teams, race fans, and Team Stafford, we were able to get through it. For 2021 we look to continue to build on our strong weekly program and special events.
“We’ve added a few twists and turns in the schedule to keep things interesting but our approach continues to be schedule consistency; we think that is important for the sport.”
The season kicks off with the 49th Annual NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler Weekend on April 24-25.
New for the 2021 Spring Sizzler, Saturday and Sunday will be two separate tickets with the Granite State Pro Stock Series joining the SK Modifieds, Late Models, Limited Late Models and Street Stocks on Saturday.
Spring Sizzler Sunday will see the SK Modifieds return for their second race of the weekend along with the SK Light Modified division, the Vintage All-Stars, and finally the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour competing in the 150-lap NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler.
“We had multiple Friday and Saturday events this season due to COVID-19,” noted Arute. “With capacity restriction as the big unknown entering 2021, we took a look at what we could do to ensure that even if we are at a reduced capacity, we’d be able to run our entire schedule. This included making the 2021 NAPA Spring Sizzler Weekend a two day, two ticket event.
“The NASCAR Modified Tour will headline the weekend and we’ve added the Granite State Pro Stocks, and the SK Modified teams will run both Saturday and Sunday.”
Weekly Friday night racing at Stafford will commence Friday, May 7 after 1 off week following the NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler and will continue weekly through the fall.
Headlined by Stafford’s SK Modified division, Stafford’s 5 weekly divisions will compete at each Friday night event through the season.
New for 2021, race teams will have their worst finish of the season dropped from their final championship point total, allowing for an off week, if necessary. More information on this rule will be included in the 2021 general rules in the near future.
The fan favorite Open Modifieds take to the Stafford half-mile four times in 2021.
The fun begins Friday, May 14 for the Modified Open 80; then continues with dates on Friday, June 11 for the Twisted Tea 80; Friday, July 9 for the Bud Light 80; and Friday, Aug. 20 for the Lincoln Tech 80.
The 2020 season featured four different Open Modified winners at Stafford, including Marcello Rufrano, Keith Rocco, Ronnie Williams, and Woody Pitkat.
Each of Stafford’s five weekly divisions have at least one extra-distance race scheduled.
Extra-distance races for the full-fendered divisions kicks off with 25 laps for the Limited Late Models on Friday, June 18; while the Street Stock Firecracker 30 is slated for Friday, July 2; and the Late Model 50 returns to the schedule on Friday, Sept. 3.
Three extra distance races for Stafford’s weekly modified divisions are scheduled: the eighth annual NAPA Auto Parts SK 5K on Friday, June 25; Dunleavy’s Modifiedz Night for the SK Light Modifieds on Friday, July 23; and the Senators Cup for the SK Modified division on Friday, Aug. 13.
The SK Modified division will also compete in the fourth annual TC 13 SK Modified Shootout on Friday, Sept. 10.
New for 2021, the season will be extended one week beyond NAPA Auto Parts Fall Final Weekend with the addition of NAPA Auto Parts Championship Night on Friday, Oct. 1.
“We were forced to extend beyond the NAPA Fall Final this season due to COVID-19,” continued Arute. “The fans and drivers liked the NAPA Champions Night format, so we will continue that in 2021. Running our weekly divisions as the final night of the season gives our champions their own night in the spotlight.”
Season tickets for the 2021 season are now on sale at staffordspeedway.com/store. Early bird discount pricing is in effect until Dec. 16 when prices increase.
Season pass holders saved more than 60 percent in 2020 when compared to purchasing a ticket every week.