Analyzing The NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler at Stafford Speedway
(Stafford Springs, CT)—Stafford Speedway’s NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler is the longest continuously running race on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour schedule. The race was first run in 1972 and it has served as the kick-off race for each season of racing at the Connecticut half-mile since then. With the race heading towards its 44thannual edition on April 24-26, here is a look at some stats and figures for not only the race itself, but for active modified drivers that will or could possibly be part of the starting grid on Sunday, April 26th.
In the race’s 43 year history, there have been 23 different winners with only 10 of those being repeat winners. Since 1980, the driver who has started on pole position has gone on to win the race only twice with Ted Christopher winning in 2003 and Bobby Santos, III winning in 2013. Now here is a look at driver statistics compiled during “The Greatest Race in the History of Spring” in alphabetical order.
Tommy Barrett, Jr. – Made his first NAPA Spring Sizzler start in 2014; Won Pole Position, finished 11th; led 8 laps.
Justin Bonsignore – Has made 5 career NAPA Spring Sizzler starts with 2 top-5’s and 4 top-10’s for an avg. finish of 10.2. Bonsignore’s best finish was 2nd in 2013, and his worst was 28th in 2011.
George Brunnhoelzl, III – Has 1 NAPA Spring Sizzler start in 2010 and he finished 20th.
Ted Christopher – Has made 24 NAPA Spring Sizzler starts, and he leads all drivers with 6 wins (‘88, ’02, ’03, ’08, ’09, ’10). Christopher also has 9 top-5’s and 15 top-10’s for an average finish of 10.5. Christopher joined Maynard Troyer in 2010 as the only drivers to win 3 consecutive Sizzlers and Christopher’s Sizzler career has been feast of famine as he has 9 finishes 15th or worse to go along with his record 6 victories. Christopher has been the fastest qualifier for the Sizzler once in 2009.
Doug Coby – The defending NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion won his very first NWMT race at the Spring Sizzler in 2006. He has since added a second NAPA Spring Sizzler victory to his resume in 2012 and he also has 3 top-5 and 4 top-10 finishes for an average finish of 15.3. Coby was the polesitter for the 2011 Sizzler.
Wade Cole – The NWMT veteran has made 11 career NAPA Spring Sizzler starts with an average finish of 20.5. Cole’s best Sizzler finish was 14th in 1991, and his worst finish was 32nd in 2009.
Patrick Emerling – Has made 4 career NAPA Spring Sizzler starts with an average finish of 16.5. Emerling’s best Sizzler finish was 11th in 2013 and his worst finish was 23rd in 2011.
Melissa Fifield – She made her very first NAPA Spring Sizzler start last year and she finished 20th.
Ed Flemke, Jr. – Has made 23 career NAPA Spring Sizzler starts, recording 2 top-5’s and 4 to-10’s for an average finish of 16.9. Flemke’s best Sizzler finish was 3rd in 2000 and his worst finish was 30th in 1996.
Eric Goodale – Has made 6 career NAPA Spring Sizzler starts with an average finish of 16.9. His best Sizzler finish was an 11th place effort in 2009 and his worst finish was 20th in 2013.
Kevin Goodale – Has made 8 career NAPA Spring Sizzler starts, with an average finish of 20.6. His best Sizzler finish was an 11th in 2008 and his worst finish was 31st in 2006.
Ken Heagy – Has made 7 career NAPA Spring Sizzler starts with an average finish of 18.6. Ken’s best Sizzler finish was 12th in 2008 and his worst finish was 31st in 2010.
Daniel Hemrick – Made his only career NAPA Spring Sizzler start in 2012 and finished 11th.
Matt Hirschman – Has made 6 career NAPA Spring Sizzler starts with 4 top-10’s for an average finish of 11.3. Hirschman’s best finish was 8th in 2006 and his worst finish was 21st in 2009. Hirschman was the fast qualifier for the 2007 Sizzler.
Chuck Hossfeld – Has made 10 career NAPA Spring Sizzler starts with 2 top-5’s and 5 top-10’s for an average finish of 12.2. Hossfeld’s best Sizzler finish was 3rd in 2008 and his worst finish was 30th in 2011.
Donny Lia – Has made 10 career NAPA Spring Sizzler starts with 1 win (2007), 2 top-5’s, and 5 top-10’s for an average finish of 13.5. Lia is also a 2-time (2005, 2006) polesitter for the Sizzler. Lia’s worst finish was 31st in 2003.
Gary McDonald – Has made 4 career NAPA Spring Sizzler starts with an average finish of 23.0. McDonald’s best finish was 17th in 2014 and his worst finish was 27th in 2011.
Richie Pallai, Jr. – Has made 5 career NAPA Spring Sizzler starts with an average finish of 18.0. Pallai’s best finish was 11th in 2010 and his worst finish was 27th in 2014.
Rowan Pennink – Has made 7 career NAPA Spring Sizzler starts, posting 4 top-5’s and 5 top10’s for an average finish of 8.4. Pennink’s best Sizzler effort has been 2nd in 2011 and his worst finish was 26th in 2009.
Woody Pitkat – Has made 6 career NAPA Spring Sizzler starts with 1 top-5 and 4 top-10’s for an average finish of 13.2. Pitkat’s best Sizzler finish was 4th in 2014 and his worst finish was 26th in 2013.
Cole Powell – Made his only career NAPA Spring Sizzler start in 2013 and finished 19th.
Ryan Preece – The 2013 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion has made 7 career NAPA Spring Sizzler starts with 3 top-5’s and 3 top-10’s for an average finish of 14.6. Preece is a 2-time (2008, 2012) Sizzler polesitter with a best finish of 2nd in 2012 and his worst finish was 29th in 2008.
Glen Reen – Has made 4 career NAPA Spring Sizzler starts with an average finish of 20.3. Reen’s best finish was 13th in 2008 and his worst finish was 25th in 2010 and 2014.
Keith Rocco – Has made 2 career NAPA Spring Sizzler starts, finishing 3rd in 2012 and 26th in 2014.
Tom Rogers, Jr. – Made his only NAPA Spring Sizzler start in 2009 and finished 9th.
Bobby Santos, III – Has made 6 career NAPA Spring Sizzler starts with 3 wins (2011, 2013, 2014), 4 top-5’s and 4 top-10’s for an average finish of 11.5. Santos will attempt to join Maynard Troyer and Ted Christopher this season as the only drivers who have won 3 consecutive Spring Sizzlers. Interestingly, Santos has won the last three Sizzlers he has competed in, skipping the 2012 race while winning in 2011, 2013, and 2014. Santos is a 2-time (2010, 2013) Sizzler polesitter and his worst Sizzler finish was 32nd in 2004 and 2007.
Ronnie Silk – Has made 9 career NAPA Spring Sizzler starts with 2 top-5’s and 4 top-10’s for an average finish of 15.8. Silk’s best finish was 3rd in 2011 and his worst finish was 30th in 2010.
Timmy Solomito – Made his only career NAPA Spring Sizzler last season and he finished 8th.
Mike Stefanik – Is second on the all-time list with 26 career NAPA Spring Sizzler starts. Stefanik has recorded 4 wins, 14 top-5’s, and 20 top-10’s for an average finish of 8.2. Stefanik’s worst Sizzler finish was 33rd in 2005 and he has posted the fastest time in qualifying 4-times (1989, 1992, 1993, 1997).
Todd Szegedy – Has made 13 career NAPA Spring Sizzler starts with 6 top-5’s and 7 top-10’s for an average finish of 9.8. Szegedy’s best finish was 2nd in 2003, 2007, and 2009, while his worst finish was 24th in 2011. Szegedy set fast time for the 2004 Sizzler.
Jamie Tomaino – Leads all drivers with a record 31 career NAPA Spring Sizzler starts. Tomaino has posted 3 top-5’s and 16 top-10’s for an average finish of 13.4. Tomaino’s best finish was 3rd in 1986 and 1987, while his worst finish was 28th in 1982, 1996, 2010. Tomaino was the fast qualifier for the 1999 Sizzler.
Ron Yuhas, Jr. – Has made 6 career NAPA Spring Sizzler starts with 2 top-10’s for an average finish of 15.0. Yuhas’ best finish was 7th in 2012 and 2013, and his worst finish was 27th in 2007.
Jimmy Zacharias – Made his first NAPA Spring Sizzler last year and he finished 22nd.
TJ Zacharias – Made his first NAPA Spring Sizzler last year and he finished 19th.
For more information, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.
