(Stafford Springs, CT)---Stafford Motor Speedway is ready to drop the green flag on what is shaping up to be a blockbuster 2013 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series season.  The Connecticut half-mile track will offer race fans a sneak preview into that blockbuster season at the 53rd Annual Frank Maratta Auto Show / Race-A-Rama , which will be held at the Big E in Springfield, MA on March 2 & 3.

Stafford’s booth at the Speedway Expo will be filled with the SK Modified® car of Michael Bennett, the Late Model cars of defending Limited Late Model champion Cory Casagrande veteran Tom Fearn, and rookie driver George Nocera, Jr., the SK Light of Tony Membrino, Jr., and the Limited Late Model car of D.J. Burnham.  As an added bonus, fans can get a firsthand look at the Stafford Motor Speedway 2-seat modified that 5-time SK Modified® champion Bob Potter uses to take fans around the track during a Friday night.

After driving his own car for the past two seasons in Stafford’s SK Modified® division, Stafford native Michael Bennett will move to the #50 Flamingo Motorsports sponsored team owned by the Skowyra family.  Bennett will have former SK Light and SK Modified® driver Adam Skowyra as his crew chief.

Stafford’s Late Model division will be represented by a veteran driver and two rookie drivers. Tom Fearn is a three-time Stafford ProStock track champion and he is a Late Model veteran with 10 career wins.  Fearn will have his #92 Safco Foam Chevrolet on display alongside the #1 Shark Cycle Ford of Cory Casagrande, who will be making his very first start in the Late Model division during the 42nd Annual Tech-Net Spring Sizzler presented by CARQUEST.  While Casagrande will be a Late Model rookie this year, he has 8 wins in the Limited Late Model division and 3 wins in the DARE Stock division since he began racing at Stafford in 2010. Also on display will be the #38 Beckman's Auto Center Ford Mustang of rookie driver George Nocera, Jr. Nocera has 10 career Ltd. Late Model wins and 3 career DARE Stock wins along with 2 second place finishes in the Ltd. Late Model points standings.

Stafford’s SK Light division will be represented by the #44 Bay Crane sponsored entry for Tony Membrino, Jr.  Membrino is entering his third season of SK Light competition at Stafford, and last year saw him pick up his first career victory on his way to finishing third in the points standings.

Stafford’s Limited Late Model division will be represented by D.J. Burnham and his #54 family owned Burnham Motorsports Toyota.  Burnham is coming off a career best season in the Ltd. Late Model division that saw him win three times on his way to a third place finish in the 2012 points standings.

Stafford officials will also be on hand to answer any questions about rules, as well as processing any paperwork, such as number request forms, NASCAR license applications, team profile sheets, and minor release forms.
Stafford’s two-seater modified enters its second season of operation and it offers fans the once in a lifetime chance to take a spin around Stafford Motor Speedway in a modified with Bob Potter as the driver.  The 2-seater modified has several options for fans with rides beginning at $75.00. 

Stafford Motor Speedway will kick off its 2013 racing season with the 42nd Annual Tech-Net Spring Sizzler presented by CARQUEST, scheduled for April 26-28, 2013.  The Spring Sizzler will feature the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in the 200-lap Sizzler, with Stafford’s five weekly divisions and the Northeast Mini Stock Tour all in action.  Tickets for the 42nd Annual Tech-Net Spring Sizzler presented by CARQUEST are on sale now and can be obtained by calling the speedway office at 860-684-2783 or by stopping by the office in person.  Tickets for “The Greatest Race In the History of Spring” are priced at $38.50 for Adult General Admission, $5.00 for children ages 6-14, and children ages 5 and under are admitted FREE when accompanied by an adult.  Reserved seating is available for $42.00.

Be sure to stop by the Frank Maratta Auto Show / Race-A-Rama booth for a sneak preview into the 2013 season at Stafford Motor Speedway, or contact the front office at (860) 684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com for more information.

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