(Stafford Springs, CT)---From 2008 through 2011, Norm Wrenn owned CARQUEST Victory Lane as he won four times in a row in Pro-4 Modified competition.  Wrenn’s Stafford winning streak came to an end this past June when he finished second, but he is looking to improve on his finishes of 13th and 12th from last season when the Valenti Modified Racing Series comes to Stafford for the 3rd Annual Shark Cycle 80 on August 31st. 

“We’ve been improving a lot the last couple of MRS shows,” said Wrenn.  “I’ve stopped driving the Pro-4 car, so we’re going to be concentrating more on the MRS car and hopefully we can make it go better.  We’re hoping we can win at Stafford.  If it comes, it comes, but for now, I just want to finish every race, get some experience, and hopefully we can finish up front.”

Wrenn has enjoyed his time in the Valenti Modified Racing Series, finishing 5th in the points last season as a rookie and he currently sits fourth in the 2012 points, only 3 points behind Les Hinckley in third.  While the Pro-4 Modified and VMRS cars are vastly different, Wrenn credits his time in the Pro-4 Modifieds with helping him to achieve the success he has enjoyed as a top-5 car in the points standings.

“When I drove ProStocks, they were a very heavy car and we used a lot of braking” said Wrenn.  “Driving the Pro-4 Modified, it actually improved my driving because you use a lot less braking in the Pro-4 and that has really helped me with driving the MRS car.  The Pro-4 experience has helped my driving considerably.  We’ve made a step up this year and I’m really happy with where we’re at.”

With his 4 wins in Pro-4 Modified competition at Stafford, Wrenn knows what it takes to get to victory lane.  While Wrenn will be banking on his previous Stafford experience in search of his first VMRS victory, Wrenn also has another ace up his sleeve in the form of a brand new car when the VMRS returns to Stafford.

“We’ve been strong all year long, so we’re hoping we can get a win,” said Wrenn.  “Our car has been real good but we’re bringing a brand new car down to Stafford.  Dave Berghman built a car from scratch with a lot of his adjustments built into it, so we’re hoping that it will work out well and make a big difference for us.  It’s going to take a lot of patience and staying out of trouble to win the race.”

In addition to patience, Wrenn knows he will have to conserve his tires in order to be able to make a charge at the end of the 80-lap Shark Cycle feature event.

“It’s definitely a tire game,” said Wrenn.  “You have to manage the tires and at the beginning of the races you have to hold back a bit.  If you slip the tires a couple of times, they’re junk.  At Stafford we get four tires, but a lot of tracks we go to, you only get three tires, so one will have about 100 laps on it.  That makes a big difference.  If you have tires left at the end of the race, you have a chance to win the race or be up front.  In the Pro-4’s we were doing 25 or 30 lap features, and the ProStocks were 30 or 40 laps and we were charging right from the opening lap.   It’s a whole different way of racing with the MRS cars.”

Tickets for the August 31st Shark Cycle 80 are available and on sale now at the Speedway Box Office.  Tickets are priced at $27.50 for adult general admission tickets, $5.00 for children ages 6-14, and children ages 5 and under are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult. Reserved seating will be priced at $30.00 for all ages.  All ticket prices include 10% CT Admission Tax.  Stafford Motor Speedway offers free parking with overnight parking available.

For more information on the Shark Cycle 80, or to order tickets, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.

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