(Stafford Springs, CT)---As one of the main two protagonists in the Valenti Modified Series championship race, Rowan Pennink hopes to overtake Jon McKennedy in the Shark Cycle 80 at Stafford Motor Speedway.  The points race has been neck and neck for much of the 2012 season between McKennedy and Pennink, but a poor finish at Thompson left Pennink trailing McKennedy by 22 points.  Pennink closed that gap down to 16 points in the series’ last stop at Monadnock and he is looking to eliminate more of that gap in this Friday night’s Shark Cycle 80 behind the wheel of Gary Casella’s #25 Roscoe Racing machine.

“It’s been a good season so far, especially with me and Jon fighting for the points lead back and forth,” said Pennink.  “I lost a bunch of points to him at Thompson when we were leading with about 10 to go and we started leaking water and we got black flagged.  Hopefully we can gain some points back at Stafford, we always seem to run good with Gary’s 25 car.  Stafford is one of my favorite tracks and I know Jon has told me that Stafford is not one of his favorite tracks, so we’re looking forward to going there and trying to win and hopefully get some points back.  The last couple of races, we’ve been at some tracks that Jon maybe had an advantage over me like Seekonk and Monadnock.  I’m definitely excited to get back to one of my stronger tracks like Stafford.”

Pennink finished second behind Chris Pasteryak in last year’s Shark Cycle 80, and he has several second place finishes in Whelen Modified Tour competition at Stafford as well.  Although he has yet to win at Stafford, Pennink is hoping to change that in the Shark Cycle 80.

“Last year, we had bad luck in the heat race, we had the gas cap fall off and we got black flagged and had to start at the back,” said Pennink.  “We came through the field and we finished second, so hopefully we can earn a good starting spot in the heat race and get out front and pace the race at my speed.  I think that’s what it’s going to take for us to get into victory lane.  It doesn’t always work out that way, but I’m sure we’ll have a good car if we have to start a little bit further back and we can still come through and have a shot at the win.  If you’re out front you can run your own pace and run only as hard as you have to and save the tires while everyone else is battling it out and being hard on their tires.  It would be great to get a win at Stafford, I’ve never won a race there, so that would be nice to add Stafford to the list of tracks that I’ve won a race at.  Hopefully we can get it done.”

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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