(Stafford Springs, CT)---When the Valenti Modified Racing Series takes the green flag this Friday night, one driver who will be looking to turn their fortunes around is Tim Jordan.  Jordan is coming off of a career best second place finish two races ago, and he is hoping to carry over the momentum from that finish to Stafford.

“Our finishes don’t indicate how well we’ve run this year,” said Jordan.    “Every racer says that, but it’s the truth with us this year.  I have a great group of guys this year and we’re a lot better than our finishes show.  We took some time off to fix the car back up and get ready to finish the year out and that’s why we’re so deep in the points.  We took 2 weeks off and we finished second at Thompson.  We knew it wasn’t something that we were doing, it was circumstances on the track.  You lose more than you win, that’s for sure.  We have a good car, we just have to get some finishes.”

In order for Jordan to pick up a good finish at Stafford, he knows he will have to overcome a lack of experience, but he his confident that he and his #47 Magnus Racing Products, Kozela Speed, Concrete Express, and Brown’s Auto Center team has what it takes for a good run.

“This will be my third ever race at Stafford, I’m pretty green,” said Jordan.  “The egotistical racer in me says that doesn’t hurt me, but the realist in me says it absolutely hurts.  I’m racing against guys who probably have more laps at Stafford than I do total in a modified.  But that’s part of the ballgame.  It’s auto racing, it’s not golf, there’s no handicap.  You just have to go and see how you do, that’s the only way you’re going to get experience.  A top-5 would be a good finish for us.  There was a while where I didn’t doubt myself, but I was worried that it was going to take a while to run up front.  It’s just so hard because the MRS is such a high level of competition.  You just take what you can get and if you’re having a good run you try to capitalize on that.  If we can get a good start from the heat race, hopefully we can put ourselves into a good position to get a top-5.  If you can just be there at the end of the race, you have a chance at getting a win.”

Although Jordan will be making only his third start at Stafford in a modified, he has confidence from the practice session that he took part in for the June Lincoln Tech race before rain postponed the event.

“We were pretty good last time at Stafford,” said Jordan.  “We were practicing on old tires to get a feel for it, and then it started raining.  I think I have enough laps at Stafford now that I’m comfortable driving the car by itself and now I can concentrate on racing there and focusing on how to set guys up for a pass.  I’m hoping somehow I can get the top groove working late in the race because it seems like everybody likes the bottom at Stafford from what I’ve seen.  I’ve seen guys like Teddy [Christopher] and Ryan [Preece] use that all year, so hopefully we can try that.  The top groove is for sure there.”

While Jordan wants to win like any other racer, he says that he would be satisfied with a top-5 run at Stafford.  Jordan also thinks a top-5 finish will help him and his team get properly set up for when the Valenti Modified Racing Series returns to Stafford in two weeks time for the Lincoln Tech 80.

“I think we can get a top-5 finish as long as everything goes our way,” said Jordan.  “We’ve been very strong this year, we’ve had top-5 runs go awry with bad luck.  We’ve shown we belong in the top-5 and hopefully that is what we can do.  Ideally, the racer in me wants to win, but the mechanic in me wants a top-5 finish with no damage to the car because I have to fix it.  We’re getting there, week by week we’re getting better.  I don’t know if anyone is noticing us, but we’re quietly getting better and the team is building potential.”

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.

###