(Stafford Springs, CT)---When the Valenti Modified Racing Series last visited Stafford Motor Speedway two weeks ago, Ted Christopher looked to have a car that was more than capable of winning the race.  Christopher started 18th and he made a quick progression through the field, cracking the top-10 in the first 10 laps of the race.  Christopher was dueling with Tim Jordan for a top-5 position when the cars made contact and Christopher was given a penalty for the contact.  Christopher raced his way back up to fourth place at the end of the race and given how good his car was, he is excited about his chances of winning this Friday night’s Lincoln Tech 80.

“We almost won last time at Stafford,” said Christopher.  “We probably should have won if they didn’t put us to the back, that car was fast.  We’re coming back with the same exact car, we didn’t do too much to it.  We’ll fluff it up a little bit, put some tires on it, and away we’ll go again.  I was really, really happy with the car last time.”

In order for Christopher to take the checkered flag, he will have to outrace some stout competition.  Tommy Barrett, Jr. won the last time out at Stafford and he won the most recent VMRS race at Waterford, so he comes into the Lincoln Tech 80 riding a 2-race VMRS winning streak. 

Rowan Pennink and Jon McKennedy finished second and third last time out at Stafford, and being the top-two championship contenders, they will be going all out for victory as they are only separated by 12 points in the 2012 VMRS points standings.

Other strong contenders for the checkered flag will include Doug Coby, who has won three Whelen Modified Tour events at Stafford this season and he finished 6th two weeks ago, Todd Owen, who recorded a top-5 finish two weeks ago and he finished second in last year’s Lincoln Tech 80, Chris Pasteryak, who finished seventh two weeks ago and he was a race winner last season at Stafford, former SK Light competitor Joey Cipriano, who made his Stafford debut two weeks ago and came home in 11th, Dave Etheridge, who recorded two top-10’s at Stafford last season and was running in the top-10 two weeks ago before a flat tire ended his good run, and Norm Wrenn, who has won 4 Pro-4 Modified races at Stafford and was running in the top-10 for much of the race two weeks ago before finishing 13th.

Then there are drivers like Tom Bolles and Matt Hirschman, who have plenty of track experience at Stafford and could find their way into victory lane.  Tim Jordan, who is a relative newcomer to the Stafford half-mile, was running in the top-5 two weeks ago before contact sent him into a spin and he ended up finishing 24th. 
With only two weeks since the last VMRS race at Stafford, all teams will have a relatively fresh notebook to work off and the fight for the checkered flag is sure to be an intense duel for all 80 laps.

Tickets for the September 14th Lincoln Tech 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 is 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 Lincoln Tech 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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