Story By: SCOTT RUNNING / STAFFORD MOTOR SPEEDWAY – STAFFORD SPRINGS, CT – For the sixth consecutive season, Call Before You Dig has partnered with Stafford Speedway to present the CBYD 811 Challenge.
The CBYD 811 Challenge utilizes a special points system for all drivers in each of Stafford’s five NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions. A bonus of $811 is presented to 5 drivers that accumulate points closest to 811 without going over. The points challenge started at the NAPA Spring Sizzler and concluded with the August 10th events. This year’s $4,055 in bonus money brings the 6-year total for the program to over $24,000 distributed to Stafford drivers.
“I was checking the CBYD 811 Challenge standings the last couple of weeks because it was getting tight,” said Joey Ferrigno, driver of the #87 RH2Way Communications SK Light. “I knew we were close and this is great for us. The guys who win races every week are taking home the big checks. This really helps the mid-pack guys and it’s awesome for us because it’s a fresh set of tires. I have to give a big thank you to Call Before You Dig. I’ve had the CBYD decal on my car for years now hoping one day we would win the CBYD 811 Challenge and we can finally say that we’re winners!”
The 2018 CBYD 811 Challenge was a 16-race battle that began with the NAPA Spring Sizzler® and concluded this past Friday night, August 10th. In order to be eligible for the 811 Challenge, drivers had to compete in at least 15 of the 16 completed events and could not exceed 811 points. The 2018 CBYD 811 Challenge winners represent Stafford’s open wheel ranks with Joey Cipriano, Tom Bolles, and Tyler Hines from the SK Modified® division and Wesley Prucker and Joey Ferrigno from the SK Light division.
“It’s always nice to get a bonus,” said Tom Bolles, driver of the #76 Bolles Chrysler Dodge Jeep SK Modified®. “Racing is an expensive sport, no matter what series you run and any money you have coming in is a big help with paying the bills. I can’t thank CBYD enough for putting this bonus up for all the drivers and we’re grateful to be one of the winners this season since we’re never usually in the running.”
“We’ve been keeping track of the CBYD 811 standings and thankfully we had a couple of good runs in there to help us be one of the winners,” said Tyler Hines, driver of the #25 Tick Free Organic Tick Control SK Modified®. “We’re a family run, small budget team and we had a big wreck during the 100-lapper where our car got destroyed. That incident chewed up a lot of our budget so this will definitely help us with the tire bill, the fuel bill, and anything that might come up during the last few races of the season that we weren’t expecting to happen. Thanks to Call Before You Dig for putting this bonus money up to help keep us going and we appreciate them helping the track and all the racers with a little extra incentive.”
“That’s huge for us,” said Joey Cipriano, driver of the #78 J.G. Poulin Drywall SK Modified®. “Any little bit helps out. We’re not out there to make a living, we’re just all trying to win races. Thanks to Call Before You Dig for all that they do and for them to put up that much money for five different drivers is huge. To be one of the five winners is really cool and I can’t thank them enough for being part of Stafford Speedway and the SK Modified® division.”
“This is awesome,” said Wesley Prucker, driver of the #22 Accu-Rite Tool & Mfg. SK Light. “We’ve had a really bad year and this is going to help us finish out the season. We can’t thank CBYD enough. $811 is a lot of money when it comes down to it. That’s a set of tires and this is a huge bonus for us.”
This Friday, August 17, will see the five winning drivers presented with special trophies commemorating their CBYD 811 Challenge win. Call Before You Dig will also be the presenting sponsor of the CBYD Late Model 50, which will pay the winner $1,811 to win.
Call Before You Dig is a non-profit organization comprised of all public utility companies and municipalities within Connecticut. CBYD is a free service that provides homeowners and professional excavators with a toll free call by dialing 8-1-1 for locating and marking underground facilities by its members. Calling CBYD before you dig is the law in Connecticut. Call Before You Dig, Inc. requires a call 2 full working days before the planned project start date.
Tickets for this Friday night’s August 17 Call Before You Dig 811 Late Model 50 event are are priced at $20.00 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 seat tickets are $23.00 for all ages. All ticket prices include 10% CT Admission Tax. Stafford Motor Speedway offers plenty of free parking along with overnight parking available for self contained Recreational Vehicles.
