Story By: PAUL ARUTE / STAFFORD MOTOR SPEEDWAY – STAFFORD SPRINGS, CT – Long-time Stafford Speedway partner Call Before You Dig has signed on to sponsor the May 14th Call Before You Dig Modified Open 81. In addition to serving as the title sponsor for the May 14th event, Call Before You Dig will also present the Call Before You Dig Modified Challenge, a new points partnership between Stafford Speedway and the Tri-Track Modified Series.
“After the challenges that everyone faced during 2020, 2021 feels like an opportunity to start fresh and make improvements,” explained Call Before You Dig Connecticut representative Derek Brown. “Call Before You Dig continuously promotes excavation safety and the Call Before You Dig 81 Modified Open will help us broadcast our message. This year we want to spread the word that Call Before You Dig recently launched a new free online education course on CBYD.com to help excavators and homeowners improve their Call Before You Dig knowledge.”
The May 14th Call Before You Dig Open Modified 81 is the first of 4 Open Modified events scheduled at Stafford Speedway in 2021. Open Modified racing continues to grow at Stafford Speedway with a mix of Stafford regulars and Modified invaders tackling the half-mile. Last season the Stafford regulars dominated with Marcello Rufrano, Keith Rocco, Ronnie Williams, and Woody Pitkat all scoring victories. All 4 plan to return for each Open Modified event in 2021 alongside Modified stars such as Eric Goodale, Jon McKennedy, Chase Dowling, and more. 23 teams have already registered for all Open Modified events including the Call Before You Dig Open Modified 81.
In addition to the CBYD Open 81, Call Before You Dig will also present the Modified Challenge, a new point series that will pay the winner $8,110. Continuing the alignment that began in 2020 with the Modified Classic, race teams will earn points at the four Stafford Speedway Open Modified events as well as Tri-Track Modified Series events.
“Call Before You Dig had a great experience working with Stafford Speedway and the Tri Track Open Modified Series for the CBYD Modified Classic 81 event last fall.” continued Brown. “This year Call Before You Dig is excited to join forces again with SMS, Tri Track and, Green Construction Management, LLC. for the Call Before You Dig Modified Challenge. With everyone eager to attend regular racing events this year this points award gives Call Before You Dig another great opportunity to remind everyone how important damage prevention is.”
Drivers must finish in the top-10 in Stafford Speedway Open Modified or Tri-Track Modified feature events to earn Call Before You Dig Modified Challenge points with race winners receiving 10 points and each subsequent position worth one less point with the 10th place finisher receiving 1 point. The driver with the highest point total from the combination of 10 Stafford Open Modified and Tri-Track Modified feature events at the end of the 2021 season will receive $8,110.
“The winner of the Call Before You Dig Modified Challenge will receive $8,110.00 reflecting the 811 phone number for Call Before You Dig. 811 is the national call-before-you-dig phone number, anyone who plans to dig should call 811 or go to www.cbyd.com before digging to request that the approximate location of buried utilities be marked with paint or flags so that you don’t unintentionally dig into an underground utility line.”
Registration for Stafford Speedway’s Open Modified events is now open online, with discount registration pricing available through March 15th. Race teams can complete their registration online at staffordspeedway.com/store .
