Story By: PAUL ARUTE / STAFFORD MOTOR SPEEDWAY – STAFFORD SPRINGS, CT- Stafford Speedway officials have announced $125,000 in prize money, including $20,000 to win for the 52nd running of the NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler®.
NAPA Spring Sizzler® weekend will kick-off with the NAPA Auto Parts Duel, two 40-lap qualifying races each paying $3,500 to win and $400 to start, on Saturday April 27th. The Duel will set the starting lineup for Sunday, April 28th’s $20,000 to win NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler®.
“A few seasons ago we set out to re-establish the Spring Sizzler® as the biggest Modified race of the season with a new format that included two 40-lap qualifying races,” explained Stafford CEO Mark Arute. “Drivers and fans have responded to the change in a big way and we’re excited to continue the tradition for many years to come. We put together this purse structure to not only reward the top finishing teams but also support the teams who finish further down the results. Including the payout in Saturday’s Duel, teams will receive nearly $2,000 to start the event.”
Two of the best Modified drivers of the era have conquered the new Sizzler® format. Matt Hirschman held off Ryan Preece to win the 50th running of the Sizzler® scoring a $24,000 payday, while Ron Silk won the 2023 51st running of the Spring Sizzler with an incredible $35,000 top prize.
“That might have been the biggest purse ever in modified racing, it was awesome,” noted defending Spring Sizzler® winner Ron Silk. “We don’t have the opportunity to race for that kind of money very often so to capitalize on the NAPA Duel money, the feature race money, and leading the most laps and getting most of that money, it was a great day for our team and I was glad that we were able to do it. We’re ready to do it again this year.”