5/22/08

ERICK RUDOLPH RETURNS TO STAFFORD

 
DeLange Racing
Lockport, NY
http://delangeracing.com/

Media Contact:
Bruce Boucher
(585) 598-3242
modscene@rochester.rr.com

This Friday Erick Rudolph and the DeLange Racing team of Lockport, New York will be returning to the Stafford Motor Speedway in Stafford Springs, Connecticut for another NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event. The TSI Harley-Davidson 150 is the third race on the 2008 WMT schedule and second straight at Stafford. The Tour has been dormant since the Tech-Net Spring Sizzler at Stafford on April 27.

The Ransomville, New York teenager has shown steady progress on the NASCAR Modified Tour. Battling not only some stiff competition but also threatening weather, Rudolph qualified 25th fastest out of 39 entries for the season-opening Icebreaker at Thompson Speedway in early April. In his first visit to the famed high-banked oval, Rudolph climbed into the top-fifteen before making a pit stop under caution. On the next restart he was pushed into an accident up ahead and retired from the race, credited with finishing 29th.

At the Spring Sizzler Rudolph made an impressive Stafford debut. He qualified a solid 15th fastest and ran in the top-ten for much of the race, up to third at one point. In the closing stages of the 200-lapper he was headed to a top-ten finish until another driver's miscalculation sent him into the turn one wall on lap 170, ending his day in 24th place. Erick is anxious to put the experience gained in this race to work this Friday night.

The most recent racing for the DeLange team was Saturday, May 10, at Dunn Tire Raceway Park (formerly Lancaster Raceway Park). Rudolph was doing double duty in the Original Pizza Logs/PrimeTyme Motorsports/Brigham Concrete team cars. He drove the #45 SST Sportsman to an impressive victory in the 30-lap SST feature. In the 50-lap Modified feature he drove the #45 Modified to the front of the field and battled for the lead, finally finishing third.

This Friday at Stafford the Paddock gates will open at 10AM and Whelen Modified Tour practice begins at 2PM. Time Trials for the WMT start at 6PM and the 150-lap Feature is scheduled for the green flag at approximately 9 PM. Also on the program are SK Modifieds, Late Models, SK Light Modifieds, Limited Late Models and DARE Stocks. As part of a season-long celebration of 60 years of Modified champions, seven-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour titlist Mike Stefanik will be honored during the program.

Source: Bruce Boucher/DeLange Racing PR
Posted: May 23, 2008