WHITINSVILLE, Mass. — Coming off a tough afternoon at Star Speedway with the Tri Track Open Modified Series, Stan Mertz Racing and driver Woody Pitkat are heading back to Stafford Motor Speedway looking to rebound and get back to Victory Lane.
By Souza Media/Kyle Souza
Set to compete in the 4th annual Bud Light Open Modified 80, Pitkat will drive the No. 6 Twisted Tea, Truly Hard Seltzer machine with the same motor that had a part failure at Star. The team has fixed the powerplant under the hood and it is fresh and ready to roll to the half-mile. In the first two Open Modified races of the season at Stafford, Pitkat finished 17th and ninth, and will look to advance on those positions on Friday, July 30.
Heading back to his home track, where the Connecticut native has 78 career wins, second on the all-time list for the historic oval, Pitkat has realistic expectations.
“My mindset is to not suck,” Pitkat joked. “I’m still a little bit confused on why we were not good the last two times there, being my home track and knowing it so well. When we won there last year, they were spraying the track with a sticky spray, and I think it might have worked in our advantage. Going back to the home track, seeing people that supported me my whole life, it gets you pumped up anytime you can go back to Stafford. My spot on the wins list means a lot for me.”
Sponsors of the team include Twisted Tea, Truly Hard Seltzer, Axis Engineering Group, Black and White Grille (Spencer, MA), TowBoatUS, Cape Towing & Salvage, J&S Motors, Pomfret Wine & Spirits, Mike Holmes & Son Excavating, Earnest Performance Shocks & Kenneth Blackmer Transport.
The schedule for a full night of Friday racing at Stafford includes all of the local divisions, including the SK Modifieds. For Pitkat and the Mertz Racing team, practice begins at 4 p.m., with the first qualifying heat set to roll at 6 p.m. The estimated green flag for the Bud Light Open Modified 80 is slated for 9 p.m., and will air live on FloSports.TV, for those who can’t make it to the track. Adult tickets are $30, with children between six and 14 set at $10. All children ages five and under are free admission into the grandstands.
For more information on Stan Mertz Racing, visit StanMertzRacing.com and follow the team on social media channels including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
