The driver known as "Magnum" has some new ammunition this weekend.
Michael Bennett of Stafford will be coming to the 40th annual Tech-Net Spring Sizzler, presented by Car Quest, with two cars — his familiar No. 64 Late Model and a No. 18 SK Modified he’ll be driving for the first time.
Even though his inventory has expanded, however, his focus has not — Bennett will be concentrating on winning his first Late Model championship.
"I think it’s time," said Bennett, who was one of more than 50 drivers who was at Stafford Motor Speedway Friday to take advantage of the final practice session before this weekend’s Sizzler.
"Driving the SK is going to be fun and I hope to learn a lot. But ultimately, the Late Model is our main focus."
Bennett’s opportunity to drive an SK came about in an unusual fashion. Wendell KilCollins and Randy Palko were going to work on Lou Matteson’s SK this season, but he decided to sell his team.
Palco and KilCollins still wanted to be involved, so they borrowed a chassis and engine from Tim Rowe — the car that Woody Pitkat drove at Stafford for the past several seasons. It’s a car Rowe decided not to race this year.
Bennett was recruited as the driver and will race four times — this weekend’s Sizzler, the two SK extra-distance races and the Fall Final.
"It’s totally different from the Late Model," Bennett said. "I just want to qualify for this weekend’s SK race, keep the car in one piece and keep going forward. I’m not expecting anything like a Top 5. But a Top 10 would be like a victory for me."
He’s only moonlighting with the SK, however. The Late Model remains his full-time ride.
"We’re struggling a bit right now with the tires," Bennett said. "But I always seemed to be better during a race than I am in practice."
This season Bennett hopes that trend continues in two divisions.
On his own
Sean Foster of Ellington feared that he would be spending the 2011 race season as a spectator.
Instead, he has a new title — car owner.
Foster was back driving an SK Modified during Friday’s practice session, but with a big difference. He not only is on the team, he co-owns it, along with his father, Scott Foster Sr.
"We decided to do our own thing this year," Foster said.
The last time Foster owned his own car, he was busy winning a Limited Late model championship. Then he moved up to the SK Modifieds, where he drove for car owner Glen Johnson of Tolland for the past two years.
"Glen decided to take some time off," Foster said. "So I asked my dad if he wanted to own a car with me. At first, I didn’t think he was going to go for it."
Foster, however, already had an SK motor, which mans going the SK route the easiest option, even though it also was the most expensive.
""Once my dad so go ahead, I started to go on-line trying to find a car," Foster said.
He found one in Long Island, N.Y., and then finalized the deal two months ago.
"When we got the car, it was pretty ugly," Foster said. "But we went through it and fixed it up. It looks a lot better now."
But will it travel as fast as it looks? Foster has been known for his aggressive style — will that philosophy change now that he’s a car owner?
"I depends on how the car is going to turn," said Foster, who has Steve McCarthy, one of Stafford’s most successful chassis men, working on the car. "With Steve involved, there’s a good chance it’s going to turn very well."
Things have already turned in Foster’s direction — instead of being without a ride, he and his dad are the ride.
Tutorial payback
When Todd Owen of Somers started his racing career back in 1994 at Riverside Park Speedway, he had a lot of help getting the wheels in motion.
"I couldn’t have done it without the help of my dad and a lot of other people," Owen said.
So when a teenager he knew was looking to launch a career at Stafford Speedway, Owen decided it was an opportunity for him to help someone the way he was helped more than 15 years ago.
The teen, Cody Gneiting, a junior at Somers High, will be making his SK Light debut today at the Spring Sizzler.
Gneiting, 16, has plenty of experience in the quarter-midgets and in the Allison-Legacy series, but now he’s making a huge jump to the half-mile layout at Stafford.
"A lot of people were making promises to him and not delivering," Owen said. "So we decided to do something."
Gneiting is now part of the race team that includes SK Brad Heitala, Chris Matthews and Owen. His car is a former SK Light car that Matthews drove to an SK title in 2006.
Owen, however, is providing Gneiting with a lot more than just a ride — he’s getting hands-on experience in all facets of the sport.
"If he just wants to be a driver, he’s on the wrong team," Owen said. "He also had to do a lot of work on the car."
Owen and Gneiting got the car ready in just six weeks and now he’s ready to go.
Owen’s top piece of advice was simple.
"Just stay out of trouble and get as much seat time as you can," Owen said.
If that advice sounds familiar, it’s because it’s the same advice Owen received more than 15 years ago.
Sizzler schedule
This morning the Whelen Modified Tour cars will join the weekly divisions in the Stafford paddock for Day 1 of Sizzler action.
Qualifying will be held for the Tour cars at 1:30 p.m., followed by qualifying heats in all of Stafford’s five weekly divisions. Then features will be held for the SK Lights, Limited Late Models and DARE Stocks.
Sunday’s action begins at 11 a.m. with the Bells and Hoses pit party. Then the SK Modified and Late Model features will take place, followed by the 200-lap Spring Sizzler.
Michael Bennett of Stafford will be coming to the 40th annual Tech-Net Spring Sizzler, presented by Car Quest, with two cars — his familiar No. 64 Late Model and a No. 18 SK Modified he’ll be driving for the first time.
Even though his inventory has expanded, however, his focus has not — Bennett will be concentrating on winning his first Late Model championship.
"I think it’s time," said Bennett, who was one of more than 50 drivers who was at Stafford Motor Speedway Friday to take advantage of the final practice session before this weekend’s Sizzler.
"Driving the SK is going to be fun and I hope to learn a lot. But ultimately, the Late Model is our main focus."
Bennett’s opportunity to drive an SK came about in an unusual fashion. Wendell KilCollins and Randy Palko were going to work on Lou Matteson’s SK this season, but he decided to sell his team.
Palco and KilCollins still wanted to be involved, so they borrowed a chassis and engine from Tim Rowe — the car that Woody Pitkat drove at Stafford for the past several seasons. It’s a car Rowe decided not to race this year.
Bennett was recruited as the driver and will race four times — this weekend’s Sizzler, the two SK extra-distance races and the Fall Final.
"It’s totally different from the Late Model," Bennett said. "I just want to qualify for this weekend’s SK race, keep the car in one piece and keep going forward. I’m not expecting anything like a Top 5. But a Top 10 would be like a victory for me."
He’s only moonlighting with the SK, however. The Late Model remains his full-time ride.
"We’re struggling a bit right now with the tires," Bennett said. "But I always seemed to be better during a race than I am in practice."
This season Bennett hopes that trend continues in two divisions.
On his own
Sean Foster of Ellington feared that he would be spending the 2011 race season as a spectator.
Instead, he has a new title — car owner.
Foster was back driving an SK Modified during Friday’s practice session, but with a big difference. He not only is on the team, he co-owns it, along with his father, Scott Foster Sr.
"We decided to do our own thing this year," Foster said.
The last time Foster owned his own car, he was busy winning a Limited Late model championship. Then he moved up to the SK Modifieds, where he drove for car owner Glen Johnson of Tolland for the past two years.
"Glen decided to take some time off," Foster said. "So I asked my dad if he wanted to own a car with me. At first, I didn’t think he was going to go for it."
Foster, however, already had an SK motor, which mans going the SK route the easiest option, even though it also was the most expensive.
""Once my dad so go ahead, I started to go on-line trying to find a car," Foster said.
He found one in Long Island, N.Y., and then finalized the deal two months ago.
"When we got the car, it was pretty ugly," Foster said. "But we went through it and fixed it up. It looks a lot better now."
But will it travel as fast as it looks? Foster has been known for his aggressive style — will that philosophy change now that he’s a car owner?
"I depends on how the car is going to turn," said Foster, who has Steve McCarthy, one of Stafford’s most successful chassis men, working on the car. "With Steve involved, there’s a good chance it’s going to turn very well."
Things have already turned in Foster’s direction — instead of being without a ride, he and his dad are the ride.
Tutorial payback
When Todd Owen of Somers started his racing career back in 1994 at Riverside Park Speedway, he had a lot of help getting the wheels in motion.
"I couldn’t have done it without the help of my dad and a lot of other people," Owen said.
So when a teenager he knew was looking to launch a career at Stafford Speedway, Owen decided it was an opportunity for him to help someone the way he was helped more than 15 years ago.
The teen, Cody Gneiting, a junior at Somers High, will be making his SK Light debut today at the Spring Sizzler.
Gneiting, 16, has plenty of experience in the quarter-midgets and in the Allison-Legacy series, but now he’s making a huge jump to the half-mile layout at Stafford.
"A lot of people were making promises to him and not delivering," Owen said. "So we decided to do something."
Gneiting is now part of the race team that includes SK Brad Heitala, Chris Matthews and Owen. His car is a former SK Light car that Matthews drove to an SK title in 2006.
Owen, however, is providing Gneiting with a lot more than just a ride — he’s getting hands-on experience in all facets of the sport.
"If he just wants to be a driver, he’s on the wrong team," Owen said. "He also had to do a lot of work on the car."
Owen and Gneiting got the car ready in just six weeks and now he’s ready to go.
Owen’s top piece of advice was simple.
"Just stay out of trouble and get as much seat time as you can," Owen said.
Sizzler schedule
This morning the Whelen Modified Tour cars will join the weekly divisions in the Stafford paddock for Day 1 of Sizzler action.
Qualifying will be held for the Tour cars at 1:30 p.m., followed by qualifying heats in all of Stafford’s five weekly divisions. Then features will be held for the SK Lights, Limited Late Models and DARE Stocks.
Sunday’s action begins at 11 a.m. with the Bells and Hoses pit party. Then the SK Modified and Late Model features will take place, followed by the 200-lap Spring Sizzler.
