Stafford Springs, CT — The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour returns to Stafford Motor Speedway on May 26, for the annual Connecticut Classic 150. James Civali, a former competitor at Stafford in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series SK modified © ranks, will also return to Stafford sitting third in the series point standings. Civali also currently leads the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Standings. After a couple Top-10 finishes in the first two events of the season Civali is hoping to continue his early season success in the Don King owned Ramar-Hall/Liberty Limousine Chevrolet. King and Civali teamed up in the off season after Civali mad a few starts in the family-owned modified last year. “I’m not surprised we have run well,” said Civali. “This team is very capable of running up front. They have a lot of experience in this series. We have just been fortunate to stay out of trouble. If we continue to do that we’ll have some more good finishes.”
    Having an experienced team gives Civali confidence as he looks ahead in the season. “I’ll be racing at a lot of tracks I have not even seen later in the season,” said Civali. “Knowing this team has experience at those places will make my job easier.” The first two events of 2006 have occurred at speedways Civali has experience on. The season opened at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway in early April and then headed to Stafford for the Tech-Net Spring Sizzler. The Meriden, Conn. driver felt comfortable at both tracks. “It helps to know a racetrack, especially a place like Stafford,” said Civali. “It’s very difficult to learn to get around and I’m glad I had experience in an SK Modified.”
    Civali has hope for a top-five finish before the year is out maybe even a win. “You never know,” said Civali. “If all the pieces fall together maybe we can visit victory lane.” Civali is hoping that first victory just might occur at Stafford.

Connecticut Classic Notes:
• Posted Awards: $83, 695
• Bud Pole Qualifying is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. on May 26. The fastest 26 cars will transfer.
• Five provisional positions (Two based on 2005 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour owner points, two on 2005 driver points and one past champion provisional) will bring the starting field to 31 cars.
• The 150 lap race is schedule to start at 9:15 p.m.
• The series qualifying record at Stafford is 18.102 seconds (99.437 mph) set by Mike Ewanitsko in 2001.
• The Carquest Tech Net Spring Sizzler is the first of four series events scheduled to be held at Stafford in 2006. Doug Coby was the winner of the Carquest Tech-Net Spring Sizzler in April.
• Ted Christopher is the defending champion of the Connecticut Classic.
• There have been 79 series races at Stafford. Doug Coby became the24th different driver to win a series race at Stafford.
• As of May 18, 44 drivers have filed entries for the Connecticut Classic.