4/22/08

ERICK RUDOLPH PREPARES FOR STAFFORD DEBUT

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

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

Erick Rudolph and the DeLange Racing team recently made their NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour debut at Thompson International Speedway in the 2008 Icebreaker. The Lockport, New York team is heading east again this weekend for another first-time visit to one of the renowned Modified events. They are entered in the 37th Annual Tech-Net Spring Sizzler presented by CARQUEST scheduled for April 25, 26, & 27 at famed Stafford Motor Speedway in Stafford Springs, Connecticut. Billed as "The Greatest Race in the History of Spring", the Sizzler kicks off the 2008 season at Stafford. Highlighting the program is a 200-lap event for the NASCAR Modifieds.

At Thompson, Rudolph adapted capably to the NASCAR series and the high-banked track. He qualified 25th fastest of the 39 cars on hand and in the race worked his way up into the top fifteen prior to pitting. After returning to the track he was an innocent casualty in a restart crash that sidelined him for the remainder of the race. Despite the disappointing outcome the Ransomville, New York teenager feels there were positives that will carry over to Stafford.

"It was our first time not only at the track but also with the NASCAR process," Rudolph explained. "We learned a lot about how things work and we'll be better prepared at Stafford. We also gained some valuable experience in terms of how to set up the racecar for time trials and then the race that will be beneficial to us. I'm excited to go to Stafford for the first time and see how we will perform."

Car owner Dave DeLange is a lifelong race enthusiast with a passion for the Modifieds and looks forward to tackling one of the division's fabled speedways. "Stafford is one of the most celebrated tracks in Modified history and the Spring Sizzler is a legendary event won by many of the top Modified drivers. It's a track and race I've long dreamed of bringing my cars to compete. I'm really looking forward to our first visit and I'm anxious to see how Erick and the crew will measure up. I have no doubt we are ready to meet the challenge. I just hope we have better weather than we did at Thompson."

Modified action begins on Saturday, April 26 with Coors Light Pole Qualifying for the Whelen Modified Tour cars at 1:30pm. The Sizzler program continues on Sunday with the famous Stafford CARQUEST Belts & Hose Pit Party kicking off the day's activities from 11:00am to noon. The Whelen Modified Tour 200-lap Tech-Net Spring Sizzler is scheduled to take the green flag at approximately 2:30pm.

Source: Bruce Boucher/DeLange Racing PR
Posted: April 22, 2008