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JAMIE TOMAINO
READY TO ADD TO RECORD NUMBER OF CAREER STARTS IN NAPA AUTO
PARTS SPRING SIZZLER AT STAFFORD MOTOR SPEEDWAY |
When
the green flag falls on the 44th Annual NAPA Auto
Parts Spring Sizzler, Sunday, April 26, Howell, NJ
native and 1990 Whelen Modified Tour Champion Jamie
Tomaino will extend his record for career Sizzler
starts to 32. Tomaino made his first Sizzler start
in 1980 and he has since appeared in the Sizzler
starting field every year since 1984 with the
exception of 1985, when he failed to advance through
a qualifying race, and 1988, when the SK Modifieds®
were the featured division. Tomaino says that he
sees no immediate end to his longevity in the
Sizzler or behind the wheel of a modified.
“No this won’t be my last Sizzler,” said Tomaino. “I
have 2 grandsons, one is five and one is six, and
whoever says first that they want to race, that’s
when I’ll step away. Back in 1985 we ran heat races
to qualify and I was leading the points heading into
the Sizzler and got a flat in the heat race. We had
40 cars in the consi and I needed to finish second
to make the show and I finished third. But I’ve been
in every Sizzler since then and I’ve had a lot of
good people behind me helping out. It takes a lot of
help to go racing and just like this year, I wasn’t
sure what I was going to be doing. Chase Dowling and
his father Mark approached me about teaming up and
things are working out super. Just when it seems
like I think I don’t have anything going on,
something good happens.”
Along with teaming up with Chase Dowling, Tomaino
acquired some new sponsorship from Dunleavy Truck &
Trailer Repair, which Tomaino says came about from a
chance meeting in Daytona.
“I met Doug Dunleavy in Daytona back in 2014 by pure
accident, he’s been a man of his word and he’s
helped me out 100%,” said Tomaino. “Not only does he
help me but he helps so many other drivers and
tracks, so hats off to him. We’ve only had one race
but everything has been great. I never thought it
would work out as well as it has so far.”
With the new addition of Dowling to what is now a
2-car stable, Tomaino has a fresh outlook on his
prospects for what will be his 32nd career NAPA
Spring Sizzler start.
“I’m real excited, but racing in 2015 isn’t’ like it
was back in the 1980’s,” said Tomaino. “Back then,
you had 50 cars and 10 were A cars, 10 were B cars,
10 were C cars, etc... At Thompson this year, we had
35 cars and of those I’d say probably 33 of them
were A cars. These days if I can crack into the
top-10, I’m real happy. You have to be realistic
with yourself about where you’re going to finish.
Back in the old days, I’d tell you every week that I
was going to win. On any given day, the car could be
the best car you’ve ever had. It’s not impossible
and I’m sure Vegas would have me listed as a
longshot, but sometimes the longshots come in. I
haven’t won a Tour race in 21 years but there’s a
lot of guys who race who have never won a race.”
Tomaino has plenty of experience to lean on when it
comes to devising a winning strategy for the NAPA
Spring Sizzler. Although he still wishes the race
was 80 laps instead of 200, he knows what it will
take to be the first car under the checkered flag on
April 26.
“I still wish the race was still 80 laps,” said
Tomaino. “You have to stay out of trouble early,
make your pit stop for new tires, and hope your
tires are better than everyone else at the end of
the race. It’s a lot different now than it used to
be when we had different tires and different
compounds. The strategy now is to basically keep the
car on one piece until you pit.”
Tomaino and the #99 team will kick off their NAPA
Spring Sizzler weekend with practice and Coors Light
Pole Qualifying on Saturday, April 25th as part of
the 44th Annual NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler. The
200-lap NAPA Spring Sizzler will run on Sunday,
April 26 at approximately 3:15pm following the NAPA
Pit Party from 11am-12noon and the SK Modified® and
Late Model feature events beginning at 1pm. Tickets
for the “Greatest Race in the History of Spring” are
on sale now at the Speedway Box Office. Tickets are
priced at $38.50 for adult general admission
tickets, $5.00 for children ages 6-14, and children
ages 5 and under are admitted free of charge when
accompanied by an adult. Reserved seating is priced
at $42.00 for all ages. As always, Stafford Motor
Speedway offers free parking with overnight parking
available. All tickets are good for both Saturday
and Sunday admission. All ticket prices include 10%
CT Admission Tax.
For more information on the 44th Annual NAPA Auto
Parts Spring Sizzler, or to order tickets, contact
the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at
860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at
www.staffordspeedway.com.
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Source:
Scott Running /
Stafford Motor Speedway
Posted:
April 17, 2015 |
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