(Stafford Springs, CT)— Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series star Kevin Harvick and his company KHI Management are back in Connecticut short track racing. Partnering with Stafford Speedway in Stafford Springs, CT for the 2nd consecutive season, Harvick and KHI Management are set to present the same two weekly bonuses to Stafford’s SK Modified® division as last season but increased from a total of $125 per week to $250 per week.
“The program we pulled together with the team at Stafford last year was a lot of fun,” explained Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford. “I enjoyed keeping tabs on the results up at Stafford and we are excited to be back again in 2019. This year we decided to double the bonus, $250 for the leader on lap 13 and $250 for the 13th place finisher.”
Harvick and KHI Management joined the Stafford Speedway contingency program at the beginning of the 2018 season posting a weekly bonus in honor of the late driver Ted Christopher who passed away suddenly in the fall of 2017. Christopher, who ran the #13 for most of his career, is the all-time winningest driver in Stafford Speedway history and was one of the most celebrated drivers in short track racing.
“Kevin gets it, he cut his teeth on the short tracks of the West,” explained Paul Arute of Stafford Speedway. “The path to the top of the sport has changed in the last 20 years but short tracks are still here, the weekly racer still exists, and we are thankful that one of the top drivers in the sport recognizes that. The racing in the SK Modified® division is second to none and our drivers are sensational talents, throwing an additional $500 bonus into the mix just turns up the intensity on our weekly racing. A big thank you to Kevin and KHI Management.”
In the first year of the program, 21 different drivers won the bonus led by Keith Rocco, Michael Christopher Jr, and Joey Cipriano, who each won the lap-13 leader bonus 4 times. 18 different drivers won the 13th place finisher bonus led by SK Modified® Rookie of the Year David Arute.
“Everyone here at KHI Management knows the importance of short track racing in our sport and understand every dollar we can give back to the weekly racer helps,” continued Harvick. “We’re glad we can play a small part in the weekly program at Stafford. Good luck to all the drivers at Stafford in 2019, we’ll be keeping an eye on those results.”