(Stafford Springs, CT)---Stafford Motor Speedway has announced that Reliable Welding and Speed of Enfield will return as the title sponsor of the track's Rookie of the Year awards for the seventh consecutive season. Reliable Welding and Speed began sponsoring the Rookie of the Year program during the 2002 season, and will offer a Rookie of the Year bonus to the top rookie from Stafford's SK Modified®, Late Model, SK Light Modified, and Limited Late Model divisions. Reliable Welding and Speed will contribute a $700 bonus to the SK Modified® Rookie of the Year, and a $500 bonus to the Late Model, Limited Late Model, and SK Light Rookies of the Year, making their total contribution to Stafford's rookie program $2,200.

"We're happy to be returning to sponsor the Rookie of the Year program for another season," said Linda Hietala, who along with her husband and Stafford SK Modified® driver Brad, own Reliable Welding and Speed. "Every driver in the paddock area has started out as a rookie at some point in time, and this is a great way for us to be able to give something back to rookie competitors and help them offset some of their racing costs."

The Reliable Welding and Speed Rookie of the Year is awarded to the rookie competitor who finishes the highest in the overall points standings in their respective division. To date, Stafford Motor Speedway has received a total of 24 registrations from competitors that are eligible for the Reliable Welding and Speed Rookie Bonus, including 6 SK Modified®, 7 Late Model, 8 SK Light Modified, and 3 Limited Late Model competitors.

The SK Modified® rookie class features a Stafford track champion as well as several drivers making the move up from the SK Light division. Corey Hutchings, the defending Late Model track champion, will pull double duty this season and will drive for SK Modified® rookie honors while defending his Late Model championship. Making the move up from the SK Light division will be Matt Gallo, Rich Hammann, and Glen Reen. Stafford's Late Model division rookies include Duane Noll and Joe Perry, who are making the move up to Stafford Speedway from Waterford Speedbowl. Other Late Model rookies include Kyle Nosal and George Nocera, Jr., who are both graduates of Stafford's DARE Stock division, along with Rick Gombos, Jr., Keith Minchella, and Brian Chapin. Stafford's SK Light division leads the way again with a rookie class size of 8 drivers who come from backgrounds that range from dirt to go karts, while the Limited Late Model rookie class consists of Lauren Cooper, Carla Botticello, and Norm Sears, all making the move up from the DARE Stock division.

"Reliable Welding and Speed has been a great supporter of Stafford, and their continued support of our Rookie of the Year program is a great benefit to our rookie competitors. Reliable's sponsorship of our Rookie of the Year program has been a great benefit for the track and our rookie competitors, we're happy to have Reliable once again sponsor all four of our eligible rookie program divisions, and we hope to be able to continue our relationship with Reliable Welding and Speed," said Mark Arute, Stafford Speedway CEO/GM.

Reliable Welding and Speed is your one-stop shop for all your racing needs. Reliable Welding and Speed is a stocking distributor and dealer of auto racing parts, high performance parts, driver safety equipment, speed parts, race parts for oval track racing, circle track racing, stock car parts, and drag racing parts. Reliable Welding and Speed stocks race safety equipment, driver restraint systems, pit equipment, racing wheels, racing brakes, racing shocks & springs, aluminum radiators, racing aluminum seats, circle track fuel cells, tire pyrometers, durometers, caster/camber gauges, tire pressure gauges, racing electronic scales, rod ends, race clutches, colored rivets, gauge panels, racing mufflers, racing radios, performance hose & fittings, aluminum and steel tubing & materials and more, and they are always ready to fill your order. Reliable Welding and Speed has their entire product line available for orders online at www.reliableweldingandspeed.com. Reliable Welding and Speed can be contacted at 860-749-3977, and they also have a toll-free order number, 888-225-RACE (7223). Visit or call them today for all your racing needs. Reliable Welding and Speed can also be found at Stafford every Friday night in the Paddock Area.

For more information on the Reliable Welding and Speed Rookie of the Year program, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway Track Office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.

###