Spring Sizzler

The Spring Sizzler was created by Bruce Cohen, Dick Berggren & Lew Boyd. The trio’s plan was to promote the race as a means to raise money for their “Jewish Lightning” race team. They approached Stafford Speedway owner Jack Arute, who liked the idea of a big modified race during the spring because most big events were held later in the year.

They promoted under the moniker Ink, Incorporated and in the spring of 1972, despite threatening rain all weekend, they held a wildly successful event. The packed house of over 10,000 saw Fred DeSarro take advantage of leader Ed Flemke blowing a fuel pump with about 10 laps to go to take the win. The rains came during victory lane ceremonies.

Ed Flemke leads eventual winner Fred DeSarro in the inaugural Spring Sizzler at Stafford Speedway on April 16, 1972

Arute bought the rights to the event from the trio the following season and the Sizzler has since become one of the longest running traditions in southern New England racing. Now known as “The Greatest Race in the History of Spring”, the Sizzler’s winners list is a who’s who of modified racing heavyweights over the years. Part of the NASCAR Modified tour from 1985-2021, the race is now one of Stafford’s own Open Modified events.

Ted Christopher won the Sizzler a record 6 times, including the 1988 version which was the only season it was an SK Modified race. Mike Stefanik and Doug Coby have each won 4 times. Maynard Troyer, Richie Evans, Rick Fuller and Bobby Santos III are 3-time Spring Sizzler winners. Troyer (1977-1979) and Christopher (2008-2010) are the only drivers to win the race in 3 consecutive years.

1979 Spring Sizzler gets underway in front of a packed Stafford Speedway

SPRING SIZZLER WINNERS

YEAR RACE WINNER LAPS SANCTION
04-16-72 FRED DeSARRO 80
04-15-73 ED FLEMKE 80
04-13-74 BUGSY STEVENS 80
04-13-75 RICHIE EVANS 80
05-30-76 RICHIE EVANS 80
04-17-77 MAYNARD TROYER 80
04-16-78 MAYNARD TROYER 80
04-22-79 MAYNARD TROYER 80
04-13-80 GEOFF BODINE 80
04-12-81 BOB POLVERARI 80
04-18-82 GREG SACKS 80
04-17-83 GREG SACKS 80
04-23-84 JIMMY SPENCER 80
04-14-85 RICHIE EVANS 80 NASCAR Modified Tour
04-13-86 BRIAN ROSS 80 NASCAR Modified Tour
04-12-87 REGGIE RUGGIERO 80 NASCAR Modified Tour
04-10-88 TED CHRISTOPHER 80 SK Modified race
05-07-89 MIKE STEFANIK 100 NASCAR Modified Tour
04-22-90 MIKE STEFANIK 200 NASCAR Modified Tour
05-24-91 JEFF FULLER 200 NASCAR Modified Tour
04-12-92 RICK FULLER 200 NASCAR Modified Tour
04-18-93 REGGIE RUGGIERO 200 NASCAR Modified Tour
04-18-94 MIKE EWANITSKO 200 NASCAR Modified Tour
04-23-95 MIKE EWANITSKO 200 NASCAR Modified Tour
04-21-96 JAN LEATY 200 NASCAR Modified Tour
04-27-97 MIKE STEFANIK 200 NASCAR Modified Tour
05-03-98 MIKE STEFANIK 200 NASCAR Modified Tour
04-25-99 RICK FULLER 200 NASCAR Modified Tour
04-30-00 RICK FULLER 200 NASCAR Modified Tour
04-29-01 JOHN BLEWETT III 200 NASCAR Modified Tour
05-05-02 TED CHRISTOPHER 200 NASCAR Modified Tour
04-27-03 TED CHRISTOPHER 200 NASCAR Modified Tour
04-25-04 JERRY MARQUIS 200 NASCAR Modified Tour
04-24-05 TONY HIRSCHMAN JR 200 NASCAR Modified Tour
04-23-06 DOUG COBY 200 NASCAR Modified Tour
04-29-07 DONNY LIA 200 NASCAR Modified Tour
04-27-08 TED CHRISTOPHER 200 NASCAR Modified Tour
04-26-09 TED CHRISTOPHER 200 NASCAR Modified Tour
05-01-10 TED CHRISTOPHER 200 NASCAR Modified Tour
04-30-11 BOBBY SANTOS III 200 NASCAR Modified Tour
04-29-12 DOUG COBY 200 NASCAR Modified Tour
04-28-13 BOBBY SANTOS III 200 NASCAR Modified Tour
04-27-14 BOBBY SANTOS III 200 NASCAR Modified Tour
04-26-15 WOODY PITKAT 200 NASCAR Modified Tour
04-24-16 DOUG COBY 200 NASCAR Modified Tour
04-30-17 RYAN PREECE 200 NASCAR Modified Tour
04-29-18 RYAN PREECE 200 NASCAR Modified Tour
05-11-19 DOUG COBY 200 NASCAR Modified Tour
2020 no race held global pandemic
04-30-21 PATRICK EMERLING 150 NASCAR Modified Tour
04-24-22 MATT HIRSCHMAN 100
05-13-23 RON SILK 100
05-10-24 RON SILK 100

SPRING SIZZLER PHOTO GALLERY


WATCH HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FIRST 49 SPRING SIZZLERS