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(Stafford Springs, CT)—After a year away from the SK Modified® division at Stafford, Shelton, CT native Andrew Molleur has showed no signs of rust in his return to full-time status in 2024. Molleur got a call over the winter from the Petty Cash Motorsports #85 team to drive their car and Molleur has delivered top-5 finishes in each of the first 5 races this season, including 3 consecutive podium efforts.
“I certainly didn’t doubt the car itself or the team as they’ve been very successful in the past winning two of the last three Sizzlers®,” said Molleur. “The pressure was on a little going into the Sizzler® this year and we came home with a 5th and I felt like I let the team down a little since that was their worst Sizzler® finish since they started the team. Going into the year my goal was to be consistent and bring home some top-10’s and we started off with two fifths and then third, second, and third, so it’s truly been better than I imagined. I think I’ve adapted to the car and the team, they’re starting to adapt to me, and we’re starting to jell more and more every week. I’m very happy with the results and to start off with 5 top-5 finishes and to be that consistent has been awesome. It’s tough to finish on the podium in the SK division and we’ve been able to do that three weeks in a row now. I have to give a big thanks to RaceChoice.com, Bud’s Truck & Diesel Service, NAPROCO, Kaptiens Corner Deli, Poppa Al’s Pizza, Danbury Hat Tricks, Waddell Communications, J.M. Montesanto Auto Body Works, Pettit Race Engines, and Petty Cash Motorsports for taking a chance on me and putting me in their racecar.”
With Molleur driving a full bodied Late Model car during his time away from Stafford, he wasn’t quite sure where his confidence level would be back behind the wheel of a modified or if he would be able to deliver results. While he didn’t doubt the strength of the Petty Cash team, he did have some doubts about himself that he was able to quickly quash with a top-10 effort driving his family owned SK Modified® in the NAPA Fall Final at the end of the 2023 season and his hot start to this season.
“I think I surprised myself more,” said Molleur. “Stafford has always been a track that I loved and we struggled a lot throughout the 2022 season. When you struggle and have a rough year, your confidence drops a little and that almost made it easier to take on the opportunity to run the ACT Tour in 2023. As the weeks went on last year, I was itching more and more to get back to Stafford and then going from 27th to 7th in the Fall Final in our family car was a big confidence booster and then getting the call from Petty Cash Motorsports to drive their car a couple weeks after that was pretty awesome. You never know where you’re going to stack up after a year away. It definitely didn’t feel like a struggle for me, which was a good thing. It was a wild off-season but hopefully we can continue to be this consistent all year long.”
Despite his stellar start to the 2024 season, Molleur has yet to notch a feature victory while being in contention for the checkered flag in all 5 of his starts. Molleur says it’s just a matter of when he will reach NAPA Victory Lane with the #85 rather than if.
“I certainly think we’re very close to getting that first win,” said Molleur. “I was pretty disappointed in myself and bummed out this past Friday because I thought we had a good shot at winning that race. We were making a pass for the lead when the caution came out and had to restart on the outside and then the 88 went 3 wide and made the move for the win and it’s a true testament to the Petty Cash team that we were disappointed finishing third. I don’t think I’ve ever been disappointed with a third place finish at Stafford in my entire life. I’ve had to watch the winner take the checkered flag three weeks in a row now so it’s been a little frustrating, but I’d rather take these podium finishes than have the car get double hooked off the track. I think a win is coming for us and we might be a little overdue for one now and I’m sure it’s going to be one heck of a celebration once we do get that first win.”
Although the 2024 SK Modified® season is still in its early days with only 5 races, Molleur and the #85 team find themselves leading the points. The goal for Molleur and the Petty Cash team is to now continue their high level of consistency throughout the remainder of the season.
“It’s cool for sure to be leading the points,” said Molleur. “I’ve tried through the years to not pay attention to the points but now to be the guy leading the points in one of the most famous and popular divisions in the entire Northeast is pretty cool. It’s a dream come true for me and I remember the days of sitting in the stands with my father and watching guys like Ted Christopher and Keith Rocco fight it out. The racing this year has been awesome and absolutely wild. I’m sure everyone in the stands has enjoyed the first 5 races this season and as much fun as I’m sure it has been to watch, it’s been really fun to be behind the wheel. We just need to keep on being consistent and load the car in the trailer with all four wheels on it at the end of the night.”
Molleur’s quest for his first win of the season continues this Friday night, June 7th with Open Modified cars joining Stafford’s five weekly divisions for the 7th Annual Casella Waste Open 80. Tickets for the Casella 80 are available now online at StaffordSpeedway.com/tickets and tickets will also be available for purchase at the admission gates. Tickets for the Casella 80 are $30.00 for adults, $10.00 for kids 6-14, and free for kids 5 & under. Reserved seating is priced at $35.00 for all ages and pit passes are $45.00 with a valid 2024 Stafford Competition License and $50.00 without a Stafford license. If you are unable to attend the event, tune into the live stream on FloRacing, the official streaming partner of Stafford Speedway.
For more information, visit staffordspeedway.com, follow Stafford Speedway on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or contact the track office at 860-684-2783.
