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(Stafford Springs, CT)—Following an impressive 2024 season that saw him win 6 races and come up just 1 point short of the Street Stock championship at Waterford Speedbowl, Old Saybrook native Norm Root, III will make the move into Stafford Speedway’s Limited Late Model division for the 2025 season. Root will be driving his family owned #80 Saybrook Rentals Chevrolet with his father, Norm, Jr. serving as his crew chief.
“I’ve always wanted to race at Stafford and the facility is beautiful,” said Root. “Mike Caprio started racing at Stafford last year and we worked with him when he raced at Waterford. He asked us to help him at Stafford and we really enjoyed the track. We want to race there so this is the year that we’re making that happen. Stafford definitely has it going on right now and we want to be a part of that. Thanks to Saybrook Rentals and New England Power Equipment for sponsoring the car and thanks to my Mom and Dad and Dennis for helping me out with the car. We’re all excited to get to Stafford and go racing.”
In what was his first full season behind the wheel in 2024, Root proved that he is a quick study with his 6 victories. Making the change to a new track can be a daunting task for any driver, much less a driver going into his second full season, but Root is ready for the challenge.
“I think the biggest thing will be just trying to figure out the driving line,” said Root. “I’m hoping that I can follow some of the good guys around the track during practice to figure out the line and other than that, I’m feeling ready to go. Honestly, I’d just like to be able to run with all the guys in the division. It would be pretty cool if we could get a podium finish this year. Last year I didn’t expect to win a race and we won 6, so anything can happen. The Stafford Limited is pretty similar to the Waterford Street Stock, we’ll have to change the gears and a few other small things, but I’m excited to get started at Stafford. It looks like a lot of fun and my main goal is going to be finishing each race in one piece and if we can get a podium finish, we’d be very happy with that.”
If Root runs into any issues while learning the track, he can lean on his father, who was a multi-feature winner during his time racing at Waterford, for advice. Root can also lean on his experience as a crew member helping his father out during his racing days.
“My Dad always wants to give me the best car possible and we work very well together in the shop,” said Root. “It’s definitely a big advantage to have my Dad as a teammate. Being able to know the car, it’s also an advantage to know what to look for when you hear a little noise in the car and knowing how the car operates and what you can change to make it do certain things. Last year I had an upper cross member weld break and I knew instantly that something was wrong with the car and I knew right where to look.”
In addition to working on his #80 car during the winter, Root has been busy watching replays of Stafford’s Limited Late Models in action during the 2024 season, trying to pick up on anything he can exploit once he hits the track behind the wheel of his #80 car for the first time during the open practice session on Saturday, April 19th.
“I’ve been trying to study the Limited Late Models on FloRacing and see who you can race with and who you can get below or go around on the high side,” said Root. “I see the division is very competitive and last year in the first 9 races there were 9 different winners, which was absolutely insane. That’s actually what got me hooked on the division. I saw that and I said to myself that would be a good division to be in. If 9 different drivers can win then it’s got to be a pretty competitive division and I expect the competition to be tough. The open practice session the week before the Sizzler is going to be huge for me to get my feet wet at Stafford and try to pick up speed before the season starts.”
The first Limited Late Model feature of the 2025 season will be held as part of the 53rd Annual NAPA Spring Sizzler®, set for April 26-27. The NAPA Spring Sizzler® kicks off on Saturday, April 26, with feature events for the Late Model, Limited Late Model, and Street Stock divisions, along with SK Light qualifying duel races that will set the field for an extra-distance 30-lap feature event on Sunday, April 27.
Order 53rd Annual NAPA Spring Sizzler® Tickets
Sponsor a NAPA Spring Sizzler® Lap
Sunday, April 27, will play host to the 53rd Annual NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler®. Filling out Sunday’s racing card will be qualifying and feature racing for the SK Modified® division, the 30-lap SK Light Modified feature, plus the NAPA Pit Party.
For more information, visit staffordspeedway.com, follow Stafford Speedway on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or contact the track office at 860-684-2783.
