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(Stafford Springs, CT)—Stafford Speedway created its SK Light division at the end of the 2005 season with the first race taking place on April 29, 2006. That race was part of the NAPA Spring Sizzler® weekend and was won by Chris Matthews. 20 years later, Matthews is still racing in the SK Light division and he is still winning races. Matthews won the season opening 30-lap SK Light feature in this year’s edition of the NAPA Spring Sizzler®, which was the fourth time in his career that he has won the SK Light portion of the NAPA Spring Sizzler®. Although Matthews is still going strong and shows no signs of slowing down any time soon, he couldn’t picture himself still racing and winning in the SK Light ranks 20 years after he won the very first SK Light feature held at Stafford.
“I really didn’t see myself still racing 20 years later,” said Matthews. “We’re still having fun with racing and as long as it’s fun, it’s still worth doing.”
Matthews was a force in his first three seasons of SK Light competition, nearly winning the inaugural championship in 2006 before claiming the 2007 title. Matthews also notched a total of 17 SK Light feature wins in those first three seasons before he moved up to the premier SK Modified® division where he raced from 2009-2012. Following the 2012 season, Matthews took several seasons off from racing before returning to the SK Light division in 2017. Upon his return to the division, Matthews found the path to NAPA Victory Lane a bit tougher to navigate than in his initial experience. It took Matthews five seasons and 75 races before he would find himself winning an SK Light feature again. But since that first win in the third race of the 2022 season, Matthews has claimed a total of 8 more feature wins to push his career win total to 26, the most career wins of anyone in Stafford SK Light history.
“The division is definitely way more competitive than it was when I first started,” said Matthews. “There’s a lot more cars now that are fast. When I first started, it was only a handful of cars that were fast and could win races and now it seems like everyone out there has a fast car and can win a race. But I don’t mind that at all, it’s way more fun when you can win races and there’s that much competition.”
Matthews’ victory in the NAPA Spring Sizzler® along with his second place finish in his qualifying duel race has him tied with Nick Anglace for the lead in the 2026 SK Light standings. Matthews hasn’t won a championship since his 2007 triumph, but he is hoping that he and his #29 Vernon Chevrolet team can maintain a high level of performance throughout the season and be a contender for what would be his second career track championship.
“Winning races definitely helps the team morale and while it’s still too early to start counting points, it’s nice to get off to a good start,” said Matthews. “Last season we didn’t have such a great start and I’m really hoping we can keep on going after wins. The car felt really good at the Sizzler so as long as everything can stay the same once we get into the night races I feel like we can do ok. As long as we’re having fun and enjoying things, we’re going to keep on going and obviously winning makes things much more enjoyable. I’ll take a win anytime I can get one. I really have to thank my wife, my kids, the whole crew and everyone who helps us out, Vernon Chevrolet, Arcari Motors, Lakeshore Benefit Group, Wheel Shop, everyone. Without their support, we wouldn’t be able to do this every week.”
Matthews will look to continue his winning ways this Friday, May 8th. May 8th is a weekly racing program that will see Stafford’s SK Modified®, Late Model, Limited Late Model, and Street Stock teams join the SK Light teams in feature action.
For more information, visit staffordspeedway.com, follow Stafford Speedway on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or contact the track office at 860-684-2783.
