After spending the last two seasons competing in the Legends cars ranks at Waterford Speedbowl, Newtown’s Stephen Kopcik will become the newest member of the 2014 SK Light Modified rookie class at Stafford Motor Speedway this spring.

Kopcik and his team recently acquired a Chassis Dynamics car that was a backup car for Ryan Preece at Thompson Speedway, and he will have Mike Paquette from CD Chassis helping him out with his chassis setup.

Kopcik comes from a background of winning races and championships. He got his start racing in go karts and after five championships, including a WKA Regional Championship in 2008, he made the move into Legends Car racing at Waterford in 2012. Kopcik won Rookie of the Year honors in 2012 and he finished as the runner-up in the championship standings to Joey Ternullo this past season after being in the hunt for the championship all season long.

The 2014 season will be a first for Kopcik being behind the wheel of a modified race car, and he is ready to get his rookie season started.

“This is brand new for me. I’ve never been in a modified before,” Kopcik said. “I think the biggest challenge for me will be getting used to the car. You have 15-inch tires that stick out from the car so you have to get used to that. Everything is going to be different for me. I’m going into the season with the goal of winning a race and try to go for Rookie Of The Year.”

Success won’t come easily, with plenty of tough competition and a need for things to fall into place.

“There looks like there will be a lot of rookies this year in the SK Lights so you don’t know who is going to be really good and who is going to be ok. I don’t want to be too excited and you can’t be cocky, but you have to be confident. I’m excited for the season to get started. We’re going to try to win a race, win (Rookie Of The Year), and be consistent. I think we have all the right stuff in place to get it done we just have to go out on the track and do it.”

For now, Kopcik is focused on the SK Light, but eventually would love to make the move up to SK Modifieds.

Kopcik will carry sponsorship from NJK. Automotive, David Smith Racing, Newtown Pools, Hocon Industrial Gas, CD Chassis, T/A Engines, and Gervais Brothers Racing on his #31 car, and his father, Nick, will serve as the crew chief.

“We also have Nick Danuszar. He works together with my dad as a team, we have David Smith helping us out, and that’s it for crew. Hopefully we’ll have a bigger crew when the first couple of races get here. We’re definitely looking for sponsors, you can always use more sponsors.

Kopcik will hit the track for the first time with the 43rd Annual Spring Sizzler on April 25-27. Tickets for the “Greatest Race in the History of Spring” may be ordered by calling the Speedway Box Office. Tickets are priced at $38.50 for adult general admission, and $5 for children ages 6-14. Children ages 5 and under are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult. Reserved seating is $42 for all ages.

Races will be held most Fridays at Stafford. For more information on the 43rd Annual Spring Sizzler, or to order tickets, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit www.staffordspeedway.com.