by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — When Monticello Raceway presents its Munich Mile for drivers of German descent on Thursday, July 30, Jordan Stratton will be among the drivers participating in the event.

The Munich Mile will be the seventh leg of the track’s Heritage Drivers Series.

USTA/Ken Weingartner photo

Jordan Stratton will be participating in the Munich Mile.

Stratton began his career here in 2006 and immediately showed a real talent for driving harness horses. After getting his “A” license the following year “the Kid,” as he became known, reined 30 winners from a limited amount of drives.

He began his first full season in the sulky in 2007 at age 19 and didn’t turn 20 until June 30 of that year. That season Stratton reined 285 winners and then vaulted into national prominence in 2008 when his 630 winners were fifth best in North America. That year, too, he became only the second driver in the history of the sport to win 1,000 races prior to his 21st birthday.

His 362 winners here that season was tops on the local leaderboard and Stratton became the youngest to ever win a driving title at the Mighty M.

This year Stratton, who spends much of his time at Yonkers Raceway where he is second to Jason Bartlett in races won there, still has found time to win over 80 races here.

Joining Stratton in the Munich Mile will be two other former Mighty M driving champs, Greg Merton and Bruce Aldrich, Jr.

“I also have confirmation from Jimmy Clouser and Keith Haase,” said Eric Warner, the track’s Director of Racing. “And just recently Josh Wharton called and said he’d like to participate, too.”

Warner added that Kevin Hough will also be among the starters in the Munich Mile but that will give Warner only seven and he’ll need one more driver of German descent to fill out the field.

The winner of the race for drivers of German Heritage will join the previous Heritage Series preliminary leg winners in a finale that will be dubbed the All-America Cup and presented in early October.

Any driver of German descent interested in participating in Monticello Raceway’s Munich Mile is urged to call Warner in the race office at 845.794.4100, ext: 557; or they can call the track’s publicity department at ext. 455.