STAFFORD SPRINGS, Conn. — Stafford Speedway hosted Weekly Racing on Friday, May 16th with SK Lights taking part in a special 30-lap extra distance feature.
The night saw Keith Rocco win the 40-lap SK Modified® feature in a thrilling finish over Jon Puleo and Michael Christopher Jr.
Troy Talman streaked into the lead from the second starting position at the drop of the green flag to set the early pace. Anthony Flannery was second in line with Todd Owen and Michael Gervais, Jr. wheel to wheel for third and Michael Christopher, Jr. fifth. Flannery worked his way to the inside of Talman on lap-7 to move into the lead but Talman made a crossover move and had the lead at the line to complete lap-7 by a nose.
Talman got clear into the lead on lap-8 with Owen taking second. Christopher and Flannery were now side by side for third with Gervais in fifth place.
Owen charged his way by Talman on lap-12 to take over the lead. Owen’s move allowed Christopher to follow him past Talman to take second and drop Talman back to third. Gervais was now fourth behind Talman with Jon Puleo up to fifth. Alex Pearl spun in turn 4 to bring the caution flag out with 14 laps complete.
Owen took the lead on the restart with Christopher glued to his back bumper. Gervais was third in line with Puleo fourth and Keith Rocco taking fifth from Talman on lap-17. Christopher took the lead from Owen on lap-18 and Gervais followed Christopher to the inside of Owen and he took second on lap-18. Puleo followed Christopher by Owen on lap-19 while Keith Rocco took fourth to drop Owen back to fifth as Christopher continued to lead.
Puleo was working Christopher over and looked to have a pass made for the lead but that was negated by the caution flag with 24 laps complete as Flannery spun in turn 2.
Christopher took the lead back under green with Rocco working his way into second. Puleo was third in line with Owen fourth and Tyler Chapman up to fifth. Chapman took fourth from Owen on lap-28 while Rocco took the lead from Christopher on lap-29. Christopher went right back by Rocco on lap-30 to retake the lead. Puleo followed Christopher by Rocco to take second and drop Rocco back to third. Chapman was now fourth with Mikey Flynn up to fifth. John Sandberg’s car looked to lose an engine with a puff of smoke and his car starting to leak fluid on the track with 32 laps complete to bring the caution flag out.
Puleo took the lead on the restart while Rocco went 3-wide with Christopher and Flynn to take second. Christopher settled into third with Flynn fourth and Owen side by side with Chapman for fifth. Rocco continued his charge as he took the lead from Christopher on lap-35.
With 3 laps to go it was Rocco in front with Christopher and Puleo side by side for second. Christopher took second as they completed lap-37 and was right on Rocco’s bumper as they completed lap-38. Going into turn 3 on the final lap, Christopher gave Rocco a slight tap and both cars went up the track, opening the low groove up for Puleo. As they came out of turn 4, Rocco was in the lead with Puleo to his inside and Rocco beat Puleo to the line in a drag race by less than a car length in a thrilling finish to score his first win of the 2025 season. Christopher finished third with Flynn and Wesley Prucker rounding out the top five.
Other winners on the night were Paul Varricchio, Jr. in the Late Model feature, Nickolas Hovey in the SK Light feature, Matt Clement in the Limited Late Model feature, and Aaron Plemons in the Street Stock feature.
