STAFFORD SPRINGS, Conn. — Stafford Motor Speedway hosted another round of weekly racing on Friday, with each of Stafford’s five weekly divisions in action.
Marcello Rufrano was the big winner of the night, outlasting Keith Rocco and Steven Chapman to pick up his first SK Modified feature win of the 2025 season in an absolutely thrilling race.
In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature, brothers Steven and Tyler Chapman brought the field to the green flag with Tyler setting the early pace ahead of Steven. Michael Gervais, Jr. was third but he would lose that position to Andrew Molleur on lap-4. Jon Puleo was fifth in line with Todd Owen, Alexander Pearl, Anthony Flannery, Marcello Rufrano, and Keith Rocco lined up behind him.
Steven Chapman was applying heavy pressure to Tyler Chapman for the lead and he was finally able to get alongside his brother on lap-10 and take the lead at the line by a nose. Tyler Chapman ran two laps side by side with Steven before slotting back into second with Molleur and Puleo right behind him in a 4-car train for the lead. Gervais was fifth with Pearl right behind him in sixth. The caution came out with 14 laps complete as Pearl spun in turn 4 with Dylan Izzo and last week’s SK Modified® winner Cory DiMatteo also getting into the turn 4 wall.
Steven Chapman took the lead back under green with Molleur taking second. Tyler Chapman fell back to third with Rufrano fourth and Puleo fifth. The caution came back out with 15 laps complete as Peter Portante and Michael Christopher, Jr. spun and hit the wall in turn 3.
Steven Chapman took the lead back under green with Molleur right behind him in second. Rufrano moved up to third and immediately began to apply heavy pressure to Molleur for second. He took second on lap-20 and his pass opened the door for Keith Rocco to follow him by Molleur and move Rocco to third and Molleur back to fourth. Molleur would lose fourth place to Puleo on lap-22 while up front Rufrano made a move to the inside of Steven Chapman. Rufrano made the pass stick on lap-23 to take over the lead. Rocco tried to follow Rufrano past Chapman, but Chapman was able to maintain the position. Puleo was fourth behind Rufrano, Steven Chapman, and Rocco with Molleur in fifth.
Steven Chapman got back to the inside of Rufrano on lap-26 and he was able to make the pass on lap-27 to go back into the lead. Rocco took second with Rufrano slotting into third, just in front of Puleo and Molleur. With 10 laps to it was Steven Chapman in the lead with Rocco, Rufrano, Puleo, and Molleur all right behind him.
Rocco was applying heavy pressure to Chapman lap after lap, but Chapman was able to keep his car out front. Rocco was able to get to the inside of Chapman on lap-34 and he completed the pass to take the lead. Rufrano followed Rocco by Chapman to take second before taking the lead from Rocco on lap-35.
Rocco and Rufrano touched wheels as they came out of turn 4 coming to the white flag. Rocco couldn’t get close enough to Rufrano on the final lap as Rufrano took down his first win of the 2025 season. Rocco finished second with Steven Chapman, Puleo, and Molleur rounding out the top five.
Other winners on the night were Kevin Gambacorta in the Late Model feature, Josh Morrison in the SK Light feature, Gary Patnode in the Limited Late Model feature, and Shawn Monahan in the Street Stock feature.
