STAFFORD SPRINGS, Conn. — Stafford Speedway was back in action on Friday, July 10 with the Arcari Motor Sales Underdog Night.
Troy Talman took down his first win of the season in the SK Modified® feature.
In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature, the field rumbled in a high speed pace lap with Meghan Fuller and Ethan Durocher side by side for the lead. Fuller led the first lap before Durocher went into the lead on lap-2. Alex Pearl took second on lap-3 with David Arute third. Todd Owen and Fuller were now side by side for fourth place. Owen won that duel and he took third from Arute on lap-7 while Pearl was still in the lead.
Arute came back strong in the outside lane to pull alongside Durocher for second on lap-8 with Owen in fourth and Troy Talman up to fifth. With 10 laps complete Arute and Durocher were still side by side for second with Pearl in the lead. Owen was still fourth with Talman right behind him in fifth.
Tyler Chapman got loose coming out of turn 2 and he spun after contact with Glen Reen to bring the caution flag out with 12 laps complete.
Pearl took the lead on the restart but Arute worked his way to Pearl’s inside and he took over the race lead on lap-14. Talman was now side by side with Pearl for second and he took that position on lap-15. Mikey Flynn was now up to fourth behind Pearl and Jon Puleo was up to fifth place.
At the halfway point, Arute was in command with Talman, Pearl, Flynn, Puleo, Keith Rocco, Marcello Rufrano, Owen, Nickolas Hovey, and Anthony Flannery making up the top-10. Talman worked his way around Arute to take over the race lead on lap-27 with Pearl, Flynn, and Puleo still making up the top-5.
With 5 laps to go Talman held the lead with Arute, Pearl, Rocco, and Puleo all giving chase. Arute couldn’t get close enough to Talman in the final laps as Talman scored his first win of the 2026 season. Arute finished second with Pearl, Rocco, and Puleo rounding out the top-5.
In the 30-lap Late Model feature, Wayne Coury, Jr. took the early lead with Michael Bennett taking second. Adam Gray charged from sixth to third with Kevin Gambacorta fourth and Chris Buffone fifth. Bennett and Gray went 3-wide with Coury on lap-5 for the lead with Bennett emerging in the lead. Gray took second with Coury sliding back to fourth behind Gambacorta, who took third.
Gray was working Bennett over looking to take the lead and he nearly took the lead on lap-13 but Bennett was able to maintain the lead. Gambacorta was still third with Coury and Buffone fourth and fifth. Gray and Bennett touched and spun on the backstretch just before the entrance to turn 3 to bring the caution flag out with 14 laps complete.
Gambacorta was the leader on the restart but Buffone quickly took the lead with Gambacorta falling back to second. Lap-16 saw Gambacorta slide back several more spots as Chris Meyer took second, Darrell Keane third, Paul Varricchio, Jr. fourth, and Gray fifth. Adon Burrell took sixth with Coury seventh and Gambacorta was finally able to get back into line in eighth place. Varricchio went around in turn 4 to bring the caution flag out with 21 laps complete.
Buffone took the lead on the restart with Gray taking with a 3-wide move. Keane settled into third with Coury fourth and Meyer fifth. Gray took the lead from Buffone on lap-25 with Keane, Coury, and now Gambacorta making up the top-5. Meyer was right behind Gambacorta in sixth with Varricchio back up seventh.
Gray led the field to the checkered flag to pick up his third win of the season. Buffone came home second with Keane, Coury, and Gambacorta rounding out the top five.
Adam Gray took his third win in the Late Model feature, Chris Matthews was a winner for the second time this season in the SK Light feature, Travis Hydar was also a second time 2026 winner in the Limited Late Model, and Ryan Waterman continued his domination of the Street Stock division with his sixth consecutive win and eighth win in 10 starts this season.
