STAFFORD SPRINGS, Conn. — David Arute notched the SK Modified feature victory to headline Friday night’s weekly racing program at Stafford Motor Speedway.
It was Arute’s second victory in the last three races dating back to last year.
In the 40-lap SK Modified feature, Cory DiMatteo took the lead from pole but before a lap could be completed, the caution came out for a spin by Dylan Kopec.
Brian Sullivan and DiMatteo went side by side for a full lap on the restart with Sullivan taking the lead at the line by a nose. Sullivan got clear into the lead on lap two and behind him DiMatteo and David Arute were side by side for second with Michael Christopher, Jr. in fourth and Ronnie Williams in fifth.
Arute took second from DiMatteo on lap four and he charged his way past Sullivan on lap five to move into the lead. DiMatteo got by Sullivan to move into second place on lap seven with Williams taking third. Sullivan was now side by side with Bryan Narducci for fourth place when the caution came back out with seven laps complete for Mikey Flynn, who went around on the backstretch.
Arute held off a challenge from DiMatteo to maintain the lead back under green with DiMatteo slotting back into second. Williams was up to third with Narducci in fourth and Sullivan in fifth. Just behind Sullivan was the side-by-side duo of Christopher and Marcello Rufrano with Todd Owen right behind Christopher and Rufrano. Rufrano worked his way into fifth place on lap-11 and Owen followed him through to move into sixth as Arute continued to lead with DiMatteo, Narducci and Williams giving chase.
At the halfway mark, it was still Arute in front followed by DiMatteo, Narducci, Williams, Rufrano, Owen, Stephen Kopcik, Christopher, Matt Swanson, and Jon Puleo.
With 10 laps to go, Arute was still in control of the race with Narducci now in second followed by DiMatteo, Rufrano, Williams, Kopcik, Owen, Christopher, Swanson, and Tyler Hines.
Rufrano was able to make a move to the inside of DiMatteo on lap 36 to move into third while Narducci was still trying to get close enough to Arute to make a bid for the lead.
Narducci couldn’t get close enough to Arute to make a move as Arute took down his first win of the season. Rufrano finished third with DiMatteo and Kopcik rounding out the top five.
Kevin Gambacorta locked down the late model feature victory, while Tyler Chapman won the SK Light main event.
Rich Hammann notched the limited late Model win and Bobby Stirk III was a first-time winner in the street stock feature.