Marcello Rufrano To Compete In SK Modified At Thompson Speedway In 2017

Marcello Rufrano

Since beginning his short track racing career in the DARE Stock division at Stafford Motor Speedway in 2015, Marcello Rufrano has continually made it clear that his racing mentor his Keith Rocco.

The 16-year old Rufrano, of North Haven, is the son of SK Modified team owner John Rufrano, who has fielded a car for years at Stafford Speedway for Rocco, the former NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champion.

In 2017 Marcello Rufrano will get the chance to face off on the track against his race hero.

Marcello Rufrano will run full-time in the SK Modified division at Thompson Speedway in 2017.

“I’m absolutely excited about the opportunity that I’m getting in the best equipment that I possibly could be in,” Marcello Rufrano said. “There’s no better person to drive for than my father. This is a pretty exciting opportunity.”

Marcello Rufrano likened racing against Rocco to when Rocco was new to the SK Modified division and racing against one of his mentors, Ted Christopher.

“It’s the apprentice and the master going at it head-to-head,” Marcello Rufrano said. “It’s kind of special if you ask me because a few years ago I was racing [go-karts] on Monday nights and now I’m going to be going against the guy who taught me everything I know about Modifieds. Its pretty cool.”

After running full-time in the entry level DARE Stock division in 2015, Marcello Rufrano began the 2016 season running an SK Light Modified at Thompson and running the DARE Stock at Stafford.

In early August the family decided to sell the DARE Stock and run full-time in the SK Light Modified division at Stafford. Marcello Rufrano came from the rear of the field in his first start in the division on Aug. 5 to win.

“I didn’t expect him to do that well with it,” John Rufrano said. “He adapted real quick. I don’t if it was because of the open wheel with the karts. But he always seemed to like the open wheel karts. He impressed me last year, that’s for sure. We just need to work on the communication part a little better with what the car is doing and how we fix it.”

Said Marcello Rufrano: “Jumping in from an SK Light to an SK Modified is a very big jump. I’m going from a division with pretty good drivers to the division with some of the best drivers in the state and the country. … It’s a big deal.”

Rufrano will continue to compete in the SK Light Modified full-time at Stafford Motor Speedway for the 2017.