Opening Act: Marcello Rufrano Scores First Career SK Modified Victory At Thompson Speedway

Marcello Rufrano celebrates his first career SK Modified victory Sunday at Thompson Speedway

THOMPSON – Marcello Rufrano has grown up mentored by one of the greatest SK Modified drivers in the history of Thompson Speedway.

Rufrano’s father John has been a car owner working with Keith Rocco for a decade at Stafford Motor Speedway, and Rocco’s style is what Marcello Rufrano has patterned himself after behind the wheel.

Sunday Marcello Rufrano got to join Rocco in the SK Modified record books at Thompson Speedway.

Marcello Rufrano held off Woody Pitkat to win the first of two 20-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified features Sunday at Thompson Speedway.

It was the first career SK Modified victory for the North Haven 17-year old.

“I’ve been dreaming about this since I was six years old,” Marcello Rufrano said. “I used to come here and watch Keith [Rocco] win in the [No. 6] car and now I’m part of the record books in this [division]. You can’t explain the feeling that I get right now. I’ve got to try to sleep tonight and just take this all in. I don’t know what to say, I’m lost for words.

“We’ve been working so hard this year trying to get to where we are right now. I can’t thank [crew chief] Jimmy Fuller enough, my father, my mother and everyone that came and helped us. It’s a tremendous amount of work and when it pays off I just can’t express myself enough.”

Pitkat, of Stafford, held on for second and Kyle James of Ashaway, R.I. was third.

“I was just trying to hit my marks,” Rufrano said. “My spotter … was just leading me all the way there. I was just trying to be as smooth as possible and hit my marks. This is great man.”

Rufrano is also a regular in the SK Light Modified division at Stafford Motor Speedway, where he has six victories this season.