Tony Membrino Jr. Scores Emotional First SK Light Modified Win At Stafford Speedway

STAFFORD – Before Friday, Tony Membrino Jr. had two career victories at Stafford Motor Speedway, both coming in the DARE Stock division. One in 2009 and in 2010.

Tony Membrino Jr.

They’re two wins that Membrino says he has long taken some ribbing for because he started on the pole in both races.

Friday night Membrino got the victory he was looking for, the one he had to fight for.

Membrino, of Plantsville, came from the seventh starting position to win the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature at Stafford. It was his first victory in an SK Light since joining the division last year.

Zach Aszklar of Wallingford was second and Frank Cardilo of Bolton third.

“We earned that one,” Membrino said. “We didn’t start on the pole. We kicked the front door down. I feel real fortunate to be able to have earned it like that. I’ve got two wins here and both came from starting on the pole so I always take a lot of crap that I just ran away from the field. I had to earn this one. To earn it against those guys says a lot about how far we’ve come in a short amount of time and how our operation has been going. It’s extremely fulfilling.”

Membrino’s team was working on improving his car until moments before the feature began.

“This car was fast in practice,” Membrino said. “We went out in the heat race and it was evil. [The whole crew], I can’t tell you the changes we made. We almost didn’t make the lineup they changed so much. Boy what a difference.”

Membrino passed Cardile for the lead on lap 13 and went unchallenged the rest of the way. After the race the emotion flowed from Membrino, who has had one of the fastest cars all season in the division. Before pulling to victory lane Membrino stopped at the start/finish line and got out of his car and saluted the fans.

“It’s been extremely frustrating but that’s part of the deal,” Membrino said. “I’ve been involved in racing my whole life and I know the fastest car doesn’t always win the race and the best driver doesn’t always win the race. It’s a combination of work, equipment, driving talent and luck. That has a lot to do with and we had a lot of everything on our side today.”