Marcello Rufrano Adding Thompson Speedway SK Light Modified To 2016 Schedule

Marcello Rufrano (left) works with his dad, SK Modified team owner John Rufrano in the pits at Stafford Motor Speedway

Marcello Rufrano (left) works with his dad, SK Modified team owner John Rufrano in the pits at Stafford Motor Speedway

At the end of his rookie season in 2015 in the DARE Stock division at Stafford Motor Speedway, 15-year old Marcello Rufrano said he hoped an open wheel ride would be part of his plans for the 2016 season.

That hope will come true, and in the process make Rufrano, of North Haven, a two-track driver for the 2016 season.

In addition to chasing a DARE Stock division championship this coming season at Stafford Speedway, Rufrano will also join the ranks of the SK Light Modified division at Thompson Speedway.

The SK Light Modifieds will be part of four events for the 2016 season at Thompson Speedway.

“It’s a really exciting opportunity,” Rufrano said. “I didn’t expect to have this happen until later on. It’s pretty exciting. Thompson is a way bigger track. It’s going to be a lot more fun and it’s going to be a pretty happy experience if you ask me.”

Rufrano is the son of SK Modified team owner John Rufrano, who fields a car at Stafford Speedway full-time for former NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champion Keith Rocco of Wallingford.

“We just looked at the schedule there and I wanted him to get his feet wet competing with the open wheel stuff and we looked at the schedule for Thompson and we just decided to go for Thompson with the four races there,” John Rufrano said.

Stafford Speedway rules don’t allow for drivers to compete in both the DARE Stock and SK Light Modified divisions at the same time. Though Marcello Rufrano likes the idea of making his first foray into SK Light Modified racing at Thompson.

“Just knowing that Legends have raced at that track, that’s pretty cool,” Marcello Rufrano said. “At Stafford it’s a totally different game. You have to be more precise. At Thompson you can just throw it in the corners and be able to save it in the banking. But it’s going to be a learning experience.”

Despite missing three events due to a mid-season trip to Italy, Marcello Rufrano completed his rookie season eighth in the DARE Stock standings at Stafford in 2015. He had two victories, nine top-five’s and 14 top-10’s. He scored his first career victory on July 17 at Stafford.

The SK Light Modifieds will run at Thompson on April 9 as part of Icebreaker weekend, on July 9, July 27 and on Oct. 15 as part of the World Series of Speedway Racing weekend. The division will run 20-lap features for each event.

John Rufrano said the team could also end up making some appearances at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl during the 2016 season. He said the intent right now is to move the SK Light Modified division at Stafford full-time for the 2017 season.

“We’ll see how well he does at Thompson and go from there,” John Rufrano said.

He said the intent right now is to move the SK Light Modified division at Stafford full-time for the 2017 season.

“Hopefully we’ll have a real good year with the DARE [Stock] this year and close that out and advance to the [SK Light Modified] division next year at Stafford,” John Rufrano said.

Comments

  1. “At Stafford it’s a totally different game. You have to be more precise. At Thompson you can just throw it in the corners and be able to save it in the banking. But it’s going to be a learning experience.”

    Really, just throw it in the corners and be able to save it in the banking? This kid has not been in an open wheel car before never mind never driven Thompson, WOW is he in for a rude awakening! But as long as daddy has deep pockets and the rest of the field can be used as his personal bumper cars I guess that’s OK. I hope he does not learn at everyone else’s expense.

    Look out guys, this kid could be a wreck looking for a place to happen and he may just collect you!

  2. LOL easy humphry. hes merely a child.

  3. I don’t blame you for thinking that way, but unless you have seen him wheel a car I wouldn’t start badgering him already. He is a respectful driver, unlike some of the field he raced with this past season .. 😉 And for his first time in a full size car he kicked ass !!

  4. The point I am trying to make is you just don’t go in there with the “pull the pin and throw it in” mind set. This is your first rodeo in a open wheel car so I guess my thoughts are learn the car, learn the track and gain the respect of the drivers racing around you. And when it comes to racing Thompson or Waterford he will get quite the education. I am happy he kicked butt in a full size car however, taxi cabs and open wheel modifieds are two different animals, key word “open wheel”.

    I will reserve the right to change my opinion until I see what he does and I wish him the best of luck.

  5. He’ll gain a ton of experience in 4 races at Thompson……

  6. ModFan Homtracks says

    I think this is a great move for a nice kid. He’s a smart enough driver to get to the line of his comfort and then push it as he goes. It’s a bigger track with less cars than Stafford which will help. He’ll be fine. Don’t forget, he has a great unofficial coach- Uncle Keith- that I’m sure will be watching and can help him with his line. Not bad! Good luck kid, go have some fun.

  7. Ksalzarulo says

    He’s got talent lots of it I won’t worry about him

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