Stafford Notes: Marcello Rufrano, Duane Provost & Michael Hopkins Score Wins

Marcello Rufrano celebrates victory in the SK Light Modified feature Friday at Stafford Speedway (Photo: Jim DuPont/RaceDayCT)

STAFFORD – Marcello Rufrano has understood since the beginning of the season that he would be missing an SK Light Modified event at Stafford Speedway on Aug. 17.

A family trip to Italy means a week away from the track for the North Haven driver.

But Friday Rufrano made sure he left on a good note.

Rufrano got his sixth victory of the season in the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature Friday at Stafford.

“It’s bittersweet because I’ve got to go on a flight tomorrow night,” Rufrano said. “… But getting a victory before I go away is pretty special to me. … Family comes first in this situation. I’m going to try to enjoy my time away and hopefully come back and have the same momentum.”

Mikey Flynn of Hampden, Mass. was second and Mark Bakaj of Lebanon third.

Duane Provost of Palmer, Mass. got his third victory in the last four events in the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature.

It was the fourth victory overall for the reigning division champion who struggled early in the season.

“I’d love to start the season over from about halfway,” Provost said. “It is what it is.”

Provost went by Justin Bren for the lead on lap 15 and never trailed again.

Bren, of Palmer, Mass., was second and R.J. Surdell of Willington third.

Michael Hopkins of Springfield, Mass. got his second victory of the season in the 20-lap Street Stock feature.

Hopkins, who won on May 11, has been running part-time this season, making his 10th start of the year. The division was running its 15th feature Friday.

“We went back to our old notes and we said ‘We’re putting the same setup in it that we had to start the year and we just went for it. … I kind of notice that when we show up people get kind of upset that we’re here because they’ve got to deal with us when we show up.”

George Bessette Jr. of Danbury was second and Brandon Michael of Granville, Mass. was third.

Comments

  1. Whoa, Narducci average. Missing out on the march to the front by some really fast cars. The best car won so bon voyage Marcello. Bakaj proved once again he’s tough as nails and has the experience to make life challenging for the diaper dandies.
    Not a great night for Bryan but kept the wheels under him and maximized his finish for the car he had as he marches toward a championship. Marcello will be enjoying his families ancestral homeland while enjoying unsurpassed food and hoping for a rain out next week no doubt.

  2. If you ever would attend a race Doug you would get the whole story. You seem to know everything for someone whose never at the track. Narducci lost his air cleaner early in the race. He was smart enough to hang around 5th or so as to not get dq’d. Please attend one of theses races some day. You’ll never get the whole story from the race monitor. You comment on every thread without actually going to a race….ever

  3. Thanks Clueless for the advice.
    I agree I can never get the entire story on Race Monitor but on the other hand it gives a streaming lap by lap accounting for just how fast the cars are and the interval. As well as the re positioning after a yellow and who is out.
    Now if your point is that it is inappropriate to comment when one hasn’t attended a race I offer this defense. I am an old Street Stocker from ancient times that helped put on the show, have attended races for decades, have been a prior season ticket holder and most importantly this. I study Staffords accounting of the race both Scott Running and the video, Race Monitor times and stats, Racedayct stories of course and replay all the races on YouTube. That is when I am not at the races that I am at actually numerous times during the season. I’d be at more but age and budget issues take their toll.
    And while I’m at it I would add that I have twin sons with CP and have a natural desire to see Bryan succeed which he is doing quite nicely. I have also reintroduced Stafford and Bryan to my sons and they have grown to enjoy his success much like I after spending decades forgetting my exploits and building their own lives.
    Finally I would add that the point is to generate interest and conversation about the race. Not to show you were there and how dumb I am. So far we have two comments and hopefully we can get more.
    Your screen ID Clueless as far as I can see is the smartest choice you have made to date.

  4. You got me fired up Clueless so thanks.
    Comment on everything? More like 4 or 5 out of 16 articles on the front page. After I do a lot of homework.
    Show you know something about racing other then an anecdote from one race.

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