STAFFORD – Jon Puleo delivered himself a birthday present Friday that he’s been waiting over a year to arrive.
On his 17th birthday, Puleo held off the charges of Robert Bloxsom III on the final lap to win the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature Friday at Stafford Speedway.
It was the first career SK Light Modified win at Stafford, for Puleo, of North Branford.
“I’ve dreamed of this for a long time and watched a lot of other people do it,” Puleo said in victory lane. “Finally.
Bloxsom, of Stratford, was second and Brian Sullivan of South Windsor third.
Puleo arrived in the SK Light Modified division at Stafford in 2019 coming off a championship in the same division at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl in 2018. Puleo took quick to the new confines at Stafford last year and for most of the year was the driver in the division most looked at as the next first time winner.
But despite numerous runs near the front, Puleo wasn’t able to find victory lane in 2019.
“Monkey off my back and we’re in victory lane,” Puleo said. “So happy to get the win for this team. All year [in 2019] we had really high expectations coming off a championship year. We knew it was going to be harder and we couldn’t seal the deal. But to come out here first race and do it, it’s absolutely unreal to me.”
On the final lap Bloxsom went to the dirt into turn three to get under Puleo. Puleo deftly rode the outside line and held the advantage off of turn four as Sullivan made it three-wide in the low lane coming to the checkered off of turn four.
“He’s fun to race,” Puleo said of Bloxsom. “He’s a hard driver. We’re both going for our first win there. We both have new cars and both going for our first win. I tried everything I could do to pinch him and he did everything he could do to send it in there as hard as possible without wrecking both of us. I’ve been on that end of the stick. Just hard racing. I don’t know if it gets much better than that.”
Congrats to Job and his team. The first win is always the hardest, yet the sweetest.
A surprise? No. Puleo was a brides made a number of times last year and it was simply a matter of time. Now with an even faster Rocco/Rufrano machine. With the exit of Hodgdon and Narducci this could be a banner year for competitive finishes.
Amanda West turned the fastest lap in the feature, she is one to watch this year
A big thumbs up for that Sonny Kozella “Woodchoper” Special #15 tribute car that Amanda’s team was running. I am guessing it is for the 50th anniversary of DeSarro’s 1970 championship year. 50! I don’t think the announcers mentioned it all, but I don’t know for sure, because they can’t be heard over the sound of the cars. Agreed, she looks fast and smart.