The first year combination of Jimmy Blewett with Petty Cash Motorsports in the SK Modified division at Stafford Speedway this year has been a podium perfect recipe thus far.
Blewett won the season opening event at the NAPA Spring Sizzler on May 13. He followed that up with a second place run in the second event of the season. Friday Blewett added a third place to his 2023 SK Modified rundown at Stafford.
“We had a good car here tonight again,” Blewett said. “Just a little tight. We’re flirting on the edge of nailing it with this thing. Hats off to [crew chief JJ Vece] and the guys. Everybody has been working hard on it since the start of the season. We got held up behind one car there in the beginning of the race and he held us up and held us up and held us up. We finally got by him and we were able to get by [Cory DiMatteo] there with about 10 [laps] to go, and made a charge for second. Three podiums in the three races, I’ll take it.”
Blewett also gave credit to his calming eyes in the sky at Stafford, spotter Shawn Waddell, for helping him navigate through the field.
“Waddell is on the radio with me this year,” Blewett said. “It’s nice to have somebody with that experience behind you.”
Climbing Back
A 26th place in the season opening SK Modified feature at the NAPA Spring Sizzler left Marcello Rufrano wondering if things could get any worse.
Rufrano made things a little better with a sixth place finish in the second event of the season.
Friday Rufrano found the way back to battling with the leaders, finishing second to Stephen Kopcik in the 40-lap SK Modified feature.
“Shitty start to the year, but we’re turning it around,” Rufrano said.
“We were really really good tonight. I kind of knew our fate coming in. I knew we weren’t going to have the stagger to be as fast as we were during the day. Kind of the hand we were dealt. … I think we’re right there. We’ve just got a couple things we’ve got to work out.”
Walker Running
With a return to full-time racing at Stafford in the Street Stock division, Johnny Walker is on a mission in 2023.
Walker, the 2016 and 2017 Street Stock division champion, got his last win in the division on May 11, 2019. And since then he’s sat in second place on the division’s all-time win list. Walker has 19 career Street Stock victories at Stafford. Kyle Casagrande is the division’s all-time winningest driver with 20 victories.
“That’s my big goal,” Walker said. “I’m trying to get to the top of the all-time win list. I think that will be pretty epic in my life.”
Walker led much of the way in Friday’s Street Stock feature before surrendering the lead to Travis Hydar on lap 15.
Walker held on to finish second, but then had some confusion heading to the post-race ceremonies.
“It’s been so long since we came down to victory lane,” Walker said. “I almost came down pit road after the race. I forgot how to get here.”
Congratulations to Kopcik for the win. The car did pass tech? Right?
So who won the event??
The trolls are out and about for sure! I think Todd has his hands full for a three-peat! But I’m sure he will be right there at the end!
To All:
Just going to say this after declining three comments today on this post. As stated earlier this month, I’m all asking all readers – for the time being – to please refrain from any political references in comments. They will not be published. If you continue to submit comments containing political references after you’ve already had similar comments declined, you will be banned from leaving any comments.
So we won’t be seeing the name Hillary 2024 any longer?
Great race. Stafford should of thrown a debris caution. Lol. Anyone know how many caution free races last year in the sk division?
Deplorable, Degenerate Mod Fan,
The commenter “handle” you’re indicating has been in use by that person consistently since 2018 on this site. It’s a username. I can also tell you the person using that name is not one of the people who typically ever makes any political references in their comments. Again, I asked that no political references be made in the comments. It’s not a complicated request. Really simply actually. You and one other person seem to be the only people having an issue with respecting that request and the only two people creating inane debate about that request, like this comment you made above.
Unusual SK race in that it was not very exciting. Perhaps the most exciting was when Blewett dove under for a late pass, upset both cars for a bit, and then went on.
Law of averages says next week should be wild!
Kopcik won on the track, but was his car able to make it through tech? Blewit is off to a great start. If he is able to keep posting top 5’swill be a threat for the championship.
Thank you, Shawn. Finally.