STAFFORD – In racing parlance, it’s described as “Stinking Up The Show” when a driver totally dominates an event.
Friday at Stafford Marcello Rufrano stunk up things in the SK Modified division in a massive way.
After getting to the front from his fifth place starting spot, Rufrano checked out from the field to run away with victory in the 40-lap SK Modified feature Friday at Stafford.
Rufrano, of North Haven, beat second place Cory DiMatteo of Farmington to the line at the checkered by just over four seconds.
“We gave them an old school ass whooping, that’s for sure,” Rufrano said.
Rufrano dedicated the victory to track announcer Ben Dodge, who has been battling cancer. Dodge was back in the booth at Stafford Friday.
“Ben Dodge, this is for you,” Rufrano said. “I know you’re going through a tough time and all of us our praying for.”
It was the second victory of the season for Rufrano, his fourth all-time in the SK Modified division and the 18th overall of his career at the track.
Rufrano went by Kopec for the lead on lap 11 and went unchallenged the rest of the way.
“This thing was just unbelievable today,” Rufrano said. “We took this thing out of the graveyard. [Ed Flemke Jr.] is a hell of a fabricator. Brought this thing back to life. We renamed her the terminator. This is the time of year we prepare for. A slick race track, this thing just gets better and better and it showed tonight.”
A lap four wreck collected the cars of Mike Christopher Jr., Todd Owen and RJ Marcotte.
The race restarted with Noah Korner leading Tyler Hines and Kopec in third. On the restart Kopec was able to make the jump from third to the lead. Caution flew once again on lap nine.
On the ensuing restart it was Rufrano moving by Korner for second place Two laps later Rufrano got by Kopec for the lead with DiMatteo going to third behind them. On lap 12 DiMatteo easily got by Kopec to take over second. By lap 25 Rufrano had opened a 1.5 second lead over DiMatteo. That lead was extended to just over three seconds by lap 35.
“I can’t complain,” DiMatteo said. “We struggled a little bit with the balance today, it being so hot, it didn’t agree with what we’re doing. But a good night, missed a couple wrecks there.”
Sorry Marcello, you had a terrific car, but that young kid that won the second big wheel race stole the show! Best post interview ever!
If Owen wins another championship credit a night like that as a primary reason why. The results show he moved up only one spot starting 8th and finishing 9th but it took some really good work by the whole team to accomplish that one spot. Getting bounced around early, pitting, crew working on the toe he has to come from the rear. Gets past Blewett, the guy who is second to him in the points who got bounced to the rear as well and proceeds to turn in an unspectacular but points lead maintaining finish beating his main threat for the points lead.
Maybe the 81 team is just playing on a higher tactical level when it come to SK points racing. This year underwhelming in top finishes they just always finish races and end up where they need to be to stay in the hunt.
Not sure I’d call it an old-school whooping when the top 3 cars had trouble during the race, but okay.
What happened to Rocco and Kopcik?
Slotcar,
Rocco had a mechanical issue. Kopcik was not there.