One of the hottest drivers in the SK Modified division at Stafford Speedway for the first half of the 2022 season was David Arute.
Before the calendar turned to August in 2022 Arute had three SK Modified division wins.
And then the trips to victory lane stopped for the driver from Stafford.
Friday Arute got started back visiting victory lane again.
Arute drove away over the closing laps to win the 40-lap SK Modified feature Friday at Stafford.
It was Arute’s sixth career SK Modified division at the track and first since July 15, 2022. It was Arute’s 19th victory overall at the track. He also has two SK Light Modified wins and 11 Limited Late Model victories.
“What a year we’ve had,” Arute said. “Struggles at the beginning of the year, engine problems, solving those, figuring out the new car and now we’re here in victory lane. I can’t thank my crew guys enough. They put in the hours and the work for this car. … What a long year we’ve had. To get a win is just something else.”
Kopec, of Meriden, had a career best second place finish and Anthony Flannery of East Hampton had a career best third place run.
“This is like a win for me,” Flannery said. “… All the guys that help me back at the trailer gave me the opportunity tonight. … I just had an awesome car tonight.”
Arute was out front with Kopec in second when the first caution flew on lap 15 for the stopped car of Wesley Prucker.
Kopec was able to get past Arute for the lead on the ensuring restart, but Arute battled back and regained the top spot for good on lap 17.
“It was fun racing with [Kopec],” Arute said. “We were crossing up each other up. It was like old Go-Kart days.”
Two-time defending SK Modified division champion Todd Owen finished fourth to extend his lead at the top of the standings to 16 points over Jimmy Blewett, who was sixth on Friday.
I’d bet anything Blewett is frustrated he can’t keep Owen behind him.
Another one team I always root for, congrats on your win! He and his brother earned a ton of respect in my mind when they were helping to repair the guardrail one night after a bad wreck in turn 2.