Variety Pack: Jon Puleo Tops SK Modified Feature At Stafford

STAFFORD – When it comes to the SK Modified division at Stafford Speedway, what most often gets praised for making the division so successful is the depth of talent weekly on display. 

In 2024 that depth and parity has been on display in a big way. 

Parity has been the them and that continued on Friday. 

Jon Puleo of Branford scored his first win of the season in the 40-lap SK Modified feature. 

Puleo became the 10th different winner in the last 10 SK Modified events at Stafford and the 13th different winner overall in the division in 2024. 

“Best car I’ve ever had in my life,” Puleo said. “I don’t know if we’re going to make it tomorrow. We’ve got some ice cold beer waiting for us. Man this feels great.” 

It was the second career win in the division for Puleo. He got his first win on Sept. 9, 2022. 

Troy Talman of Oxford, Mass. was second and Marcello Rufrano of North Haven third. 

With Anthony Flannery leading, the first caution flew on lap two for the stopped car of Ethan Durocher. 

On the restart Puleo got by Flannery on the outside for the lead with Keith Rocco following to second. Two laps later Rocco moved by Puleo for the lead. A lap later Rufrano went to second with Cory DiMatteo following to third. 

On lap 8 Rufrano went by Rocco to move to the front. Rocco kept pursuing and on lap 11 Rocco made a diving move into turn three to overtake Rufrano at the front. 

On lap 17 Rufrano fought back and found the lane under Rocco into turn three to retake the lead. 

Caution flew on lap 18 with Rufrano leading, Rocco second, Puleo third and DiMatteo fourth. 

Rufrano held the top spot on the restart, but the action was short lived with caution back out on lap 19 for the stopped car of Wesley Prucker. 

Rufrano and Rocco went side-by-side for the lap 19 restart with Rufrano leading the start/finish line. Rufrano was able to clear Rocco off of turn two on lap 20. On lap 22 Puleo got under Rocco for second with Talman following to third. 

On lap 29 Puleo found a lane under Rufrano through turns three and four and moved to the lead coming to the frontstretch. On lap 38 Talman found the way under Rufrano to take over second. 

On the final lap George Bessette spun in a battle for third with Rufrano. After the race Bessette slammed Rufrano on the cool down lap.