STAFFORD – The SK Modified division at Stafford kicked off the 2025 season with a wild feature that saw a bushel of leaders and a rash of cautions.
In the end it was the driver who started on the pole, who went backwards at times, but came back to the front when it mattered.
Jon Puleo of Branford held off Mike Flynn on the final lap to win the 40-lap SK Modified feature at the NAPA Spring Sizzler Sunday at Stafford Speedway.
It was the third SK Modified victory at Stafford for Puleo and his eighth victory overall at the historic half-mile.
“I thought we were down and out, next thing you know we were in the lead,” Puleo said. “… It’s not always the best car that wins, it’s just about who has the most grit.”
Flynn, of Hampden, Mass, held on for second and reigning SK Modified division champion Andrew Molleur of Shelton was third.
“It was a hectic race,” Flynn said. “There was about five times I thought we were going to get rained out there. You just have to be on your toes. … Great job by my team.”
Puleo held the top spot at the start, holding off the charges of Mike Christopher Jr.
On lap three Molleur got by Christopher for second.
Caution flew on lap six for a multi-car crash in turn two. On the ensuing restart, Puleo held his spot out front with Christopher moving past Molleur for second and David Arute following to third.
On lap 8 Christopher found the lane through turns three and four to overtake Puleo for the lead.
The second caution flew on lap 10 for a multi-car crash coming off of turn four. Christopher held the point on the lap 10 restart with Puleo challenging hard.
On lap 11 Puleo made a diving move into turn one to take the top spot back from Christopher. Christopher was looking to get back by Puleo on lap 12 before caution flew for a multi-car crash in turn two.
Puleo controlled at the front on the lap 12 restart. Behind him, Teddy Hodgdon moved past Arute for third.
Caution flew on lap 13 for the stopped car of Wesley Prucker in turn two.
Puleo continued to control in the lead on the lap 13 restart with Hodgdon challenging Christopher for second place.
On lap 15 Christopher and Puleo made contact in turn three with Puleo spinning and other cars behind them also collecting. Puleo was kept at the front of the field for the restart.
On the lap 15 restart Hodgdon got by Christopher for second place.
On lap 18 Hodgdon went by Puleo for the lead, taking Todd Owen to second with him. On lap 19 Owen got by Hodgon for the lead coming off of turn four.
With Owen leading, Hodgdon in second and Flynn in third, caution was back on lap 20 for the slowed car of Prucker. Owen got away out front on the lap 20 restart. Behind him Flynn moved past Hodgdon for second with Christopher following to third.
On lap 21 Christopher got by Flynn in turn three to take over second. Caution flew on lap 22 for the stopped car of Paul Kusheba in turn three.
On the lap 22 restart Flynn got by Owen for the lead with Puleo moving to second and Hodgon to third. On lap 23 Owen got by Hodgdon for third place.
Puleo got under Flynn for the lead out of turn two on lap 25 with Owen following to second.
On lap 27 Owen found the low lane under Puleo to take over the lead into turn one. On lap 28 Dylan Izzo moved past Puloe into second.
With Owen leading, Izzo in second and Hodgdon in third, caution flew on lap 30 for the stopped car of Tyler Hines in the frontstretch grass.
Owen held the lead on the lap 30 restart, leaving Izzo and Hodgdon to battle for second.
A five-car pileup on the frontstretch brought the caution back out on lap 33 with Owen leading, Izzo in second and Hodgon in third.
On the lap 33 restart Hodgdon got ahead of Owen for the lead with Puleo following to second. On lap 35 Puleo used the low lane to get under Hodgdon for the lead. In a wild battle in the top five Flynn jumped to second and Molleur to third.
On the last lap Flynn couldn’t find a way to Puleo’s bumper.
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