Checking Out: Austin Goff Runs Away With First Career SK Light Mod Win At Thompson 

THOMPSON – Austin Goff was pulling off the track at Thompson Speedway following the SK Light Modified feature Wednesday and the reality of the moment he was living still hadn’t sunk in. 

That reality was, the 16-year old from Stafford was pulling off the track and heading to the pits for the first time as an SK Light Modified feature winner. 

“I was going off the track and I really still couldn’t believe I won,” Goff said. 

Goff, a third generation driver from Stafford, went to the lead at the start and checked out from the field on the way to victory in the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature Wednesday at Thompson. 

Goff was making his fourth career start at the historic .625-mile oval. 

“I can’t wait to get back to school and tell everybody I got the win,” Goff said. 

Nickolas Hovey of Chaplin was second and Meghan Fuller of Auburn, Mass. third. 

Hovey, who also races regularly against Goff at Stafford Speedway, was congratulatory to the first-time winner. 

“It’s pretty cool,” Hovey said. “Obviously we’ve all been there. As much as I’d like to win, at least it’s somebody who hasn’t won yet and they get to experience that feeling for the first time.” 

Goff made his SK Light Modified debut at Stafford Speedway on his 15th birthday on Sept. 8, 2023. He raced full-time in the SK Light Modified division at Stafford last year. He made his first start at Thompson Speedway on his 16th birthday on Sept. 8, 2024. 

“The first time I went to Thompson we already had race pace,” Goff said. “We liked it a lot and decided to come back. The second time here I got up to sixth and I was just so confident. I think I just like it better than Stafford.” 

Wedndesday Goff went to the lead on the opening lap and went unchallenged the rest of the way.

Over the first five laps Hovey and Fuller battled hard for second place, allowing Goff to open up his advantage out front. 

By the time Hovey cleared Fuller for second, Goff had opened a 1.5 second lead. Hovey could only close that lead about halfway over the final 11 laps. 

“I looked back and he was in front of [Fuller] and I was still pretty far in front,” Goff said. “I was just praying he wouldn’t catch me and he didn’t. 

“There was a point it seemed like he just stopped catching me. I kept looking back every lap to see if he was getting closer and he just kind of stayed where he was. I was pretty happy about that.” 

Said Hovey: “I think we were closing, just not enough. I think I took too long to get by [Fuller]. That’s something I need to work on.”