Reigning Again: Chris Matthews Tops SK Light Modifieds At Stafford

STAFFORD – Last year at Stafford Speedway Tyler Chapman rolled to a dominant championship run in the SK Light Modified division. 

Chapman recorded 10 victories on the way to that title. And Chapman’s last victory of the season on Sept. 28, 2024 tied him with Chris Matthews at the top of the division’s all-time win list with 22 wins. 

Friday at Stafford the 46-year Matthews grabbed back sole possession of the top of that all-time win list. 

Matthews, of Stafford, held off Robert Bloxsom III on the final lap to win the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature Friday at Stafford. 

“It took a couple laps for it to get going … and then it just started turning better and better as went on,” Matthews said. “Real happy with this Chassis Pro car. The thing has been really good to us. Super fast. Couldn’t ask for a better way to show it.” 

Matthews now has 23 career SK Light Modified victories. 

“It’s pretty awesome,” Matthews said of being back on top of the list alone. “It’s just cool to be doing it.” 

Bloxsom, of Milford, was second and Casey Vogt of Windsor Locks third. Vogt was disqulaified from the third place after failing to make ride height following the event, moving Anglace, of Seymour, to third.

Bloxsom looked ready to challenge Anglace for the lead on lap six before caution flew caution flew for a multi-car wreck in turn one set off by Zach Aszklar. 

On the lap six restart Anglace was working to defend attacks from Bloxsom and Matthews, but behind them contact from Paul Arcari in turn three sent Meghan Fuller spinning out of fourth place. 

The incident collected three more cars in the turn three wall. Nickolas Hovey, the winner of the most recent SK Light Modified event on May 16, also made contact with another car and the wall during the incident but was able to drive away. 

On the lap six restart Anglace was able to get away at the front initially, but Matthews found the low lane under him off of turn four. On lap seven Matthew was able to grab the lead away from Anglace off of turn four. 

With Matthews creeping away from the field out front, Anglace and Bloxsom were embroiled in a side-by-side battle for second place on laps nine, 10, 11 and 12. On lap 12 Bloxsom cleared Anglace for second off of turn four. By then Matthews had opened a one second lead out front. 

Caution flew once again on lap 14 for a five car pileup in turn one that included Aszklar, Cassandra Cole, Sophya Papp, Aiden D’Agata and Norm Sears. 

On the ensuing restart, Matthews controlled at the front with Bloxsom challenging in second and Casy Vogt moving to third. 

On the final lap Bloxsom was able to get a run into turn three and give Matthews a tap through the corner. Matthews fended off the challenge on the way to the checkered flag.