Shining Gem: Alexander Pearl Gets First SK Modified Victory At Stafford 

STAFFORD – It’s fair to say Alexander Pearl had some tempered expectations coming into the 2025 season at Stafford Speedway. 

After seven full-time seasons in the SK Light Modified division at Stafford, Pearl made the jump to the premier SK Modified division full-time for 2025. 

For Pearl, finding his way into the top-10 and simply learning were where the expectations list went. 

Friday Pearl proved he set the bar far too low for himself. 

Pearl used a late pass of Steven Chapman and held on through a late restart to win the 40-lap SK Modified feature Friday at Stafford Speedway. 

It was the first career SK Modified victory Pearl, of Salem, who was making his 10th career start in the division Friday. 

“The expectations going into the year weren’t as high as what they are now,” Pearl said. “I thought we really over exceeded our expectations. I thought we’d be contending for 10th to 15th, just trying to learn. This was about our 10th race. I haven’t run many races with this car. We don’t run the same car as we did with the [SK Light]. So we’re learning as we go. To have speed right off the bat … the last couple weeks we showed speed but things happened and we didn’t get the finish. It just gave me more confidence, more pressure. I’m so glad to get a win in my rookie season, join the SK [Modified] win list. My dad (Jeff Pearl) has won at Waterford, my grandfather (Jerry Pearl) has won everywhere. So it’s just really cool to carry on the family tradition and I’m really going to celebrate this one.” 

Chapman, of Ellington, was second. 

“It was a great race,” Chapman said. “I guess I’m happy but I’m disappointed. We’ve had a horrible year this year. Up and downs. I think more downs than up. This is definitely a confidence booster for us and the whole team. That car was the best it’s been all year, but it sucks that we didn’t come across the start/finish line first.”

Wesley Prucker of Stafford finished third on the track but was disqualified in post race tech for having too much left side weight. It moved Tyler Chapman of Ellington to a third place finish. 

Pearl became was the first SK Modified driver in 2025 to score a first-time win at Stafford and he became the 99th winner overall in the division since its inception.

Prucker controlled from the pole on the opening laps. With Prucker leading, Cory DiMatteo in second and Todd Owen in third, caution flew on lap three for the stopped car of David Flammia Jr. 

On the restart Prucker held at the front with Owen getting by DiMatteo for second and Steven Chapman following to third. A lap later Steven Chapman got by Owen for second.

On lap eight Steven Chapman got a run under Prucker into turn three, but Prucker defended the top spot. Steven Chapman continued to pester Prucker on lap nine, with Prucker defending the lead once again. The pair came side-by-side to the start finish line to complete lap 10, with Prucker ahead by a bumper. On lap 11 Steven Chapman finally found the way to grab the lead from Prucker. 

With Steven Chapman leading, Prucker in second and DiMatteo in third, caution flew on lap 15 for a turn three wreck involving Dylan Izzo and David Arute.

Steven Chapman had no challengers at the front on the restart. 

On lap 23 Keith Rocco went to the low lane into turn one looking to get under third place DiMatteo. Into the corner Rocco locked up the brakes, going up the corner into DiMatteo, sending both cars spinning. 

Steven Chapman once again was able to control the pace at the front on the ensuing restart. 

On lap 27 Pearl found the lane under Prucker into turn three to move into second. Jon Puleo used a turn three run to overtake Prucker for third on lap 32. 

By lap 34 Pearl was stalking all over the bumper of Steven Chapman at the front. 

On lap 35 Pearl made a move to get under Steven Chapman into turn three, but Steven Chapman fended off the challenge. On lap 37 Izzo spun in turn three to bring the caution back out. 

On the lap 37 restart Steven Chapman controlled at the front, but the action was short-lived with thanks to the car of Art Caruso backed into the turn three wall. 

A second attempt at a lap 37 restart Steven Chapman and Pearl went side-by-side until Chapman cleared Pearl for the lead. The caution was right back out on lap 38 for a frontstretch crash for Caruso. 

On the lap 38 restart Pearl powered from the high lane off of turn two to go by Steven Chapman for the lead. Behind the leaders Prucker got by Puleo for third. 

Caution returned on lap 39 for a multi-car wreck sparked by Dylan Kopick that collected Izzo, DiMatteo, Todd Owen and Wade Gagner. 

On the restart Pearl controlled off of turn two, with Prucker getting under Steven Chapman. With Chapman and Prucker battling for second, Pearl cruised to the checkered on the final lap.