Acing The Test: Marcello Rufrano Tops Dazzling SK Modified Feature At Stafford

STAFFORD – After weeks of frustrations, Marcello Rufrano and his team spent much of the day Friday at Stafford Speedway testing. 

The effort, according to Rufrano, proved fruitless. 

“We came here today and we tested and we wanted to learn something and frankly we didn’t learn shit,” Rufrano said. 

But the final test of the day for Rufrano was one the North Haven driver passed with flying colors. 

Rufrano came out on top of a heated three-way battle for the lead over the final half of the race and won the 40-lap SK Modified feature Friday at Stafford. 

“When I get behind the wheel with something like that and I’m competing and I know I’ve got something I can do something with, I just kind of smell blood and my eyes kind of go behind my head and I just kind of get into my zone and do what I’ve got to do to win,” Rufrano said of the tight battle between himself, Keith Rocco and Steven Chapman over the final 20 laps.  “I make moves without me thinking and that’s kind of the difference between winning and losing. You just kind of have to go off the seat of your pants. The more calculated you are it kind of hurts you. At the end of the day it’s fun racing with these guys.” 

It was the first sixth career SK Modified win at Stafford for Rufrano and his first since May 31, 2024. 

“It’s just been an up and down year for us,” Rufrano said. “We’ve been on the highs of highs and the lows of lows. It’s a lot of hard work and dedication with this team. I’m just glad I’ve got a team like this that can really stick behind me.” 

Rocco, of Wallingford, was second. 

“I think we were actually probably a little bit better than [Rufrano] on roll speed through the middle [of the corners],” Rocco said. “The lapped cars at the end really busted my run down the back straightaway. What are you going to do? That’s racing. … We’re back stringing some good finishes together and knocking on the winner’s circle again.” 

Chapman, of Ellington, was third. 

“It was definitely a step in the right direction,” Chapman said. “We’ve been struggling for a couple weeks. Nothing’s cooler than up front racing with these guys.” 

The opening laps saw Tyler Chapman, starting first and Steven Chapman, starting second, putting on a show at the front. 

On lap nine Steven Chapman found the lane under Tyler Chapman in turns three and four. The pair went side-by-side for lap 10 with Steven Chapman edging Tyler Chapman at the line for the lead. Steven Chapman was able to clear his younger brother for the lead off of turn four on lap 11. 

Caution flew for a multi-car wreck in turn four on lap 15. Steven Chapman controlled at the front on the ensuing restart. On lap 16 Andrew Molleur got by Tyler Chapman for second place. 

Caution flew again on lap 16 for a hard wreck for Mike Christopher Jr. in turn three. 

On the lap 16 restart Steven Chapman and Molleur went side-by-side for the lap with Steven Chapman leading at the line. The side-by-side action continued on lap 17 with Molleur leading at the line to complete the lap. Steven Chapman was able to clear Molleur off of turn four on lap 18. Molleur got hung out on the outside allowing Rufrano to move to second on lap 19 and Rocco to go to third by Molleur on lap 20. 

On lap 22 Rufrano got under Steven Chapman through turns three and four and completed the pass for the lead into turn one on lap 23. 

Steven Chapman fought back on lap 26, getting under Rufrano off of turn four, but Rufrano defended the top spot at the line. Chapman was able to get past Rufrano for the lead on lap 27 with Rocco following into second. Rocco got into a side-by-side battle with Steven Chapman on lap 33. Chapman surrendered the lead to Rocco on lap 34 with Rufrano following into second place. 

Rufrano made a huge diving move under Rocco into turn three on lap 35 and came off of turn four with the lead. 

Rocco stayed with Rufrano over the closing laps. On the final circuit the lapped car of Wade Gagner set a timely pick for Rufrano on Rocco going through turns one and two, thwarting Rocco’s drive for the lead on the final half lap.