Rufrano's final move gives him win No. 2

Sep. 24—STAFFORD — It was a last lap that Marcello Rufrano will remember for a long time.

He was trailing Troy Talman heading into the final lap of the 40-lap SK Modified feature at Stafford Motor Speedway here Friday when he decided to go for broke.

By the time the two reached turn 1, Rufrano flung the car underneath Talman and was even. Rufrano didn't back down and was able to blur his way past Talman for his second win of the year. The torpedo move Rufrano made on lap 40 paid off.

"This is absolutely amazing," Rufrano said in victory lane. "Getting through traffic was a pain tonight, and I didn't think I had enough left to catch Troy. But I just wanted it more."

"I thought I had that one," Talman said. "But on the last lap, he was there."

The race was bogged down by several cautions, but Rufrano was fast when he needed to be.

"Two wins this season," Rufrano said. "It's unbelievable."

Brother battle

This restart could have taken place in the Chapman family drive-way — Tyler Chapman on the front row against his twin brother Jason with 5 laps remaining in the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature.

Tyler was able to get the jump on the outside, and when Tyler Barry swooped into second, Tyler Chapman had plenty of voltage to close out the win.

With one points race remaining, Barry leads Tyler Chapman by 10 points in the race for ther championship.

"The car seemed to be too good to be true," Chapman said. "We made our way through the field in a hurry. We had a great car."

After stampeding into the lead, Tyler and Jason Chapman provided the race with its one-two punch. Barry took advantage of a restart, however, to squeeze into second.

Jason Chapman held on for third.

Fireball Fearn

There was one Late Model race at Stafford Friday, but two winners.

Tom Fearn block-bustered into the lead early in the race and held on for his fifth win of the season.

Adam Gray, meanwhile, finished third and locked up his third Late Model title.

Fearn stayed busy during the race holding off runner-up Wayne Coury].

"It's funny," Fearn said. "I'm part owner of Coury's car, and he said I was stingy by not letting him win. But I had to go for it."

Gray started in the middle of the field, but worked his way up the ladder into third place. Then when Kevin Gambacorta hit the wall midway through the race, Gray was in line for the track title.

"The car was good and luck went our way," Gray said. "I can't complain. I hate to win the title that way, with Kevin getting into trouble. But we'll take it."

After all, track championships are non-returnable.

Hydar makes history

He had his ups and downs during the 2022 Street Stock season, especially in the engine department.

There was no question, however, that Travis Hydar had the most powerful car.

Friday he did what you're supposed to do when you have the dominant car — clinch the championship

Hydar stormed into the lead early and held off Bert Ouellette to grab his fifth win and first Stafford title.

"The car was really good all year," Hydar said. "We've had some down moments during the season, but we were able to get over them. This was the best looking car that I have ever drove."

He needed a good car, because Ouellette was perched on his back bumper throughout most of the race.

"Travis' car and my car were pretty equal," Ouellette said. "So once Travis got in front, he needed to make a mistake to give me a chance. And Travis doesn't make any mistakes. He had a perfect year."

As well as a Street Stock championship trophy to go with it.

Cormier in control

Kevin Cormier's performance in the 20-lap Limited late Model was so dominating, it even surprised him.

"It was amazing," said Cormier, who took the lead on the third lap from Jay Clement and spent the rest of the race expanding his lead. "I never expected to win here tonight. But we got into the lead so fast and we pulled it off somehow."

Cormier said his car was getting looser as the race went on, but Alexandra Fearn could not get close enough to take advantage.

"There was nothing I could do," Fearn said. "We were off tonight."

Jeremy Lavoie of Windsor Locks finished third, increasing his point lead to 16 with one race remaining.

40-lap SK Modified: 1. Marcello Rufrano, North Haven; 2. Troy Talman, Oxford, Mass.; 3. David Arute, Tolland; 4. Bryan Narducci, Colchester; 5. Todd Owen, Somers; 6. Cory DiMatteo, Farmington; 7. Teddy Hodgdon IV, Danbury; 8. Anthony Bello, Newtown; 9. Mikey Flynn, Hampden, Mass.; 10. Ronnie Williams, Ellington.

30-lap Late Models: 1. Tom Fearn, East Longmeadow, Mass.; 2. Wayne Coury Jr., Fairfield; 3. Adam Gray, Belchertown, Mass.; 4. Michael Bennett, Willington; 5. Darrell Keane, Enfield; 6. Andrew Durand, Chicopee, Mass.; 7. Michael Wray, Northford; 8. Andrew Molleur, Shelton; 9. Paul Arute, Tolland; 10. Tom Butler, Stafford.

20-lap SK Lights: 1. Tyler Chapman, Ellington; 2. Tyler Barry, Griswold; 3. Jason Chapman, Ellington; 4. George Bessette Jr., Danbury; 5.Ron Midford, Ellington; 6. Tyler Alka, Berlin; 7. Meghan Fuller, Auburn, Mass.; 8. Alexander Pearl, Salem; 9. Nick Anglace, Ansonia; 10. Derek Debbis, Oakdale.

20-lap Limited Late Models: 1. Kevin Cormier, Agawam, Mass.; 2. Alexandra Fearn, East Longmeadow, Mass.; 3. Jeremy Lavoie, Windsor Locks; 4. Matt Scappini, Litchfield; 5. Rich Hammann, Tolland; 6. Jay Clement, Wethersfield; 7. Matt Clement, Wethersfield; 8. John Orsini, Morris; 9. Dana Wray, Durham; 10. Trinity Provost, Holland, Mass.

20-lap Street Stocks: 1. Travis Hydar, Woodbury; 2. Bert Ouellette, Ellington; 3. Ryan Waterman, Danielson; 4. Tyler Trott, East Hartford; 5. Adrien Paradis III, Plainville; 6. Johnny Walker, Agawam, Mass.; 7. Jason Finkbein, Manchester; 8. Brandon Warren, Chicopee, Mass.; 9. Sam Calvo, Berlin; 10. Marvin Minkler, Stamford.