STAFFORD SPRINGS, Conn. – Michael Christopher Jr. took home top honors during the TickMike.com SK Modified All-Star Shoot Out Saturday evening at Stafford Motor Speedway.
The race was broken into three segments, with two 20-lap segments followed by a 10-lap final stage. Andrew Molleur won the first stage, but Christopher was the big winner of the night by winning the second stage and then winning the final 10-lap stage to take home a total of $5,000.
The 50-lap TickMike.com SK Modified All Star Shoot Out took the green flag with Todd Owen and Teddy Hodgdon bringing the field to green. Owen took the lead at the green flag with Marcello Rufrano going around Hodgdon for second on lap two. Molleur was on the move from his fifth starting position and he took the lead from Owen on lap four. Owen slotted into second with Hodgdon third, Michael Gervais Jr. fourth and Rufrano in fifth. This top-five ran unchanged to the end of the first stage of 20 laps with Molleur taking the win and the $1,000 bonus that went with winning the first stage.Â
The top-10 cars were inverted after the first stage, which put Mike Christopher and Tyler Hines on the front row for the beginning of the second stage of 20 laps. Â Molleur decided to restart the second stage in 15th place to set himself up for a potential $1,500 bonus if he won the final 10-lap stage.
Stage two began with Mike Christopher leading Tyler Hines, Michael Christopher Jr., and the side by side duo of Marcello Rufrano and Gervais.  Michael Christopher Jr. took the lead from his father on lap 26 and Rufrano followed him by to take second and drop Mike Christopher back to third. Gervais was fourth with Owen up to fifth. The caution flew with 28 laps complete for a spin on the backstretch by Bo Gunning.
Michael Christopher Jr. took the lead on the restart with Rufrano slotting into second. Gervais was third followed by Mike Christopher and Owen. Mikey Flynn was side by side with Hines for sixth with Flynn taking the spot. Rufrano took the lead from Michael Christopher Jr. on lap 34 with a pass in turn four. The top-three of Rufrano, Michael Christopher Jr., and Gervais were now locked in a three-car train fighting for the lead.Â
Michael Christopher Jr. went back to the lead on lap 37 while Rufrano was able to stay in front of Gervais and maintain second place.  Mike Christopher was still fourth with Owen behind him in fifth. Michael Christopher Jr. took the checkered flag to win stage two with Rufrano, Gervais, Mike Christopher, and Owen rounding out the top-5. The top-5 cars inverted for the final 10 lap stage, putting Owen and Christopher on the front row.  Michael Christopher Jr. elected to start the final stage in fifth rather than restart 10th and go for the $2,500 bonus if he could win the final stage.
The final stage kicked off with Owen and Christopher touching wheels going into turn one, which allowed Michael Christopher Jr. to take the lead. Owen slid back to fourth while Mike Christopher was fifth. Hinews was up to second with Teddy Hodgdon in third.
Owen got around Hodgdon to move back up to third on lap 43 while Hines was looking for a way to get by Michael Christopher Jr. for the race lead. Hodgdon came back on Owen and retook third place on lap-48 while Hines was still giving chase to Michael Christopher Jr. for the lead.  Michael Christopher Jr. led Hines to the checkered flag to win the TickMike.com SK Modified All-Star Shoot Out and the $4,000 prize. Hines finished second with Hodgdon, Owen, and Mike Christopher rounding out the top-five.