STAFFORD SPRINGS, Conn. – Stafford Speedway returned to Friday night racing action with a Stafford Weekly Series program, headlined by Stephen Kopcik winning the SK Modified feature.
In the 40-lap SK Modified feature event, Marcello Rufrano took the the lead from polesitter Matt Vassar on the first lap and began to set the early pace. Teddy Hodgdon quickly moved into third with Tyler Hines taking fourth and Bryan Narducci taking fifth on lap five to drop David Arute back to sixth, just in front of Stephen Kopcik. Hines went around Hodgdon to take third place on lap six and Kopcik went around Narducci to move into fifth place on lap eight.Â
Hines took second from Vassar on lap nine while Kopcik was looking for a way around Hodgdon to move into fourth. Rufrano was still in the lead with Hines in second. Kopcik was able to make a pass for fourth place on lap-13 and his move opened the door for Narducci to take fifth and kick Hodgdon back to sixth place. The caution waved with 13 laps complete for a spin coming out of turn four by Chris Viens.Â
Rufrano took the lead on the restart with Hines right behind him in second and Kopcik in third. Vassar was fourth with Narducci holding off the side by side duo of Hodgdon and Michael Christopher Jr. for fifth. Hodgdon won the battle with Christopher to take sixth as Rufrano led Kopcik, Hines, Vassar, and Narducci to the halfway point of the race.
Kopcik got around Hines to move into second and he was applying heavy pressure to Rufrano for the lead on lap 25. The top-three cars had slightly pulled away from Vassar, Hodgdon, and Narducci and on lap 27 Kopcik went to the front of the field. Debris in turn 1 brought the caution back out with 28 laps complete.
Kopcik again took the lead on the restart with Rufrano and Hines right behind him. Hodgdon and Vassar were side by side for fourth place with Arute in sixth. Arute took fifth from Vassar on lap 32 while Hines, Hodgdon, and Rufrano briefly went three-wide on lap 33 in the fight for second. Hines emerged in second with Hodgdon and Rufrano still fighting side by side for third. Todd Owen was on a late race charge as he moved into fifth and dropped Arute back to sixth with Narducci in seventh place. Owen continued his march to the front by taking third from Hodgdon on lap 37 just before the caution came out for spins in turn three by Noah Korner and Mark Alkas.
Kopcik resumed his place out front back under green while Hodgdon charged up to second. Owen took third from Hines as the field took the white flag with Arute in fifth. Kopcik led the field to the checkered flag to pick up his third win of the 2021 season. Hodgdon finished second with Owen, Hines, and Arute rounding out the top-five.
Also scoring feature wins Friday were Michael Bennett in the Late Model feature, Anthony Bello in the SK Light feature, Gary Patnode in the Limited Late Model feature and Chris Meyer in the Street Stock feature.Â