STAFFORD SPRINGS, Conn. – Stephen Kopcik made a last lap, last corner pass on Todd Owen and Keith Rocco to steal his fourth-straight SK Modified victory at Stafford Motor Speedway Friday night.
Noah Korner took the lead at the start of the SK Modified feature with Jon Puleo right behind him in second. Marcello Rufrano was third in line followed by Keith Rocco and a side by side duel between David Arute and Matt Vassar for fifth. Puleo powered his way by Korner on lap seven to move into the lead with Rocco getting around Rufrano for third. Arute took fifth from Vassar, but Todd Owen was now in fifth with Arute in sixth as the field completed lap nine.
Rocco took second from Korner on lap 10 and he went by Puleo on lap 11 to take over the lead. Behind Rocco, Puleo, and Korner, Owen took fourth from Rufrano on lap 12. Lap 16 saw Owen take third from Korner while Arute took fifth from Rufrano. At the halfway point of the race, Rocco held the lead with Puleo, Owen, Korner, and Arute making up the top-five. Sixth through tenth was Michael Christopher Jr., Stephen Kopcik, Cory DiMatteo, Rufrano, and Dan Wesson. Kopick made a move to get by Christopher on lap 23 to move into sixth while Arute nearly took fourth from Korner on lap 24 but Korner was able to fend off the challenge.
Arute came back and was able to make the pass on Korner on lap 27 to move into fourth and Kopcik followed him by to take fifth and drop Korner back to sixth as Rocco continued to lead Puleo and Owen at the front. Anthony Flannery brought the caution out with 37 laps complete with a spin on the backstretch to set up a three lap sprint to the finish.
Rocco took the lead back under green with Owen moving into second and Kopcik third. Owen charged his way into the lead on lap 38 and Kopcik nearly took second, but the caution flew with 39 laps complete for a spin in turn one by Vassar to set up a green white checkered finish.
A multi-car incident at the rear of the field brought the caution right back out on the restart. On the next restart, Owen and Rocco went wheel to wheel for the lead. They took the white flag still side by side but Owen got clear in turns one and two. Going into turn three, Rocco made a move to the inside of Owen and briefly took the lead but he drifted up the track, allowing Kopcik enough room to pass both Owen and Rocco in the final corner and take down his fourth consecutive victory in thrilling fashion. Owen finished second with Puleo, Rocco, and Arute rounding out the top-five.
Al Saunders was a first time 2021 winner in the Late Model feature, Brian Sullivan took down his fourth win of 2021 in the SK Light feature, Alexandra Fearn came home a winner for the seventh time in the Limited Late Model feature, and Bert Ouellette was a career first time winner in the Street Stock feature.Â