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Puleo, Varricchio, Fuller, Hydar, & Downey Clinch Track Titles
(Stafford Springs, CT)—Stafford Speedway hosted its final Friday night race program of the 2025 season with NAPA Auto Parts Championship Night on October 3. Feature wins were notched by Michael Christopher, Jr. in the SK Modified® feature, Adam Gray in the Late Model feature, Nickolas Hovey in the SK Light feature, Travis Hydar in the Limited Late Model feature, and Jason Raymond in the Street Stock feature. Track champions for the 2025 season are Jon Puleo in the SK Modified® division, Paul Varricchio, Jr. in the Late Model division, Meghan Fuller in the SK Light division, Travis Hydar in the Limited Late Model division, and Travis Downey in the Street Stock division.
In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature, Tyler Chapman took the lead at the drop of the green flag with Andrew Molleur taking second. Michael Gervais, Jr. took third with David Arute and Jon Puleo side by side for fourth place. Puleo took third on lap-3 but the caution came out with 3 laps complete as Troy Talman and Gervais touched and spun in turn 2.
Tyler Chapman took the lead back under green with Molleur right behind him in second. Puleo was third with Marcello Rufrano fourth and Dylan Izzo fifth. Puleo took third on lap-8 and then second on lap-9 with Rufrano following him through to take third and drop Molleur back to fourth. Rufrano took second place from Puleo on lap-10 while Chapman continued to lead.
With 15 laps complete Chapman was still leading Rufrano, Puleo, Molleur, and Cory DiMatteo. Rufrano took the lead on lap-16 from Chapman while lap-19 saw championship leader Mikey Flynn drop off the pace with smoke pouring from his car and he slowly drove back to pit road where his race looked to be over, ending his championship hopes.
At the halfway point of the race Rufrano was leading Chapman, Puleo, DiMatteo, and Molleur. Michael Christopher, Jr. was sixth followed by Izzo, Dylan Kopec, Keith Rocco, and Alexander Pearl. Peter Portante came to a stop on the backstretch access road to bring the caution flag out with 27 laps complete.
Rufrano took the lead back under green with DiMatteo holding off Chapman for second. Christopher was fourth in the order with Puleo holding fifth place. With 10 laps to go Rufrano was leading DiMatteo with Christopher and Chapman wheel to wheel for third with Puleo in fifth. The caution flew with 31 laps complete for Alexander Pearl, who spun at the exit of turn 2.
Rufrano took the lead on the restart but he would come to a stop in turn 1 one lap after the restart as there was contact between himself and DiMatteo that shot Rufrano into the frontstretch wall to bring the caution flag back out. DiMatteo was sent to the rear of the field for making contact with Rufrano.
Christopher took the lead on the restart with Chapman in second. Molleur took second from Chapman on lap-35 with Keith Rocco up to fourth and Kopec was fifth with Puleo right behind him in sixth place. with 2 laps to go, Christopher, Molleur, and Rocco were nose to tail in a three-car train for the lead. Rocco took second on lap-39 and he set his sigths on Christopher on the final lap. Rocco went to the outside of Christopher but it wasn’t enough as Christopher took the checkered flag to pick up his fifth win of the 2025 season. Rocco finished second with Molleur, Kopec, and Puleo rounding out the top-5. Puleo’s fifth place finish was good enough to make him the 2025 Stafford SK Modified® track champion.
In the 30-lap Late Model feature, Adam Gray took the lead at the drop of the green flag with Tom Fearn, Kevin Gambacorta, Darrell Keane, and Wayne Coury, Jr. behind him. The caution came out with 2 laps complete as Bryan Narducci and Chris Meyer made contact with Meyer going around in turn 1 and Narducci developing a flat tire from the contact.
Gray took the lead back under green with Gambacorta taking second. Coury took third with Fearn falling back to fourth. Paul Varricchio, Jr. was fifth in the running order followed by Keane, Chris Buffone, Tom Butler, Bobby Stirk, III, and Andrew Durand. With 10 laps complete Gray was still in command with Gambacorta, Coury, Fearn, and Varricchio making up the top-5.
Stirk pulled off the track on lap-17 and was done for the evening while Gray was still leading Gambacorta, Coury, Varricchio, and Fearn. Gambacorta was applying heavy pressure to Gray but couldn’t put a pass together. Gambacorta looked to have a run on lap-21 but Gray threw a block and maintained the lead.
Gambacorta was still applying heavy pressure to Gray but their fight for the lead allowed Coury and Varricchio to close in on the lead duo to make a 4-way fight for the lead. Gray held Gambacorta off with a masterclass in defensive driving to pick up his second win of the 2025 season. Gambacorta finished second with Coury, Varricchio, and Tom Fearn rounding out the top-5. Varricchio’s fourth place finish was good enough to make him the 2025 Stafford Late Model track champion.
In the 20-lap SK Light feature, Ben Morrison took the early lead with Matt Brewer right behind him in second. Casey Vogt was third with Peter Bennett fourth and Josh Morrision fifth. Meghan Fuller and Nickolas Hovey, the two leading SK Light championship contenders, were both on the move early on with Fuller coming up to sixth and Hovey ninth before the caution flew with 4 laps complete for Aiden D’Agata, who spun in the middle of turns 1+2.
Brewer took the lead back under green with Bennett taking second. Coming out of turn 4, Ben Morrison got loose and went around to bring the caution flag out with 7 laps complete.
Brewer took the lead on the restart but just as the field was coming around to complete lap 8, Nick Anglace took a hard hit into the turn 4 wall after Vogt got sideways and collected his car with several others piling in after the fact to bring the red and yellow flags out with 7 laps complete.
Brewer and Bennett went wheel to wheel on the restart with Josh Morrision and Bloxsom wheel to wheel behind them for third with Fuller in fifth. Hovey went around Fuller to take fifth place on lap-10 while up front, after three laps of side by side racing Bennett got clear into the lead with Brewer now side by side with Morrison for second with Bloxsom and Hovey side by side for fourth with Fuller right behind them in sixth.
Hovey went 3-wide with Brewer and Josh Morrison to move into second on lap-14. Hovey cleared Bennett as the field took the white flag for the lead. Hovey led the field to the checkered flag to pick up his sixth win of the season. Bloxsom finished second with Bennett, Brewer, and Eddie Gomarlo rounding out the top-5. Unfortunately for Hovey, his sixth victory of the season saw him come up just short in the race for the championship as Fuller’s sixth place finish made her the 2025 SK Light champion by 4 points.
In the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature, Connor Jencik took the early lead and was immediately stretching out his lead over Norm Root, III and Devon Jencik when the caution flew with 2 laps complete for a spin in turn 1 by Scott Clement and a spin in turn 3 by RJ Surdell.
Devon Jencik took the lead from Connor on the restart with Travis Hydar taking second. Connor Jencik settled into third with Root fourth and Patnode fifth. The caution came right back out with 3 laps complete for a spin by Dave Secore. Jason Lafayette was sent to the rear of the field for making contact with Secore.
Contact mid-pack on the restart saw Connor Jencik and Matt Clement both spin in turn 3 to bring the caution back out before a lap could be completed.
Devon Jencik took the lead back under green with Hydar glued to his back bumper in second. Root was third in line with Rich Hammann fourth and Jeremy Lavoie fifth. Hydar made a move to the inside of Devon Jencik on lap-7 and he was able to complete the pass on lap-8 to take over the race lead. Root was still third with Hammann, Lavoie and Mike Hopkins lined up behind him.
Root was starting to apply heavy pressure to Devon Jencik for second place when the caution came back out with 12 laps complete for a spin by Connor Jencik coming out of turn 2.
Hydar took the lead back under green with Devon Jencik, Root, Hammann, and Lavoie lined up behind him. Hopkins was sixth with Daryl Vertefeuille, RJ Surdell, Kyle Theriault, and Secore rounding out the top-5. Hammann took third place from Root on lap-17 while behind them Surdell went by Vertefeuille to take seventh place. Lavoie took fourth place from Root on lap-19 but it was all Hydar at the front as he took the checkered flag to pick up his fourth win of the season and clinch the 2025 Limited Late Model championship in grand style. Devon Jencik finished second with Hammann, Lavoie, and Root rounding out the top-5.
In the 20-lap Street Stock feature, Sean Petlock took the early lead with Bill Cote taking second. Andras Bogi spun on the backstretch but kept going to keep the race green. The caution did come out with 2 laps complete as Aaron Plemons and Travis Downey, the two drivers fighting for the 2025 Street Stock championship, made contact which sent Downey spinning just before the entrance to turn 3. Plemons was sent to the rear of the field for making contact with Downey.
The restart saw Tyler Trott back his car into the turn 3 wall to bring the caution flag right back out before a lap could be completed.
Cote got a good run to the outside of Petlock on the restart but the two cars touched in turn 4, which sent Cote around and brought the caution flag immediately back out. Under the caution Petlock pulled his car on to pit road and was finished for the evening.
Brandon Warren took the lead on the next restart with Brent Gleason coming up to second. Jason Raymond was third with Shawn Monahan in fourth and Isabella Minchella fifth. William Bailey spun in turn 4 to bring the caution back out with 4 laps complete.
Warren again took the lead with Raymond pulling alongside Gleason for second. Raymond took second on lap0-6 with Brandon Plemons already back up to third as he went by Gleason. Gleason settled into fourth place with Monahan in fifth and Downey was also back up to sixth after his lap-1 spin. Marvin Minkler spun in turn 1 to bring the caution flag out with 9 laps complete.
Warren now had to contend with Raymond on his outside and they ran door to door for the lead with Raymond clearing Warren after two laps. Warren then dropped off the pace on lap-12 and limped back to pit road. This moved Plemons into second with PJ Evans third, Monahan fourth, and Trott was back up to fifth after his earlier spin. With 4 laps to go it was still Raymond leading Plemons, Evans, Monahan, Trott, Gleason, Cote, Gambacorta, and Downey.
Raymond was starting to stretch out his lead while Evans was applying heavy pressure to Plemons in the fight for second. Raymond led the field to the checkered flag to pick up his second consecutive victory after securing his first career victory a week ago. Plemons finished second with Evans, Monahan, and Trott rounding out the top-5. Downey came home in ninth place, which was good enough to make him the Stafford Street Stock champion for the second consecutive season.
For more information contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at (860) 684-2783, or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.
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SK MODIFIED® (40)
1) Michael Christopher, Jr., Wolcott
2) Keith Rocco, Berlin
3) Andrew Molleur, Shelton
4) Dylan Kopec, East Longmeadow, MA
5) Jon Puleo, Branford
6) Tyler Chapman, Ellington
7) Ethan Durocher, Canterbury
8) Anthony Flannery, East Hampton
9) Cory DiMatteo, Farmington
10) David Arute, Stafford Springs
11) Michael Gervais, Jr., Wolcott
12) Steven Chapman, Ellington
13) Alexander Pearl, Salem
14) Wesley Prucker, Stafford Springs
15) Dan Avery, Somers
16) Curt Brainard, Canton
17) Marcello Rufrano, North Haven
18) Dylan Izzo, Monroe
19) Peter Portante, Plainville
20) Mikey Flynn, Hampden, MA
21) Troy Talman, Oxford, MA
22) Todd Owen, Somers
LATE MODEL (30)
1) Adam Gray, Granby, MA
2) Kevin Gambacorta, Ellington
3) Wayne Coury, Jr., Milford
4) Paul Varricchio, Jr., Berlin
5) Tom Fearn, East Longmeadow, MA
6) Darrell Keane, Enfield
7) Chris Buffone, Belchertown, MA
8) Adon Burrell, Barkhamsted
9) Andrew Durand, Chicopee, MA
10) Tom Butler, Stafford Springs
11) Bryan Narducci, Colchester
12) Wayne Coury, Sr., Milford
13) Rob Taylor, Jr., Warren
14) Bobby Stirk, III, Naugatuck
15) Chris Meyer, Franklin
SK LIGHT (20)
1) Nickolas Hovey, Chaplin
2) Robert Bloxsom, III, Milford
3) Peter Bennett, Windsor
4) Matt Brewer, Norwich
5) Eddie Gomarlo, Swanzey, NH
6) Meghan Fuller, Auburn, MA
7) Josh Morrison, Ashford
8) Chris Matthews, Stafford
9) Daltin McCarthy, Oxford, MA
10) Norm Sears, Coventry
11) Stephen Kalogiannis, New Hartford
12) Ben Morrison, Ashford
13) Amanda West, Colchester
14) Paul Arcari, Somers
15) Aiden D’Agata, Willington
16) Dylan Houghton, Springfield, MA
17) Frank L’Etoile, Jr., Wethersfield
18) Rob Pederson, Stafford Springs
19) Casey Vogt, Windsor Locks
20) Nick Anglace, Seymour
21) Austin Goff, Stafford Springs
22) Bob Charland, Stafford Springs
23) Chad Jones, Perkasie, PA
24) Joey Ferrigno, East Hartford
25) Tyler Barry, Griswold
26) Anthony Forino, Waterbury
LIMITED LATE MODEL (20)
1) Travis Hydar, Woodbury
2) Devon Jencik, Canton
3) Rich Hammann, Tolland
4) Jeremy Lavoie, Windsor Locks
5) Norman Root, III, Old Saybrook
6) Mike Hopkins, Stafford Springs
7) RJ Surdell, Willington
8) Darryl Vertefeuille, Willington
9) Kyle Theriault, Three Rivers, MA
10) Dave Secore, Union
11) Ari Jencik, Canton
12) Samantha Dell, Pascoag, RI
13) Scott Clement, Wethersfield
14) Shelby Swan, Durham
15) Connor Jencik, Canton
16) Jason Lafayette, Somers
17) Gary Patnode, Barkhamsted
18) Matt Clement, Wethersfield
STREET STOCK (20)
1) Jason Raymond, Somers
2) Aaron Plemons, Uncasville
3) PJ Evans, Uncasville
4) Shawn Monahan, Waterford
5) Tyler Trott, East Hartford
6) Brent Gleason, Griswold
7) Kolton Gambacorta, Ellington
8) Bill Cote, Belchertown, MA
9) Travis Downey, Barkhamsted
10) Isabella Minchella, Somers
11) Jaysin Beal, Groton
12) David Ciastko, Madison
13) Sean Riley, Wolcott
14) Alex Spinnato, Wallingford
15) Pete Cayer, Bristol
16) Vince Digangi, Norwich
17) Matt Martel, Stafford Springs
18) Rob Sears, Stafford Springs
19) Herb Carlon, Groton
20) Garrett Pease, Enfield
21) Andras Bogi, Macungie, PA
22) Paul Sweeney, Horsham, England
23) Brandon Warren, Chicopee, MA
24) Marvin Minkler, Stamford
25) William Bailey, Amityville, NY
26) Sean Petlock, Ware, MA
27) Ben Castro, Oakdale
DNS – Bill Staves, Windsor
