Kevin Gambacorta Grabs LM Win #2 at Stafford
Monahan and Downey Finish in 1st and 2nd in Street Stocks
Rufrano, Gambacorta, Morrison, Patnode, & Monahan Score Aug. 22 Weekly Racing Feature Wins
August 23, 2025
(Stafford Springs, CT)—Stafford Speedway hosted another round of weekly racing on Friday, Aug. 22nd with each of Stafford’s five weekly divisions in action. Marcello Rufrano was the big winner of the night, outlasting Keith Rocco and Steven Chapman to pick up his first SK Modified® feature win of the 2025 season in an absolutely thrilling race. Other winners on the night were Kevin Gambacorta in the Late Model feature, Josh Morrison in the SK Light feature, Gary Patnode in the Limited Late Model feature, and Shawn Monahan in the Street Stock feature.
In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature, brothers Steven and Tyler Chapman brought the field to the green flag with Tyler setting the early pace ahead of Steven. Michael Gervais, Jr. was third but he would lose that position to Andrew Molleur on lap-4. Jon Puleo was fifth in line with Todd Owen, Alexander Pearl, Anthony Flannery, Marcello Rufrano, and Keith Rocco lined up behind him.
Steven Chapman was applying heavy pressure to Tyler Chapman for the lead and he was finally able to get alongside his brother on lap-10 and take the lead at the line by a nose. Tyler Chapman ran two laps side by side with Steven before slotting back into second with Molleur and Puleo right behind him in a 4-car train for the lead. Gervais was fifth with Pearl right behind him in sixth. The caution came out with 14 laps complete as Pearl spun in turn 4 with Dylan Izzo and last week’s SK Modified® winner Cory DiMatteo also getting into the turn 4 wall.
Steven Chapman took the lead back under green with Molleur taking second. Tyler Chapman fell back to third with Rufrano fourth and Puleo fifth. The caution came back out with 15 laps complete as Peter Portante and Michael Christopher, Jr. spun and hit the wall in turn 3.
Steven Chapman took the lead back under green with Molleur right behind him in second. Rufrano moved up to third and immediately began to apply heavy pressure to Molleur for second. He took second on lap-20 and his pass opened the door for Keith Rocco to follow him by Molleur and move Rocco to third and Molleur back to fourth. Molleur would lose fourth place to Puleo on lap-22 while up front Rufrano made a move to the inside of Steven Chapman. Rufrano made the pass stick on lap-23 to take over the lead. Rocco tried to follow Rufrano past Chapman, but Chapman was able to maintain the position. Puleo was fourth behind Rufrano, Steven Chapman, and Rocco with Molleur in fifth.
Steven Chapman got back to the inside of Rufrano on lap-26 and he was able to make the pass on lap-27 to go back into the lead. Rocco took second with Rufrano slotting into third, just in front of Puleo and Molleur. With 10 laps to it was Steven Chapman in the lead with Rocco, Rufrano, Puleo, and Molleur all right behind him.
Rocco was applying heavy pressure to Chapman lap after lap, but Chapman was able to keep his car out front. Rocco was able to get to the inside of Chapman on lap-34 and he completed the pass to take the lead. Rufrano followed Rocco by Chapman to take second before taking the lead from Rocco on lap-35.
Rocco and Rufrano touched wheels as they came out of turn 4 coming to the white flag. Rocco couldn’t get close enough to Rufrano on the final lap as Rufrano took down his first win of the 2025 season. Rocco finished second with Steven Chapman, Puleo, and Molleur rounding out the top-5.
August 22 SK Modified® Feature Results
In the 30-lap Late Model feature, Tom Fearn brought the field to the green and he led the first lap before the caution came out for Chris Meyer, who backed into the turn 1 wall.
Tom Fearn took the lead on the restart with Andrew Durand charging his way into third behind Alexandra Fearn. Kevin Gambacorta was fourth with Wayne Coury, Jr. fifth. Gambacorta made a move to the inside of Durand on lap-4 and he took third place. Coury followed Gambacorta by Durand to move into fourth and drop Durand back to fifth also on lap-4. The caution flag came back out with 9 laps complete for a spin by Ryan Fearn in turn 4. Chris Buffone was sent to the rear of the field by Stafford officials for making contact with Fearn.
Tom Fearn took the lead on the restart with Gambacorta taking second. Durand was third with Varricchio and Coury making up the top-5. Alexandra Fearn got stuck in the outside lane and faded back to twelfth place.
Gambacorta made a move to the inside of Tom Fearn on lap-16 and he was able to complete the pass on lap-17 to take over the lead. Durand followed Gambacorta by Tom Fearn to take second and Paul Varricchio, Jr. was also able to get by Tom Fearn to move into third and drop Fearn back to fourth. Just behind Fearn was a side by side duel between Adam Gray and Coury for fifth place with Gray winning that battle to move into fifth with 10 laps to go.
Gray was able to take fourth place from Tom Fearn on lap-24 with Coury following him through to take fifth and drop Fearn back to sixth while Gambacorta was slowly stretching out his advantage over Durand and Varricchio.
The final lap saw Gray nearly go 3-wide with Varricchio and Durand for second but he backed out of the move. Gambacorta cruised to the checkered flag to pick up his second win of the 2025 season. Varricchio finished second with Gray getting by Durand on the final lap for third and Coury rounded out the top-5.
August 22 Late Model Feature Results
In the 20-lap SK Light feature, Casey Vogt and Ben Morrison brought the field to the green flag with Vogt taking the early lead. Morrison slotted into second with his brother Josh going wheel to wheel with Daltin McCarthy for third and Paul Arcari was fifth. The caution came out with 4 laps complete for spins in turn 4 by Meghan Fuller and Austin Goff.
Vogt took the lead on the restart with Josh Morrison getting by his brother to take second. Ben Morrison was third in line with McCarthy fourth and Peter Bennett fifth. The leaders touched coming out of turn 4 with Josh and Ben Morrison getting around Vogt before the caution came out with 7 laps complete for spins in turn 4 by Jason Finkbein, Amanda West, and Nick Anglace.
Josh Morrison took the lead on the restart with Ben Morrison taking second. Vogt and McCarthy were side by sie for third with Matt Brewer up to fifth. The caution came back out with 8 laps complete as Ben Morrison got sideways coming out of turn 4 at the front of the pack several cars getting collected including Nickolas Hovey, Sami Anderson, Vogt, Fuller, Bob Charland, West, and Finkbein.
Josh Morrison again took the lead on the restart with McCarthy in second. Bennett took third with Brewer up to fourth and Robert Bloxsom, III fifth. Bloxsom took fourth on lap-10 while McCarthy and Bennett were now wheel to wheel for second in front of him with Josh Morrison still leading the race. McCarthy finally was able to get clear into second place on lap-14 with Bennett third, Bloxsom fourth, and Brewer fifth. Brewer charged from fifth to second on lap-16 as McCarthy got out of shape in front of him and the order with 4 laps to go was Josh Morrison, Brewer, McCarthy, Bloxsom, and Bennett.
Josh Morrison led the field to the checkered flag to pick up his first win of the 2025 season and his second career SK Light feature victory. Brewer finished second with McCarthy, Bloxsom, and Bennett rounding out the top-5.
August 22 SK Light Feature Results
In the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature, the race began with a bang as Rich Hammann took the lead at the drop of the green after starting third while behind him it was 3-wide for third place. Gary Patnode settled into second with Matt Clement taking third, Connor Jencik fourth, and RJ Surdell fifth. Surdell took fourth on lap-4 and Jason Lafayette took fifth to drop Connor Jencik from fourth back to sixth in line. Matt Clement spun in the middle of turns 3+4 to bring the caution flag out with 8 laps complete.
Hammann took the lead back under green back under green but he would only lead one more lap as Patnode went to the front on lap-10 after Hammann drifted up the track in turn 4. Lafayette was third in line with Surdell and Travis Hydar behind him. Lafayette made a move for second on lap-12 and that move opened the door for Surdell to take third, Hydar fourth, and Connor Jencik fifth as Hammann began to slide backwards in the outside lane.
Lafayette began to slowly reel in Patnode while Hydar took third place and was right behind Lafayette. As the leaders took the white flag, Lafayette and Hydar were right behind Patnode. Lafayette made a move coming out of turn 4 to get to the inside of Patnode coming to the checkered flag but he came up about a half car length short as Patnode took down his second win of the 2025 season. Lafayette edged out Hydar for second at the line with Surdell and Connor Jencik rounding out the top-5.
August 22 Limited Late Model Feature Results
Limited Late Model Points Standings
In the 20-lap Street Stock feature, Marvin Minkler and David Ciastko brought the field to the green flag with Minkler setting the early pace out front. Ciatsko quickly faded backwards as Sean Petlock took second, Travis Downey third, Bert Ouellette fourth, and Brent Gleason fifth. Shawn Monahan was on the move early in the race and he took fifth place from Gleason on lap-5. Monahan continued to charge to the front as he took fourth and then third on lap-6. Downey was now second behind Minkler with Monahan third, Ouellette fourth, and Gleason fifth.
Downey took the lead from Minkler on lap-10 and Monahan followed him by to take second. Minkler would fall back to fourth place as Ouellette took third before the caution flag came out with 11 laps complete for a spin in turn 3 by Andras Bogi and both Ciastko and Matt Martel spun in turn 4.
Downey took the lead on the restart with Monahan in second. Ouellette was third while Minkler drifted up the track and fell back several spots to eighth place. PJ Evans moved into fourth with Gleason in fifth. Gleason held off a 3-wide challenge from both Aaron Plemons and Brandon Warren on lap-14 but Plemons was able to get by Gleason on lap-16 to move into fifth and Warren was now side by side with Gleason. Warren got clear from Gleason on lap-17 while at the front of the pack, Monahan took the lead from Downey.
Monahan led the field to the checkered flag to pick up his first career feature win at Stafford. Downey came home in second with Ouellette, Evans, and Plemons rounding out the top-5.
August 22 Street Stock Feature Results
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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Posted: to Racing News on Sat, Aug 23, 2025
Updated: Sat, Aug 23, 2025