Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – It was 18 years ago on April 3 that Jack Arute Sr passed away.
Arute was a second-generation Italo-American and a proud one at that! Arute was a wealthy man who made his fortune the old-fashioned way with hard work.
Arute and his brother Chuck owned and operated Arute Brothers Construction Company in his native New Britain, Ct. Along the way Jack Arute took interest in auto racing and at one point co-partnered with Richie and Ray Garutti who fielded Modifieds for drivers like Eddie Flemke Sr and Nathan “Smokey” Boutwell.
When the Stafford Motor Speedway was in financial trouble and about to close in mid-season of 1970 then general manager Bill Slater drove to New Britain and convinced Jack Sr to lease the track to avoid it’s extinction. Arute took the challenge and a dynasty was created. Following the 1970 season Arute bought the speedway outright. With Jack calling the shots, thousands of dollars were spent on up-grades including new grandstands and landscaping.
During the mid-80’s the modifieds were dropped from the weekly venue. The SK Modified was created and with the help of Eddie Flemke, Ed Yerrington and Dan Pardi became a reality. Those early years of SK Modified racing were a brutal crash-Bang- event. The Modified competitors avoided the track.
Over time the SK Modifieds morphed into a legitimate division creating a whole new field of competitors. As the racing got better the crowds returned.
Jack Arute passed in 2006. His legacy and his leadership was passed on to his son Mark, his daughter in law Lisa and sons, Paul and David. Through it all, the season opening Spring Sizzler has survived and has become one of the premier Modified Racing events. The original Spring Sizzler was the brainchild of Dick Berggren, Bruce Cohen and Lew Boyd in 1972. It was so successful that Jack Arute bought the rights to the race and it has been a mainstay at the track ever since.
The 52nd Annual NAPA Spring Sizzler® was set for Saturday and Sunday, April 27-28. Even though Jack Sr. was not physically there his spirit was. Numerous upgrades and improvements were made over the winter. Soft walls completely line the speedway racing surface plus all restrooms have been upgraded and even include television screens so fans will never lose sight of the action on the track.
Saturday’s action included feature races for Stafford’s weekly Late Model, Limited Late Model, and Street Stock divisions along with two 40-lap NAPA Duel races that set the top-20 lineup for Sunday’s 100-lap NAPA Spring Sizzler® main event. Scoring wins in the two NAPA Duel races were Teddy Hodgdon and Ronnie Silk. Weekly feature wins were scored by Darrell Keane in the Late Model feature, Matt Clement in the Limited Late Model feature, and Travis Hydar in the Street Stock feature.
Hodgdon led the field to the checkered flag to win the first NAPA Duel and earn pole position for sunday’s NAPA Spring Sizzler® 100-lap main event.. Matt Swanson finished second with Jonathan McKennedy, Mike Christopher JR, and Doug Coby rounding out the top-5. Silk started on the pole and cruised to the checkered flag to win the second NAPA Duel and earn a front row starting position for the Spring Sizzler® 100-lap main event. Marcello Rufrano finished second with Max Zachem, Matt Hirschman, and Austin Beers rounding out the top-5.
On Sunday, Troy Talman notched his first career Stafford SK Modified® feature victory with a last lap pass on Marcello Rufrano while the SK Light feature event was halted with 8 laps complete due to rain. The SK Light feature event will be made up at a date to be announced while the Open Modified cars will return to Stafford on Friday, May 10th along with Stafford’s five weekly divisions for a full night of racing action. All rain checks from Sunday, April 28th will be honored on May 10th. An official event schedule for May 10th will be announced at a later date.
Talman, who started fifth, slugged it out with Rufrano following a lap 23 restart. It all came down to the white flag lap. Rufrano was in the lead going down the backstretch when Talman made a bonsai move on the low side as they entered turn three. Rufrano moved up and Talman went by for the win. Steven Chapman finished third with Michael Gervais, Jr., and Andrew Molleur rounding out the top five. Sixth thru tenth included Todd Owen, Cory DiMatteo, Mikey Flynn, Glen Reen and Jon Puleo.
During a victory lane interview that went out over the PA system and the FloRacing stream Talman blurted out a four letter expletive which showed his true class and intelligence. For that outburst he should have been disqualified for displaying conduct unbecoming of a driver. Rufrano was also interviewed and his only comment on Talman’s pass for the lead was “Next time”.
Rain halted the SK Light race with 8 laps complete. It will be resumed at a later to-be-determined date.
Based on the number of cars that turned out for this year’s Sizzler, Stafford’s weekly racing series which begins on Friday, May 10 looks to have healthy car counts. At the Sizzler there were 33 SK Modifieds, 40 SK Lights, 22 Street Stocks, 19 Late Models and 17 Limited Late Models. They were complimented by 32 Open Tour type Modifieds.
In Twin 25 lap Modified action at the Bowman Gray Stadium another sell-out crowd saw Brandon Ward win the opener over Tim Brown and Lee Jeffreys and Randy Butner win the nite cap over Jordan Flemming and Burt Myers.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Series continues on Spring Break. Next stop for the tour will be on May 4 at the Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, NH. After three events Ron Silk with two wins and a second is the point leader with a nine point edge over Justin Bonsignore. Jake Johnson currently sits third, 15 points behind Bonsignore. Craig Lutz sits in fourth spot, six points behind Johnson. Rounding out the top five is rookie sensation Trevor Catalano who is 5 points behind Lutz. Catalano was on the march to the front at Thompson when a dead battery did him in.
A very special person has a major milestone birthday coming up on May 11. Carl S Berghman, known to many as Bugs Stevens, will be turning 90. Stevens is a three-time NASCAR National Modified Champion. Drop the champ a card. His address is Tockwotton on the Waterfront, 500 Waterfront Drive, Room 330, East Providence, RI 02914.
FloRacing has acquired the broadcast rights for the Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Florida. The race is the most prestigious event in pavement Super Late Model racing and has been both won and attempted by many of the biggest names in both NASCAR and short track competition. As part of the agreement, the purse has also been raised for the 2024 running and will be $50,000-to-win this December.
The all new book, The Modified Years At Stafford, by the Grace of God and 600 hp, is gaining interest and has become a must have in race fans and competitors library. Race by Race, Year by Year, it’s all there. Read all about it! Books are now available on Amazon.com and Coastal 181 (877-907-8181 toll free) and are available thru Stafford’s web site in their store. Order yours now. Makes a great gift!
With the cooperation of the Arute family another book has been published with pictures and biographies of the 50 Greatest Drivers at Stafford.
The Stafford Motor Speedway had become the epicenter of NASCAR Modified racing in the northeast by the late 1980’s. From its dirt beginnings to its lightning-fast asphalt, Stafford had become the toughest and most gratifying track to score a victory. The Arute family which has owned and guided the destiny of the facility commissioned their thousands of loyal fans to name their favorite drivers. In alphabetical order so as not to offend anyone:
Tom Baldwin, Gene Bergin, Brett Bodine, Geoff Bodine, Ken Bouchard, Ron Bouchard, Mario “Fats” Caruso, Rene Charland, Ted Christopher, Leo Cleary, Tim Connolly, Jerry Cook, Corky Cookman, Pete Corey, Fred DeSarro, Richie Evans, Mike Ewanitsko, Ed Flemke, Sr., Jeff Fuller, Rick Fuller, Ernie Gahan, Bill Greco, Bo Gunning, Ray Hendrick, George “Moose” Hewitt, Tony Hirschman, George Janoski, Charlie Jarzombek, George Kent, Buddy Krebs, Randy LaJoie, Jan Leaty, Jerry Marquis, Mike McLaughlin, Ray Miller, Steve Park, Bob Polverari, Bob Potter, Brian Ross, John “Reggie” Ruggiero, Greg Sacks, Ollie Silva, “Wild” Bill Slater, Jimmy Spencer, Mike Stefanik, Carl “Bugsy” Stevens, George Summers, Jamie “The Jet” Tomaino, Maynard Troyer and Satch Worley.
Books are priced at $17.95 each and be purchased at the track at the Novelty Booth or at the Stafford Motor Speedway on line store. Books are also available at Amazon.com and at Coastal181 (877-907-8181.
That’s about it for this week from 11 Gardner Drive, Westerly, RI 02891. Ring my chimes at 401-248-1307).