Wins, Points Saturday Concerns
Waterford, CT — Keith Rocco, sitting atop the national NASCAR Whelen All-American Series standings, insists he comes to the Waterford Speedbowl “to win races.” He’ll be after a sixth on Saturday night, the 35-lap SK-Modified battle topping a six-feature agenda.
There are two 20-lap sportsman features on the bill. It also includes a 35-lap Late Model event and 20-lappers for the Mini Stocks and Legend Cars. Gates open at 4 PM and the racing begins at 5.
The championship stretch drives have definitely started, however, and “point talk” is prevalent especially when a national race is in question.
Sitting second, Rocco is 30 points behind leader Dennis Gada in the Speedbowl SK standings. He has won three of the last four SK features in the Pane #57 and continues to insist points, locally and nationally, are not his primary concern. Victories are very important in the national picture.
Earlier in the season, defending champion Ken Cassidy Jr. predicted the Mini Stock points battle between himself and Randy Churchill would “go right to the end.” Only eight points separate them heading into Saturday’s action. “It is tough not to think about points,” acknowledges Cassidy.
Legends leader Jason Palmer can’t help it either. His objective is to duplicate his father’s 2003 accomplishment. Jaggs won both the Saturday night and Wild n’ Wacky Wednesday titles that summer. Jason is leading in both races but only by eight over Shaun Buffington in the Saturday night rundown.
Even with a 70-point lead, Al Stone III faces the twin-feature situation with some worry. Ronnie Oldham and Walter Hovey Jr. are both on hot streaks. The biggest winner this season, Late Model leader Bruce Thomas has gone three races without a checker. He’s 52 up on Tim Jordan, a two-time winner.
The Speedbowl win list continues to rise. Joe Curioso III scored his first-ever Late Model win last Saturday bringing it to 36 . The SKs, Sportsman and Mini Stocks have each had nine individual winners.
Sources: Dave Dykes/Waterford Speedbowl PR