Keith Rocco Can Clinch 2010 SK Modified® Track Championship at Stafford Speedway this Friday Night
Stafford Springs, CT — After clinching the 2010 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national championship several weeks ago, Stafford Speedway SK Modified® driver Keith Rocco is set to add another piece of hardware to his trophy case. Should Rocco finish 12th or better in this Friday night’s SK Modified® feature event, he will clinch the 2010 SK Modified® track championship and become a track champion at Stafford for the second time in his career.
“No kidding,” said Rocco. “We weren’t really paying attention to that, I guess that will be a nice bonus if we can finish in the top-12 on Friday.” Rocco has put together a season for the ages this year with his on track performance. Rocco and the #88 Wheeler’s Automotive team began the year with a victory in the Spring Sizzler feature event and then had a stretch from late May into early July that saw them win 6 of 7 races that cemented them as the frontrunner in the 2010 championship chase. Rocco has recorded 9 wins this year and he has finished on the podium in 12 of 17 races thusfar. With only one finish outside the top-10, odds are in his favor to come home with the 12th place or better finish he needs to lock up the track title.
“You always have high expectations at the beginning of the year, but we never figured on winning 9 times this year,” said Rocco. “We have several more races left to go, so we have several more chances to win a couple more races. When you figure on winning 10 races and the championship before you get started racing, it never seems to work out that way. We just try to let things happen and the points will come. I was always taught to make the car work on old tires and our Troyer race car is really good on the longer runs.”
In addition to possibly clinching a championship this Friday night, Rocco will also try to race his way into the Inaugural Shark Cycle 100 Modified Racing Series event, driving for car owner Tim Stewart.
“I can’t wait for that race,” said Rocco. “Stafford is one of our home tracks and hopefully it will work out to our advantage having a lot of laps at Stafford. We’ve been struggling with the chassis on that car the couple of times that we’ve ran it this year, but we’ll get it.”
In Stafford’s other four NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions, the fight for the 2010 track championships are still in full effect. In the Late Model division, Woody Pitkat’s victory 2 weeks ago brought him to within 38 points of championship leader Ryan Posocco. Tommy Barrett’s 8th victory of 2010 2 weeks ago, combined with Matt Galko crashing, has brought Barrett to within 32 points of Galko in the SK Light Modified division.
Dave Yardley, III used a victory 2 weeks ago to move into a tie for second place in the Limited Late Model standings with Andrew Durand, with both drivers 20 points behind leader Dan Flannery. And in the DARE Stock division, Tony Membrino, Jr. continues to hold the points lead by 28 points over Kyle Casagrande.
For more information, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.
Sources: Scott Running/Stafford Motor Speedway PR