Keith Rocco Wins Waterford Speedbowl SK Modified® Championship
First title in division; second overall at track
Waterford, CT — Waterford Speedbowl’s 60th anniversary season turned out to be one for the record books for several reasons. Champions Taylor Martin (Bandolero’s) and Anthony Flannery (Legends Cars) already set Speedbowl records with their track title efforts, however nobody had a bigger season than SK Modified® competitor Keith Rocco.
Rocco, of Wallingford, clinched the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national championship with a win at the Speedbowl back on August 14, the first driver from the track to claim that prestigious honor, then continued his hot season all the way to the SK Modified® track championship – his first in the division. Rocco was also the 2004 Sportsman (Street Stock) division champion. The second generation racer secured the title in last Saturday’s event over Ron Yuhas Jr. of Groton, the 2009 division champion, with one points event remaining. To date, Rocco’s 10 wins this year are a single season record for the SK Modified® division. The division debuted at the track in 1985.
The Pane owned, Rocco-piloted #57 Troyer racecar got off to a red-hot start. Rocco took the season opening 60-lapper at the Budweiser Blastoff event then went on to win another four of the next five events. That streak bolted Rocco out to a lead in the points he’d never look back on. He has a current 20-race streak of top-ten finishes going. The potent combination of wins and consistency overpowered some tough competition in the division. Yuhas has not had a finish worse than ninth all season to date, yet Rocco’s performances have trumped that impressive effort.
Rocco found success in both of the Speedbowl’s capable racing grooves. With the handicap system used at the track, he often had to come from outside the top-10 starting positions. Many race events saw the talented racer darting both inside and outside his competition in his quest for the win. The season was far from perfect for Rocco, as he was tested by way of being involved in a few caution flags during the year. More times than not the team rebounded to a solid finish.
The champion’s outlook has never wavered during the year, with his simple goal of racing for wins. With two events still remaining including the biggest race of the year – October 9-10’s Budweiser Modified Nationals – a 150-lap event paying $5,000 to the winner, Rocco’s already made no bones about his intentions for that race stating he’ll “be there to win”.
His SK-150 race strategy is equally as simple -“Get to the front”. That motto has led him to a special season in 2010 and he’s riding it all the way into Finale Weekend. The 14th annual Budweiser Modified Nationals takes place October 8-10 boasting a purse of over $20,000. Practice on Friday leads into qualifying on Saturday by way of time trials for the top-20 with the fast qualifier earning a $500 bonus. A consolation race rounds out the 26-starters for Sunday’s 150-lap event. For more information please visit Speedbowl.com.
Sources: Waterford Speedbowl PR