Keith Rocco Wins Lincoln Tech 80 Modified Racing Series Feature at Stafford Speedway
Stafford Springs, CT — Keith Rocco continued his winning ways at Stafford Speedway as he picked up his first career Modified Racing Series victory in the Lincoln Tech 80. The race was started on June 24th, but rain halted the race with 32 laps complete. Rocco was the race leader when the rain came and he had to fight off strong challenges from Matt Hirschman and then Todd Owen to take the victory as he led the final 47 laps of the race.
With the race taking the green flag on June 24th, Keith Rocco led the field to the green and he led the first lap of the race before Chris Pasteryak went to the front on lap-2. Dave Etheridge followed Pasteryak by Rocco as Rocco fell from the lead back to third place. Matt Hirschman was in fourth and Doug Coby rounded out the top-5 in the early laps.
The top-5 ran in line until lap-11 when Rocco moved past Etheridge for second. Rocco continued his charge back to the front on lap-13 when he made a power move to the inside of Pasteryak in turn 3 to retake the lead.
The top-4 cars were beginning to pull away from Coby in fifth, while Josh Sylvester, Steve Masse, and Todd Owen were lined up behind Coby. The first caution came out with 25 laps complete as Mike Holdridge spun, which erased the margin that the top-4 cars had built up.
Rocco took the lead back under green with Etheridge moving into second. Hirschman took third, with Pasteryak falling back to fourth and Coby continued to run in fifth. The second half of the top-10 was Masse, Sylvester, Owen, Joe Ducette, and Les Hinckley.
The caution came back out and the race was halted with 32 laps complete for rain with Rocco in the lead.
As the race resumed, Rocco powered into the lead with Hirschman taking second. Etheridge was third, with Pasteryak and Masse making up the top-5. Owen was sixth, Coby was seventh, Sylvester was eighth, Steve Reed was ninth, and Hinckley was tenth.
Hirschman was hounding Rocco for the lead and several times Hirschman was able to get alongside Rocco, but he was not able to complete a pass. Etheridge and Pasteryak were continuing to run third and fourth while Todd Owen was now in fifth with 30-laps to go.
After several laps of trying to make a pass for the lead, Hirshcman was finally able to make a pass stick on lap-54 as he went by Rocco in turn 2, but Jack Bateman spun to bring the caution out and put Rocco back to the front of the field for the restart.
Rocco took the lead with Etheridge moving into second ahead of Hirschman. But Hirschman fought back on the outside groove and went back by Etheridge as the caution came back out for a spin by Sylvester with 55 laps complete.
Rocco took the lead while Hirschman took second and Owen made a hard charge on the outside groove to pull alongside Etheridge for third place. Owen would take the spot from Etheridge on lap-57 while Rocco continued to lead ahead of Hirschman. Hirschman again was making a bid for the lead, but was not able to make a pass. Mike Holdridge, Sylvester, and Bateman all spun in turn 1 to bring the caution back out with 59 laps complete.
Hirschman and Rocco were side by side before Rocco got clear into the lead. The caution came back out with 60 laps complete as Steve Masse got loose in turn 2 and Rowan Pennink drove up and over his right side tires and found the wall. Also involved were the cars of Pasteryak, Tim Jordan, and Etheridge.
Rocco and Hirschman were again fighting side by side for the lead while Owen was right behind Rocco. Rocco got clear of Hirschman on lap-62 and Owen moved into a side by side duel with Hirschman for second. Hirschman fell back to fourth as Coby moved up to third while Owen was all over the back of Rocco for the race lead with 15 laps to go.
With 10 laps to go, it was a four-car train for the top spot with Rocco leading Owen, Coby, and Hirschman. With 5 laps to go the running order remained the same, but Rocco was able to pull away from Owen by several car lengths. Rocco led the field around to take the checkered flag. Owen finished second, with Coby, Hirschman, and Hinckley rounding out the top-5.
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