New Administration Welcomes Rocco
National Runner-up Visits Second Governor In Four Years
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Keith Rocco wins Connecticut’s NASCAR state championship with such consistency that he was congratulated by a new administration recently. Rocco was greeted by Gov. Dan Malloy in the State Capitol Building in Hartford.
Rocco, 27, of Wallingford, won his fourth consecutive Connecticut state championship in 2011. Malloy, 56, of Stamford, took office as his state’s 88th governor in January 2011.
“It was great to return to visit the Capitol Building again and meet our new governor,” Rocco said. “He was interested in what we do in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. Our visit went well.
“It’s nice that the governor’s office and NASCAR work together to recognize us as state champions.”
Rocco is among the elite drivers in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series history.
He won the series’ national championship in 2010 and was ranked second in the nation in 2011 and 2009. He placed fourth in the national standings in 2007-08, and his four consecutive NASCAR state championships is a Connecticut record.
Over the last five years Rocco has compiled 77 wins in 202 starts.
Rocco competed in the pavement Modified division at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway, Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway and Waterford (Conn.) Speedbowl in 2011. His racing record was 24 wins, 39 top-fives and 46 top-10s in 51 starts.
He netted NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Modified division track championships at Thompson and Waterford.
The NASCAR Whelan All-American Series is NASCAR’s national championship for weekly short track auto racing. The series encompasses nearly 60 speedways across the United States and Canada.
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