Pecko Seeks First ROC Win
Nick Pecko of Vandling, PA will return to the Race of Champions Asphalt Modified Tour for his third season. He likes running the ROC Tour because he feels it will make him a better driver by getting comfortable at different tracks.
“You kinda slack a little bit because you’re racing there every week,” Pecko said. “There is no room for slack. You have to work your tail off to make sure your car is good enough for the race to go out and win.”
Pecko likes going to Lancaster and Shangri-La 2. “Everyone hates it (Lancaster), but we get around there good. I think the surface is so worn out and rough. It’s almost kind of running on dirt, which I did for 15 years, so it’s still kinda in my blood.”
Pecko hopes he has something to get wins in his third season. Pecko wants to pressure drivers like Matt Hirschman and Chuck Hossfeld. It was a win for Pecko last season if he passed them or beat them. Pecko feels that everyone on the tour is a good driver where he feels that there is good competition. “You really have to get a good setup in the car to have a good finish.”
Pecko was always fast in practice, but could never get the setup for the race last year. He ran up front early until fading at the end. His best chance came in the U.S. Open at Lancaster, when he got caught up in a wreck while leading with 20 laps to go. There was no doubt in his mind that he had the race won.
Pecko’s family is no stranger to racing as Nick’s father Dave made 33 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour starts from 1998-2001. For Nick to learn from his father has been a big plus. Since changing from dirt to pavement, Pecko’s father has coached him on how to be successful. He felt he would have been lost without his father’s guidance.
Pecko’s goals are to win and hopefully finish in the top five consistently.
The 2015 Race of Champions Modified season begins Sunday April 19 at Lancaster (NY) National Speedway.
Sources: Matthew Wiernasz/YankeeRacer.com