Rocco Records Three Wins in One Night at New London-Waterford
WATERFORD — Keith Rocco has enjoyed many amazing accomplishments during his 12-year career at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl. His accomplishments on Saturday, however, may be at the top of the list.
Rocco won all three races in which he was entered — two Late Model features and a 35-lap SK Modified feature — to highlight Saturday’s eight-division program at the Speedbowl.
There were two national qualifying races for the U.S. Legends cars. Eddie Fatscher of Eastport N.Y. was the winner in the completion of the first 50-lap feature, which was suspended by rain Thursday after 17 laps. Austin Green of Concord, N.C. dominated the second 50-lap feature.
Jordan Hadley of Waterford won the 25-lap Mini-Stock feature. There were two Limited Sportsman features. It took Monte Gibbs just 11 laps to go from 14th to first en route to a win in the opener. Then Chris Meyer survived a three-wide battle against Al Stone and Gibbs to win the second feature.
Most of the rave reviews, however, went to Rocco. In the first Late Model race, he tracked down early leader Anthony Flannery midway through the race for his fifth win of the season.
He didn’t wait long for win No. 6, but he needed to pull off the closest finish of the night to make it happen. He squeezed underneath Jason Palmer with three laps to go, and then was able to beat him by a centimeter at the finish line.
“That was a lot of fun,” Rocco said. “My car was actually better on the outside and so was his, so I was at a disadvantage. But I was able to pull it out. That was just great racing.”
Luck was in Rocco’s favor in the SK feature. He was running fifth on lap 9 when the four cars in front of him, driven by Bo Gunning, Todd Owen, Tom Abele and Justin Gaydosh, got together in turn 4. Rocco was able to avoid contact and get the lead at the same time.
“I just was in the right place at the right time,” Rocco said. “I was lucky I didn’t get caught up in the accident. Once I got into the lead, I was able to pull away.”
Dennis Perry moved into second, but didn’t have enough firepower to derail Rocco. Ted Christopher came from 11th starting position to finish third.
In the Legend opener, Fatscher took advantage of the mishaps of Green, who had a big lead, but spun out in the second turn with 17 laps to go.
Green left no margin for error in the nightcap as he led for 47 of the 50 laps.
Jordan Hadley lost the lead with eight laps to go against Charles Canfield, but was able to get it back one lap later for the victory.
Gibbs notched his third win of the season in the opener, and was in a position to track down Meyer in the nightcap. Meyer, however, was able to pull away on a restart with three laps to go.
Racing continues at the Speedbowl Saturday with time trials for all divisions and twin 30-laps.
50-Lap Legend (8.11.16 Rainout): 1. Edward Fatscher, East Northport, NY; 2. Noah Korner , Canton; 3. Dana Dimatteo, Farmington; 4. Kevin Nowak, Medford , NY; 5. Kyle Beattie, Locust, NC; 6. Alex Mccollum, Phillipsburg, NJ; 7. Austin Green, Concord , NC; 8. Jonathan Puleo, Branford; 9. Carl Blandina, Milford; 10. Rachel Forte, Douglas , MA.
30-Lap Late Model (7.30.16 Rainout): 1. Keith Rocco, Berlin; 2. Anthony Flannery , East Hampton; 3. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 4. Ray Christian III, Uncasville; 5. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 6. Nicholas Sowa, Middletown; 7. Matthew Carlson, Griswold; 8. Christopher Garside, Waterford; 9. James Banfield, South Glastonbury; 10. Cornelius Flynn, Hampden, MA.
25-Lap Ltd. Sportsman (7.30.16 Rainout): 1. Montgomery Gibbs, Killingworth; 2. Christopher Meyer, Norwich; 3. Charles Beal, Ledyard; 4. Jon Porter, East Lyme; 5. Jason Chicolas, Sutton, MA; 6. Dwayne Dorr, Ledyard; 7. Adrien Paradis III, Plainville; 8. Al Stone III, Durham; 9. Josh Galvin; 10. Shawn Gaedeke Southington.
25-Lap Mini Stock: 1. Jordan Hadley, Quaker Hill; 2. Charles Canfield, East Haven; 3. Sean Caron, East Hampton; 4. Kenneth Cassidy Jr., Lisbon; 5. Wayne Burroughs Jr. , Oakdale; 6. Jacob Perry, Pawcatuck; 7. Brian Norman, Clinton ; 8. Dale Sherman, Charlestown , RI.; 9. Ian Brew, Wood River, RI; 10. Nick Pappacoda, North Branford.
35-lap SK Modified: 1. Keith Rocco, Berlin; 2. Dennis Perry, Pawcatuck; 3. Ted Christopher, Plainville; 4. Joe Gada, Uncasville; 5.Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 6. Robert Janovic Jr., Waterford; 7. Kyle James, Ashaway , RI; 8. Paul Buzel, Trumbull; 9. James Monahan, Quaker Hill; 10. Matt Galko, Meridan.
50-Lap Legend: 1. Austin Green, Concord , NC; 2. Dana Dimatteo , Farmington; 3. Stevie Johns Jr. Mooresville , NC; 4. Edward Fatscher, East Northport, NY; 5. Noah Korner, Canton; 6. Kevin Nowak Medford , NY; 7. Joey Ternullo, Middletown; 8. Kyle Beattie, Locust, NC; 9. John O Sullivan, Salem; 10. Michael Christopher Jr, Wolcott.
Limited Sportsman No. 2: 1. Chris Meyer, Norwich;2. Monte Gibbs, Killingworth; 3. Al Stone, Durham; 4. Charles Beal, Ledyard; 5. Allen Coates, Ledyard; 6. Corey Coates, Ledyard; 7. Ed Gertsch, East Haven; 8. Josh Galvin, Waterford; 9. Dwayne Dorr, Ledyard; 10. Adrien Paradis III, Plainville.
Late Model: 1. Keith Rocco, Berlin; 2. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 3. Jeff Smith, Ledyard; 4. Anthony Flannery, East Hampton; 5. Ray Christian, Uncasville; 6. Matthew Carlson, Griswold; 7. Mikey Flynn, Hampden, Mass.; 8. Nick Sowa, Middletown; 9. Chris Garside, Waterford; 10. Richard Duranti, Waterford.
Sources: Olivia Bouchard/New London-Waterford Speedbowl PR