Keith Rocco Looking To Add CARQUEST SK 150 Title to Stafford Resume
Stafford Springs, CT — After winning 10 feature events and the SK Modified® track championship last season at Stafford Motor Speedway, Keith Rocco has continued his winning ways in 2011. Rocco has won 4 of the 8 SK Modified® feature events held thusfar and he has won 3 of the 9 Late Model feature events at Stafford. But one victory that has eluded him is the checkered flag from the CARQUEST SK 150, the longest and richest race of the season.
In three career CARQUEST SK 150 starts, Rocco has 2 third place finishes and a 23rd place finish. But with SK Modified® 100 victories in 2009 and 2010, Rocco is looking to add another extra distance title to his trophy case.
“We want to win the 150, we want to win every race,” said Rocco. “We’ve won 2 100-lappers at Stafford and we’ve won the last three 100-lappers at Waterford, so we always seem to be good in the extra distance events.”
With several extra distance wins to his credit, Rocco certainly knows what it takes to be in contention for extra distance victories. Rocco says that his team takes a very simple approach when preparing their #88 Wheeler’s Auto car for the extra distance races.
“We don’t really make any changes to the car, we just add fuel to it,” said Rocco. “Our car is real consistent whether it’s a 5-lap run or a 40-lap run, and that’s what it takes to win the longer races. You have to be there at the end of the race and make sure that you have enough car left to go racing at the end of the race.”
A win in the CARQUEST SK 150 would continue a hot streak that Rocco has been on since crashing his car in a heat race for the May 20th SK Modified® feature at Stafford. After borrowing a back-up car from fellow SK Modified® competitor Frank Ruocco and finishing 8th, Rocco has won three of the next four SK Modified® feature events and he missed the fourth race due to a heat race crash that left him with a separated shoulder. Rocco has also been on fire in Stafford’s Late Model division, winning two races in a row to give him 4 wins in 8 SK Modified® starts and 3 wins in 9 Late Model starts this season. In addition to his hot streak on the track, Rocco also got good news from his doctor regarding his shoulder.
“We’ve been winning like we never have before,” said Rocco. “I don’t really know how to explain it. Everything seems like it has been going our way, and we’ve been the car to beat, which is a good thing. I think maybe Brad LaFontaine did something behind closed doors at Northeast Race Cars when he put our car back together. The doctor told me that I don’t have to wear the sling anymore when I’m driving and that I could start therapy. I didn’t tell him that I’ve been doing therapy on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays since I got hurt.”
The 8th annual CARQUEST SK 150 is scheduled for July 22nd. Tickets are priced at $25.00 for adult general admission, $5.00 for children ages 6-14 general admission, and Free for Children ages 5 & under. Reserved seating is available for $28.00 for all ages. Stafford Motor Speedway offers free parking, with overnight parking available.
For more information, or to order tickets to the 8th Annual CARQUEST SK 150, 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