Photo Credit: Speed51.com
Keith Rocco won Sunday’s SK Modified 64-lap feature event during Blastoff Weekend at Waterford Speedway in Connecticut. He fended off hard charging Craig Lutz on a five lap shootout en route to another visit to victory lane in the SK Modified division.
Rocco avoided mayhem throughout the contest; leading 52 laps, after beginning the race in the fourth position. He inherited the race lead from his brother, Jeff Gallup, 12-laps into the event, and never glanced back.
Timmy Jordan brought out the first caution after spinning on the backstretch, around lap three – during this early break-in-action Jeff Rocco still maintained his lead; after he won the pole for the feature on Saturday.
During that short, but intense, green flag run, Ted Christopher and Todd Ceravolo made contact, sending Christopher into the outside wall and deep in the running order.
Christopher, 55, showed his displeasure with Ceravolo during that caution by driving alongside him, closely, and sending a message.
When the racing resumed Gallup controlled the race lead, after passing Jeff Rocco on the restart. However, it was only a few more circuits before Rob Janovic looped around causing the second yellow flag to be displayed.
But, on the restart, with 52 laps remaining, Keith Rocco blasted his way to the race lead, sending Gallup to second.
Another caution occurred, Keith Rocco remained on the racetrack, but Gallup relinquished the second position to hit pit road – the only taker in the top five.
The ensuing restart would witness Keith Rocco and Lutz beat and bang, but eventually, it was Rocco speeding into the race lead.
The battle for the lead didn’t heat up until five to go when Tyler Chadwick spun around causing one of a multitude of cautions, setting up an intense shootout.
On the race-deciding restart, Keith Rocco easily pulled ahead of Kyle James and Lutz, who battled for second.
Keith Rocco saw the white flag with no pressure from behind and easily flew into victory lane – adding another victory to his luxurious resume in the Modified ranks.
Keith Rocco immediately turned his focus on the Valenti Modified race – which will be run on Sunday evening at Waterford Speedway. OnPitRoad.com will have a full recap on that race when it reaches its completion.
