Jeff Rocco To Make Whelen Modified Tour Debut Saturday At Riverhead Raceway

Jeff Rocco in the garage during a Whelen Modified Tour test Tuesday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

LOUDON, N.H. – Tuesday morning Jeff Rocco had learning the fast way around New Hampshire Motor Speedway on his mind during a NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour test at the 1.058-mile oval.

But he also had a particular bullring in his thoughts too.

Rocco confirmed to RaceDayCT that he will make his Whelen Modified Tour debut in Saturday’s series event Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway.

Rocco will fill in for Todd Szegedy with the Bob Katon/Kevin Stuart owned No. 85 team. Szegedy had an unexpected family commitment arise.

Rocco is a former winner in the SK Modified division at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl and a winner in the Late Model divison at Thompson Speedway. He has been working with the Stuart/Katon operation since the start of the 2017 season. He started Stuart’s Valenti Modified Racing Series car recently in an event at Lee USA Speedway in Lee, N.H.

“I’m really excited for it,” Rocco said. “Anything kind of opportunity can get is a great. I’m really grateful for the chances these guys are giving me and I’ll start anywhere.”

“It feels cool,” Katon said of giving Rocco his first Whelen Modified Tour start. “Kevin and I both agreed with it. It’s a 50/50 deal here. I think it will be fine. … I think he’ll be good. He knows he’s got to try to keep his nose clean. That’s the biggest thing there.”

Rocco, of Wallingford, has never turned a lap at the quarter-mile Riverhead Raceway.

“I ran in a Stop & Shop parking lot, that seems pretty close,” Rocco joked.

Rocco was testing at New Hampshire Tuesday in preparation for the New England Short Track Showdown Valenti Modified Racing Series event at the track on July 1. He will race that event for Stuart.

Stuart said if all goes well with the Valenti Modified Racing Series event at NHMS, Rocco could start in a team car with Szegedy in the Whelen Modified Tour Nor’Easter 100 in Loudon on July 15.

“It’s pretty huge,” Rocco said of turning laps at New Hampshire Motor Speedway Tuesday. “This is the ultimate the goal and the ultimate place. To get some laps around here and possibly get to run the [Whelen Modified Tour] race, that’s huge for me.”

Comments

  1. You go get um Jeff !

  2. The bowl must love this development. LOL.

  3. Good luck Keith!!!!

    They wrote Jeff by mistake.
    I am sure they will fix it

  4. Jeffrey look at the picture ! if you know Keith then you know that picture is of Jeff Rocco . My bad just another one of your dumb comments . I know Jeff because he is a great welder he once welded my go kart and now it’s a mini bike . Bahhahahahahahahahahah

  5. Sorry about that
    I just assumed it was keith
    I just made a honest mistake

  6. Bob Freeman says

    Jeff seems like a pretty competent driver. I’ve always been curious about why he seems to be idle at times. I know if I were an owner, he’d be on my short list of drivers.

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