Keith Rocco Looking For Return To Ole Blue Whelen Modified Tour Car At Thompson

WATERFORD – Keith Rocco said he expects to close out the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season in the car he began the year in.

(Photo: NASCAR)

Rocco said Saturday that he expects to return to the driver’s seat in the Boehler Racing Enterprises Ole Blue No. 3 for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Sunoco/Town Fair Tire World Series of Speedway Racing 150 on Oct. 14 at Thompson International Speedway.

Rocco started the first six events of the season in the car before a dislocated left wrist in an SK Modified practice crash at Thompson on July 29 knocked him out of the ride.

Ted Christopher had replaced Rocco in the car, but Christopher opted not to run for BRE in the season finale at Thompson. Christopher will instead drive for car owner Mike Smeriglio in a team car to driver Todd Szegedy.

Rocco had originally expected to run the final two events of the season in a BRE backup car as a teammate to Christopher, but that plan changed after BRE lost its primary car in a wreck on Sept. 22 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Rocco said he’s been told by the team that the backup car will be ready for Thompson.

“As of right now I’m supposed to be back in Ole Blue, but, I’m not sure,” Rocco said. “… They’ve got a lot of work to do. The guys in the shop are pretty confident that it’s going to be ready to go. The guys in the shop are really looking forward to going back racing.”

Rocco needs to start eight events to clinch the Rookie of the Year title on the series. He started in a Bob Katon Jr. owned car in the CarQuest Fall Final 150 last Sunday at Stafford Motor Speedway.

Rocco said if the BRE car is not ready for Thompson he will again run in Katon backup car to ensure the Rookie of the Year title.

“I really appreciate what Bob did for me to try and get the rookie points,” Rocco said.