Lee Pulliam Atop Whelen All-American Series National Standings; Keith Rocco Sixth, Ryan Preece Eighth

The reigning champion continues to have a stranglehold on the top of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series short track national standings.

Like last year, the nation continues to chase 2012 national champion Lee Pulliam of Semora, N.C.

Pulliam has 12 victories and 18-top five finishes over 20 starts this year at South Boston (Va.) Speedway, Southern National Motorsports Park in Kenly, N.C. and Caraway Speedway in Sophia, N.C.

Pulliam’s exploits have earned him 684 points under the Whelen All-American Series scoring system.

Deac McCaskill of Raleigh, N.C. is second in the national standings with 649 points. McCaskill has seven victories, 14 top-fives and 17 top-10’s over 18 starts between South Boston Speedway, Southern National Motorsports Park and Motor Mile in Radford, Va.

Tommy Lemons Jr. of Troy, N.C. is third nationally with 571 points. Lemons has three victories, 14 top-five’s and 16 top-10’s over 18 starts at South Boston, Caraway, Motor Mile and Southern National.

Under the point structure for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, a race winner receives two points for every car in the event up to 20 cars. Second place receives two fewer points and so on through the field. Race winners receive an additional five points. For example, if 20 cars are in the field, the winner receives 45 points, second place 38 and third 36. If there are 15 cars, the winner receives 35 points, second 28 and third, 26.

A driver’s best 18 results through the Sept. 15 closing date count toward their state and national point totals. Champions are decided on overall point total. Once a driver reaches 18 starts, their point total increases incrementally as they replace poorer runs with better results.

Keith Rocco of Wallingford leads the battle of Connecticut drivers in the top-10 nationally, sitting sixth in the standings. Rocco, the 2010 national champion, competes full-time in an SK Modified at Thompson International Speedway, Stafford Motor Speedway and the Waterford Speedbowl. Rocco has four victories, eight top-five’s and 10 top-10’s in 13 starts, good for 402 points.

Ryan Preece of Berlin, who competes in an SK Modified at Stafford and Thompson and in a Tour Type Modified at Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway, is eighth nationally. Preece, who won last week at Thompson International Speedway, has three victories, eight top-five’s and 10 top-10’s, good for 383 points.

Ted Christopher of Plainville, the 2001 national champion, is 15th in the standings. Christopher, who competes full-time at Stafford and Waterford has 300 points. Todd Ceravolo of Gales Ferry, who runs Thompson and Waterford, is 18th nationally with 280 points.