Keith Rocco Continues Closing On Leaders In Whelen All-American Series National Standings

Keith Rocco was the big gainer, relatively speaking, this week in the top-three of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national short track standings.

Rocco, of Wallingford, gained 16 points this week to close to within 63 points of reigning national champion Lee Pulliam at the top of the standings.

Rocco, the 2010 national champion who runs full-time in the SK Modified divisions at Stafford Motor Speedway, the Waterford Speedbowl and Thompson International Speedway has 10 victories, 19 top-fives and 25 top-10’s in 30 starts this year, good for 690 points.

Pulliam, of Semora, N.C., leads second place Deac McCaskill by eight points in this week’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national standings.

Pulliam, has 753 points. Pulliam has been at the top of standings all year long. He has 17 victories and 27 top-fives and 28 top-10’s in 30 starts this year between South Boston (Va.) Speedway, Southern National Motorsports Park in Kenly, N.C. and Caraway Speedway in Sophia, N.C.,

McCaskill, of Raliegh, N.C., has 745 points. McCaskill, has 11 victories, 21 top-five’s and 26 top-10’s in 27 starts between South Boston Speedway, Southern National Motorsports Park and Motor Mile in Radford, Va.

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 sixth nationally. Preece has 652 points based on eight victories, 17 top-five’s and 21 top-10’s over 26 starts.

Under the point structure for the NASCAR 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.

Todd Ceravolo of Gales Ferry, who runs Thompson and Waterford, jumped from 10th to eighth nationally after winning last Saturday at Waterford. Ceravolo has 565 points. Ted Christopher of Plainville, the 2001 national champion who runs at Stafford and Waterford, got his 100th career SK Modified victory last Friday at Stafford but actually fell from 12th to 13th in the national standings with 546 points.