Keith Rocco And Ryan Preece Battling For Top Three Spot In Whelen All-American Series National Standings

While Lee Pulliam and Deac McCaskill look in line to battle for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series National Championship down south, the battle for the third place nationally is on between Keith Rocco of Wallingford and Ryan Preece of Berlin.

Rocco is third place in this week’s national standings with 708 points. Rocco, the 2010 national champion who runs full-time in the SK Modified divisions at Stafford, the Waterford Speedbowl and Thompson International Speedway has 11 victories, 22 top-fives and 29 top-10’s in 35 starts this year.

Preece, who competes in an SK Modified at Stafford Motor Speedway and Thompson International and in a Tour Type Modified at Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway, has 684 points based on 10 victories, 19 top-five’s and 23 top-10’s over 29 starts.

Pulliam, who has been at the top of the standings all year, remains there. The reigning national champion, from Semora, N.C. has 785 points based on 21 victories and 32 top-fives and 33 top-10’s in 36 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 Raleigh, N.C., has 760 points. McCaskill, has 12 victories, 25 top-five’s and 31 top-10’s in 33 starts between South Boston Speedway, Southern National Motorsports Park and Motor Mile in Radford, Va.

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.

Ted Christopher of Plainville, the 2001 national champion who runs at Stafford and Waterford, is 11th nationally with 592 points.

Todd Ceravolo of Gales Ferry, who runs Thompson and Waterford, is 12th nationally with 587 points.