WATERFORD – An astounding season of success ended with the most perfect of showcase performances Saturday at the Waterford Speedbowl for Rocco.
Keith Rocco celebrates his SK Modified win Saturday at Waterford which set a new track record for overall wins in a season.
On the final day of the season the Wallingford driver swept victories in both the 50-lap SK Modified and 50-lap Late Model features to set a record for total victories in one season.
Rocco finished the 2013 season at Waterford with 24 victories overall, breaking the record of 23 victories in one season set by Don Collins in 1960.
“Ever since I started down here in the SK [Modified division] I said we’re here to win races and we really proved that this year,” Rocco said. “We’re not here to chase points, we’re here to win races. I think it’s clearly showed that I haven’t changed my outlook.”
Along the way to setting the record, Rocco won championships in both the SK Modified and Late Model divisions.
“This tops the year of winning the [NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national championship],” Rocco said. “We’re setting new records and setting the bar higher and higher for everybody. I always thought it would be cool to win two races in one day in two different divisions. To win two championships in two different divisions at the same track is pretty awesome. It says a lot for the people I have behind me and the support I get from everybody.”
Rocco won 10 of the 24 SK Modified features this season and 12 of the 21 Late Model races. He also had a Valenti Modified Racing Series victory and a win in a New England Pro Four Modified Series event at the shoreline oval.
Getting No. 24 was hardly an easy ride for Rocco though, as he held off a charging Ted Christopher of Plainville over the closing laps. Christopher held on for second and Craig Lutz of Miller Place, N.Y. was third.
“Ted was pounding on me pretty hard,” Rocco said. “He did everything he could. He bounced me and him off the backstretch wall at the same time. Luckily it turned out good.”
Said Christopher: “I got into the wall on one of them [restarts] and messed it up pretty good.”
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Congratulations! Question from Willimantic, who has the most wins in a single class and/or how many classes did Don set his record in & how many classes are Keith’s wins in?
Single division is a three-way tie with 17. Tie between Don Collins (1960, Modified), Darwin “Bud” Matter (1953 non-Ford) and Ed Moody (1961, Bomber). Don Collins set the mark of 23 competing in two divisions in 1960 (Modified, 17 and non-Ford, 6) and Keith’s wins came in four divisions (SK Modified, 10; Late Model, 12; Valenti Modified Racing Series, 1 and Pro Four Modified Series, 1).
Thanks. I let him know.
Did he not win in a LC car this year Shawn? I thought he did.
Thanks again. & This time “I’ll” let him know.
Keith is the best driver in the world boo Ryan presee
yeah boo Ryan Preece..yeah because he sucks right..morons