Swap Meet: Keith Rocco Tops Lively Duel In First SK Modified Feature At Thompson

Keith Rocco celebrates  victory in the first of two SK Modified features Thursday at Thompson Speedway.

Keith Rocco celebrates victory in the first of two SK Modified features Thursday at Thompson Speedway.

THOMPSON – This year at Stafford Motor Speedway, Keith Rocco and Ryan Preece have been giving fans some shows to remember at the front of SK Modified features at the track.

Thursday they took that show on the road.

In a spirited battle between the two over the final half of the race, Rocco came out on top in the first of two 25-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified features Thursday at Thompson Speedway.

It was the third victory in seven SK Modified features at Thompson this year for Rocco, of Wallingford.

Preece, of Berlin, was second and Danny Cates of Chaplin third.

Preece went to the lead under Cam McDermott on lap three, with Rocco moving to second past Kerry Malone on lap 14. From there the show was on.

On a lap 14 restart Rocco took the lead at the line, with Preece fighting back to regain the lead down the backstretch before Rocco went back to the front off turn four.

On lap 15 Preece used a move in turn two to snare the lead back. But two laps later it was Rocco rocketing back to the front with a pass in turn four, though the past was negated because of a caution at the rear of the field.

On lap 18 Rocco went under Preece for the lead in turn three, but Preece crossed Rocco over low off of turn four to go back out front.

But on lap 20 Rocco fired the final shot of the night in the battle, using the low lane off of turn four to go past Preece for the final time in the event.

“Ten laps seems like a long time out here,” Rocco said. “You can do a lot of passing in 10 laps swapping the lead back and forth. Ryan is a great driver and we were able to put a show on for the fans swapping it back and forth. But it all comes down to the last lap and who is leading the race.”

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