Keith Rocco celebrates his second SK Modified victory of the evening Thursday at Thompson Speedway.
THOMPSON – There was a long stretch of time on the short tracks of Connecticut when a meeting between Keith Rocco and Todd Ceravolo on the track in SK Modifieds typically ended up with someone leaving wrecked or angry.
Thursday it was all smiles in the family affair up front at Thompson Speedway as Rocco came out on top of a lively duel for the lead with his father-in-law Ceravolo and went on to win the second 25-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified feature.
The victory completed an evening sweep of both SK Modified features at Thompson for Rocco, of Wallingford.
Ceravolo, of Gales Ferry, ended up second in the second feature and Ryan Preece of Berlin was third.
“To be honest, in all the years I’ve raced with [Ceravolo], that’s the most fun I’ve ever had,” Rocco said. “There was a time when we couldn’t run all season and pass each other that many times clean. But I had an absolute blast with him. I felt like I was at the Go-Kart track. Me and him have such respect for each other these days. It’s just awesome. You couldn’t ask for anything better.”
The second victory gave Rocco four wins in eight SK Modified division starts this year at Thompson.
Ceravolo went to the lead past Tyler Chadwick on lap five with Rocco following to second place a lap later. For the next eight laps Rocco stalked all over Ceravolo, numerous times getting runs on him off the corners, but being forced to back out before completing the pass.
But on lap 14 Rocco found the lane he needed off turn four, went the lead, and never looked back. Rocco quickly checked out from Ceravolo over the final 10 laps.
The World Series a points race?
Cas,
Yes it is.