Keith Rocco To Replace Tommy Barrett Jr. Full-Time In Our Motorsports Whelen Mod Tour Ride

Keith Rocco prepares for his first ride in the Our Motorsports Whelen Modified Tour car last Saturday at Stafford Motor Speedway

Keith Rocco’s one race deal with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Our Motorsports team for the NAPA Spring Sizzler 200 Sunday at Stafford Motor Speedway has turned into a full-time ride for the Wallingford driver.

Our Motorsports announced Saturday that Rocco will replace Tommy Barrett Jr. in the car full-time.

“I’m super excited to have the opportunity to race for such a well-established team,” Rocco said. “They have all the pieces. They have the best of everything. After working with the team for the one race, I realized how much of a difference it is to work with a team that has done it for as long as they have. Brad [LaFontaine] is one of the best crew chiefs in the business. I’m just looking forward to a lot of good finishes and hopefully some wins.”

Barrett joined the team prior to the 2014 season. He started the first event of the 2015 season at Thompson Speedway for the team on April 12. On April 17 Barrett was arrested in Willimantic and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He was suspended by the team for the Spring Sizzler at Stafford, leading to Rocco’s replacing him for the event.

“Based on our goals and objectives for 2015, we felt it was in the best interest of the team to make a driver change early in the season,” team owner Chris Our said in a release. We appreciate the efforts put forth by Tommy and thank him for his service.”

After running near the front of the field for most of the Spring Sizzler Sunday at Stafford, motor issues late in the event relegate Rocco to a 12^th place finish in the event.

Rocco has made 23 starts on the Whelen Modified Tour since 2008 with two top-five finishes and eight top-10’s. His career best series finish came in the 2012 Spring Sizzler at Stafford when he finished third driving for Boehler Racing Enterprises.

Rocco was the 2010 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champion. He runs full-time in the SK Modified divisions at Stafford, Thompson and the New London Waterford Speedbowl. He also runs full-time in the Late Model divisions at Thompson and the Speedbowl and part-time on the Valenti Modified Racing Series.

The Whelen Modified Tour runs its next event on May 30 at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl.

Barrett was expected to run part-time with the Whelen Modified Tour in 2015 and also run a part-time schedule on the national ARCA Racing Series for Our. The team attempted to qualify for the season opening ARCA Racing Series event at Daytona International Speedway in February but did not earn a starting spot in the race.

Barrett finished 19th in the Whelen Modified Tour season opening Icebreaker 150 at Thompson on April 12. He arrived on the local racing scene as a 15-year old in the SK Light division at Stafford Motor Speedway in 2010 and recorded 14 victories in two seasons at the track before moving on to the Valenti Modified Racing Series full-time in 2012.

He had three victories with the Valenti Modified Racing Series in 2012 and three wins, ten top-five’s and 15 top-10’s in 17 starts in 2013 with the division, to finish second in the series standings.

Barrett replaced seven-time Whelen Modified Tour champion Mike Stefanik in the Our Motorsports Whelen Modified Tour ride prior to the 2014 season. In 13 events in 2014 he had three top-fives and five top-10’s, including a win at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway during his rookie year. He finished 12th in the series standings in 2014.