Keith Rocco (right) talks with crew chief Brad Lafontaine after Whelen Modified Tour practice in July at New Hampshire Motor Speedway
STAFFORD – They once worked together as mentor and protégé in the pits of the local Connecticut short tracks.
Then they became fierce rivals on those same short tracks.
Now they will be teammates when the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour returns to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the F.W. Webb 100 on Sept. 26.
Our Motorsports will field Whelen Modified Tour rides for both Rocco and Christopher in Loudon.
Rocco replaced Tommy Barrett Jr. with the Our Motorsports team before the second race of this season.
Christopher was brought in to spell Rocco with the team in August after Rocco sustained a broken wrist.
Christopher started events at Thompson Speedway (Aug. 12) and Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway for the Our Motorsports team.
As a teenager Rocco worked on crews for Christopher’s SK Modified teams before beginning his own racing career. The event will mark the first time on the track for the pair as teammates in competition.
“We’re on the same team again,” Rocco said. “It should be fun. I’d assume it’s going to be all good. Me and Ted on the same team. That’s a good thing.”
Said Christopher: “It’s a cool deal.”
Rocco will run the final three events of the season for Our Motorsports. After Loudon the series visits Stafford Motor Speedway for the NAPA Fall Final on Oct. 4 and then the season finale Sunoco World Series at Thompson on Oct. 18.
Christopher said he will be on a race-to-race deal with the team through the end of the season.
“It all depends on if we don’t wreck one of the cars,” Christopher said. “I think that’s about it. It’s been good with them though. The car was really good at Thompson. We had a good car there. Bristol was a little disappointing, but the whole day was a little disappointing with the rain and the shortened race.”
what driver does Brad crew chief for??
What makes it more interesting is that after the race they will both be heading (maybe even together on the same plane again) to Waterford to battle for the sk championship.