Back To The Front: Keith Rocco Grabs SK Modified Win At Thompson Speedway

Keith Rocco celebrates victory in the SK Modified feature Sunday at Thompson Speedway

THOMPSON – As the 2016 racing season faded to a close Keith Rocco could clearly see that his main competition in the SK Modified division at Thompson Speedway had made big strides in catching him.

For Rocco it meant that constant search for speed would only be intensified for the offseason.

Sunday at Thompson Speedway Rocco showed he’s ready to hold up his end of the front-runner battle with Preece once again.

Rocco held off the charges of Preece to win the 30-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified feature Sunday at Thompson.

“At the end of last year Preece seemed like he really caught up to us,” Rocco said. “The beginning of last year it seemed like we were really dominate then Preece caught up. I said over the winter that we had to step out of box and find some speed. That’s what we worked on over the winter.”

Preece, of Berlin, finished second and Woody Pitkat of Stafford was third.

Preece won the season opening event at Thompson on April 10.

Rocco went to the lead past John Studley following a lap three restart and never trailed again.

Preece followed Rocco’s tail to second place going by Studley, but spent the remainder of the event trying to find a way around to the front.

“I think Keith and I have finished first and second at almost every single race for the most part of last year and this year,” Preece said. “If you want to win at Thompson you’ve got to spot on. A little loose, a little tight doesn’t cut it. I think that just shows it.”

Said Rocco: “He was with us, but it’s so hard to pass. You’ve got to be really good to pass here. The car has to be stable and you have to have a lot of drive. It’s more or less a race to the front unless you’re going to move the guy out of the way.”