In Business: Keith Rocco Wins Second Consecutive SK Modified Feature At Stafford

STAFFORD – In January Keith Rocco turned 40 years old. 

It’s fair to say the Wallingford driver long ago cemented his place as a legend in Connecticut short track racing. But with just a single SK Modified victory at Stafford Speedway in 2024 there were some around the local racing community wondering if the legend of the division was starting to fade. 

Rocco was hearing the whispers of those questioning his ability to be consistently competitive, and he he actually understood why. 

Over the last decade Rocco has built up his business – Keith Rocco Racing – into a mainstay in the market when it comes to helping other drivers be competitive at the track. But he also knew his efforts to make others better were hurting his own competitive efforts. 

“After we won the last one [Stafford Speedway chief operating officer] Paul Arute said to me, ‘Man I thought you were washed up.’” Rocco said. “So … yeah, I was putting too much time into the business and concentrating too much on customer stuff to worry about my own stuff. We made a change and it’s working.” 

That change came by connecting with Stephen Kopcik during the offseason to run a Kopcik prepared SK Modified at Stafford in 2025. And thus far in 2025 Rocco is showing that those whispers that he was washed up can probably wait. 

Rocco held off the challenges of Troy Talman and Marcello Rufrano in the closing laps to win the 40-lap SK Modified feature Friday at Stafford. 

It was the second consecutive victory for Rocco, who won the second event of the season at Stafford on May 16. 

Talman, of Oxford, Mass., was second and Rufrano, of North Branford was third. 

Rocco said finding a balance between supporting his own racing efforts while also serving a growing customer base became harder and harder in recent years. 

“It was getting tiring even for myself,” Rocco said. “The years I drove for [Mark] Payne and the last year I drove for [John] Rufrano, I was progressively getting worse and worse because I was putting so much in the business. I was working on my stuff Friday morning before putting it in the trailer and that’s no way to race.” 

Rocco also understand that if he couldn’t find success himself on the race track, that would ultimately hurt his business. 

“This is how I make a living,” Rocco said. “There’s no two ways about that. If I don’t have race cars up front and happy customers, I might as well not even race. So this is something we decided to do and now I have to work harder at my stuff too. It’s going to better the program for everybody.” 

Friday marked Rocco’s 73rd  career SK Modified victory at Stafford. He sits second on the division’s win list behind the late Ted Christopher (109 victories). It was Rocco’s 84th victory overall at the track, moving him into a tie for second with Woody Pitkat on the track’s all-time win list. Christopher leads the track’s all-time win list with 131 victories. 

With Talman leading, caution flew on lap seven for the wrecked car of Steven Chapman in the turn two wall. Talman continued to control at the front of the field following the lap seven restart. With Talman out front, caution returned on lap 16 for the stopped car of Tyler Chapman. 

On lap 16 restart Talman got the jump with Rocco making the move past Wesley Prucker for second and Todd Owen following to third. 

After pestering Talman for two laps, Rocco got under Talman off of turn four to move into the lead on lap 19. Rufrano followed Rocco into second place. 

By lap 24 Rufrano was clawing all over the bumper of Rocco at the front. On lap 30 Jon Puleo got under Talman to move into third, far behind Rocco and Rufrano. 

Caution returned on lap 34 for the spinning car of David Flammia Jr. on the frontstretch. Rocco was up to the task out front again on the lap 34 restart. Behind him Puleo went by Rufrano for second. Caution was back out again on lap 36. 

Rocco fought off Puleo when the race restarted, but it was Rufrano ultimately following the way by Puleo for second, with Alexander Pearl following to third. 

On lap 37 caution flew once again for a multi-car wreck on the frontstretch that include Puleo. Rufrano got the advantage initially on the lap 37 restart and was out front down the backstretch. Rocco fought back through turns three and four to regain the top spot. 

Just after the field took the white flag, caution flew for the stopped car of Prucker in turn four to set up a green-white-checkered finish. On the final restart Rocco was able to fend off separate challenges Rufrano and Talman before taking control for the final lap.