Flip Flop: Keith Rocco Wins Sunoco Modified Clash At Thompson Speedway 

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THOMPSON – On Friday at Thompson Speedway it was Keith Rocco chasing Todd Owen all over the track and to the checkered flag in the 30-lap Sunoco Modified feature. 

Saturday the pair switched roles. Rocco went to the lead at the start and Owen unsuccessfully chased for the duration. 

Rocco ended up pulling away over the closing laps to win the 50-lap Sunoco Modified feature on Saturday at the Sunoco World Series at Thompson Speedway. 

It was the fifth win in eight Sunoco Modified division starts this season at Thompson for Rocco, of Wallingford. 

“This thing was really awesome,” Rocco said. “I’ll tell you what, these Hoosier tires for 50 laps, they don’t fall off if you’ve got your balance right. This thing was awesome tonight. Never gave up. We still had so much more in it. 

Owen, of Somers, was second and Danny Cates of Chaplin third. 

Rocco controlled at the front on the opening lap. Owen moved to third on lap three with Steven Chapman running in second. 

On lap six Owen found a lane under Chapman to move to second off of turn two. By then Rocco had opened about a three-quarter of a second lead. 

Caution flew on lap nine after a hard hit for Derek Ramstrom in turn four. Rocco set the pace at the front following the restart with Owen clawing to his bumper. 

Rocco and Owen were able to quickly get away from third place Danny Cates. 

On lap 16 Owen made a diving move under Rocco into turn three to briefly grab the lead, but Rocco was able to use the crossover to go back to the front. A lap later Owen tried to find the low lane into turn three once again, but got slightly sideways through the corner, allowing Rocco to open up his lead. 

Caution flew on lap 23 for the spinning car of seventh place running Nathan Pytko in turn four. 

On the lap 23 restart Rocco got the jump over Owen into turn one. Behind the leaders Noah Korner moved past Cates into third. On lap 26 Cates fought back to regain third place from Korner. 

Rocco and Owen once again left the rest of the field behind buy lap 27. After keeping with Rocco’s bumper four four laps, Owen lost touch with Rocco over the final eight laps.