Speedbowl Notes: Jason Palmer Outduels Rocco Twins For Late Model Victory

Jason Palmer (Photo: Waterford Speedbowl)

WATERFORD – After the first two weeks in the Late Model division at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl, it only seemed Saturday’s event for the division was nothing more than a coronation ceremony for Keith Rocco.

But on Saturday night Jason Palmer made sure any celebrating after the Late Model feature would be reserved for him.

Palmer came out on top of a feisty top-three battle to win the 30-lap Late Model feature Saturday at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl.

Rocco, of Wallingford, was second and his twin brother Jeff Rocco of Wallingford third.

Saturday night Keith Rocco was looking to overtake Phil Rondeau at the top of the track’s all-time wins list. Keith Rocco and Rondeau each have 106 victories at the track. Keith Rocco ended up finishing second in the SK Modified division feature to Ted Christopher.

With 18 laps left and Jeff Rocco leading, Keith Rocco went by Palmer for second on the outside lane. From there Keith Rocco began working on his brother at the front. But when Keith Rocco looked for a lane to the outside of his brother it was Palmer who decided to go to the inside for a three-wide move for the lead.

“I realized once we got to Jeff that Jeff was fast enough to run the bottom, but he was a little snug,” Palmer said. “The only way to get by him I think was on the bottom. Once Keith got to him he realized the same thing. Once Keith tried looking outside I said ‘These guys are all the same speed, let me go for the bottom’ It just timed out that way and it worked out great. That was a lot of fun. I wish we could race that way every night like that. I’m sure the fans love it and that’s where we’re here for. We’ve got to put on a show.”

Said Jeff Rocco: “I had the nose outside my brother and Palmer did what he had to do. He made it three wide on the bottom and I had no choice but to back out. I figured it was going to be a race to the front between me and Jason and he beat me there. That was some hard racing and it was a lot of fun. Hopefully we can do that every week.”

Chris Meyers of North Franklin won for the second consecutive week in the 25-lap Limited Sportsman feature. Monte Gibbs of Killingworth was second and Jason Chicolas of Sutton, Mass. third.