Three Way Thriller: Keith Rocco Tops SK Modified Feature At Stafford Speedway

STAFFORD – On Wednesday night Keith Rocco scored victory in a thriller of a Sunoco Modified feature at Thompson Speedway. 

Friday Rocco brought the theme of thrilling from Thompson to Stafford. 

Rocco came out on top of a wild battle with Jon Puleo and Mike Christopher Jr. to win the 40-lap SK Modified feature Friday at Stafford Speedway. 

It was Rocco’s first SK Modified victory at Stafford since Aug. 2 of last year. 

It was Rocco’s 72nd 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 83rd victory overall at the track, moving him into sole possession of third place on the track’s all-time win list. He had been tied with Tom Fearn. Christopher lead’s the track’s all-time win list with 131 victories. Woody Pitkat is second with 84 wins. 

“I don’t know if I’m more excited about the [72nd] win or winning two …races in the same week,” Rocco said. “It’s been a lot of years since we did that. We’ve got some stout equipment. … What can I say, it’s going to be a great year.” 

Puleo, of Branford, who won the season opening SK Modified event on April 27, was second. 

“We definitely had the best car again,” Puleo said. “… The car was better than it was [on April 27] and it was pretty good [on April 27]. … Just good clean racing up front and a very exciting racing for the fans.” 

Mike Christopher Jr. of Wolcott was third. 

“Three cars were there battling for the win,” Christopher said. “We had the lead and I knew we didn’t have the best car. Just too tight on exit [of the turns]. It really killed the momentum. You could see down the straightaway, they were getting runs and passing me. I did my best to hold on to it. It’s just tough to defend both lanes.” 

Troy Talman controlled the field at the front in the opening laps. 

On lap six Anthony Flannery got under Talman off of turn four. Flannery completed the move for the lead out of turn two on lap seven. But Talman fought back through turns three and four to regain the top spot. 

On lap eight Owen moved by Flannery to take over second. On lap 12 Owen found the lane to get by Talman for the top spot with Christopher following to second place. 

With Owen leading, Christopher in second and Michael Gervais in third, caution flew on lap 15 for the spinning car of Alexander Pearl. 

On the restart Owen was able to continue to control at the front with Christopher stalking all over him. 

On lap 17 Christopher made a driving move under Owen into turn three. The pair came to the start/finish line side-by-side with Christopher leading at the line. 

On lap 19 Gervais went under Owen for second place off of turn two with Puleo following to third. On lap 20 Puleo was able to overtake Gervais for second place. 

On lap 25 Puleo was getting under Christopher into turn three, but the attempt to take over the lead was negated when caution flew for the stopped car of Flannery. 

On the lap 25 restart Christopher and Puleo went side-by-side for the lap with Puleo edging Christopher for the lead at the line. Christopher fought back on the next lap, clearing Puleo for the lead and taking Rocco to second place. 

On lap 29 Rocco used a low move into turn three to get under Christopher and then grabbed the lead off of turn four. 

On lap 30 Christopher came right back, getting under Rocco into turn three and taking the lead back off of turn four. Puleo followed Christopher by Rocco to take second. 

Puleo got under Christopher on lap 33 in an attempt to grab the lead just as John Sandberg stopped on the frontstretch to bring caution out. 

On the lap 33 restart, Rocco made it three-wide under Christopher and Puleo through turn one. Puleo used the outside lane to move into the lead through turn three with Rocco settling into second. 

On lap 35 Rocco was able to get past Puleo to move to the front, leaving Puleo to fight Christopher for second. On lap 37 Christopher was able to overtake Puleo to move back to second. On lap 39 Christopher gave Rocco a bump into turn three heading to the white flag. 

On the final lap Rocco defended hard in the low lane heading into turn three. Through the corner Rocco and Christopher drifted up the track. Puleo pounced to the low lane and got under Christopher through turn four. Puleo got under Rocco off of turn four but it was Rocco deftly defending the top spot from attack as he and Puleo raced to the checkered flag.