Rocco gets back on track with feature win

Jul. 23—STAFFORD — It was a question everyone at Stafford Motor Speedway was asking: What is wrong with Keith Rocco?

The multi-time champ was 0-for-2022 and found himself 13th in the point standings. It was definitely un-Rocco-like season.

Rocco, however, found a way to his jumpstart his season: Start on the pole.

Even though he had to use a backup car after wrecking his primary ride last week, Rocco started up front and led every lap to capture the 40-lap SK Modified feature Friday.

"This is incredible," Rocco said. "During the first half of the season, anything and everything that could go wrong did go wrong."

His luck changed Friday. His only moment of stress took place with 13 laps to go, but he was able to pull away from Anthony Bello, who finished second, and Daniel Wesson, who finished third, to protect his lead.

There was also a red flag on the first lap that knocked out Stephen Kopcik, who started the night second in points behind Todd Owen.

Tyler triumph

Tyler Chapman of Ellington said he has spent a lot of time in the shop the past few weeks fixing his car.

Friday he was able to hang out in a better place — victory lane.

Chapman whirlwinded his way past Derek Debbis with five laps to go to collect his second 20-lap SK Light win of the season.

"I'm happy," Chapman said. "We're back on a winning streak."

Debbis took the lead from Jason Chapman on lap 9, but couldn't hold it.

"The past four weeks has not been our season," said Debbis, the defending SK Light champion, "We've reached the lowest of lows. But it's nice to get back on the podium."

Gray payday

Adam Gray ran 30 consistent laps in the 30-lap Late Model feature and no other driver did. As a result, Gray was able to erase a huge lead constructed by Darryl Keane on his way to his fourth win of the season. Gray trailed by a half a speedway early in the race, but was able to run down Keane with three laps to go.

"What an awesome night," Gray said. "Our car stayed consistent, while Darryl's car was loosening up. I didn't think we had enough time to catch him, but here we are in victory lane."

Keane said his car just ran out of ammunition.

"The car was used up, the tires were used up, we used everything we had," Keane said. "This is bittersweet for us. We finished second, but I really wanted to beat Adam."

It's hard, however, to beat consistency.

Rapid recovery

Even though Bobby Stirk captured two Street Stock wins early in the season, his car was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder in recent weeks — his car just wasn't the way it used to be.

"We had an accident with Marvin Minkler and it threw the whole car off," Stirk said. "The car's handling was off and there was a lot wrong with it. So we worked on this car all week."

The work paid off. Stirk dive-bombed underneath Tyler Trott on lap 6 and waltzed to an impressive win by about the length of the Alaskan Pipeline. Trott finished second — his first podium finish since 2016.

Aggressive Alexandra

Alexandra Fearn had a weakness prior to Friday's 20-lap Limited Late Model feature.

"I thought I was a little too nice lately and too conservative," Farn said. "I knew I needed to be more aggressive."

The plan worked. Politeness gave way to hard racing. Fearn, who started fourth, took the lead from Kevin Cormier on lap 8 and held off a frantic charge from Jeremy Lavoie on the final lap to grab her second win of the season.

It wasn't easy. Fearn had to squeeze her way through traffic early in the race. And she had just enough energy to beat Lavoie, who started ninth, by a half a car length.

"Alexandra's car was getting loose, and my car started to come around," Lavoie said. "It was so much better in the second half of the race."

It was almost fast enough to pull out a come-from-behind victory.

40-lap SK Modifieds: 1. Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 2. Anthony Bello, Newtown; 3. Daniel Wesson, Monson, Mass.; 4. Ronnie Williams, Ellington; 5. Todd Owen, Somers; 6. Anthony Flannery, East Hampton; 7. Mike Christopher Jr., Walcott; 8. Tyler Hines, North Haven; 9. Marcello Rufrano, North Haven; 10. David Arute, Tolland

20-lap SK Light Modifieds: 1. Tyler Chapman, Ellington; 2. Derek Debbis, Oakdale; 3. Norm Sears, Andover; 4. Alexander Pearl, Salem; 5. Jason Chapman, Ellington; 6. Meghan Fuller, Auburn, Mass.; 7. Tyler Barry, Griswold; 8. George Bessette Jr., Danbury; 9. Chris Matthews, Stafford; 10. Bob Charland, Stafford.

30-lap Late Model: 1. Adam Gray, Belchertown, Mass.; 2. Darrell Keane, Enfield; 3. Kevin Gambacorta, Ellington; 4. Tom Fearn, East Longmeadow, Mass.; 5. Andrew Molleur, Shelton; 6. Michael Bennett, Willington; 7. Chris Meyer, North Franklin; 8. Paul Arute, Tolland; 9. Michael Wray, Northford; 10. John Blake, North Haven.

20-lap Limited Late Model: 1. Alexandra Fearn, East Longmeadow, Mass.; 2. Jeremy Lavoie, Windsor Locks; 3. Damien Palarady, Willington; 4. Rich Hammann, Tolland; 5. Matt Scappini, Litchfield; 6. Devon Jencik, Canton; 7. Kevin Cormier, Agawam, Mass.; 8. Trinity Provost, Holland, Mass.; 9. Dana Wray. Durham; 10. Jay Clement, Wethersfield.

20-lap Street Stock: 1. Bobby Stirk, Naugatuck; 2. Tyler Trott, East Hartford; 3. Travis Downey, Barkhamstead; 4. Travis Hydar, Woodbury; 5. Adrien Paradis III, Plainville; 6. Jason Finkbein, Manchester 7. Bert Oullette, Ellington; 8. Jason Lafayette, Somers; 9. Nick Hovey Chaplin; 10. Marvin Minkler, Stamford.