busch north scene

Rocco Completes Stafford Race With First VMRS Win

(Stafford, Springs, CT). – It may have taken 49 days for Keith Rocco

to get it done, but the Wallingford, CT., driver completed the task Friday

night, Aug 12, when he won the “Lincoln Tech 80” modified race at the

Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford, CT. The win was Rocco’s first

with the Valenti Modified Racing Series.

The race was stopped June 24th on lap 32 because of rain. Rocco was

leading a field of 28 cars when the skies opened

On a lap 33 re-start, Rocco took the top spot with Matt Hirschman,

of Northampton, PA., in pursuit.

Hirschman gave chase until the 63^rd circuit when Todd Owen, of

Manchester, CT., slipped by Hirschman for good on lap 64 but

could not overtake the leader. Owen finished runner-up

Doug Coby, of Milford, CT., Hirschman, and Mike Stefanik, of

Coventry, R.I., all former series winners, finished third through fifth.

Sixth through tenth were; Les Hinckley, Max Zachem, Chris Pasteryak,

Tommy Barrett, and Dave Etheridge.

Rocco became the ninth different VMRS winner for the 2011 season.

23 of the original 28 starters returned to Stafford to finish the race. 15

drivers finished on the lead lap.

In total, between the two dates, it took 1 hour, 5 minutes, to complete

the race. Five caution flags and one red flag were displayed.

Race Summary

August 12,2011, 2011

Stafford Springs (CT) Motor Speedway

Distance: 100 laps

Time of Race: 1:05 58:916

Best Lap Time: 18.065 (Rocco)

Best Speed: 96.748 (Rocco)

Margin of Victory: 0.570

Lead Changes: 3

Lap Leaders: (Rocco 1-2) (Pasteryak-3-12) (Rocco 13-80)

Cautions: Laps; 25,(Red-32),54,55,59,60

Unofficial Finish - (1) Rocco (2) Owen (3) Coby (4) Hirschman

(5) Stefanik (6) Hinckley (7) Zachem (8) Pasteryak (9) Barrett

(10) Etheridge (11) Reed (12) Wrenn (13) Jordan (14) Bateman

(15) Doucette (16) Mechalides (17) Masse (18) Pennink

(19) Sylvester (20) Holdridge (21) Goodenough (22) Perry

(23) Norton (24) McKennedy (25 Malave (26) Annarummo

(27) Savary (28) Bonsignore