Rocco doubles up at the Speedbowl

Waterford - Keith Rocco capped a busy day by winning a pair of features at the Waterford Speedbowl on Saturday night.

The reigning track champion, who placed 22nd in the Whelen Modified Tour Town Fair Tire 100 earlier in the day at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, hustled back to Connecticut in time to capture the SK Modified and Late Model races.

Other winners were Franklin's Josh Galvin (Street Stocks), Mark Panaroni (Mini Stocks) and Old Saybrook's Ken Morin Jr. (bandolero), while Matt Pappa won a special 50-lap feature in the Legends Cars division.

Rocco reached the front in a hurry in the 35-lap Modified feature. He moved up into the top three by lap four, passed Salem's Joe Gada on the inside for second and then passed Joe Perry for the lead two laps later.

Rocco held during a total of five restarts, three of which came against his twin brother Jeff. Keith Rocco went on to his sixth win of the year, but first since May 19. Jeff Rocco finished second ahead of Waterford's Rob Janovic, who taook over the point standings lead with his third-place finish.

Keith Rocco was equally impressive in the 30-lap Late Model race. He took the lead from Ed Gertsch Jr. following the first yellow flag on lap 6, then survived two additional restarts. Groton's Bruce Thomas Jr. of Groton stayed within striking distance, but could not seriously challenge Rocco and finished second ahead of Anthony Flannery.

Galvin won his second race of the season in the 25-lap Street Stock feature. Panaroni dominated the 25-lap Mini Stock race and Pappa outdueled Stonington's Dave Garbo Jr.

After leading for the first 48 laps, Pappa was passed by Garbo coming to the white flag, but exiting turn two on the final lap, Pappa pulled ahead down the back chute and held on for the win.

Pappa earned a guaranteed starting spot in October's Legends Cars Nationals at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he will represent the Speedbowl.