Super Late Models
Johnny Clark Ready to Break the Ice at Thompson
Mar 29, 2022
Icebreaker Weekend is upon us this coming weekend at Thompson Speedway (CT), with many Northeast teams prepared to converge on Connecticut’s ‘Quiet Corner’. One of the crews boasting the largest fleets will be Keith Rocco Racing, both for ‘Kid Roc’ himself, and a few rising talents.
What will be on track this weekend only represents a fraction of Rocco’s operation. For 2022, Rocco will race the No. 57 Outlaw Open and Sunoco (SK-type) Modifieds owned by Mike and Mark Pane out of his shop at Thompson, while also expanding to include Stafford Speedway’s SK Modified division, as well as the Stafford Open races.
Building cars for Rocco’s own hired drivers, as well as providing technical support to others, has made quite the winter for Keith Rocco and his entire team.
“I've been pretty caught up with the amount of stuff we got going on. Built three new SK’s for Stafford for me, Michael Gervais, and Andrew Molleur. Built Meghan Fuller a new car, went through my old Stafford car, and my Thompson cars. It’s been a long winter,” Rocco told Racing America.
In October 2021, Rocco captured a record-extending ninth Sunoco Modified title at Thompson on World Series Weekend. Hours after that, he pulled off his greatest feat to date in his Open/Tour-type Modified career, capturing victory in the $20,000 Thompson 300. Now the time for celebration is long over, with the goal to pick up the win this Sunday’s $10,000-to-win Icebreaker 125.
“We didn’t change anything with the Open car, everything is remaining the same as last year. Same car owner, same crew chief. Hopefully we can pick up where we left off. It was exciting, great accomplishment, but that’s long past.”
One big change that Rocco and KRR made last year was picking up training for live pit stops for Open races. However, the time needed for such training could not be sustained going into the new year. The good news is that with the same pit crew changing tires on No. 57 this season, ‘Kid Roc’ is confident that they too can pick right up from the 300.
“We have a really good team that works well together. It’s just that everybody is so busy in the offseason and wants a break. But, we’re still confident, absolutely.”
Coming into Friday’s practice, the main goal is only to get things dialed in on both 57 Modifieds, and two youngsters which KRR will help support throughout the year. Billy Anderson, and Stafford Street Stock standout Meghan Fuller, who is transitioning to SK Light Modifieds in 2022, in a car that will be run out of the Fuller family’s shop, and put together by KRR.
“Usually we don’t change much, but we might try some different things during practice on Friday. Other than that, we’ll stick to the same stuff we always do. We’ll have my Open car, my SK, we’ll be taking care of Meghan Fuller’s car, and Billy Anderson will be driving another one.”
Watch the entire 46th Icebreaker live on Racing America this Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3. The PASS Super Late Models headline the action Saturday, while the Outlaw Open Modifieds are center stage Sunday with 125 laps and a $10,000 winner’s check.