Ted Christopher looking for a win in Saturday’s NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at New London-Waterford Speedbowl

You can never count out Ted Christopher from taking a win at one of his favorite haunts the New London-Waterford Speedbowl in Connecticut. (Credit: NASCAR Home Track photo.)

You can never count out Ted Christopher from taking a win at one of his favorite haunts the New London-Waterford Speedbowl in Connecticut. However, we’re sure that he’ll be concerned about Keith Rocco, another top Modified shoe at that venue. (Credit: NASCAR Home Track photo.)

No NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour drivers have more laps at New London-Waterford Speedbowl than Ted Christopher and Keith Rocco. They’ll rely on that experience in this Saturday’s Mr. Rooter 161 with an eye on attaining a long-awaited trip to Victory Lane.

The Whelen Modified Tour’s regular competitors have hundreds, if not thousands, of laps at tracks like Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, Stafford Motor Speedway, Riverhead Raceway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway. There have only been three races at the Speedbowl since 2006, however, and just four active drivers have more than five career tour starts there.

That’s where the home track advantage can come into play. Not only does Christopher have 16 career Whelen Modified Tour starts at the .375-mile oval, but he’s run weekly there on and off for more than two decades. Rocco has but two tour starts at his home track, but notched his 107th and 108th career wins there last week in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action to become the Speedbowl’s all-time winningest driver.

Rocco has won four of the last five titles in the SK Modified Division, the track’s Division I in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. Christopher was the track champion in 1992.

Both also carry a little extra motivation into the Mr. Rooter 161. The second-longest winless drought of Christopher’s career currently sits at 44 races while Rocco – despite his tremendous success in SK Modifieds – has yet to register a victory in 23 Whelen Modified Tour appearances. Likewise, both have positive recent experiences that may be encouraging for Saturday as Christopher found Speedbowl Victory Lane on May 18 in a SK Modified while Rocco had a strong run in his first Whelen Modified Tour start with Our Racing last time out.

Source: NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour PR