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THE MODIFIED MINUTE — EPISODE 21: “CHIP OFF THE OLE ROC”
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This week on The Modified Minute, we’ve got a jam-packed episode featuring three great stories from the world of Modified racing!
🏁 BILL LONG — Bill has spent his life in the automotive industry while maintaining Modified racing as a lifelong passion. He joins us to talk about his new role with the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series and what he hopes to bring to the series.
🏆 CHRIS MATTHEWS — Chris won the first-ever Stafford SK Light Modified race nearly 20 years ago — and he’s still going strong! Chris shares what continues to drive him to compete, win and chase the next checkered flag.
👊 KEITH ROCCO & KJ ROCCO — A father-and-son racing story! Keith Rocco has found his winning stride, while his son KJ Rocco is making his own mark by doing the same in Legends Cars at Waterford Speedbowl. We’ll catch up with both of them and talk about the next generation of the Rocco racing family.
🎙️ Three generations of racing passion, experience and winning — all in one episode!
THE MODIFIED MINUTE — EPISODE 21: “CHIP OFF THE OLE ROC”
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We're now this week on the modified minute.
SPEAKER_11Um, it's funny. We uh I had an uh I have an old 08 car that's gotta get put together, and I told him when he gets it together, he can go down the speed bowl and practice them on a Wednesday. But uh I'm not gonna do it for him. I'll help him, but when when he gets out there and buttons it up, he could he can make his debut on a Wednesday and see what it's like to drive a modified.
SPEAKER_12Yeah, yeah. Well, so it it it drivers meeting and and I I I I used this at uh at Stafford as as well years ago. And and I uh and I believed it it's it's true, continues to be true at Stafford, and it's it's clearly true of the Monaco modified CryTrack series. It's not if you win, it's who you beat that defines you. The quality of competitors in this series and the people that you just mentioned, winning means something. And and to take home a you know a feature win at Stafford means something because of the quality of the field that's there. And I think as as the series, the Project series has continued to build itself, we've we've had an incredible growth of the kinds of competition that you just mentioned.
SPEAKER_07Oh, yeah, it's a big field. It's and and the great the great thing about it is everyone's competitive. It's it's it's incredible from what it used to be. There was only, say, a handful of cars out of that 20 that were that were definitely consistently fast. And now, I mean, it's most of the field that everyone's right there.
SPEAKER_17All that. Along with Hot Dog of the Week and Throttle Down. So tighten those belts because this week's modified minute is next. They're called the Mod Squad. Ground Pounders, the men that live by the grace of God and 600 horsepower. They are open-wheeled race cars flung low to the ground and ready to rumble. By Riverhead Buildings to fly. Build smarter, build better, by Mr. Ruder Fleming, expert plumbing contractors you can trust by SteinPros, exceeding your expectations, and by Ferguson contractors, building excellence since 1925. Here's Jack.
SPEAKER_09Well, the dog days of summer are in the rear view mirror, and it's time for the stretch run of the 2026 modified racing season. Hi everyone, welcome to this week's Modified Minute. On this episode, you will meet Bill Long, who has spent his life in the automotive industry while retaining modified racing as a passion. Bill will stop by and discuss his new role with the Monaco Modified Tri-Track series. Chris Matthews won the very first Stafford SK Lights modified race more than two decades ago, and he's still at it. He shares what drives him to keep winning. And I'll visit with Keith Rocco and his young son KJ. While Keith has caught his winning stride, KJ is doing the same in Legends cars at the Waterford Speed Bowl. But before we get to all of that, we do need to get you up to speed.
SPEAKER_17Time to get you up to speed in the modified world. Up to speed is brought to you by Mid-State Site Development. Mid-State safety, knowledge, and innovation.
SPEAKER_09Things started off Friday night at the Stafford Speedway. First up, the SK Lights Modified Division.
SPEAKER_16Much more uniform start this time around. It's Bob Charlan with the lead. Tyler Barry moves up to second and then slices outside of Charlan to try and take the lead. They're side by side for the lead. It's Barry out front.
SPEAKER_13Six cars contending for position number three, and they're some of the strongest cars in this field.
SPEAKER_16Colo Giannis has a great run-off of two. He doesn't need a bottom tie. He gets under Barry coming off the corner. They're wheel to wheel for the top spot three. Side by side per second. Colo Giannis on the outside. He was reeling in Barry with always to take the lead, but now he's gonna bend off Matthews. Morrison was trying to get down, Hogan was there, they locked wheels.
SPEAKER_13There is perhaps the story of the night. Maybe the story of the point standing. The UCOD sponsored car, which we never have seen this season involved in any serious situations like this. And Glace, of course, very frustrated heading back. Matthews by inches at the line. Keep your eyes on that 32 of Robert Bloxham.
SPEAKER_16Matthews goes way up the track in the middle of one and two. It opened the door for Bloxham, but Bloxham couldn't capitalize. Barry shoving Matthews ahead while they're bar to bar per second.
SPEAKER_13White flag is out. There's no surrendering at the point. Final time around, who's it gonna be? Bloxham reels him in, taps the back buffer. Matthews is on the shake down the back straight away.
SPEAKER_16Matthews throws a huge block, covers the bottom, blocks it to the outside with Barry on the bottom.
SPEAKER_02Commits to the outside lane, there's blocksum. Here comes Barry to the inside per second behind the all-time winning descriper who adds to his total here tonight. Chris Matthews takes the checkered flag.
SPEAKER_07I had to stay on the bottom. It got an evil tight on that last research, so I was trying to keep it down to the bottom, get the outside, but that was something. It was a heck of a race.
SPEAKER_09Then it was time for the tracks SK Modified and their 40 laptop.
SPEAKER_02SK Modified feature that goes under the green flag. Wesley Proctor will bring the field into turn number one for the first of 40 lap. Chapman down to the bottom with the bottom shot. He takes the lead.
SPEAKER_16Side by side for the racelet with Marcello the Bonham closing it. Owen made contact with Chapman in three and four. He's gonna clear Chapman for the lead. Chapman forcing his way to the bottom somehow to get back his body but a funeral.
SPEAKER_13Here comes Chapman.
SPEAKER_02It's covered as the restorks go 41 laps together here tonight and the SK modified feature event. Marcello Rapano goes to the front of the field in cover number eighty eight. The lead after the leaders came together in the early half of this feature event was able to stay there off of turn number four, and for the third time this season, Marcello Rapano takes the checkered flag.
SPEAKER_01That was a dogfight. Uh I dreamed of racing like that for with him for a long time, and uh it's it's pretty cool we got to do that tonight, but uh it wasn't easy, trust me. I was uh I was sawing down some line in there tonight, this thing was all over the place, but uh you know I just I got up on the wheel and just did what I had to do, you know. Just uh had to be patient there with uh with Tyler and Todd there in the beginning. I knew I had a good enough car, I just uh I seen the writing on the wall within the first couple of laps that it wasn't gonna be good, so I just uh I stayed patient and then as soon as I got out front, I just tried to set my own pace and just uh, like I said, just wheeled it.
SPEAKER_09Now Rain canceled the programs at both Riverhead and Waterford, but the headliner was at the Magic Mile in New Hampshire, where the wheel and modified tour assembled for the Mohegan Sun 100.
SPEAKER_04Bullsitter Austin Beers electing to start on the outside lane of the racetrack. He'll bring the field around across a granite stripe, green flag goes in the air, and a push from series veteran Justin Bonsignora puts Austin Beers in the racing.
SPEAKER_02Jonathan McKennedy comes on into third, Goodale in fourth, Ripkuma in fifth, front half the field quickly to single out as they come around and complete lap number one.
SPEAKER_04Oh trouble, one car up on the side in the turn one and two, riding the barrier over the far side of the racetrack, and that'll bring out the caution flag here for the first time today in Mohegan Sun 100. That is Patrick Emmerling, who has gone up on two wheels in turn one and two. Trouble dotted to turn number three. Two cars got together as they got into the corner. It was DJ Hail memory shot into Matt Hirschman. Hershman not happy about it. Smoke is spark flying in turn three.
SPEAKER_02Michael Christopher Jr. up to third. Here comes McKennedy. Dyfom move into turn number three to take the top spot away. No lead as they come back down to the stripe to complete lap 79, and it's the 79 out front.
SPEAKER_04Oh my goodness. It is Austin Beerson Bears. Austin Bears with the opportunity to take advantage of the trouble for Patrick Emmerling. Just a decent finish inside the top ten would certainly give him the point. He did not give them a pretty significant point lead. This is disastrous for Austin Beers. Here comes Catalano midway down the back stretch.
SPEAKER_02Catalano with the shove from Brian Breeze into turn number three, propelling him to the front of the field. Now Breeze goes to the bottom three track in turn number four.
SPEAKER_04Catalano goes back to turn one as the leader. McKennedy will look to make his move early. Down to turn one. He'll go to the inside lane. Take over the race lead. Here comes Ryan Breest. They're wrecking behind him off turn number two. Green flag still out as Monsignor spins in the final round.
SPEAKER_02Monsignor out of shape. We stay under the green flag. Leaders are in turn number three. Jonathan McKennedy at the point. Tommy Catalano, not close enough to make the move as they come off of turn number four. Checkered flag is out. Jonathan McKennedy wins the Mohegan Sun 100 and U.
SPEAKER_15I've won, I don't know, a few hundred races in my career, all up and down the East Coast, all different types of cars. Got him with Tommy Baldwin. Just an awesome event. Uh I'm I'm speechless.
SPEAKER_16You lucked out there at the end because you ran out of fuel on the cooldown lap.
SPEAKER_15I did literally get in the checkup flag and ran out of fuel. Um it was a gutsy call. At the end of the day, I knew what we needed for caution laps, and I was within one lap. We were within one lap, uh, figuring out it just we just I don't know.
SPEAKER_09Well, it may have been a short weekend of highlights, but now you can say you are up to speed. With the season drawing down, the title races are certainly tightening up. Let's take a look.
SPEAKER_17Here's a look at the championship chases. Brought to you by SignPro, exceeding your expectations.
SPEAKER_09The Wheel of Modified Tour standings got shuffled after New England. Austin Beers takes a one-point lead over Patrick Emmerlin, and McKennedys' victory catapults him into third. Just 25 points off the top spot. Steven Kopchick and Matt Hershby round out the top five. The next race for the Monaco Tri-Track series is at Waterford on September 6th. So Jonathan McKennedy, Ronnie Williams, and Ron Silk remain in the top three. The Smart Modified's get back into action on September 5th, with Danny Bone, Ryan Newman, and Jake Crumb leading the stand. On the local track scene, Thompson's standings remain the same as their next event isn't until the middle of September. Stafford's SK lights, Nick Anglais' misfortunes, coupled with Tyler Barry's good fortune, moved Barry to the top spot with Anglais 28 points behind. They're followed by Dalton McCarthy, Chris Matthews, and Cassandra Cole. In the track's SK Modified Standings, Keith Rocco patted his margin over Jonathan Puglio to 56 points, followed by Marcello Rafano, Todd Owen, and Glenn Green. With the reign at Riverhead, their crate modified standings remained the same as last week, with Michael Berner keeping his seven-point lead over Richie Davidowitz and eight-point lead over A.J. DeSantis. In the track tour type series, Owen Grannon leads Mark Stewart, Chris Young, Chase Grennan, and Matthew Brody. The standings for Water Prozess K Lights Division remain the same as last week, with Robert Glocks in the third, followed by Kevin Cormier, Kevin Davis, Will Anderson, and Vinny Rivoggio. And finally, in Waterproz K Modified, it's Anthony Planner, Todd Owen, and Nicholas Hovey keeping control of the top three spots. For more than 40 years, Bill Long has influenced both the automotive aftermarket industry as well as the motorsports world. From a short track flagger to an executive with NASCAR and the IndyCar series, Long continues to leave his mark upon racing. He's back working to advance the world of modified racing, and he is the focus of this week's Crew Call.
SPEAKER_17It's Crew Call, brought to you by Ferguson Contractors, building excellence since 1925.
SPEAKER_09Well, I'm joined by a guy that I've known like forever and a day. But he's had parallel careers in both the automotive aftermarket industry and in the motorsports industry. Bill Long earlier this summer was appointed the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Head of Racing Operations. And he joins me here on the Modified Minute. Alright, that's a mouthful, partner. Tell me exactly what was in your job description.
SPEAKER_12Hey Jack, uh it's it's great to be with you and thanks for having me uh on the show and and uh and yes, it is it is a mouthful. And I think, you know, maybe to answer it uh simply, it's it it's my job to wear all the different hats that help ensure that we have a great show for the fans, that the series is a good partner for the track, and we're there really to help create an environment where racers and teams want to come. So, you know, maybe to answer what what what uh what it entails, I guess uh I I'd go back to the experience that you gain along the way that qualifies you to be able to direct um everything that's involved in the event. So if you know I spent a little time in Indianapolis in the Indy Racing League because of you, in the Indie Car series, responsible for basically the logistics for putting on the Indianapolis 500. And starting from a very early age, selling newspapers up and down the Grand Fans of Riverside Art, being uh the chief starter at Riverside and Ever Motors Way, Thompson, the race director at Waterford, Indy Carr, and uh responsible for the corporate officer for the hands car for the weekly racing series. I think I've worn every hat, including being the chief scorer at Unicorong Speedway along the way.
SPEAKER_09Oh, I didn't know that one.
SPEAKER_12Yeah, yeah, along the way when I uh when I was living in Syracuse, um I was a uh chief handicapper and scorer at Utica Room. And uh following in the footsteps of my dad is uh as you know, he uh he did that for over 25 years. So understanding all of the different uh complexities of what could go on during an event and then the part is when things don't go like they should. So having the experience and the consistency of race procedures or race calls, and uh and uh already understanding uh a plan B when uh when those things arise. So in essence, a liaison between uh Renee uh Dupree and uh Ed Bennett and uh and all the officials and the and the series and the drivers and teams to uh to ensure we put on a great show for the fans.
SPEAKER_09I know you know this, but sometimes when you have all those different stakeholders, it's akin to herding cats, because each has a specific list of things that they want, as selfish as they may be. So do you find your do you find yourself sometimes having to weigh both the pros and the cons of the input you're getting from a specific stakeholder?
SPEAKER_12Only every other man. No, you know, it it's uh it's interesting, being new to the Monaco Modified Tri-Track series. The culture within the series and the community. I can't tell you how many people have come up and complimented how much they enjoy the the environment and uh and and the series. Um so there hasn't been a lot of uh negotiating, if you will, or or silos. It seems that uh you know that everybody is has been very supportive of uh you know the same goals. How do we put on a great event? Um all the tracks that uh we've gone to uh so far we were supposed to go to star, but uh we got rained out. But the interaction with with all the tracks has been very, very supportive, and uh and I think that comes because they know they've got a group of people that respect the track and what they need and what they are trying to accomplish, and uh and and we try to do a put on a good good show and do a good job.
SPEAKER_09So well, hands down, uh especially this year, and especially off most recent uh unbelievable race at the Seacon Speedway, the product is outstanding. The cooperation that I see you getting, you know, both from the front of the field, the drivers, the owners, and even the fans with the institution of things like the kids' club. But I want to draw back, go back and draw upon your experience uh as a motorsports executive, as an aftermarket executive, and when you survey the landscape of modified racing, what do you see that you think needs to be improved upon? What do you see that you think uh offers you the opportunity to put your signature upon it in the coming months and years?
SPEAKER_12Yeah, it's it's a great question. You know, uh I'm I'm uh of all the things I've been involved in in motor sports, I'm I'm a modified guy, you know. And uh you know, deep and hard always always will be. You know, when I went to IndyCar, I said there are only two problems that uh open wheel racing needed to solve. One people didn't know about open wheel racing, so when is it running? How do I see it? What are the dates? What are they running? And then two people didn't care. The second part is modified, I think an opportunity to really invigorate why do people shouldn't care? the sport you know I was uh the other day about uh you know the Savannah Banana baseball team settling out Fenway Park and Humpy Wheeler and what his magic uh creativity and marketing so I I think there's an opportunity to uh you know to bring some of that thinking without losing why we're there and not turn it into a circus but but create that big event atmosphere and uh you know I I shared with Renee just the other day I said we've got a kids club we've got a chief starter why don't we put the chief starter in the kids club and teach the kids how to flag create a honorary starter backdrop and and and uh create the next crop of of flag men and women start them at an early age I I mean the experiences that you take back and uh I've I've found there are six five or six components that are critical for for a successful event one I want to be entertained two I want to be inspired we do the international anthem at events sometimes we have a color guard um those moments uh have the opportunity to create inspiration I want to be in the know I want to feel connected I want to have a shared experience I want to enjoy it with my friends and and and talk about it afterward so I think I think promoters series organizers and things need to be um intentional in checking off the box of each one of those things. How are we going to ensure this you know we talk about I want to be inspired on I go back to you know my early spring sizzler days when you uh started playing the the theme song from Shaft and the chills went down everybody's you know body in the grandstand we miss that we're missing that uh that component so I I I I'd say that that would be one and you know some of the tracks we've seen over the long period of time that you and I both have been involved in the sport I I can I can rattle off the names of of a dozen tracks that don't exist anymore. And uh fortunately the ones that remain are are working hard but but uh there's a you know a a new group of fans there's a new way to reach fans the media has changed is as you know better than anyone um so I I I think we need some some new thinking to help uh help make make modified racing or maybe short track racing in general attractive relevant fun family oriented and all the other five documents that uh that are that are mentioned well I I I do think that we're headed in the right direction shows like shows like this look this is a labor of love because like you I love modified racing and telling the stories of the people both that wheel the cars but are behind the scenes you name it.
SPEAKER_09But the other thing is that I'm beginning to see like at the end of the Seacon race two of the three drivers there are the best of friends okay and and they battled it out Ronnie Silk and Steven Kopsick they've known each other since they were little tykes and they did and then you have Jonathan McKennedy who couldn't get out of his own way and you had a flying wedge of excitement and the beautiful thing to see afterwards was just how excited they were to put on a show for the fans. They now feel like they have a stake in it.
SPEAKER_12It's not just going to the payoff window and getting 10 grand so at at the driver's meeting and and I I I I used this at uh at Stafford as as well years ago and and I uh and I believed it it's it's true continues to be true at Stafford and it's it's clearly true of the Monaco modified tri-track series it's not if you win it's who you beat that defines you the quality of the competitors in this series and the people that you just mentioned winning meaning something and and take home a you know a feature when it's staffed mean something because of the quality of the field that's there. And I think as as the series the trajectories has continued to build itself we've we've had an incredible growth of of the kinds of competition that you just mentioned. I also you know to balance that you know an indie car back in the day in the early indie racing league days we used to promote before I got there we used to promote the greatest racing on the planet the most lead changes the fastest cars the the um the most side by side racing and I I challenged the the the brand positioning and the relevance that if great racing was what fans wanted then the Indie Racing League TV ratings would be out of sight and all the grand stands and all and all the grandstands would be full.
SPEAKER_09So granted you have to have great great competition a great product but it it in my opinion it's not enough fortunately we had a great event and you know we're all we're all going boy I want to see more of that and the fans want to see more of that I think the odds I think the odds are very strong that they will with the remainder of the races this year. It's good to have you back home I think that big fat check you're getting from uh from the Monaco modified tour will probably buy you won't even get you a Starbucks coffee so maybe maybe a couple of dunk Dunkin' munchkins but it's good to have you on board and I appreciate your visiting with me here on the Modified always a pleasure Jack you do a great job yeah yeah well so at at the driver's meeting and and I I I I used this at uh at Stafford as as well years ago and and I uh and I believed it it's it's true continues to be true at Stafford and it's it's clearly true of the Monaco modified Tri-Track series it's not if you win it's who you beat that defines you the quality of competitors in this series and the people that you just mentioned winning meaning something and and to take home a you know a a feature when it's staffed means something because of the quality of the field that's there. And I think as as the series the TriTrack series has continued to build itself we've we've had uh an incredible growth of of the kinds of competition that you just you know sometimes a spotter has to do more than just keep his driver up to date on who he's racing against needs to calm his driver down especially when things are not going the way the driver wants them to in this week's throttle down Matt's father John plays both roles this is throttle down time where you get to ride along inside a modified brought to you by Wattell Communications your northeast track side dealer for radios and repair years ago Chris Matthews won the very first SK Light feature at the Stafford Speedway. He took a turn in the SK mods for a couple of years but stepped back into the lights and has been winning ever since. In fact his 27 wins make him the series all-time winner he's this week's guest on SK Soundings this is SK Soundings brought to you by Wheeler's Auto Services the finest and top level service of Premier Automobile makes and models specializing in European Japanese and domestic vehicles well Chris it's good of you to join us how have you been good how about you I've been very well thanks for asking let's talk a little bit about your career in the SK Lights you started out by winning the very first SK Lights event at Stafford Speedway.
SPEAKER_07Now I just posted a picture of you in Victory Lane and let me just say I think back then you probably weren't even capable of growing a beard probably not I actually had hair back then too what do you recall about why you decided to to uh field a car and go SK light racing um we were we were running late models at the time and uh friends of mine Billy and Jimmy from Somersville Auto they uh they were good friends with Brad and Linda Haitala and um they really just like the modified and they wanted to get involved in it so we kind of put a deal together and got a car from them and we just started doing it.
SPEAKER_09It's a big leap from the late model division with vendors where you where basically the the the the motto is rubbin's racing to an open wheel modified.
SPEAKER_07What was the learning curve like racing once you get into an open wheel car. For sure so did you have to adjust your style um well I don't not too much I mean it just it was the way the cars handle is just so different you know there's no like body roll in them or anything it's it reminded me of getting in a just a giant go-kart when I first went out with it.
SPEAKER_09You had a lot of success uh and then you stepped away. Well basically at first you stepped up to the SKs.
SPEAKER_07Yeah what happened there um we were doing SKs and then it just got uh it just got to the point where I don't know there was other things to do and just could use a break and uh we decided to stop and uh I took a break.
SPEAKER_09Yeah you took a break kind of the way Michael Corleone did in The Godfather. That's what I thought I was out. They pulled me back in. Because after a couple of years off here you come again winning races in the SK Lights division.
SPEAKER_07Yeah yeah we uh it I started helping a friend out with his car and then you know once you start getting near it again it gives you the the itch to go do it again and uh I decided to jump back into it and we did it and we started out and uh we were doing okay and then we we hooked up with Todd and started working with Todd again and uh and then that's where the success started coming in with us again.
SPEAKER_09Let's talk a little bit about how much the division has changed. Uh in the early going maybe maybe 20 cars was a big night. Now it's the largest field uh that Stafford including the SK modifies I've seen some races there where if you're not in the handicap you're starting out in the parking lot because there's 30-35 cars.
SPEAKER_07Oh yeah it it's a big field it's and and the great the great thing about it is everyone's competitive and it's it's it's incredible from what it used to be there was only say a handful of cars out of that twenty that were that were definitely consistently fast. And now I mean it's most of the field that everyone's right there.
SPEAKER_09You talk about getting hooked back up with Todd. He has given so much with his what I call rental car program but also what he offers to guys like you. Um how how helpful and in what areas has Todd Owen uh and Jassy Pro made you a better competitor.
SPEAKER_07Um just I mean the car when I switched over to his cars and uh you know you got you have the support there with them and and the backing like they're always willing to help share information and uh just keep you in the right direction. I mean it's huge and he's he's a good coach if you need it.
SPEAKER_09I mean anything you know you just you need you're telling me you still need coaching? Well I was gonna say I think I think you could teach a lesson to some of those young bucks that are out there uh because one of the things that I notice is look it's only 20 laps so I I I I can understand how a young driver gets it in his head that I've got to use the loud pedal from the drop of the green flag but then I watch you and you're like that wily old veteran where if if if the lanes are blocked up well I'll be a little patient and and to me it looks like you don't go racing until about the halfway mark.
SPEAKER_07Yeah I mean you gotta try to see where you're at and take what you're given that night. I mean you don't always have what you want but even with coins you got to drive what you got right behind them and standard sometimes the C's open up and you can just get going.
SPEAKER_09Recently the C's opened up but also by the same token you'd be out front and then all of a sudden the car would stop. I think it was like several weeks in a row that had that had to really befudd to the uh to what the problem was or the fact that the last race uh was fogged out at 10 laps you didn't go the full twenty twenty lap distance yeah I'm still nervous about going twenty I mean I I know we can do ten now that that's a good feeling um which is more than a normal I think we've been going like six sometimes three um yeah I I think we've got it figured out we I mean we've changed everything there's really nothing left to change so I'm I'm hoping that that's behind us but uh time will tell you you you hope that you've changed so it's I'm listening to you and I think that's code speak for yeah we we were forced to change everything because we don't know what it really was all about. Am I in the right ballpark?
SPEAKER_07Yeah because you don't know what's causing the issue so you you just you go through everything. I mean you strip it down to nothing and and you start from scratch again and put everything back in new and redone and hope for the best.
SPEAKER_09Everybody talks about especially at Stafford that the uh the SKs are so close and so very competitive. Uh I would uh respectfully disagree when you start to look over at the SK lights. Less number of laps, only half as many laps and if you don't start in the handicap, which puts a premium I think on qualifying and you only have a handful of laps to get to the front and make it to what we call a handicapped position. Um are you aware of those pressures when you're out there or is it just let me take one lap at a time Um I mean the pressure's always there a little bit.
SPEAKER_07You like you said you want to be in a handicap because it is such a short race and and you only have so many laps to get you know towards the front and uh I mean it's always in your mind But y you still gotta just take it one lap at a time. I mean that's for sure.
SPEAKER_09It's a spec motor. It uh it it operates differently than an SK. On an SK you're on and off. But I've always said that the the spec motor and the SKs, you gotta keep it wound up. So do you are you conscious of that? Like when you go and you throw it into the corner, that you know, I I I don't want to back off too much because it's gonna take me too much time and drive off to get back to full throttle.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, I mean if you have to check up, it's it's it's tough to get it rolling again. It's it's such a momentum division that it's uh when you lose a little bit of it, it it shows and then it takes you another lap to get back to where you were.
SPEAKER_09Both men and women are now competing at the high level at Stafford, and the and and the ladies are doing a hell of a job in the SK lights. Uh and we've already had one graduate, she was the champion last year, and all of a sudden she's moved up to the SKs. When when you look at the youngsters, and and they're all here's a news flash, they're all a lot younger than you are. That's for sure. Do you think that this has got a good forebodes a good future for the SK Lights Division?
SPEAKER_07Oh, definitely. It's done nothing but growth since it started, and I mean that that's a good thing for the track, the division, the fans, the competitors. It's just it's getting bigger and bigger every year.
SPEAKER_09Chris, what's on your bucket list? What would you like to check off before the season's out?
SPEAKER_07I don't know, maybe another win if we could pull it off and try to get a little further forward from where we where we are now compared to where we were in the beginning.
SPEAKER_09Well, I'll I'll submit to you, you might want to consider too. Go 20 full laps.
SPEAKER_07That would be huge. Wouldn't it? It might wear me out now. I'm not used to it.
SPEAKER_09How long are you gonna stay at it, my friend?
SPEAKER_07I honestly don't know. I mean, it's always been said if when it's fun, we'll keep doing it. Um I I really don't know. I don't know what what the future's looking like.
SPEAKER_09Well, I appreciate you stopping by. I know you've had a bit busy week with school and everything else, but uh look, you're gonna go a full 20 laps. In fact, you're gonna go 22 laps. And here's why because you take the checker flag, you gotta go all the way around, then you come on pit road, and then you gotta go get the ride hype check, and then you gotta make another lap to get the victory lane. How's that sound?
SPEAKER_07I like that one.
SPEAKER_09Chris, I appreciate you. Thanks so much.
SPEAKER_07You're very welcome. Thank you for having me on.
SPEAKER_17It's now time to reveal this week's modified minute hot dog of the week. Someone who stood above the rest. Brought to you by Hummel Brothers, Quality Meat, the top dog in modified racing. 100% quality since 1933.
SPEAKER_09Tommy Catalano is raced at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway every year since 2018. Over the previous eight outings at the Magic Mile, though, the Ontario New York native has scored only two top 10s and a career best sixth all the way back in 2021. That all changed this year when Tommy was at the front of the Mohegan Sun 100 going into the final lap.
SPEAKER_04Tommy Catalano goes back to turn one as the leader. Vagennity will want to make it move early. Down to turn one and go to the end lane. Take over the race lane. Here comes Fire 3. Still fucking behind them off. Turn number two. Green flag still out.
SPEAKER_02We stay under the green flag. Leaders are in turn number three. Don't fit inity at the point. Not close enough to make the boat to come up with turn number four.
SPEAKER_09He finished with a career best second place finish.
SPEAKER_00You know, it's battery said to me he goes, you know, you got a plan. I've never been in this position before, you know. That's a that's the first two after race I've ever finished without, you know, an issue, whether that be uh tranny a motor, you know, last year we crashed. And I mean we looked across the line, but that's the first one we finished.
SPEAKER_09That effort earns him this week's Hot Dog of the Week Award. The Rocco name has been winning on the modified circuit for more than 50 years. First it was Ronnie Rocco, who had fans cheering at places like Riverside, Plainville, Waterford, and Stafford. Then it was Kid Rock, Keith Rocco, his son, who started winning, including a NASCAR national short track title. Now a third generation has emerged, and he definitely is a chip off the old rock. Let's visit with Keith and his son, KJ.
SPEAKER_17Today, it's Razor Spotlight Time. Brought to you by Riverhead Building Supply. Build stronger.
SPEAKER_09Well, joining me on this episode of the Modified Minute are a pair of Rocco's. Uh Keith Rocco, we all know, we've talked to him before, but the newest superstar in the Rocco family is his son KJ. KJ, uh, you get your first win in Legends cars. So now I want to know you got about you got about 89 more wins before you catch up with your dad.
SPEAKER_10Yeah, it'll take a while to get there.
SPEAKER_09Yeah. Keith, you think you'll still be driving by the time he gets there?
SPEAKER_11I hope not. Um I I'm having a lot of enjoyment I'm having a lot of enjoyment racing with him. Um it's definitely uh the best part of my career is watching him do what he loves doing and to see him get his first win was awesome. That was probably better than any win I ever had.
SPEAKER_09KJ, what was it like that to go to Victory Lane that first time?
SPEAKER_10It was insane thinking how many wins he has there and how many championships and all that good stuff there, and f have my first legend car win there. It's pretty awesome.
SPEAKER_09I was down at Waterford a couple of weeks ago and saw you racing, and coming out of turn two, you had your car sideways and you never lifted off the gas. You are up, you you you just like to go fast, don't you?
SPEAKER_10Yeah. With those things with the w uh power to weight ratio and the uh no power steering, you definitely gotta just do everything you can to keep it going the right way direction.
SPEAKER_09And Keith, before that, you were up to your ass in measuring tires, trying to find the right tire stagger. This has been quite an education for you, hasn't it?
SPEAKER_11It is, but you know, uh I got a lot of connections, you know. I'm good friends with Jason Palmer, who's been uh I mean, I ain't gotta tell you about the Palmers. Um actually on Thursdays, we we throw that his legend car in Jags's trailer and we ride down together, and uh you know they've been a big help to us and um But they're man, they're it's like everything is backwards, and you know, sometimes I'm over there dismounting rights and putting them on the left, and just uh man, it's it's like nothing else I worked on, I can tell you that.
SPEAKER_09Meanwhile, you meanwhile you are pursuing uh a couple of track championships where you sit atop and in three of them you're in the hunt, and uh you you recently came off a big win in uh you know in the uh sign pro triple crown. Your career's at an all-time high as well, is it not?
SPEAKER_11Yeah, yeah, I mean everything comes in doses. Right now it's uh it's all in in the good, you know, but in this sport, I mean there's there's highs of highs and there's lows of lows. Um you know, I said it the other day, sometimes you can get a low and it's very hard to dig out. May not take a week, may not take a month, it could take years, but uh right now, man, everything is going well and it's uh it's great to be back on top.
SPEAKER_09KJ, when your dad hits one of those lows, what advice do you give him?
SPEAKER_10Just keep digging. Try your best and have fun.
SPEAKER_09Well that's sounds like we sounds like you heard that from somebody. Did you hear that from your grandpa or did you hear it from your dad? Or both?
SPEAKER_10I think both. My grandpa came home every week and he's like, Great job bringing the car home in one piece, we'll go get it next week.
SPEAKER_09What I do want to know, KJ, is when are you gonna get your dad in one of them? Because you realize he never liked Legends cars. Wouldn't drive a Legends car ever.
SPEAKER_11I want to say I wouldn't drive one. I drove one, I just didn't like them.
SPEAKER_09He didn't like it, okay? How about a match race between you and him?
SPEAKER_10I've been trying to talk him into running uh legend car for the fifty laper coming up at the end of the season at Waterfare this year.
SPEAKER_09So what what are you not gonna what are you not gonna you know make your make your son's dream come true there, Kithy?
SPEAKER_11I mean the fifty laper be gonna probably be my best shot. These little arms on him get tired after 25, so at least I have something gone for me.
SPEAKER_09The Rocco family's been involved in modified racing from when you were even before KJ. Uh when you followed in the footsteps of your dad. How important is it for you to see a third generation maintain the Rocco racing legacy?
SPEAKER_11It's awesome, you know, especially to uh for my father to watch a third generation, it's it's really cool, you know. Uh wish he could be a little bit more involved, but uh you know, he's all there as far as w watching the YouTube videos and watching his n-car with KJ and they bullshit about it and and kind of talk about it, which is really cool to see. Um yeah, it's just you know, it's in the blood, it's all we ever did, it's all we know, and you know, I mean it comes right down to what I do daily. Like racing's all I know, you know. Um I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but we're gonna keep going with it.
SPEAKER_09Well, I would say so far it's been a good thing with especially with your customer cars and and the success that you've had there. Um KJ, uh I've been across I'm not a big social media guy. I know, you know, kids of your your ilk, you're constantly scrolling back and forth. You've become quite the social media star. I see, I see posts on Instagram, on Facebook. Do you realize that you're a big time modified or Legends Car superstar now?
SPEAKER_10Yeah, like just uh my friends when we play uh when we play the racing simulator, they're like you're gonna be one of the best players on here, this and that. And they're always saying how uh how big of a superstar I am, and I just really uh appreciate it.
SPEAKER_09He he does more PR than you do.
SPEAKER_11Uh he's got somebody that uh that takes care of a forum uh Oh wait a minute, wait a minute. Yeah, he listened you don't even have Facebook on his phone.
SPEAKER_09You're telling me that he already has people.
SPEAKER_11I mean, yeah. Yeah. My wife listen, that's in my wife's in charge, yeah. She told me she was gonna do it. I told her it sounds like a waste of money. Um but it's uh whatever. It's what she wanted to do, so she uh she has somebody on it for him.
SPEAKER_09Well, it it really it it is having an impact. I think the next question for you, Dad, is uh at his age he's got probably a couple more years where he has to be left in legends cars. But what's the long-term plan? When when will you at least let him get in and maybe shake down an SK light?
SPEAKER_11Um, it's funny. We uh I had an uh I have an old away car that's gotta get put together, and I told him when he gets it together he can go down the speedball and practice it on a Wednesday, but uh I'm not gonna do it for him. I'll help him, but when when he gets out there and buttons it up, he can he can make his debut on a Wednesday and see what it's like to drive a modified.
SPEAKER_09So KJ, when are you gonna finish the job?
SPEAKER_11Hopefully soon. Being a kid is kinda getting in the way a little bit, you know. You're only uh you're only young one, so uh you know, uh he does a great job working on it and understanding it, and you know, right down to uh I mean even the day you were there, we came in from practice and we were he was talking, it was too tight, and you know, I said let's make a wedge adjustment, and I jacked it up and I made him do it so he understands and you know it processes in his head so next time he understands what needs to be done and what it does and why it does it, and you know, is it gonna benefit us or not?
SPEAKER_09Pete, go get some championships and KJ, go get another win. We'll work on your dad to racing that 50 lapper, okay?
SPEAKER_08All right.
SPEAKER_09Before we go, it's time for another chapter of either or. And this week it's Jonathan Puglio's dad, Ed, who occupies the seat for a very special racers only edition.
SPEAKER_17It's either or, where our guest must choose one or the other. Brought to you by Mr. Rooter Plumbing, expert plumbing contractors you can trust. This week it's a special racer edition.
SPEAKER_09All right, Ed, you're a racer, so I thought you would be the appropriate guy to participate in what I'm calling either or the racer edition. Here's how it works. I'm gonna give you two choices, and then you get to pick one. That's why it's called either or. Are you ready? I think so. Okay, a simple pit cart, or in your wildest dreams, having a multi-level pit central like they have at the cup level.
SPEAKER_14Oh, a simple pit cart all day. Nice. A large race shop or a small race shop? Large race shop because I make a mess and I need room for all my mess.
SPEAKER_09Okay. If you have to choose one, either brand new tires or a brand new engine.
SPEAKER_14Oof, that's a tough one. Um, I'm gonna go with the tires. Why? Because the tires are the are what's between the car and the racetrack, and you could have all the engine in the world. If the tires aren't there, you're not going anywhere.
SPEAKER_09Alright, this one is a hypothetical. Either a pit stop where you're allowed to change tires, or pit stops where you're not allowed to change tires.
SPEAKER_14Uh, not allowed to change tires. Why? Um because then it just keeps it even for equal for everybody. I just think it keeps an even playing field.
SPEAKER_09Alright, and finally, and you've experienced this at the SK Lights level with JP, either spotters or no spotters.
SPEAKER_14I'm gonna go with no spotters. Okay. Um, and and and no spotters, um, more so that it's an entry-level division, but and you know, it's kind of complicated, but I've experienced a lot where the spotters try to drive the car. And if you let's face it, the SK Lite, the intent of the SK Lite was originally to learn. Um, you know, it it wasn't what it is today, where people are building brand new cars to go run SK Lights. The intent is for people to learn modified racing and learn how to drive. And um, you know, I just feel that it's better for the driver to learn how to drive um and you know, not have the spotter drive. There's wrecks, whether we have spotters or not, they're wrecking, right? So obviously that's not the answer.
SPEAKER_09Well, we appreciate you sitting in the hot seat here on this special racer's edition of Either Oar. Thank you for having me. Well, it's time to call a lid on this week's show, but before we sign off, I do have an update to share with you. My visit with Chris Matthews came the day before he captured his SK Lite feature at Stafford this past weekend. You see, I was in Washington, D.C. working the Freedom 250 Grand Prix. But no more than five minutes after Matthews' win, I received a text from Chris that simply said, I made those 22 laps tonight. Yes, Chris, you did. Make sure that you come back next week when I'll have another episode of the only podcast 100% devoted to the world of modified racing. The modified minute.
SPEAKER_17This has been the modified minute. Modified minute has been brought to you by Quadel Communications, the official crack type radio supplier for the mod squad. Build smarter, build better, five minutes of plumbing, export plumbing, contractors, you can cross flying your expectations.