For more information on the team visit www.menziesmotorsports.com

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – One of the best viewing areas – especially during practice – at Waterford Speedbowl is the small strip of grass that stretches from the back pit-out service gate around Turn 3. You have a perfect view down the backstretch and the turns. In addition, while the crew members, drivers and assorted on-lookers that congregate there may vary throughout the day, the constant – as it seems to be a rule in many short tracks – is there is never a shortage of opinions.

As I tracked the 2010 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series points throughout the summer for NASCAR, I couldn’t help but remember those days back in 2003 when, as the auto racing writer for The Day of New London, Conn., I heard plenty from the gallery about this 18-year-old rookie in the Street Stock Division at the Connecticut track.

The consensus was the kid could flat out drive.

Even in one of the track’s entry level divisions, Keith Rocco’s ability to manhandle the car around the 1/3-mile asphalt oval and near fearless ability to put the car in positions others wouldn’t earned him both admirers and detractors. He produced his share of banged up quarterpanels and bruised egos. But there was no denying the kid could wheel a race car.

“Right from the get go, the kid showed talent,” said Waterford Speedbowl track promoter Terry Eames. “The imprint from his father is clear. The second generation is alive and well.

“He epitomizes the old time racer, running three nights a week; making sure he got a job in an engine shop so he could build race cars. He lives, eats and breathes this sport.”

That’s the thing. Even in his earliest racing days, it didn’t take much to see that Rocco could prepare a race car. And he could drive a race car. But the fine line dividing drivers who achieve their ultimate goal and those that fall just short can often be traced to things that aren’t readily apparent watching them drive.

And that’s where Rocco arguably achieved his greatest success in 2010.

His indisputable driving ability had garnered him track titles and top five finishes in the national standings over the years.

His attitude of ‘I just drive to win races and the points will take care of themselves’ manifested itself in some great on-track battles with veterans like Ted Christopher, Todd Ceravolo and Ron Yuhas Jr. Whether their car wound up in Victory Lane or towed off on a hook, Rocco and Co. made sure the fans got their monies worth.

The question, though, remained: Could Rocco drive all out and still earn his ultimate goal of winning a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national championship? Factor in the handicapping system used at the Connecticut short tracks, where the fast cars started in the back and had 35 or 40 laps to get to the front, and the odds were stacked against him.

But that’s where that Rocco who first turned heads driving his Street Stock on the very edge of out-of-control, showed the poise and maturity of a champion.

Dominate out of the gate, Rocco never wavered. Too many times in years past, he had led the national points through the summer months only to hit a late season dry spell that ultimately cost him the championship. Those memories stuck in his mind on the track and through late hours at the shop.

Rocco had learned over the years there was more to this racing thing than wheeling a car around the track as fast as he could.

It surfaced in every conversation with him. It always came back to the same things. It was about the team that worked so hard alongside him. It was about the tracks he ran at and the competitors he battled with on seemingly a nightly basis that pushed him to be better. It was about winning a championship in the backyard of series sponsor Whelen Engineering, knowing how much love and support Phil Kurze and his company put into short-track racing. It was about acknowledging the Modified legends of the region, whose example of racing at every opportunity he followed literally.

And, in the end, it was about being able to be on stage at the NASCAR Hall of Fame representing all those that had put their faith and support in that kid’s driving talent back when he was starting, and he understood what it meant to be a champion for them.

“It’s something you can only dream of,” Rocco would say whenever asked about winning the national championship.

Those that have been around him over the years will tell you this is a different Rocco. A wiser, more mature Rocco. Maybe the adage is true that first you have to lose before you win. Maybe it was coming so close to the national title over the last several years. Or the heartbreaking part failure that cost him a shot at the Waterford track championship on the final day of the 2009 season.

Whatever is was, Rocco has proven to be well worthy of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series champions that came before him.

About the seventh or eighth day in a row of the postseason in which I had to call Rocco for one small matter or another pertaining to his championship, I just had to kid him about whether he was beginning to wonder whether all this extra logistics he now had to handle was making him second-guess whether it was worth it. After all, second-place would have a lot fewer demands on his time and Rocco was always more comfortable behind the wheel of a race car or in the garage.

He never even paused for a second.

This championship was too precious. Too hard-earned. And represented the hopes and dreams of too many people.

“No way,” Rocco said. “There’s a lot of stuff you have to do to represent and be a champion, but to me it’s pretty cool. NASCAR does a lot for the champions and makes them feel like a true champion.”

The Connecticut Sports Writers’ Alliance is pleased to announce that Keith Rocco, the 2010 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champion, has been named the Bill Lee Male Athlete of the Year, and Maya Moore, a guard/forward on the national champion University of Connecticut women’s basketball team, has been named the Hank O’Donnell Female Athlete of the Year

Both athletes will be honored at the 70th annual Gold Key Dinner, which will be held April 17 at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington.

Rocco, who competes in the SK Modified divisions at Stafford Motor Speedway, Thompson International Speedway and the Waterford Speedbowl, earned the national championship based on a formula that ranks performances at short tracks across the country. The best 18 finishes for each driver count toward the championship, and Rocco secured the title with his 18th victory in a full field of cars Aug. 14 at the Waterford Speedbowl. He finished with 22 victories in 2010 and also finished in the top five on in 45 races and in the top 10 in 56 races.

A native of Wallingford who lives in Meriden, Rocco is the first driver to win The Alliance’s Bill Lee Male Athlete of the Year award since it was first given out in 1973.

Moore had a team-high 18.9 points per game and 150 assists in 2009-10 for the Huskies, who won their seventh NCAA championship following a 39-0 season. She ranked in the top 12 in the Big East in 10 statistical categories and had 14 double-doubles, and was named the 2010 Final Four Most Outstanding Player and the 2010 State Farm Wade Trophy Player of the Year.

A native of Collins Hill, Ga., Moore is currently a senior at UConn. She is the sixth UConn women’s basketball player to win the Hank O’Donnell Female Athlete of the Year award since it was first issued in 1984, joining Kerry Bascom (1991), Rebecca Lobo (1995), Jennifer Rizzotti (1996), Nykesha Sales (1999) and Diana Taurasi (2004).

Since 1940, the Alliance has recognized individuals from Connecticut who have achieved excellence on the youth, high school, college and professional levels. Those receiving the Gold Key this year include UConn-Avery Point baseball coach Roger Bidwell, Simsbury boys golf and boys soccer coach Ed Lynch, Notre Dame-Fairfield boys hockey coach Marty Roos and retired boys soccer coach Bill Wallach.

The Lovell brothers are back for another attempt at becoming the King of the Hammers. After losing the race by a mere 28 seconds in 2010 and pulling off a 2nd place finish in last fall’s Ultra 4 Stampede, the brothers are putting everything they have behind a shot at the win. “This is our chance to get that 28 seconds back,” said Brad, “Not only have we made both trucks faster, but they are also safer and more reliable. We have the best team we could ask for and know how to play the game.”

Lovell Racing welcomes back their core group of supporters after a challenging season in TORC. AMSOIL returns as the team’s title sponsor. “We can’t say enough about the quality of AMSOIL and integrity of the people behind it. We are proud to have a loyal relationship with a company so entrenched in racing.” BFGoodrich Tires, Torchmate, and Spidertrax will headline the team’s campaign with new products and programs. Also returning this year are Art Carr Performance Products, Trailready, Fox Racing Shox, Robinson Construction, Aeroquip, Motive Gear, Howe, Proformance Unlimited, Dynotech, and Warn.

Even with such a dedicated group of sponsors, the team is always on the hunt for meaningful new relationships. In 2011, Lovell Racing welcomes 4 Wheel Parts, FK Rod Ends, and Powertank to the team. “We have an exciting new team relationship with 4 Wheel Parts that will unfurl throughout the season. It is great to have them on-board because they can quickly connect many of our sponsor’s products to the consumer. In the case of FK and Powertank, we are fortunate to build a relationship with companies known to make the best products.”

Also helping the team in their hopes for a win are great starting positions. #232 Lovell / Schwiesow will leave the line 7th while #4423 Lovell / Ashley will depart 9th. “This is the first good draw we have had,” adds Brad, “Starting 88th cost us the race last year. I still prefer a qualifier but can’t complain too loudly.”

AMSOIL will be providing emergency fluid support for competitors during King of the Hammers. If you’re in need, find the Lovell pit (near the midway) and they will take care of you. Lovell Racing will also be selling team t-shirts and hoodies.

Follow Cap’s progress at www.CapHenryRacing.com