Blaine Rocha Seeks to Get Back on Track at a Familiar Venue
Bakersfield, CA – Former Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series Kern County Raceway Park (CA) winner Blaine Rocha will return to the series after missing the last two rounds of the season, while racing on the East Coast. Rocha has expanded his schedule in 2023 to participate in select SRL National and ASA Stars National Tour events. Rocha will make his 25th career Super Late Model start at KCRP, in the June 17th “JM ENVIRONMENTAL, INC. Wild West Shootout – For Those About to Rock 107”.
The Oakdale, CA driver is returning from his participation with the ASA Stars National Tour at North Wilkesboro Speedway (NC) and Hickory Motor Speedway (NC). After Qualifying was rained out at North Wilkesboro, Rocha was forced to run the Last Chance Qualifying race, where he transferred into the 32-car field, with a 52-car entry. Rocha finished 20th in the event after having to start the feature event on worn tires after the LCQ. At Hickory he finished 20th after running just inside the top-10, when an accident ended his day, 11 laps short of the finish.
Rocha also participated in the SRL National “Rattler 250”, at South Alabama Speedway (AL). He qualified 12th in the 32-car field, but completed only 137 laps, finishing 22nd. At Five Flags Speedway (FL), he finished 13th in a 35-car ASA Stars National Tour field. Back home in California he was a disappointing 23rd in the “All-Star Showdown 200” at Irwindale Speedway after running in the top-five. He was 12th in the Winter Showdown at KCRP, after leading 40 laps. Rocha will be looking for a little luck on the 17th, returning to the SRL, at a facility for which he has the win, four top-five and 13 top-10 finishes.
“I’m really excited to get back to Kern and the SRL”, Rocha stated. “We learned a lot back East, running against the rest of the best Super Lates in the country. We had some tough luck at Hickory but still came out on a positive note. It’s all about the experiences and the people you surround yourself with. We have had really strong runs at Kern the last two times we have been there, just bad luck struck us. I think we will go back and compete for the win. We just have to put it all together as a team.”
If Rocha can shake the bad luck, look for the two-time series winner to be in contention for his third SRL victory and his second at KCRP. He will do it with help from a team he values, a team he appreciates, and a team for which he would love to establish some momentum.
“I can’t thank the Strmiska family, Duane Sharp, and Gary Crooks with Port City Racecars for all their continued hard work. I really want to get my guys a win. We need that confidence booster.”
The “JM Environmental Inc. Wild West Shootout – For Those About to Rock 107” for the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series will take place on June 17th and will be a single day event for the Super Late Models, Spears Modified Series, and the Spears Pro Late Models presented by Sigma Performance Services. The Super Late Models will race for $10,000, with $800 to start and $1,200 for those on the Spears Frequent Flyer Program. The starting lineup will be set through a Heat race, which will pay $1,000 to the winner, thanks to H&S Body Works and Towing. The Heat lineup will be based off practice times for the series, with a redraw or invert at the front of the field. The Liuna “Feel the Power” Fireworks Spectacular will also be a part of the evening.
Celebrating its twenty third season in 2023, the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series is a regional stock car series competing on paved ovals in the southwestern portion of the U.S. “The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series…Where the Champions Race”.
