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Morris Moves Closer To Title

Philip Morris has moved closer to his third NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national championship in the last four years before he even takes the track for his final race of the season Saturday night.

The Ruckersville, Va., driver entered the final weekend of the season with a 19-point lead over Keith Rocco of Wallingford, Conn.

Rocco finished third in a 21-car field in the Sunoco Modified division at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway Thursday night. The 38 points received from the race matched his worst of 18 starts, leaving him still at 816 to Morris' 835 points. Rocco got worse new Friday when persistent showers forced Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway to call off its Friday night program.

That leaves Rocco's schedule with just Saturday night's SK Modified division feature at the Waterford (Conn.) Speedbowl to increase his points total. Even if he were to win with a maximum 23-car field, he would only reach 829 points.

A driver’s best 18 results are counted toward their state and national points totals. Deadline for races to count toward NASCAR championship points standings is Sunday, Sept. 13. 

All points totals are unofficial until released by NASCAR Points & Membership Department, after verification of results and car counts on Wednesday.

Bill Leighton of Omaha, Neb., and Nick Joanides of Woodland Hills, Calif., are tied for third with 803.

Leighton wrapped up the dirt Late Model championship at I-80 Speedway in Omaha with a seventh-place run last Sunday in the track’s final points race. He has one race remaining at Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb., and can wrap up the track championship there.

Joanides has twin Super Late Model features Saturday at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.).

Neither Leighton nor Joanides can match Morris’ total if they only run their scheduled races. Leighton's worst of his 18 finishes is a 34-point, seventh-place finish and the highest he can go is 820 with a win. Joanides' two worst finishes are a pair of 36-point nights. If he wins twice with the maximum of 23 cars in the field, his points total would be 829.

Morris won the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national title in 2006 and 2008. He and five-time champion Larry Phillips are the only drivers to win the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series championship more than once. Morris has also locked up his third straight NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Virginia state championship. However, he has one more goal this weekend. He enters the 150-lap Late Model race at his home track, Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va., with just a two-point lead over Frank Deiny Jr. Morris is fifth straight track title and seventh overall, while Deiny is looking for his second track championship.