INTERLOCHEN, Mich. -- It’s been a trying season for 2011 Cherry Raceway UMP Modifieds Track Champion Joe Rokos. After his career season of a year ago, the 2012 campaign has seen the Interlochen, Michigan driver visit victory lane only once, and that was at Owendale Speedway in Owendale, Michigan in late June.

So with a return trip to his home track (Cherry Raceway) in Fife Lake, Michigan for a weekly show within the United Midwestern Promoters (UMP) DIRTcar Racing Series, Rokos was hoping to turn around the rest of the season and begin the month of August on a high note. Going into the weekend at cherry, Rokos was sitting third in the season long points chase at Cherry.

However the string of bad luck continued for Rokos. After finishing second in his heat race in a thrilling battle with veteran Dennis Taghon, Rokos started on the outside of the second row and quickly took the lead and maintained the point until lap 14 when the motor in Rokos’ #77r open-wheeled Modified let go ending his night.

“Tough battle with Dennis (Taghon) in the heat, probably one of the best side by side races I have been in for a couple years. Good hard clean racing. Just fell a little short.” The 30-year-old stated. “We had a good lead in the Feature and then the motor just blew up! We just can’t catch a break this year. The car was the best it has been all year at Cherry too. I knew with the year we had last year it was going to be hard to top but follow the best year I ever had with the worst year I really didn’t expect that.” He added.

With a new power plant going under the hood, Rokos and crew will head to the next Allstar Performance Michigan Dirt Cup Modifieds Tour Presented by Lane Automotive event at the fast 1/3 (0.333) mile semi-banked dirt oval of Mt. Pleasant Speedway in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan on Saturday, August 11th.

The night before on Friday, August 10th, JRR is tentatively going to make the trip to I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Michigan as the UMP Modifieds join the USAC National Sprint Cars Series on a special “Flashback Friday” on the tracks famed ½ (0.500) mile high-banked dirt oval.

For the rest of the 2012 racing season, Rokos’ white #77 Joe Rokos Racing / Rocket by Ruhlman Racecars entry will carry sponsorship decals from: Gilboes Lock & Safe as well as Magnum Solvents, Thirlby Automotive, CRM Inc. Powder Coating, Allstar Performance, Westside Beverage, Cooter Thunder, Rokos Construction, Bell Racing Helmets, Ultrashield Race Products, Ron Coyne Tool & Machine, Tim & Pam Tank, and M.P.H. Promotions.

To learn more about Joe Rokos and the Joe Rokos Racing Team and to inquire about additional sponsorship opportunities for the remainder of the 2012 season, please go to the website at: www.joerokosracing.com You can also e-mail JRR at: hotrodracing77@yahoo.com and don’t forget about the Joe Rokos Racing Facebook Fan Page at: www.facebook.com/joerokos77