Anticipated Trips To Utica Rome & Bear Ridge Await The Tour
Story By:ROB HAZER / KOD SERIES MEDIA Photos By:DAVE DALESANDRO / RACERSGUIDE.COM
Fonda, NY- March 24, 2015 – After delaying far too long it was time for King Of Dirt Racing to drop the schedule release to drivers and fans. Along with core tracks Albany-Saratoga and Lebanon Valley Speedways, drivers were able to get a glimpse at two new tracks joining the upcoming KOD season. Utica Rome Speedway and Bear Ridge are welcomed additions to the tour and will challenge drivers due to their diverse sizes.
Utica Rome Speedway needs no formal introduction. The ‘action track of the east’ has been in operation since 1961. It’s rich history and storied field of hall-of-fame drivers past and present have wowed crowds for many years. In 1987 Alton Palmer won Utica Rome’s first ever Sportsman track championship.
Long since has Alton moved on into the Modified division, but today Utica fields some tough competition in the Sportsman ranks. On May 15th those drivers will be tested when the King Of Dirt Crate Sportsman and Pro Stocks open their season at the Vernon, NY speedway.
Utica Rome is a half-mile semi-banked speed palace with a cushion that tests a drivers fortitude. It’s often smooth, sometimes slick, and provides action keeping everyone on edge. The tracks wide surface provides for multiple groves of racing sometimes three or four wide. Part of the appeal is the competition that roams the historic speedway just waiting to claim a triumphant victory.
“I’ve spent many years at Utica Rome watching some really talented drivers. They’ve got guys like Warner, Janczuk, Filbeck, Clark, Kiehn, Fink, Barker, Leone, and more in Sportsman that can win. It’ll be tough for series guys to roll in and claim victory, but that’s why we dare drivers to win,” said KOD Promoter Rob Hazer.
Also on May 15th the Pro Stock drivers will open the KOD touring season at Utica Rome. Drivers like Stone, Speed, Yetman, Older, Horning, Hollner, and others will challenge track powerhouses like Forward, Welch, Carr, Effner, and Didsby to a full-fender throw down for the crown.
“I’m looking forward to opening the season at Utica. It will get those drivers involved early along with the tour drivers that come to race. When I spoke with Bill Shea he was excited and it’s mutual. I look forward to working with him into the future at Utica,” continued Rob Hazer.
Polar opposites by definition simply means completely different. That’s exactly what drivers can expect when the King Of Dirt Crate Sportsman tour swings into Bear Ridge Speedway on September 24th for the season finale of wheel-to-wheel short track action going 100 laps.
Nestled in Bradford Vermont rests a little gem known as home of the coupes. Don’t let that deceive you, for there is some seriously strong competitors in the Sportsman Modified ranks that wrestle weekly for short track supremacy at Bear Ridge Speedway. The Elms family has run it since the beginning dating back to 1968 and now Chuck Elms serves as promotional mastermind, whom gives fans, nail biting action each week.
When the KOD Sportsman series rolls into town for the ‘Green Mountain State Clash’ it’ll be to crown a champion on neutral territory with the throne up for grabs. Fans from all walks of racing life will converge on the speedway, grab some of the amazing food, and enjoy edge of their seat racing action on the quarter mile speedway.
“Honestly I think it’s going to be great heading to Bear Ridge for the KOD Sportsman finale. It’s neutral territory, it’s a polar opposite of Utica Rome where we open the season, and by that time we’ll know exactly who the contenders are for the crown,” said Rob Hazer.
Drivers can expect tough racing, as home track competitors like Pierson, Chaffee, Fornwalt, Graham, Sunn, and Simmons will test the best KOD has to offer in a 100 lap brawl. It’s even rumored there may be an appearance by an 8-time track champion who will come out of retirement just for the KOD series first trip to Bear Ridge.
“We are really excited to be incorporating our big season finale with the KOD Series finale in 2016. The 100 lap race is sure to offer great competition to drivers and fast paced edge of your seat action for the fans,” said Bear Ridge promoter Chuck Elms.
“I can tell you one thing that I know for sure when KOD visits Bear Ridge on September 24th; it won’t be easy. We’re time trailing to set heat lineups and from there a driver has to master his or her short track skills and not necessarily the speed. Once a driver does that they’ll have to contend with some stubborn track regulars who honestly are pretty good race car drivers,” concluded Rob Hazer.
Exciting times are in store for King Of Dirt Racing and tour drivers in 2016. Both Utica Rome Speedway and Bear Ridge Speedway are welcomed additions to the series, which of course includes core tracks Albany-Saratoga Speedway and Lebanon Valley Speedway.
NOTE: Please note there will be no King Of Dirt Pro Stock race at Fonda Speedway on August 10th and KOD is in no way affiliated with Glen Ridge Motorsports Park and the ‘Grand Daddy’ event they have scheduled in September. Any questions can be directed to KOD promoter Rob Hazer. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
For more information on Utica Rome Speedway visit www.uticaromespeedway.com.
For more info regarding Bear Ridge Speedway visit www.bearridgespeedway.com.
For more information on the King Of Dirt Racing Series visit on the web at www.speedzoneonline.org.
You can also find King Of Dirt via Twitter @kodracingseries or @kodracing.
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King Of Dirt Crate Sportsman Tour Schedule
05/15/16 – Utica Rome Speedway – ‘602 Spring Fling’
30 Laps / $1,000 To Win / $100 To Start
06/24/16 – Albany Saratoga Speedway – ‘Friday Night Lights’
30 Laps / $1,000 To Win / $100 To Start
07/09/16 – Lebanon Valley Speedway – ‘Battle On The Banks’
30 Laps / $1,000 To Win / $100 To Start
09/01/16 – Lebanon Valley Speedway – ‘Mr. Crate Track USA’
30 Laps / $1,000 To Win / $100 To Start
09/09/16 – Albany Saratoga Speedway – ‘Northeast Crate Nationals
100 Laps / $2,225 To Win / $225 To Start (Championship Points Scale)
09/10/16 – Utica Rome Speedway – ‘Salute To Our Troops’
30 Laps / $1,000 To Win / $100 To Start
09/24/16 – Bear Ridge Speedway – ‘Green Mountain State Clash’
$1,250 To Win / $100 To Start
King Of Dirt Pro Stock Tour Schedule
05/15/16 – Utica Rome Speedway – ‘Action Track Throwdown’
30 Laps / $750 To Win / $50 To Start
06/03/16 – Albany Saratoga Speedway – ‘Pro Stock Classic’
30 Laps / $750 To Win / $50 To Start (Championship Point Scale)
07/08/16 – Albany Saratoga Speedway – ‘Full Fender Firecracker’
30 Laps / $750 To Win / $50 To Start
08/27/16 – Lebanon Valley Speedway – ‘Battle On The Banks’
30 Laps / $750 To Win / $50 To Start
09/09/16 – Utica Rome Speedway – ‘Seize The Crown’
30 Laps / $750 To Win / $50 To Start (Show Up Points)
King Of Dirt Racing Series are brought to you in part by sponsors and partners that include Albany Saratoga Speedway, Lebanon Valley Speedway, Bear Ridge Speedway, Utica Rome Speedway, 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, Dodson Construction, Hoosier Racing Tire, Elmo’s Speed & Supply, Elmo’s Auto Body, DKM Fabrication, Fox Racing Shocks, Fastline Performance, Beyea Custom Headers & Exhausts, Bicknell Racing Products, Axcel Sports, Boyd’s Motorworks, Flach Performance Products, Extreme Speed & Performance, Bill McGaffin Photography, Lazzaro’s Auto Body, JTees Screen Printing, Bloomfield’s Florist, Dean’s Electrical Services, H&R Motorsports, Ryder’s Lawn Care, Next Generation Roofing, Speed’s Garage, Stone Motorsports, A1 Installers, Racers Guide, Race Pro Weekly, Final Reward Trophy, Dirt Track Digest, Midnight Music Machine DJ Service, and Mayhem Motorsports.
