CRSA SPRINTS AND HOLDOVER G&I HOMES OF VERNON PRO STOCK FEATURE ADD TO AN EXCITING FATHERS DAY SHOW THIS SUNDAY AT UTICA-ROME SPEEDWAY
Story By:JOHN TIFF / UTICA ROME SPEEDWAY Photos By:JAY FISH / RACERSGUIDE.COM
VERNON, NY- June 16, 2016-After getting two shows completed this past week, Utica-Rome Speedway is ready to get back to its weekly pace of running on Sunday evenings and a quick look at the long range forecast show Chamber of Commerce type weather this coming Sunday, June 19.
To help celebrate Father’s Day, the CRSA 305 Sprints will be in action along with a full show of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series featuring the Gates-Cole Insurance Modifieds, SUNY Canton 602 Sportsman, Broedel Energy Open Sportsman, and G&I Homes of Vernon Pro Stocks on Quality Manufacturing and Parks Paving & Sealing night. The G&I Homes of Vernon will also complete their rain delayed feature event from May 22.
Matt Sheppard had a successful two race outing last week in defense of his Gates-Cole Insurance Modified championship as he grabbed a fifth place finish and his third win of the season at the Vernon oval. Second place point man Larry Wight was able to keep pace though as he had two top fives of his own. Danny Varin currently is a close third in the standings with Pat Ward in fourth, Tim Fuller and Marc Johnson tied for the fifth spot. Rounding out the top ten in the standings is Vic Coffey, Rob Bellinger, Mike Mahaney, and Matt Hulsizer. These drivers and more, including Alan Johnson, Vinnie Vitale, and Tim Mayne as they battle for the $2,000 win.
In the New York State NASCAR Whelen All-American Series standings, Sheppard and Wight vaulting to the top after their performances last week. Sheppard holds the top spot followed by Wight with Varin, Ward, Fuller, and Coffey showing up in the top 20. Sheppard also leads the way in wins as he has three so far with Wight and Bellinger each have one victory each.
The SUNY Canton 602 Sportsman will also be back in action as Matt Janczuk comes into this weekend as the point leader over JaMIke Sowle, Rocky Warner, Glenn Forward, Chris Mackey, Beth Bellinger, Jason Rood, John Christian, Kyle Kiehn, and Daryl Nutting. Each week, the SUNY Canton 602 Sportsman put on some clean and hard fought racing with the winner in doubt until the checkered flag falls. In point events, Janczuk, Warner, and Rood have collected one win apiece.
Another extremely competitive division so far in 2016 has been the Broedel Energy Open Sportsman as there have been four different faces in Victory Lane in four events completed in 2016. Steve Way, the most recent winner, is the current point leader over Jack Miller, Claude Hutchings Jr., Jeremy Vunk, Randy Shantel, Craig Pope, Tom Tophoven, Heath Carney, Mark Effner, and Jim Rothwell. Besides Way, Miller, Hutchings, and Vunk have also collected wins in 2016.
Speaking of tight competition, the G&I Homes of Vernon Pro Stocks standings show a mere 18 points separating the top five with Mike Welch holding just a two-point edge over Nick Stone, with Luke Horning and Pete Stefanski just 12 markers back. Fifth place point man Jim Normoyle is 18 points back followed by Chris Carr, Bill Knapp, Travis Welch, Gus Hollner, and Frank Hyatt. Horning is the only driver to win multiple events so far as he has two wins, including the big King of Dirt Pro Stock Series win this past Sunday. Welch and Normoyle also have wins so far in the young season.
The CRSA Sprints will be making their visit of the season and if the past stops by the popular traveling group are any indication, this Sunday should be an exciting show. The CRSA Sprints features some veterans looking to have some competitive fun along with some younger drivers looking for some valuable seat time before possibly moving into the more powerful 360 Sprints. If the Sprints can come close to matching the excitement from the 360 Sprint A-Main this past Sunday, it will be an awesome event. Scott Goodrich comes into this weekend as the current point leader over Eddie Strada, Kyle Smith, Josh Flint, Emily VanInwegan, Dalton Herrick, Thomas Radivoy, Brett Jaycox, Dana Wagner, and Sydney Pierce.
Gates open at 3:30 p.m. for the special Father’s Day event, with racing getting underway at 6 p.m.
The Utica-Rome Speedway is located on Route 5 in Vernon and is just minutes from the New York State Thruway. For more information, including full point standings, please log on to www.uticaromespeedway.com. The speedway office can be contacted by calling (315)829-4557
