VERNON, NY- After a two-week hiatus due to Mother Nature, Utica-Rome Speedway will again attempt to return to weekly racing schedule this Sunday, May 15, with another action packed show.  Whelen Engineering and Gates-Cole Insurance will present the inaugural visit of both the King of Dirt Crate Sportsman Series and the King of DIRT Pro Stock Series plus NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing for the Gates-Cole Insurance Modifieds and Broedel Energy Open Sportsman. 

On Sunday, Utica-Rome Speedway’s SUNY Canton 602 Sportsman drivers will take on some of the best 602 Sportsman drivers in the region as a host of invading teams are expected to gather at the Vernon oval for the King of DIRT Crate Sportsman Series opener.  Last season, defending Utica-Rome Speedway track champion Rocky Warner was also the first ever champion for the fledgling series.  Warner held of Connor Cleveland, Chad Edwards, Jason Gray, Michael Sabia, Cody Bleau, Jeremy Pitts, David Schilling, Jon Miller, Robert Bublak, Jr. and many other on his way to the series title.  UR track regulars including current point leader Matt Janczuk won’t make it easy for the incoming drivers however, as they hope to use the home track advantage to their favor.  Besides Janczuk, Warner, JaMike Sowle, Glenn Forward, Chris Mackey, and many others will lead the Utica-Rome Speedway charge to the checkers and the $1,000 top prize. 

The King of Dirt Pro Stock Series, like it’s 602 Sportsman counterpart, is expected to the bring in a large contingent of travelling teams as they look the capture the $750 first place prize and start their run towards the 2016 King of DIRT title.  Last season, Nick Stone outlasted such drivers as Robbie Speed, Rob Yetman, Jason Casey, Dan Older and many more to capture the title.  Stone has been a regular at the Vernon oval in 2016 and he hopes to use that as an advantage to start his title defense.  Luke Horning is the current UR point leader in the G&I Homes of Vernon Pro Stocks over Stone, Pete Stefanski, Mike Welch, Gus Hollner, Bill Knapp, Chris Carr, Jim Normoyle, Travis Welch, and Frank Hyatt. 

For more information on the King of DIRT Series, please visit www.speedzoneonline.org or email kingofdirtracingseries@gmail.com.  

In the Gates-Cole Insurance Modifieds, defending track champion Matt Sheppard and Larry Wight have had the most success so far in 2016.  Sheppard has grabbed two wins so far while Wight has captured the win in the only other main event completed.  Although it is still early in the season, Sheppard is the current point leader followed by Wight, Tim Fuller, Pat Ward, Danny Varin, Matt Hulsizer, Marc Johnson, Vic Coffey, Mike Mahaney, and Ryan Phelps. 

The Broedel Energy Open Sportsman will also be in competition on Sunday with opening night victor Jeremy Vunk is tied with Heath Carney at the top the current standings over 2015 champion Steve Way, Claude Hutchings Jr., Jim Rothwell, Tom Tophoven, Jack Miller, Lucas Heintz, Mark Effner, Randy Shantel, and Craig Pope. 

Gates will open at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday with racing starting at 6 p.m.  Adult admission is set $16 for the fast paced show with kids under 16 free.  For more information, please log on to www.uticaromespeedway.com or call the speedway office at (315)829-4557.  The speedway also utilizes some of the popular social media sites including Facebook and Twitter.  The speedway is located on Route 5 just east of Vernon, just minutes from the New York State Thruway.