VERNON, NY- The 2016 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series at Utica-Rome Speedway got off to a promising start back on April 17 with the first two dates filled with exciting racing.  Since the last full show that was completed on April 24, Mother Nature has intervened on five straight race nights.  Speedway officials are hopeful that the month of June will turn around the trend set in May as this Sunday, June 5, another fast paced night of action is planned.  Charles Tibbitts Masonry, Community Car Wash, and Whelen Engineering are set to present a complete show of Gates-Cole Insurance Modifieds, SUNY Canton 602 Sportsman, Broedel Energy Open Sportsman, G&I Homes of Vernon Pro Stocks, and Novice Sportsman.  The holdover G&I Homes of Vernon Pro Stock feature from May 22 will also be completed. 

Matt Sheppard is the early point leader in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Gates-Cole Insurance Modifieds. Sheppard leads Larry Wight, Tim Fuller, Pat Ward, Danny Varin, Matt Hulsizer, Marc Johnson, Vic Coffey, Mike Mahaney, and Ryan Phelps.  Sheppard has two victories so far with Wight also grabbing an early season win.  Sheppard is in the midst of a three way tie for the lead in the New York State NASCAR Whelen All-American Series standings while Wight (4^th), Fuller (5^th), Ward (9^th), Varin (11^th), Hulsizer (12^th), Chris Hile (16^th), Marc Johnson (18^th), and Coffey (20^th) all find themselves in the top 20. 

The SUNY Canton 602 Sportsman have seen outstanding competition in the limited amount of times they have seen action with defending champion Rocky Warner and Jason Rood each finding Victory Lane.  Matt Janczuk is the early season point leader over Warner, JaMike Sowle, Glenn Forward, Chris Mackey, John Christian, Rood, David Schilling, Corey Barker, Rocco Leone, Kyle Kiehn, and Daryl Nutting. 

Jeremy Vunk and Heath Carney are tied atop the Broedel Energy Open Sportsman rankings with Steve Way, Claude Hutchings Jr., Jim Rothwell, Tom Tophoven, Jack Miller, Lucas Heintz, Mark Effner, Randy Shantel, and Craig Pope.  Vunk and Hutchings are the two feature winners so far this season. 

The G&I Homes of Vernon Pro Stock rankings are sure to see a shake up after this Sunday with two feature events on the schedule with the regularly scheduled event plus a holdover event from May 22.  Currently, opening night winner Luke Horning is the point leader and being chased by Nick Stone, Pete Stefanski, Mike Welch, Gus Hollner, Bill Knapp, Chris Carr, Jim Normoyle, Travis Welch, and Frank Hyatt.  Normoyle is the most recent winner.  The May 22 feature lineup is locked and cars will not be added.   

The Novice Sportsman division is new to Utica-Rome Speedway and is exactly what it says.  The class is designed for drivers simply looking for seat time with drivers with the same experience level.  This will be open to all Novice Sportsman who meet the criteria for the division.  Utica-Rome Speedway management has the final say on who is eligible.

With the added feature events, track management looks to start racing action 15 minutes earlier at 5:45 p.m.  Gates will open at 3:30 p.m.  Kids 16 and under are FREE. 

Utica-Rome Speedway can be found on Route 5 in Vernon NY, just minutes from the New York State Thruway.  Operating on most Sundays throughout the summer, Utica-Rome Speedway operates under the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series banner, providing exciting short track dirt racing every week.  For more information on the “Action Track of the East”, please log on to www.uticaromespeedway.com or call the speedway office at (315) 829-4557.  Utica-Rome Speedway can also be found on social media outlet such as Facebook and Twitter.