VERNON, NY-For the second time in four days, Utica-Rome Speedway looks to shake off the rain cloud that hovered over the speedway for the past six weeks and put on another exciting night of racing.  A huge night is planned this Sunday, June 12, with SUNY Canton and Wilber-Duck Chevrolet presenting the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints plus the first time stop for both the King of Dirt Pro Stock Series and King of Dirt Crate Sportsman Series.  The Gates-Cole Insurance Modifieds and Broedel Energy Open Sportsman will also be in competition for another weekend of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing. 

The Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints will be making their first appearance of the season at the Utica-Rome Speedway after their traditional Memorial Day Weekend stop was hampered by rain.  Since then, multi-time and defending champion Steve Poirier has been on a tear as he swept both events last weekend in Quebec.  Coming into this weekend’s action, Poirier was again shown the point leader over Jason Barney, Paul Kinney, Parker Evans, Bryan Howland, Matt Tanner, Jeff Cook, Chad Miller, Paulie Colagiovanni, and Dave Axton.  Most of these competitors are expected, and many more, as drivers look to find the secret to Utica-Rome Speedway prior to the big $10,000 to win Cole Cup on July 31.  Some of Utica-Rome’s Gates-Cole Insurance Modified competitors are expected to moonlight with their Sprint Car as well, including Larry Wight, Danny Varin, and possibly Stewart Friesen.  One driver expected to turn some heads this Sunday is former World of Outlaws regular and current PA Posse runner Lucas Wolfe. Wolfe will be competing in the Orange Crate Brewing Allebach Racing #5w 360 Sprinter this Sunday.  It is always a thrilling show whenever the winged warriors of the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints come to town. 

The inaugural visit by the King of Dirt Pro Stock and Crate Sportsman is also scheduled for this Sunday.  Like the Empire Super Sprints, the first visit by the King of Dirt Series was delayed by rain with the series originally scheduled for Sunday May 15.  A huge car count in the both the Pro Stocks and Crate Sportsman is expected as the series has a strong following.  G&I Homes of Vernon Pro Stock regulars such as Luke Horning, Nick Stone, Pete Stefanski, Mike Welch, Gus Hollner, Bill Knapp, Chris Carr, Jim Normoyle, Travis Welch, and more will attempt to fend off some to the series followers including recent winner Robbie Speed for the $750 payday.  On the Crate Sportsman side, SUNY Canton 602 Sportsman point leader Matt Janczuk will lead the Utica-Rome Speedway regulars, which includes Rocky Warner, JaMike Sowle, Glenn Forward, Chris Mackey, John Christian, Jason Rood, David Schilling, Corey Barker, Rocco Leone, Kyle Kiehn, and more, into battle for the $1,000 winner’s share of the purse.  Like the Pro Stocks, a large group of invaders is expected, with the Capitol District heavily represented. 

Defending Gates-Cole Insurance Modified track champion Matt Sheppard will look to set himself up for another title but he will have to contend with the tough competitors such as Larry Wight, Tim Fuller, Pat Ward, Danny Varin, Matt Hulsizer, Marc Johnson, Vic Coffey, Mike Mahaney, and more to do so.  With three events complete, Sheppard has two wins while Wight was the victor in the other. 

The Broedel Energy Open Sportsman come into this Sunday’s affair with a tie atop the point standings between Jeremy Vunk and Heath Carney while Steve Way, Claude Hutchings Jr., and Jim Rothwell round out the top five.  Positions six through ten are held by Tom Tophoven, Jack Miller, Lucas Heintz, Mark Effner, Randy Shantel, and Craig Pope.  Vunk and Hutchings have each won one of two events completed so far. 

Gates for this Sunday’s June 12 action filled show open at 3:30 p.m. with racing starting at 6 p.m. 

More information on the Utica-Rome Speedway is available at www.uticaromespeedway.com or by calling (315)829-4557.  Utica-Rome Speedway can also be found on the social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.