VERNON, NY- With just two shows left to decide the 2016 champions in each of the four weekly divisions at Utica-Rome Speedway, this Sunday’s August 28 program could go a long way in deciding the titles in three of those divisions.  Excell Motorsports and Wilber-Duck Chevrolet will present full show of weekly NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing for the Gates-Cole Insurance Modifieds, Broedel Energy Open Sportsman, and G&I Homes of Vernon Pro Stocks plus the GRIT 602 Sportsman Series.  The evening will also have the Utica-Rome Speedway Kids Club and the Bobby Page foundation team up for a Back to School Backpack Giveaway for kids at intermission. 

Matt Sheppard holds a tenuous 12-point lead over rival Larry Wight in the Gates-Cole Insurance Modified standings, with Danny Varin, Pat Ward, Marc Johnson, Rob Bellinger, Mike Mahaney, Vic Coffey, Alan Johnson, and Matt Hulsizer rounding out the top 10.  Sheppard is also the leader in victories with four wins while Wight, Varin, and Bellinger each have two.  Ward has also scored a victory. 

With the GRIT 602 Sportsman Series in town, the SUNY Canton 602 Sportsman will receive show up points only so point leader Matt Janczuk and Rocky Warner will have to wait until September 4 to settle the 2016 championship.  Janczuk has a narrow two-point edge over Warner in the standings.  With just show up points on the line, the track regulars will battle with the invading teams to score the $1,000 to win payday for the 602 Sportsman.   

Steve Way currently hold the advantage in the Broedel Open Sportsman as he holds a 14-point lead over second place point man Claude Hutchings, Jr.  Just eight points back behind Hutchings is Jack Miller followed by Randy Shantel, Jeremy Vunk, Mark Effner, Craig Pope, Tom Tophoven, Heath Carney, and Lucas Heintz. 

Like the weekly competition on the track, the point standings in the G&I Homes of Vernon Pro Stocks have seen the positions change on almost a weekly basis and going into this Sunday’s event, Mike Welch is just two points ahead of Pete Stefanski.  Luke Horning is currently third in the rankings over Jim Normoyle, Chris Carr, Gus Hollner, Bill Knapp, Frank Hyatt, Jerry Streeter, and Aaron Page.   

During intermission, the Utica-Rome Speedway Kids Club and the Bobby Page Foundation will team up to give away over 50 backpacks to kids to help them prepare for the upcoming school season.  The Bobby Page Foundation was founded in 2006 to improve the quality of life to the less fortunate children the in the community.  The family and friends of Bobby Page felt it very important to carry on the true spirit of Bobby, who was taken at the young age of 25 after a very tough battle with cancer.  Bobby always had a special place in his heart for children.  More information on the Bobby Page Foundation can be found at www.bobbypage5.com. 

Gates for this fast paced show open at 3:30 p.m. with racing set to begin at 6 p.m.  Adult admission is set at $16 while children 16 and under are free. 

Utica-Rome Speedway is located on Route 5 in Vernon NY, just minutes from the New York State Thruway.  Full schedule, point standings, pictures, and more can be found at www.uticaromespeedway.com.  Utica-Rome Speedway can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.  The speedway office can be contacted by calling (315)829-4557.