VERNON, NY-The Utica-Rome Speedway started to put the finishing touches on it 2016 summer season with a special Saturday, September 19, show as part of its two day Cole Cup/New Yorker Weekend.  Wilber-Duck Chevrolet and Gates-Cole Insurance presented the return of the King of Dirt Pro Stock and 602 Sportsman Series and CRSA Sprints.  When everything was done, it was Rocky Warner taking another big win in the King of Dirt Sportsman main while Nick Stone found Victory Lane in the King of Dirt Pro Stocks.  Mike Kiser would set the early pace in the CRSA Sprints and hang on to take the win.

When money is on the line at the Utica-Rome Speedway, you can bet that Rocky Warner will be at the front of field, contending for the win.  In all the higher paying events this season in the 602 Sportsman, Warner was winning or contending for the win when the checkered flag fell.  This time, Warner would secure the win to take his second King of Dirt win of the season at the Vernon oval.  At the start, Stephen Denton and Cody Bleau would lead the 27 car King of Dirt “Salute to the Troops 30” feature to the green flag with Bleau jumping out the lead using the extreme outside of the speedway.  Denton wasn’t going away easily as he harassed Bleau repeatedly in the early going.  Then as lap eight was going on to the scoreboard, Denton slipped by Bleau for the lead by hugging the extreme bottom of the track.  Denton would hold that spot until eighth place starter Rocky Warner slipped by on lap 10.  Again, Denton wasn’t giving up as he continued to hold run second with Bleau pressuring to retake the spot. Lap 13 saw Bleau go around the outside of Denton and look to close the gap on the front running Warner.  Bleau’s shot at running down the leader was short lived, however, as he slipped over the edge of the track in turns three and four.  Bleau would restart and pick up at the rear of the field.

With Warner out front, it was 2016 SUNY Canton Sportsman track champion putting on a show as he made his way from his 25^th starting spot into the top five by lap 15.  A circuit later, Janczuk was in second and looking for more as he pulled up on to the rear deck lid of Warner.  The final restart of the race would come on lap 19, and Warner seemed ready as he pulled away from the field where he would stay for the rest of the event.  Janczuk would settle for second followed by Dave Marcuccilli, AJ Filbeck, Connor Cleveland, Denton, Kevin Root, David Schilling, Andrew Buff, and Corey Barker.

Nick Stone collected his first career Utica-Rome Speedway last weekend and it seems he liked it so much he that he had to make a return visit this weekend when he scored another win, this time in the King of Dirt Pro Stock Series “Fall Frenzy” 30.  The win didn’t come easy even though he started on the pole.  Stone launched into the lead at the drop of the green and lead the first 16 laps of the event.

A lap 16 restart would see the leader board change at the top as Mike Welch recovered from an early race incident to find himself at the front of the field.  Stone would recover a few circuits later and use the outside lane to recover the point on lap 21.  While Stone was putting the finishing touches on his second win, a three car ensued for the runner-up spot between Welch, Byron Westcott, and Jim Normoyle.  When Stone took the checkered flag, it was Westcott prevailing to take second over Normoyle, Welch, and Luke Horning.  Chris Carr, Jim Normoyle Jr., Justin Knight, Devon Camenga, and Dan Older filled out the top 10 positions.

The CRSA Sprint A Main saw Mike Kiser jump out the lead at the start of the 20 lap affair, where he would remain to the end, but the battle on the track was for the second.  In the later stage of the main event, Kyle Smith and Cory Sparks would run side by side for second to the checkered with Smith prevailing to take the runner-up spot over Sparks.  Jeff Trombley and Josh Pieniazek would round out the top five.

For more information on the Utica-Rome Speedway, please log on to www.uticaromespeedway.com or call the speedway office at (315)829-4557.

WILBER-DUCK CHEVROLET AND GATES-COLE INSURANCE RACE SUMMARY

KING OF DIRT 602 SPORTSMAN SERIES “SALUTE TO THE TROOPS” FEATURE FINISH (30 LAPS)-ROCKY WARNER, Matt Janczuk, Dave Marcuccilli, AJ Filbeck, Connor Cleveland, Stephen Denton, Kevin Root, David Schilling, Andrew Buff, Corey Barker, Casey Williams, Cody Bleau, Mike Button, Kevin Chaffee, Dave Moyer, Rocco Leone, Cody Hunt, Steve Marshall, Scott Duell, John Strickler, Michael Sabia, Luke Klob, Charles Tibbitts, Kyle Kiehn, Jon Miller, Brad Alger, and Aaron Jacobs.

KING OF DIRT PRO STOCK SERIES “FALL FRENZY” FEATURE FINISH (30 LAPS)-NICK STONE, Byron Westcott, Jim Normoyle, Mike Welch, Luke Horning, Chris Carr, Jim Normoyle Jr, Justin Knight, Devon Camenga, Dan Older, Chuck Dumblewski, Scott Govertson, Ernie Staelens, Jerry Streeter, Mike Kazlauskas, Frank Hyatt, Bill Knapp, and Andrew Walters.

CRSA 305 SPRINTS A MAIN FINISH (20 LAPS)-MIKE KISER, Kyle Smith, Cory Sparks, Jeff Trombley, Josh Pieniazek, Josh Flint, Brett Jaycox, JR Hurlburt, Dana Wagner, Dalton Herrick, Emily VanInwegan, Jeremy Quick, Jeremiah Munson, Daryl Ruggles, and Steve Glover.