Written by Chris Moore

VERNON, NY – Anticipation continues to build as the calendar inches closer to opening day at Utica-Rome Speedway in 2021.

The BD Motorsports Media LLC group and track owner Gene Cole struck a deal for Brett Deyo and his team to promote the ‘Home of Heroes’ starting in 2021. With the new promotional team comes a new night of racing (Friday in lieu of Sunday) and a lot more money handed out at the pay window.

The new era of Utica-Rome Speedway will feature Modifieds, Crate 602 Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Limited Sportsman and Four Cylinders as its weekly divisions. The Senior Services Insurance Company Slingshots (All-Stars and Juniors) will race bi-weekly on the inner oval.

It all begins on Friday, May 7 for the ‘Grand Reopening’ of the Vernon half-mile with Modifieds, Crate 602 Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Limited Sportsman, Four Cylinders and Slingshots in competition.

Eight higher-paying Modified events are on the 2021 schedule for Utica-Rome.

Friday, May 14 is the first high-paying event with the return of the Fuccillo Automotive Group ‘Thunder on the Thruway Series,’ (TOTT) which will pay $4,000 to win for the Modifieds, $1,500 to win for the Crate 602 Sportsman and $1,000 to win for the Pro Stocks.

In total, Utica-Rome will host three TOTT events; Friday, July 30 will mark another $4,000-to-win Modified event and Sept. 5 will be the TOTT finale, as the Modifieds will race 100 laps for $10,000 to win in the ‘New Yorker 100.’ The event will also be the season finale at the speedway.

The other three TOTT events will take place down the New York State Thruway to Exit 28 at the Fonda Speedway in Fonda, N.Y. Those events will take place on May 8, July 3 and July 24 all paying at least $4,000 to win.

The second largest paying event of the 2021 season, will be the first appearance for the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco on Thursday, July 22. The Modifieds will run 61-laps in a $6,100-to-win event on ‘Richie Evans Remembered’ night at the half-mile facility with $610 reserved just to take the green flag. This event will serve as part of the Hurlock Auto & Speed STSS North Region.

Friday, May 28 will kick off Memorial Day Weekend with Twin 20s for the Modifieds paying $1,500 to win each and a $500 bonus to sweep the night, meaning a driver could walk away with $3,500.

Other events paying an increased purse take place on June 18 (School’s Out Special), July 2 (Independence Weekend Kickoff) and Aug. 6 (Dog Days of Summer), which will all pay $3,500-to-win.

A full schedule can be found on the speedway website, along with rules, forms, and complete pay structures for all divisions.

Utica-Rome Speedway is located at 5591 NY-5 (Seneca Turnpike) Vernon, NY 13476. The official website is www.uticaromespeedway.com. Like Utica-Rome Speedway on Facebook or @UR_Speedway.