Written by Chris Moore

VERNON, NY – The ‘Grand Reopening’ of Utica-Rome Speedway is just days away.

Anticipation has been building since facility owner Gene Cole and BD Motorsports Media LLC announced the agreement for Brett Deyo and his team to take over the half-mile speedway in February.

This Friday (May 7), “full-blown” Modified racing returns to the ‘Home of Heroes’ with the Sunoco big-block/small-block Modifieds representing the headline division all season long.

Joining the Modifieds on the lid-lifter for 2021 will be the Worthington Industries Crate 602 Sportsman, Next Generation Graphix Pro Stocks, Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman and Cool Stuff Antiques Four Cylinders competing on the banked half-mile.

On the inner oval, the Senior Services LLC Slingshots and D&S Landscaping Junior Slingshots will compete along the frontstretch.

This Friday night, gates open at 5 p.m.  Hot laps begin at 6:45 p.m. and racing gets underway at 7:30 p.m.

Grandstand admission is $12 for Adults, $10 for Seniors (ages 65 and up). Kids 11 and under are FREE.

Pit admission is $30 (Utica-Rome Speedway members) and $35 (non-members).

The event will be broadcast LIVE on Dirt Track Digest TV (www.dirttrackdigest.tv) for those unable to attend.

On May 14, the Fuccillo Autoplex of Nelliston ‘Thunder on the Thruway Series’ takes over the Route 5 oval. The dual-track series includes the Modified, Crate 602 Sportsman and Pro Stock divisions between Utica-Rome and neighboring Fonda (N.Y.) Speedway, located at Exit 28 of the New York State Thruway.

All ‘Thunder on the Thruway’ races will pay a minimum of $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.

A mini-series point fund will also be paid to all three 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.