Written by Chris Moore

VERNON, NY– It’s Race Week!

This Friday (August 6), Utica-Rome begins the final full month of the Friday night championship chase.

The Sunoco Modifieds headline the ‘Dog Days of Summer’ in a 30-lap, $3,500-to-win affair – $1,100 more than the regular Friday night winner’s share.

The RUSH Late Models join the Friday night program for the second time this season racing for $1,000 to win, along with the Worthington Industries Crate 602 Sportsman, Next Generation Graphix Pro Stocks, Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman, and the Cool Stuff Antiques Four Cylinders.

Matt Sheppard’s commanding lead in the Sunoco Modified division continues to intensify, as he sits 58 points above the rest of the field. The Savannah, N.Y., native is coming off his worst Utica-Rome finish of the season: a third place this past Friday after surging through the field from 30^th position.

Sprakers, N.Y.’s Stewart Friesen returns to action this Friday night at the ‘Home of Heroes,’ having won each of the last two Sunoco Modified features.

Johnstown, N.Y.’s Brian Calabrese has risen to the top of the Worthington Industries Crate 602 Sportsman standings for the first time this season. Calabrese comes off a runner-up finish to now five-time winner: Oneida, N.Y.’s Matt Janczuk.

Fonda Speedway’s all-time winningest Pro Stock driver, Kenny Gates nabbed his first career Utica-Rome win last Friday in the Next Generation Graphix Pro Stocks division.

Grand Gorge, N.Y.’s Beau Ballard meanwhile took over the point lead with another runner-up finish. Ballard now holds a 32-point lead.

West Winfield, N.Y.’s Jeremy Slosek got over the hump, claiming his first Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman triumph of the season. Rotterdam, N.Y.’s Clayton DuMond continues to lead the championship chase as he has all season for the Limited Sportsman.

Two first time winners took the stage as Billy Hillman (DOHC) and Dale Van Allen (SOHC) claimed the Cool Stuff Antiques Four Cylinder victories and Rome, N.Y.’s Jean Foster once again inherited the point lead.

For the August 6 program, all gates open at 5 p.m. Hot laps are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. with racing beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Grandstand admission is $12. Seniors (ages 65 and up) pay $10. Kids 11 and under get in FREE.

Pit Admission is $30 for Utica-Rome Speedway members and $35 for non-members.

The event will be streamed live by Dirt Track Digest TV (www.dirttrackdigest.tv) for those unable to attend in-person.

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.