Written by Chris Moore

VERNON, NY – Utica-Rome Speedway fires back to life this Friday night (July 8) with ‘Twin 20’ features for the Sunoco Modifieds headlining the full night of racing presented by Tom Cole’s Lexi LLC.

The Modifieds will race in two 20-lap features, with the winner of each 20-lap main receiving a $1,500 payday.

Despite engine problems this past Friday night, Savannah, N.Y.’s Matt Sheppard maintains a 50-point advantage over Genoa, N.Y.’s Pat Ward in the championship standings.

Sprakers, N.Y.’s Stewart Friesen returned to Utica-Rome last Friday, claiming the F.X. Caprara Car Companies Thunder on the Thruway win worth $4,000. Friesen outgunned Friday night regular Alex Yankowski for the win.

Joining the Modified ‘Twin 20’ affair will be the Worthington Industries Crate 602 Sportsman, Next Generation Graphix Pro Stocks, Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman, and the Fonda Fair Four Cylinders on the half-mile clay oval.

The Senior Services Inc. All-Star Slingshots and D&S Landscaping Junior Slingshots will also return to the Friday night program on the inner oval.

Durhamville, N.Y.’s Matt Janczuk claimed his third win of the season this past Friday night, pulling him to within 26 markers of current point leader Payton Talbot. The South New Berlin, N.Y. native came home fourth this past Friday night.

Schenectady, N.Y.’s Nick Stone claimed his second Utica-Rome Speedway victory in as many tries with the Next Generation Graphix Pro Stocks in 2022.

Stone bested two-time winner Josh Coonradt and Kenny Gates for the win. Grand Gorge, N.Y.’s Beau Ballard continues to lead the standings on the strength of four wins by 30 markers over Bret Belden.

South New Berlin, N.Y.’s Zack Welch claimed his third consecutive Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman victory on Friday night. The streak has vaulted Welch into a four-point advantage over Alex Hughes at the top of the Limited Sportsman standings. Matt Backus rounds out the top three, just ten points out of first.

Corey Valade (DOHC) and Justin Pope (SOHC) claimed the Fonda Fair Four Cylinder victories to round out the night. Matt Bukovan continues to lead the standings however by just 12 points over David DeNova.

The Slingshots return to the inner oval for the first time in nearly a month, when Scott Sprague (All-Star Slingshots) and Blake Banek (Junior Slingshots) were victorious.

For the July 8 program, all gates open at 5 p.m. Hot laps are slated to begin at 6:45 p.m. with racing to follow at 7:30 p.m.

Grandstand admission is $12 for Adults and $10 for Seniors (ages 65 and above). Kids 11 and under get in FREE.

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

The entire night of racing will air live and on-demand on FloRacing (www.floracing.tv).

Utica-Rome Speedway is located at 5591 NY-5 (Seneca Turnpike) Vernon, NY 13476. The official website is www.uticaromespeedway.com and can be reached by phone at 315.953.4097.  Like Utica-Rome Speedway on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @UR_Speedway.