Written by Chris Moore

VERNON, NY – It’s another Utica-Rome Speedway race week!

The ‘Home of Heroes’ returns to Friday night racing this weekend (Aug. 26) as the Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series joins the regular Friday night program.

Wilcox Sealing and Paving/Wilcox Construction LLC and Ferris Mowers present Friday night’s racing action.

With only two weeks remaining in the Utica-Rome Speedway championship season, it’s officially crunch time on the 2022 campaign.

Last Saturday’s (Aug. 20) event did not carry any points toward the championship for the Sunoco Modifieds, Worthington Industries Crate 602 Sportsman, and Next Generation Graphix Pro Stocks.

Savannah, N.Y.’s Matt Sheppard maintains a 91-point advantage heading into the final two weeks of the season with the Sunoco Modifieds.

Gloversville, N.Y.’s Rocky Warner is second in points, and Covington Township, Pa.’s Alex Yankowski – the newly crowned F.X. Caprara Car Companies ‘Thunder on the Thruway Series’ champion – rounds out the top three.

Durhamville, N.Y.’s Matt Janczuk has continued his record-setting stretch with the Worthington Industries Crate 602 Sportsman. His now nine-race win streak has him atop the standings by 28 markers over South New Berlin, N.Y.’s Payton Talbot.

Rome, N.Y.’s Chris Mackey rounds out the top three in the standings, 84 points behind Janczuk.

Grand Gorge, N.Y.’s Beau Ballard returned to Victory Lane this past Saturday night in the non-points race. Ballard, who had been struggling in recent weeks, will look to use the momentum to close out his second consecutive Next Generation Graphix Pro Stock championship.

Ballard leads Fort Johnson, N.Y.’s Josh Coonradt by 32 points. Coonradt has won each of the last three points-paying features. Averill Park, N.Y.’s Jay Corbin rounds out the top three, two points behind Coonradt and 34 behind Ballard.

The Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman and Fonda Fair Four Cylinders will return to action after having this past weekend off.

Seth Martin has opened a 14-point advantage over Zack Welch. The 14-point difference between the top two is the largest gap between the top two in points there has been all season.

Eric Jensen rounds out the top three, 102 markers behind Martin.

Matt Bukovan, the winner two weeks ago, now holds a 22-point advantage in the Fonda Fair Four Cylinder division over David DeNova. Rudy King Jr. rounds out the top three.

For the Aug. 26 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.