VERNON, NY- This weekend, Utica-Rome Speedway will have two action packed days of racing to unofficially start off the summer months of racing. On Sunday, May 24, Donath Motor Worx presents the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints for their traditional Memorial Day Weekend visit plus a full show of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing featuring the Stampede Steakhouse Modifieds, 602 Sportsman, Open Sportsman, and Pro Street Stocks. Then on Monday, May 25, Sunoco Race Fuels presents the Race of Champions Dirt Modified Series Victoria 200 event with a 100 lap Modified main event paying the $10,000 to the winner plus lap money. The Upstate Sportsman Alliance/GRIT Sportsman Series will also be on the card Monday paying $1,000 to the victor and $100 to start.

In weekly Stampede Steakhouse Modified racing, Pat Ward is the current point leader in the chase for the lucrative $13,000 track title with two time winner Matt Sheppard right on his heels in second just three point back. Larry Wight, the winner of this past Sunday night’s main event, is in the third spot just 10 points shy of his teammate Ward. Erick Rudolph and one time winner Mike Mahaney round out the top five followed by Tim Fuller, Vic Coffey, Mike Bowman, opening night winner Stewart Friesen, and Matt Hulsizer. In the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series New York State points, Utica-Rome Speedway regulars dominate the top 10 in the standings with Ward(2^nd), Sheppard(3^rd), Wight(4^th), Rudolph(5^th), Mahaney(7^th), and Fuller(10^th) all showing in the top 10.

On Monday, the above mentioned drivers and many more are expected to be on hand to compete of the $10,000 top prize including Brett Hearn, Danny Johnson, Billy Decker, Jimmy Phelps, Ryan Phelps, and many more to make it a talent laden field. Some drivers are expected to be in field on Sunday as well to prepare for Monday. A NASCAR license is required for Sunday (a temporary license is available) while Sunday no license is required. Rules are weekly Utica-Rome Speedway rule (no sail panels) with the exception of tires, where both American Racers and Hoosiers will be allowed. More information is available at www.rocdirt.com or www.uticaromespeedway.com.

In the 602 Sportsman, it is a tightly knit pack of drivers at the top of the standings with Alan Fink shown atop the points by just two points over Matt Janczuk followed closely by Cody Clark. Two-time victor Rocky Warner is in the fourth spot followed by one-time winner AJ Filbeck. Sunday night’s winner Connor Cleveland is in the sixth spot followed by Daryl Nutting, Glenn Forward, Nick Krause, and Stephen Denton.

The 602 Sportsman will be an on Monday as well as part of the Upstate Sportsman Alliance Series and GRIT Series. The 30 lap main event will pay $1,000 to the winner with a minimum of $100 to start. As with the Modifieds, a NASCAR license is required for Sunday (temporary available) while on Monday no license is needed. Rules will be weekly Utica-Rome Speedway rules with Hoosier tires in use and all cars weighing 2,450 lbs. No rev box is required.

The Open Sportsman division show the winner from this past week, Steve Way, as the early point leader over two-time feature winner Claude Hutchings Jr. Veteran Jack Miller sits in third over Heath Carney and Mike Richmond. Rounding out the top ten is Mike Stiles, Randy Shantel, defending champion Jeremy Vunk, TomTophoven, and Craig Pope.

In the always competitive Pro Street Stock division, Mike Welch is shown as the early season point leader over Glenn Forward, Mark Effner, Chris Carr, AJ Digsby, Bill Mason, Travis Welch, Gus Hollner, Bill Trexler III, and Kevin Winton. Feature winners so far this season include Welch, Forward (twice), and Effner. Side by side and bumper to bumper racing is always the norm in the Pro Street Stocks.

After a rough start to their season due to the weather, the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints look to kick off their season this weekend with Utica-Rome Speedway being their second stop of the weekend. Many of the top 360 Sprint drivers in the region are expected Sunday including defending ESS Tour Champion Steve Poirier, Jason Barney, Paul Kinney, Chuck Hebing, Jeff Cook, Matt Tanner, Cory Sparks, Tommy Wickham, Dave Axton, and many more. Last year, Modified regulars Stewart Friesen and Larry Wight moonlighted in the ESS ranks with Friesen winning the two ESS point events completed at the Vernon oval. For more information on the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints, log on to www.empiresupersprints.com.

Gates for both days open at 3 p.m. with racing starting at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. On Monday, the action will start at 6 p.m. Kids 16 and under will be free on Sunday.

For more pricing information plus rules, hotel accommodations, and much more, log on to www.uticaromespeedway.com or call the speedway office at (315)829-4557. Utica-Rome Speedway can also be found on Facebook and Twitter at @UR_Speedway.