Written by Chris Moore

VERNON, NY – Sunday Stars.

Utica-Rome Speedway lifts the lid on its 2024 season in a big way this Sunday, April 21 with the ‘Honoring Alex Friesen Season Opener.’

The ‘Home of Heroes’ opening program is headlined by a 30-lap, $6,800-to-win 3 Bastards Brewing Modified event, paying homage to the late Alex Friesen’s No. 68.

Some of the biggest stars in Modified racing are gearing up for the “Sunday Funday” opener in memory of the late dynamic promoter.

On the list of expected entrants are:

• 1X – Willy Decker/Vernon, N.Y.
• 1Z – Jessica Friesen/Sprakers, N.Y.
• 2 – Jack Lehner/Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
• 2RJ – Ronnie Johnson/Duanesburg, N.Y.
• 3 – Mat Williamson/St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada
• 4 – Cody Clark/Little Falls, N.Y.
• 7MM – Michael Maresca/Potsdam, N.Y.
• 8M – Tim Mayne/New Berlin, N.Y.
• 9J – Jim Becker/Middleburgh, N.Y.
• 9S – Matt Sheppard/Savannah, N.Y.
• 10C – Tanner Van Doren/Schnecksville, PA.
• 12 – Addison Bowman/Mexico, N.Y.
• 16S – Jeremy Slosek/West Winfield, N.Y.
• 19 – Tim Fuller/Watertown, N.Y.
• 19W – Justin Wright/York, N.Y.
• 23 – Brandon Loucks/Bainbridge, N.Y.
• 27 – Jason Reome/Fort Plain, N.Y.
• 28 – Michael Trautschold/Roscoe, N.Y.
• 34 – Dave Constantino/Perth, N.Y.
• 34 – Kevin Root/Geneva, N.Y.
• 35 – Mike Mahaney/Elizabethtown, N.Y.
• 42P – Pat Ward/Genoa, N.Y.
• 68 – Stewart Friesen/Sprakers, N.Y.
• 70A – Alex Payne/Canandaigua, N.Y.
• 76 – JaMike Sowle/Fultonville, N.Y.
• 77 – Alan Barker/Norwich, N.Y.
• 82 – Ron Holmes/Utica, N.Y.
• 84Y – Alex Yankowski/Covington Township, Pa.
• 91 – Billy Decker/Unadilla, N.Y.
• 96 – Andy Graves/Middleburgh, N.Y.
• 97 – Bobby Hackel IV/East Greenbush, N.Y.
• 98H – Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville, N.Y.
• 98JS – Rocky Warner/Johnstown, N.Y.
• 111 – Demetrios Drellos/Queensbury, N.Y.
• 369 – Jim Walsh/Fultonville, N.Y.

The star-studded cast kicks off the 2024 season at Utica-Rome Speedway in a major way.

The event will follow a draw/redraw format and will represent the opening race of the 2024 championship chase for the 3 Bastards Brewing Modifieds.

Also on tap are the Taylor’s Trailers Crate 602 Sportsman, Next Generation Graphix Pro Stocks, Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman, and the Fonda Fair Four Cylinders all beginning their 2024 championship chase as well.

For the April 21 event, pit gates open at 1 p.m.  Grandstand gates unlock at 2 p.m. Hot laps hit the track at 3:30 p.m., with racing at 4:30 p.m.

Grandstand admission is $22. Seniors (ages 65 and over) pay $20. Kids 11 and under are FREE.

Pit admission is $45 (Non-Members), $40 (Members), $10 Kids (ages 6-12) and $2 for Children ages 5 and under.

The event will be broadcast live 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 the speedway can be reached by phone at 315.953.4097.  Like Utica-Rome Speedway on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @UR_Speedway.