VERNON, NY- While on the calendar doesn’t officially say it, for most people Labor Day Weekend is the traditional end of summer. Kids are going back to school, football season is upon, and the days are getting shorter and that all points to one thing for local race fans, the beginning of the end of season events at the area speedways. This weekend, on Sunday September 6 and Monday September 7 to be specific, Utica-Rome Speedway kicks off the fall racing season locally with a huge two day show that will have something for everyone.

On Sunday September 6, the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints will come into town again to join a full slate of Stampede Steakhouse Modifieds, 602 Sportsman, Open Sportsman, and Pro Street Stocks on Stampede Steakhouse and Mirabito Fuel Group night. The 602 Sportsman, Open Sportsman, and Pro Street Stocks will close out their 2015 point season with the champions being crowned. The Stampede Steakhouse Modifieds will have one more point show on Saturday September 12.

A strong field of 360 Sprints is expected to fill the pit area this Sunday evening as drivers prepare for the 3^rd annual Cole Cup to be held the following Saturday, September 12. The Cole Cup will pay $10,000 to the winner plus lap money. This will be the third visit by the travelling band of 360 Sprints in 2015 with Chuck Hebing and Stewart Friesen taking the wins in the previous two stops. For more information on ESS please visit www.empiresupersprints.com.

The weekly Stampede Steakhouse Modifieds will compete in another round of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing with point leader Matt Sheppard hoping to take another step closer to his second Utica-Rome Speedway Modified title. The champion will get $13,000 for the track title and Sheppard is currently second in New York State NWAAS standings, which would net him another $6,000 if is able to hang on to that spot. Larry Wight, Mike Mahaney, Pat Ward, Vic Coffey, Stewart Friesen, Matt Hulsizer, Mike Bowman, Tim Mayne, and Chris Mackey are other drivers in the top ten that are looking to improve their position in the rankings.

In the three support divisions, titles will be determined this Sunday and all three championships are still in doubt. Rocky Warner holds just a three point edge over Matt Janczuk in the 602 Sportsman while Steve Way is 16 points ahead of Claude Hutchings Jr. in the Open Sportsman. In the Pro Street Stocks, Glenn Forward is the point leader by a mere three points. It will be an exciting end of the point season for these three action packed divisions.

Then on Monday September 7, it is the annual New Yorker that will feature the Race of Champions Dirt Modified Series that will see the Modifieds compete for 100 laps for a $10,000 payday out of a total purse of over $35,000. A last chance B Main has also been seen set up that will give some drivers another chance to for the main event and the remaining participants getting $100 if they qualify and start the B Main and don’t make the A Main transfer. Unlike past RoC events, this will use Hoosier tires only and use the weekly Utica-Rome Speedway Modified rules. Larry Wight is the defending champion of this event while Bobby Varin is a three time champion of the New Yorker. Steve Paine and Stewart Friesen have also won this event since it was revitalized in 2007.

The Upstate Sportsman Alliance and Grit Sportsman Series will also be in action in a combined 602 Sportsman event that will see the winner net a $1,000 payday with a minimum $100 to start the 30 lap affair. Eric Giguere and Rocky Warner have won the two previous $1,000 to win contests this year

Competitor information for the Monday portion of the event can be found by going to https://www.uticaromespeedway.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/NewYorkercompetitorinfo2015.pdf.

The gates open on Sunday September 6 at 3 p.m. with racing going off at 5:30 p.m. Adult admission is $22 while kids 16 and under are FREE. Students, Seniors, and Military are admitted for $18. On Monday September 7, pit gates will at 3 p.m., grandstands at 3:30 p.m. with racing set to begin at 6 p.m. Adult admission for the New Yorker will be $25 for adults, $10 for kids 16 and under, and Students, Seniors, and Military are $20.

For more information, please log on to www.uticaromespeedway.com or call the speedway office at (315)829-4557.