News Director 
Story By: JOHN TIFF / UTICA-ROME SPEEDWAY – VERNON, NY – After two weeks of huge events for fans and drivers alike, Utica-Rome Speedway resumes it’s weekly racing format this Sunday, July 15, with a PICK 4 show featuring the DirtTrackDigest.com 358-Modifieds, Broedel Energy Sportsman, Ted’s Body Shop Pro Stocks, and Rookie Sportsman.
The exciting program of DIRTcar racing, presented by A-Verdi Storage Containers and Wilber Duck Chevrolet, will also feature the popular Autograph Night for fans. All of our nightly events labeled PICK 4 will offer all fans a chance to win prizes throughout the racing program. Prizes include, but are not limited to, free passes for future shows, food vouchers for the concession stands, Utica-Rome Speedway gear and much more.
Billy Dunn leads a talent laden field of DirtTrackDigest.com 358-Modifieds into action Sunday evening atop the standings over Jeremy Wilder, Marc Johnson, Pat Ward, Rocky Warner, Jack Lehner, Bobby Varin, Erick Rudolph, Bobby Herrington, and Lance Willix. The switch to 358-Modifieds as the weekly headline class has been a successful one as competition has been intense with different drivers in the mix weekly. Dunn, Ward, and Matt Sheppard have claimed the three events completed so far in 2018 with the finish often in doubt until the checkered flag flies.
The Broedel Energy Sportsman have been in action four times in 2018, with the point standings showing a familiar name at the head of the standings. Defending track champion Matt Janczuk leads the competitive field into Sunday’s action over Kyle Inman, Alan Fink, AJ Filbeck, Dave Moyer, Dave Marcuccilli, AJ Miller, Chris Cunningham, Andrew Buff, and Charlie Tibbitts. There have been four different winners in the division with Janczuk, Filbeck, Marcuccilli, and Kevin Root all having one victory each.
As the only full-fendered class that competes weekly at the Utica-Rome Speedway, the Ted’s Body Shop Pro Stock division does not disappoint in action. While not strong in overall number, the competition remains strong as they provide side by side action throughout their 20-lap main event. Currently, Mike Welch leads Travis Welch in the rankings with Shane Henderson, Bill Knapp, Ernie Staelens, Aaron Page, Jerry Streeter, Mike Kazlauskas, Pete Stefanski, and Jim Normoyle trailing.
The Rookie Sportsman, designed to give drivers of limited experience a chance to race among their peers and receive valuable seat time, will round out the big night of weekly racing.
During intermission, the cars and stars in attendance will be asked to come out onto the front straightaway of the Vernon oval where fans will be allowed to meet and get autographs of their favorite drivers. This event is always popular with the young fans who often only get to see their favorite drivers with helmets on and on the other side of the fence.
All this would not be possible without some great marketing partners such as A-Verdi Storage Containers. Locally owned for over 35 years, A-Verdi Storage Containers offers a wide variety of storage and office containers residential, construction, commercial, industrial, and special events to meet all sorts of needs. They stock a wide selection of units that are available for rent, lease, or purchase with prompt on site delivery. A-Verdi containers are visible throughout the region on construction sites or at special events such as Super DIRT Week in Oswego. For a complete list of services and products available, please visit www.averdi.com or call 1.800.248.3734.
Another locally owned business that has played a huge role in the success of Utica-Rome Speedway is Wilber Duck Chevrolet. Servicing the Chevrolet drivers in the Oneida, Utica, and Rome area, Wilber Duck Chevrolet is staffed with local people for that good home town customer care feeling. Please visit www.wilberduck.com to see the services available, browse inventory, get a quick quote, and to research financial options. To talk to a representative, call sales at 315.367.4672 or service at 315.366.4590.
Admission for this Sunday’s action packed event is just $13 for adults with seniors, military, and students’ admission set at $10. Children under 16 are free. The pit gates will open at 4 p.m. while the grandstands will open at 4:30 p.m. Racing will begin at 7 p.m.
