News Director 
Story By: JOHN TIFF / UTICA-ROME SPEEDWAY – VERNON, NY – Utica-Rome Speedway was finally able to get the 2019 season underway last weekend as the weather gods did something different and cooperated for a change. This weekend track officials are hoping to make it two-in-a-row as The Wild Animal Park and Federated Auto Parts presents the night’s racing schedule.
The highlight of program is The Wild 100 Ultimate Sportsman Showdown presented by The Wild Animal Park and Federated Auto Parts for the Broedel Fuel Group DIRTcar Sportsman. The winner of the 100-lap A-Main will receive $2,500 for their efforts with $250 going to all main-event starters. Qualifying for the feature race will include timed group warm-ups, heat races as well a D, C and B-Main to lock cars into the A-Main. Show up points will be awarded to all DIRTcar Sportsman drivers in attendance.
Heat race winners for Sunday night’s The Wild 100 Ultimate Sportsman Showdown will receive $25 bonus courtesy of www.DirtTrackDigest.tv .
Last weekend the VP Racing Fuels Summer Shootout Series got underway for the DIRTcar Sportsman with defending and multi-time track champion Matt Janczuk taking home a dominating win. Alan Fink and Chris Mackey battled it out for much of the 30-lap race for second with Fink getting the better of Mackey in the closing laps.
A total of 45 cars were at the opening day program with talented drivers from all over the state in attendance getting track time before this weekend’s huge event. A large contingent of DIRTcar Sportsman is anticipated for Sunday’s 100-lap feature.
Joining the DIRTcar Sportsman on Sunday night are the DirtTrackDigest.com DIRTcar 358-Modifieds. Like Janczuk, Billy Dunn, the defending Modified champion, started his season off on the best possible note beating both Larry Wight and Erick Rudolph to the checkered for the win. A strong field of 24 cars took the track for the opening week of the chase for the title.
In the Ted’s Body Shop Pro Stock division an intense feature saw Nick Stone come out on top after fending off speedway new-comer Josh Coonradt and defending champion Travis Welch. Sunday night they’ll go back at it in another 20-lap main-event.
The Bernie’s Extreme Performance Parts Rookie Sportsman will round out Sunday’s racing program with a 15-lap feature.
Pit gates on Sunday will open at 2:30 pm while spectator gates swing open at 3:30 pm with the heat races beginning promptly at 6 pm. Adult general admission for the event is set for $15, Senior/Military/Students are $13 while kids 16 and under are free. Pit admission for the night is $30 for DIRTcar members and $33 for non-members.
