News Director 
Story By: JOHN TIFF / UTICA-ROME SPEEDWAY – VERNON, NY – Sprint Cars have a long tradition at the Utica-Rome Speedway. There have been over 100 Sprint Car events run at the track since it’s inception which continued into this year with one appearance of several by the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints.
Part of that history is the Cole Cup and it’s back this coming Sunday with a new date and a new format. The $5,000 to win event is slated to be 50-laps in distance while receiving major support from both Panther Frameworx and Donath Motor Worx. All drivers making the event will be guaranteed a minimum of $500 with $50 going to all drivers attempting to qualify for the race that fail to make the show.
Donath Motor Worx is one of the biggest players in 360 Sprint Car racing. The company provides engines to several competitors including current Empire Super Sprint high point man Paulie Colagiovanni. Brett Wright, Tyler Cartier and many more teams in the Northeast utilize their powerplants to find success in the 360 Sprint Car ranks.
Donath MotorWorx isn’t just a Sprint Car motor builder as they also produce and provide service for big and small-block Modifieds. They’re also a certified crate engine machine shop as well as offering in-house dyno services. For more information you can contact Brian Donath at (315) 481-2489 or you can visit their Facebook page.
Panther Frameworx manufactures Sprint Car chassis’ and offers a full-line of Sprint Car components which includes wings, bumpers, fittings, fasteners and much, much more. They’ve seen success on the Empire Super Sprint tour with the likes of Shawn Donath, Brett Wright and Scott Holcomb some of the current series regulars competing in their cars.
Panther Frameworx is located in Central New York allowing quick assess to parts and components for Sprint Car competitors. They have nearly everything needed to a get a team on track in stock and on the shelves at their location at 321 Wavel Street in Syracuse, N.Y. To see what Panther Frameworx can do for your team visit http://pantherframeworx.com/ or you can give them a call at 315-771-7847.
The Cole Cup has been run four times since its initial inception. The 2018 version of the race was rained out meaning that the latest running of the race came back in October of 2017 with Jason Barney of Brewerton, N.Y., taking the cup for the first time. Mark Smith is a former winner of the event and the only two-time winner remains current NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Stewart Friesen. Friesen drove Doug Emery’s No. 33 to win in the first two editions of the race.
Qualifying for the event will include timed warm-ups similar to what is used on a regular basis by the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints. An inversion of zero, two or four will be drawn by the fastest driver in the first group to set the line-ups for the heat races based on time. From there drivers are slated to run a heat race with finishing order determining whether they transfer to A, B or C-Main. Drivers in the B and C Main will have to race their way to the front to make the A-Main and a chance for a $5,000 payday.
The 50-lap distance is a first of its kind at Utica-Rome Speedway and none have been run anywhere in Upstate New York in recent memory. As a result of the extra distance, a break will be required midway through the race. Drivers will stop their cars on the fronstretch for a 10-minute break to refuel, change tires and make any other changes they want to their cars. At this time fans can go up to the fence and get a close up look at crews thrashing on their cars as they get ready for the second half of the race.
A strong contingent of New York and Canadian drivers are expected to try and get the top prize. Pennsylvania Posse member and defending Williams Grove Speedway track champion Lucas Wolfe has stated his intentions for the $5,000 top prize as has former Selinsgrove Speedway track champion Davie Franek and defending Ohsweken Speedway track champion Dylan Westbrook.
Along with the Sprint Cars is a full program for the DirtTrackDigest.com DIRTcar 358-Modifieds, the Broedel Fuel Group DIRTcar Sportsman, the Ted’s Body Shop DIRTcar Pro Stocks and the Bernie’s Extreme Performance Parts Rookie Sportsman. Time trials will begin promptly at 5pm with racing action taking the green flag at 6pm.
Grandstands admission for the event is $28 with seniors/military members/students costing $25. Kids 16 and under are $5. Pit prices for the event are $35 for DIRTcar Members and $40 for all non-members. Pit gates will open at 2:30pm while spectator gates open at 3:30pm.
If you can’t make it to the track you can catch all the action on DirtTrackDigest.tv. Nearly every event throughout the 2019 racing season will be broadcast live on pay-per-view.
Those looking for information about the upcoming season at Utica-Rome Speedway can like us on Facebook at Utica-Rome Speedway, find us on Twitter @UR_Speedway or on the web at www.uticaromespeedway.com.
