News Director 
Story By: BRETT DEYO / UTICA-ROME SPEEDWAY – VERNON, NY – Give us a try. This Friday, May 5, Utica-Rome Speedway management presents its first “$5 Friday” at the Vernon facility, promoting a complete program of NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series stock car racing with $5 general admission.
Yes, grandstand admission is just $5 this Friday night!
The 3 Bastards Brewing Modifieds headline the program with qualifying and a 30-lap feature event. Also in competition on the half-mile oval are the Worthington Industries Crate 602 Sportsman, Next Generation GraphiX Pro Stocks, Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman and Fonda Fair Four Cylinders.
The Utica-Rome “inner oval” will be in use for the Senior Services Inc. Allstar Slingshots and Junior Slingshots.
Gates open at 5 p.m., with hot laps at 6:45 p.m. and racing at 7:30 p.m.
Grandstand admission is $5, with Kids 11 and under admitted FREE. Pit admission is $40 (ages 13 and up), $35 (NASCAR or Utica-Rome Members), $10 Kids (ages 6-12) and $2 for Children ages 5 and under.
After a span of two Fridays, the ‘Honoring Alex’ opener was completed on April 28. Matt Sheppard of Savannah, N.Y., opened his Modified title defense with a $6,800 payday over Stewart Friesen.
Other Opening Night winners included Payton Talbot (Crate 602 Sportsman), Bret Belden (Pro Stock), Zack Welch (Limited Sportsman), Justin Pope (Four Cylinder Dual Cam), Wayne Russell Jr. (Four Cylinder Single Cam), Brett Putnam (Allstar Slingshot) and Bodie Marks (Junior Slingshot).
