King Of Dirt Tripleheader Plus Modifieds On Night Of Legends At Utica-Rome Sunday

Story By: JOHN TIFF / UTICA-ROME SPEEDWAY – VERNON, NY – A huge show of racing is planned for this Sunday, August 20, at the Utica-Rome Speedway as the speedway honors its past with the annual Night of Legends. On tap is the always exciting Gates-Cole Auto Insurance Modifieds, but King of Dirt Series tripleheader.

All three of the King of Dirt Series, the 358-Modifieds, Sportsman, and Pro Stocks, will be on hand plus the rain delayed King of Dirt Pro Stock main event from June 18 will be completed. Bernie Miller, Frank Mathalia, and Bill Henry, who were stars during the Utica-Rome Speedway asphalt era 1960’s and 70’s, are the drivers that will be honored as part of the Night of Legends festivities.

Gates-Cole Auto Insurance Modified point leader is on fire right, winner of four straight feature events at Utica-Rome Speedway as well as four consecutive Super DIRTcar Series events. Sheppard’s six total wins at Utica-Rome have him pulling away from second place point man Pat Ward. Bobby Varin, Tim Fuller, and Marc Johnson complete the top five spots with Claude Hutchings Jr., Mike Mahaney, Mike Maresca, Danny Varin, and Rob Bellinger filling out the top ten spots.

After a highly successful first visit back on July 9 that saw 43 cars sign in, the Elmo’s Speed Supply King of Dirt 358-Modified Series returns for a 35-lap affair that will pay $2,000 to win and $200 to start. Erick Rudolph outran the competition in July to grab his first ever Utica-Rome Speedway, but it is track regular Marc Johnson that is the current point leader. Jessey Mueller, Neil Stratton, Matt DeLorenzo, Allison Ricci, Demetrios Drellos, Jeremy Wilder, Jack Lehner, Michael Sabia, and Brian Gleason hold down the top 10 spots in the KoD standings and all are expected to be in attendance Sunday. Rudolph will return to defend his July win, and plans on doing double duty by competing in the Gates-Cole Auto Insurance Modifieds. Several UR regulars are also expected to hit a double payday by competing in both events. Drivers that wish to compete in two divisions are required to by a second pit pass.

Rocky Warner is the current 1-800-GOT-JUNK? King of Dirt/DIRTcar Northeast Sportsman Series and should be considered the favorite to win the $1,250 30-lap main event but he will face some stiff competition. Track point leader Matt Janczuk along with Chris Mackey, AJ Filbeck, Kyle Inman, AJ Miller, Kyle Kiehn, Mark Effner, Dave Moyer, Brent Joy, and Charlie Tibbitts are just some of the weekly UR drivers going for the winner’s check. Series standings show Warner, Chad Edwards, Connor Cleveland, Michael Sabia, Andrew Buff, Kevin Chaffee, Jeff Watson, David Schilling, Brian Pessolano, and Scott Duell holding down the top 10 positions.

The Lazzaro’s Auto Body Pro Stocks will compete in two 30-lap events, with the first being the rain delayed event from June 18. Each event will pay $700 to the victor and as is the case with every Pro Stock event at UR, it should be an action-packed affair. Mike Welch will lead the home track faithful against the invading drivers, along with Shane Henderson, Jim Normoyle, and more. Rob Yetman comes into Sunday’s event as the series point leader, ahead of Nick Stone, Kenny Martin Jr., Brandon Emigh, Jason Casey, Dan Older, Dave DePaulo, Kim Duell, Chuck Dumblewski, and Jason Meltz.

Adult grandstand admission for this big event is just $20 while kids 16 and under are free. Military, students, and seniors are $15. Pit admission is $27 for DIRTcar license holders and $30 without a license. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with racing going off at 7 p.m.