Utica-Rome Practice Postponed; Chase For 358-Mod Title Begins At Chill Factor 50 April 22nd
Story By: JOHN TIFF / UTICA-ROME SPEEDWAY – VERNON, NY – Mother Nature’s wintery grip just doesn’t seem to want to let go this year forcing the Utica-Rome Speedway to postpone the practice scheduled for Sunday, April 15. As a result, the speedway has canceled the practice session and hopes to reschedule a practice for this coming week dependent on Mother Nature. The Chill Factor 50 will still kick off the season.
The chase for the $5,000 title begins on Sunday, April 22 as Budweiser presents the Chill Factor 50 for the 358-Modifieds. It is the first full-point event of the 2018 season at the track and offers $3,000 to the winner of the 50-lap affair. The format will include a draw for heat starting positions as well as a redraw for starting spots at the front of the field. Joining the DIRTcar 358-Modifieds on the schedule that night and kicking off their point chase are the Broedel Energy DIRTcar Sportsman who are competing for $1,000 to win along with the Ted’s Body Shop Pro Stocks. The Rookie Sportsman division is also set to compete that night.
With the change to the DIRTcar 358-Modified division as the headline class the chase for the 2018 championship is wide open. The multi-time and defending track champion Matt Sheppard has not committed to weekly racing at the facility meaning it’s possible that new champion will be crowned and take home the $5,000 top prize with the top ten in points sharing in a nearly $20,000 overall point fund for the division. It is set to be one of the strongest 358-Modified point funds in the Northeast.
Besides the Chill Factor opener, the DIRTcar 358-Modifieds will have several opportunities to compete in extra distance races with raised purses. The first of two visits by the DIRTcar 358-Modified Series comes on Mother’s Day, May 13 as $4,000 will go to the winner of the New Yorker 100. Joining the May 13 event is the first official event of Super DIRT Week on Tuesday, October 2 with another $4,000 to win event for DIRTcar 358-Modified Series. The King of Dirt Series visits on June 3 with $2,000 on the line for the 358-Modifieds. The Friday Dirt Double event featuring Tony Stewart’s All Star Circuit of Champions also has a $2,000 win purse for the 358-Modified division in an open draw format.
The Chill Factor 50 is scheduled for April 22 with racing action set to get underway promptly at 6pm with grandstand gates opening at 3:30pm. Tickets for the grandstands are just $18 while it’s $15 for Seniors/Students/Military and kids under the age of 16 are free.
