Jan Corcoran Memorial Big Block / Small Block Challenge Set For Sunday At Utica-Rome
Story By: JOHN TIFF / UTICA-ROME SPEEDWAY – VERNON, NY – The final full month of weekly racing action is upon us at the Utica-Rome Speedway and the first event for the month of August is a special one.
This Sunday, August 5, Northeast Racing Products and Power Seal present the Annual Night of Legends featuring the 8th Annual Jan Corcoran Memorial Big Block/Small Block 50-lap Challenge paying $3.064 to the winner with the top finishing small block getting a $640 bonus. The Broedel Energy Sportsman will be competing for a $640 payday and paying $64 to start. Also in action will be the Ted’s Body Shop Pro Stocks, Rookie Sportsman, and the Dirt Modified Nostalgia Tour Vintage Series.
Like his trade show this past fall, Northeast Racing Products promoter Jeremie Corcoran has partnered with Power Seal to give all competing drivers free admission this Sunday. “I want to thank Bill and Kim Shea for doing the Free driver’s admission, I always wanted to do promotions like this and we started it at the first NRP show,” noted Corcoran, “The Shea’s have kept the memorial for my mom alive and I wanted to help give back to the racers that support.”
The Jan Corcoran Memorial started at the Canandaigua Speedway when Jeremie Corcoran was the promoter until this season in honor of his late mother. It was always one of the biggest events of the season at the popular Ontario County oval and when Jeremie moved his services to the Utica-Rome Speedway this season, he brought the event with him to keep the event going in her honor.
The Modifieds will be competing in a Big Block/Small Block Challenge with $3,064 going to the victor of the 50-lap main event. A hefty $640 bonus will go to the top finishing small block powered Modified. The small blocks will run under the King of Dirt/Albany-Saratoga Speedway rule package with no dry sump small blocks allowed. Competition has been intense this season at the Vernon oval with Matt Sheppard, Pat Ward, Billy Dunn, Bobby Varin, Erick Rudolph, and Jimmy Phelps all scoring wins so far this season. Ward is the current point leader in the DirtTrackDigest.com 358-Modified point standings.
Matt Janczuk is the current point leader in the Broedel Energy Sportsman with two wins on the season. Trailing Janczuk in the standings is Kyle Inman, Charlie Tibbitts, AJ Filbeck, Dave Moyer, Chris Cunningham, Rocco Leone, AJ Miller, Dave Marcuccilli, Stephen Denton, and Mark Effner. Joining Janczuk in the win column are Marcuccilli with two wins and Filbeck and Kevin Root with one win each.
The Ted’s Body Shop standings show Travis Welch leading by a mere two points over defending champion Mike Welch, followed by Shane Henderson, Bill Knapp, Mike Kazlauskas, Ernie Staelens, Jerry Streeter, Aaron Page, Pete Stefanski, and Frank Hyatt. Travis Welch has two wins so far with Mike Welch, Stefanksi, and Rich Crane each with one victory.
The Rookie Sportsman and DIRT Modified Nostalgia Tour Vintage Series will also be in competition.
Adult admission for this event will be $18 with kids under 16 free. Students, Seniors, and Military will be admitted for $15. Pit gates open at 4 p.m. with grandstands opening at 4:30 p.m., and racing starting at 7 p.m.
