Utica-Rome Set For History-Making 900th Modified Event This Friday, Paying $3,500-To-Win

Story By: CHRIS MOORE / UTICA-ROME SPEEDWAY – VERNON, NY – Another action-packed night of racing is on tap this Friday, June 18 at Utica-Rome Speedway in the ‘School’s Out Special.’

The Sunoco Modifieds take their headlining role and an increased pay to Friday night’s victor: $3,500 is on the line for the first to cross the finish line.

The ‘School’s Out Special’ 30-lap Modified will also serve as the 900th Modified event in the history of the ‘Home of Heroes.’

Savannah, N.Y.’s Matt Sheppard joined fellow Empire State stars Rocky Warner, and Jessica and Stewart Friesen as 2021 Sunoco Modified winners last Friday night.

The weekly Friday night divisions will be competing well, as the Worthington Industries Crate 602 Sportsman, Next Generation Graphix Pro Stocks, Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman and Cool Stuff Antiques Four Cylinders join the Modifieds on the half-mile Route 5 oval.

Also on hand, the Speedway Entertainment Slingshot Tour will run the inner oval one-sixth-mile track. Both the Senior Services Inc. Slingshots and D&S Landscaping Junior Slingshots will compete in Empire Series events.

Matt Sheppard currently sits atop the Sunoco Modified points standings, maintaining an 18-point advantage over Sheffield, Mass., driver Andy Bachetti.

Matt Janczuk continued his dominant ways in the Worthington Industries Crate 602 Sportsman. The point leader picked up his third win of the season last Friday. Beau Ballard was the Next Generation Graphix Pro Stocks victor, claiming the point lead in the process.

Clayton DuMond was triumphant for third time in the Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman division, extending his lead to 30 markers over second-place. Lastly, Justin Pope is now three-for-three, winning every Cool Stuff Antiques Four Cylinder feature to date.

Kyle Fallis and Brett Putnam are tied at the top of the Senior Services Insurance All-Star Slingshot points and Colt Kimball leads the way in the D&S Landscaping Junior Slingshots.

For the June 18 program, all gates open at 5 p.m. Hot laps are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. with racing beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Grandstand admission is $12. Seniors (ages 65 and up) pay $10. Kids 11 and under are FREE.

Pit Admission is $30 for Utica-Rome Speedway members and $35 for non-members.