Auto Racing News - 11 July 2024

Tonight is $5 Fan Appreciation Night at Utica-Rome Speedway, with all divisions running and only five dollars for grandstand general admission.

 Some more positive news last week was the change in ownership of the Utica-Rome Speedway. As of Friday, June 28, as promoter Brett Deyo and local businessman Jason Broedel of Broedel Energy have completed the purchase from the Cole family and are now the new owners of the Vernon, N.Y. track.

 Glen Ridge Motorsports Park will present their 2023 Champions with their awards on Sunday, July 28. Rain or Shine at 12:00 noon at the Barn on the Hill at The Ridge.

 Wednesday July 3rd. at Fonda Speedway there were two big events for the Amsterdam Truck Center modified division. Thanks to the efforts of Shelly Shaffer, the Anagnostopulos family, and many supporters, over $8,000 was distributed to drivers competing in the Bill Ag Modified Elimination race and the Short Track Super Series-Firecracker 50.

Rocky Warner would claim the overall victory for the one on one Bill Ag match races, but it was Jack Lehner by virtue of winning the first three rounds that took the largest amount of money from the contest.  In the 50-lap Short Track Super Series Firecracker for the modifieds (with sail panels) it was Matt Sheppard collecting the $10,000 first place money, Mat Willaimson finished second and Anthony Perrego third. 

In the companion STSS 25-lap feature for the Swagger Factory Apparel crate 602 sportsman Payton Talbot earned the win over Brian Calabrese and Chad Edwards.

 On Independence Day Utica-Rome Speedway held the Bill Shea Memorial, a strong field of modifieds and sprint cars were in the pits. Stewart Friesen would earn the 30-lap feature for the modified division as he beat Tim Fuller and Marc Johnson to the finish line. In night number one of the Empire Super Sprint CNY Speedweek Stewart would also win the 360 winged sprint car 25-lap feature Jordan Poirier finished second and Danny Varin Third. The Taylor Trailers 25-lap crate 602 sportsman feature was won by Payton Talbot over Brian Calabrese and Matt Janczuk. And in the Next Generation GraphiX pro stock division 20-lap feature the top three were Cousin Luke Horning, A.J. Walters, and Bret Belden.

 Friday night Albany-Saratoga Speedway, In the NAPA DIRTcar big block modified division 35-lap feature Jessey Mueller took the win over Kolby Schroder and Matt Delorenzo. Ronnie Johnson scored the victory.

in the 25-lap feature for the DiCarlo’s Auto Body Shootout for the DIRTcar 358 modified division Walt Hammond and Marc Johnson filled the podium. Tim Hartman Jr. picked up the win in the DIRTcar crate 602 sportsman division 25-lap feature.

 Brewerton Speedway hosted the E.S.S. for their second night of Speedweek.  Jason Barney took the win in the 25-lap feature. Danny Varin finished fourth, Chase Moran 10th.

 Saturday night at Fonda Speedway there was a make-up race from May 25 for the Amsterdam Truck Center modified division. In that 30-lap feature Stewart Friesen claimed the win over Jack Lehner and Alex Yankowski. In this week's modified feature Jack Lehner would earn his first victory at Fonda in 2024 over Alex Yankowski and Brian Pessolano. In the Swagger Factory Apparel crate 602 sportsman division 25-lap feature Brendan Gibbons took the checkers ahead of Payton Talbot and Chad Edwards.

 The Leatherstocking Credit Union prostock division 20-lap feature went to Kenny Gates as he beat Ivan Joslin and Jason Morrison to the finish line. The Montgomery County Office for Aging limited sportsman division also held a make-up race from May 25.  Corky Warner won that

feature as he beat  A.J. Greco and Jeff Bobilin to the checkered flag. 

In the regular feature for Saturday. Steve Wagoner claimed the win for the limited sportsman division. Walter Cook finished second and Lance Hill was third. The Fonda Fair 4 cylinder division feature was won by Jay Ingersoll in the dual cam division and Kenny Hollenbeck in the

single cam division. For Kenny Hollenbeck it was feature win number100 at the Track of Champions. 

The E.S.S. was at Fulton Speedway on Saturday. Davie Franek claimed the 25-lap feature victory Chase Moran was 16th. and Danny Varin lost an engine and was credited with finishing 24th. 

Sunday was a full night. Beginning with Glen Ridge Motorsports Park Brian Calabrese was victorious in the Callanan Industries DIRTcar 358 modified division 35-lap feature as he finished ahead of Tucker O'Connor and Brian Pessolano. In the Ted's Auto Body/ Next Generation GraphiX DIRTcar crate 602 sportsman division 30-lap feature Cody Ochs scored the win over Taylor Wason and Kaden Hohensheldt. The Yurkewecz Auto Crushers DIRTcar pro stock division 20-lap feature was won by Chuck McSpirit over Cousin Luke Horning and Slater Baker. The 20-lap limited sportsman division feature went to Zach Graham over Tim Deffer and Owen Lewis. Jason Samrov scored the street stock division 10-lap feature ahead of Matt Mosher and Mark Lester. In the Leatherstocking Credit Union DIRTcar mini stock division 15-lap feature Jordan Ryder was the winner over Josh Reome and Billy Hillman. 

Weedsport Speedway hosted the DIRTcar 358 modified series Jimmy Phelps would claim that 50-lap feature. Also on the program was the Empire Super Sprints series. After changing engines due to a blown power plant from the night before at Fulton Speedway. Danny Varin of Fonda went from 10th. to first in claiming the 25-lap feature. Chase Moran of Fultonville finished 17th. and Chad Miller of Amsterdam finished 28th.

 Bridgeport Speedway  held the STSS South Jersey Shootout for the big block/small block modified division 50-lap feature. Alex Yankowski sat on the pole and led every lap, Danny Bouc and Anthony Perrego completed the podium. Stewart Friesen finished 11th. In the STSS crate 602 sportsman 25-lap feature Logan Watt was the winner Payton Talbot was second and Dylan Madsen was 11th. 

The F.X.Caprara Car Companies-Thunder on the Thruway Series returns to Fonda on Saturday. All weekly divisions will be in action, with the modified, crate 602 sportsman, and pro stock divisions competing for an increased purse and the valuable Thunder Series points. 

Lebanon Valley Speedway is celebrating promoter Howard Commander’s 80th. birthday tomorrow with The Commander, a 33-lap modified feature paying $8,000. All weekly divisions will be in action. 

Glen Ridge-Kids Club will present Bike Night this week on Sunday, July 14. 

Thursday, July 18 Utica-Rome Speedway will host the STSS Richie Evans Remembered 61 for modifieds. 

Tuesday, July 23 the Amsterdam Mohawks baseball team will host their annual NASCAR Night. There will be a number of local race car teams that will have their cars on site. Games are played at Shuttleworth Park in Amsterdam. Game time is 6:35 pm.