Utica-Rome 358-Modifieds preview

100-lap Super Dirt Series Special For 358-Modifieds Invades Utica-Rome On May 13

VERNON, NY - The lidlifter of the 2001 Sunoco Race Fuels 358-Modified Super DIRT Series takes center stage this Sunday May 13 at Utica-Rome Speedway with some of the best names in DIRT Motorsports on hand vying for the $3,000 top winner's prize in the 100-lap event. Also in competition on NICE N' EASY GROCERY SHOPPES night will be the "Dig Safely New York" Sportsman Super DIRT Series in a 30-lap affair plus the Slingshot division. Time trials for the 358-Modifieds will begin at 5:30pm, with racing set to take the green at 6pm.

A stellar field of greater than sixty 358-Modifieds is expected by Promoter Eric Kingsley for the 100-lap Sunoco Race Fuels Super DIRT Series race, which will offer a guaranteed starting spot for Super DIRT Week Sunoco/A-Plus 150 358-Modified Championship at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. The top names in DIRT 358-Modified racing will at Utica-Rome for a share of the huge purse, featuring $3,000 to the race winner. Just some of the invading drivers on hand will be Danny Johnson, Pete Bicknell, Brett Hearn, Steve Paine, Vic Coffey, Tim McCreadie, Pat Ward, Alan Johnson, Andy Bachetti, Jack Johnson, and rookie sensation Matt Sheppard.

Defending Utica-Rome track champion Ron Holmes of Oneida will have his hands full as he tries to score his first Super DIRT Series victory at his home track. Holmes has been oh so close to winning one of these events, only to have problems in accomplishing his goal. Just last year, he was leading the September Super DIRT Series event with eight laps to go and unfortunately blew an engine. For sure, the popular Utica-Rome regular, whose best finish in a Utica-Rome Super DIRT Series event is third, would love to score an upset victory over the invading stars of the DIRT circuit.

Another top Utica-Rome regular looking for victory in the 100-lap event is J.J. Michaels of Baldwinsville. Michaels nearly scored a major upset victory in the first 358-Modified Super DIRT Series event held in 1999 at Utica-Rome, only to have his tires go away in the last ten laps of the showdown, falling back to the third position. Last September in the season ending Super DIRT Series 100 at Utica-Rome, Michaels made a late race charge to the front of the pack to finish fourth and take home a Syracuse qualifying spot for Super DIRT Week. For sure, the likable driver is due to win one of these events in the near future.

Other Utica-Rome faithful who should be in top notch form and looking to score a win include Todd Burley, John Barker, Gus Schmidt, Jason Barney, Dale Planck, Roger Phelps, Mitch Gibbs, Paul Jensen, and Billy Wilcox.

Just last year, Danny Johnson used a huge 100-lap victory in the Mother's Day event at Utica-Rome plus a string of eight consecutive 358-Modified Super DIRT Series victories to score the lucrative Mr. DIRT 358-Modified Championship, his third overall. For sure, Danny will be a favorite to score the victory, as will Jack Johnson who scored a photo finish victory over Brett Hearn in the season ending 100-lap Super DIRT Series event last September. Hearn should also be a favorite, as he has two Super DIRT Series triumphs at Utica-Rome in the 358-Modifieds.

Time trials will set the lineup for the heat race qualifying events, which will then be used to set the stage for the 100-lap feature after the consolation races are completed. 358-Modified teams are reminded to purchase transponders for the new state of the art electronic scoring system, which will be used for the first time ever at Utica-Rome on Mother's Day.

The "Dig Safely New York" Sportsman Super DIRT Series will also be in action, bringing the very best names of the Sportsman division across the DIRT circuit to Utica-Rome for the 30-lap feature, paying $1,000 to the winner. Also in action will be the all-new Slingshot division.

Gates for the NICE N' EASY GROCERY SHOPPES Mother's Day sponsored program on Sunday May 13 at Utica-Rome Speedway will open at 4pm with 358-Modified time trials taking place at 5:30pm and racing hitting the track at 6pm. Free parking and overnight camping is allowed on speedway grounds.

For more information, contact the speedway office at (315) 829-4557 or log onto www.newuticaromespeedway.com.

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