Utica-Rome kicks off 56th season tonight

Gladiator Twin 20’s to make first appearance in Vernon

The first running of the Gladiator Twin 20s at Utica-Rome is part of tonight’s seasonopening event.

VERNON, N.Y.>> An offseason that stretches back to last October comes to an end today with the 56th season opener at Utica- Rome Speedway.

The evening will include the first ever running of the Gladiator Twin 20s for the 360 Sprints plus the Gates-Cole Auto Insurance Modifieds, Broedel Energy Crate Sportsman and Pro Stocks.

Today will also be the first event since Utica-Rome Speedway has returned to the DIRTcar ranks.

The 360 Sprints will compete in the inaugural Gladiator which will be two 20-lap features that pay $1,500 to win each. At the completion of the two complete programs, the overall point gainer will be named the first ever “Gladiator” and take home the overall Gladiator trophy. A competitive field is expected that should include Cole Cup winner Mark Smith, Super DIRTWeek special

winner Lucas Wolfe, Chuck Hebing, Kelly Hebing, Billy VanInwegan, Danny Varin, Bobby Varin and more. All 360 Sprint competitors will have the opportunity to pay a $20 Gladiator Challenge fee when they draw for heat race position and all the money raised will go to the highest overall point earner for the two 20-lap main events, as long as they paid the Gladiator Challenge fee. Cole Cup rules will be used for this event.

Matt Sheppard will be looking to collect another Gates-Cole Auto Insurance Modified title, his third consecutive and fourth overall, this season and hopes to use the opener to launch his title defense. Last season, Sheppard had to hold off a field that included Larry Wight, Danny Varin, Pat Ward and Rob Bellinger for the title and many of these drivers are expected to return with title aspirations of their own. Several new faces are expected as well with the return of DIRTcar as well as several of the Open Sportsman competitors that are making the move up. Multi-time Super DIRTcar Series champion and Super DIRT Week winner Billy Decker will compete in the opener as well.

The Broedel Energy Crate Sportsman has been competitive every week since being worked into the weekly lineup at UticaRome Speedway in 2015, even though 2015 champion Rocky Warner and last year’s champion Matt Janczuk have dominated victory lane. Many of those wins came with late-race passes including a thrilling third to first last-lap win by Warner last July. Week and week out, several dif- ferent drivers show that every race is up for grabs until the checkered flag flies. This season, defending champion Janczuk has indicated that he doesn’t plan to compete weekly due to family commitments, which will open the door for someone else to give Warner a run for the title.

As competitive as the Broedel Energy Crate Sportsman are, many fans feel that the Pro Stocks are the show every week. Every week, the field rarely spreads out as they run two, three, sometimes four wide for positions on the spacious Vernon oval. Last season, Pete Stefanski had to wait until the final lap to claim his first Utica-Rome title as he battled Mike Welch, Luke Horning, Jim Normoyle, Chris Carr, and more to the final lap. Another talent-laden field is expected this season to continue thrilling the UticaRome Speedway fans.

Pit gates will open at 12:30 p.m., grandstands at 2 p.m., with racing start- ing at 4 p.m. for the opener. Race teams are encouraged to arrive early to fill out the appropriate paperwork that comes with the first race of the season.

For more information on opening night, a full season schedule, admission prices and more visit www.uticaromespeedway.com. The speedway office can be contacted by calling (315) 8294557.