Sheppard keeps rolling with two more victories

Matt Sheppard took first in two more races at UticaRome Speedway on Sunday to reach 40for his career.

VERNON, N.Y. » Matt Sheppard’s assault on the Utica-Rome Speedway record book continued Sunday evening as he took his fifth consecutive win in the Gates-Cole Auto Insurance Modifieds at the Vernon oval. Sheppard then scored his second victory of the night, winning the King of Dirt 358-Modified Series, whichwas his 40th careerw in at Utica-Rome. Rocky Warner was winner in King of Dirt/DIRTcar East Sportsman Series while Rob Yetman took the win in the rain delayed King of Dirt Pro Stock Series event while Chuck Dumblewski was the victor in the regularly scheduled King of Dirt Pro Stock race.

Third place starter Brandon Walters took an early lead in the GatesCole Auto Insurance Modified feature before eighth place starter Tim Fuller charged into second by lap three and went around the outside of Walters to lead lap four. All eyes were on Sheppard at this point, who started near the rear of the field after mechanical issues in his heat race. By lap seven, Shep---

pard cracked the top five and he wasn’t done yet. On lap 10, the leaderboard showed Fuller leading over Walters, Danny Varin, Sheppard and Claude Hutchings Jr.

A lap11 caution erased the advantage that Fuller had built up on the field and but on the restart he jumped out front again with Sheppard making his move into the runner-up spot. Sheppard caught Fuller and the duo raced side by side for two laps before Sheppard wrestled the lead away for good on lap 14. Sheppard was untouchable at this point as he sped away from the field, leaving Fuller in a battle for second with Pat Ward. Fuller and Ward raced side by side for second for the next five laps with Ward taking the spot on lap 18. Sheppard went the rest of the way unchecked to score his seventh win of the season with Ward following.

Erick Rudolph took the lead at the start of the King of Dirt 358-Modified 35-lap feature event and survived a rash of yellow fever in the opening five laps only to lose the lead to fourth place starter Mike Mahaney on lap six. A lap nine red flag for a Jessey Mueller roll over slowed the pace again, though Mueller amazingly drove away and returned to action. The restart gave Rudolph another shot at the lead, and as the field was coming to complete lap 10, Rudolph used a slide job to regain the lead over Mahaney. While this was going, Sheppard was lurking in third waiting for any opportunity to get by. As the field came to lap 15, Mahaney jumped the cushion which allowed Sheppard to grab second and set his sights on the leader Rudolph.

Rudolph seemed to be in control of the event until he came up on lapped traffic where he struggled, allowing Sheppard to close in. Sheppard made his move on lap 22 going to the backstretch, going on the outside of Rudolph and the slower cars. Sheppard led at the completion of lap 23 and was flawless for the remainder of the event as he raced off to his second win of the night.

Connor Cleveland took the initial lead fromhis pole starting spot in the King of Dirt/DIRTcar East Sportsman Series 30-lap main event, leading the first four circuits. Sixth place starter Warner was on the move early as he moved through the top five spots and by lap five he went around Cleveland to assume the lead. Warner pulled away from the field while Kevin Root was after Cleveland for the runner-up spot and Root was able to take the spot away on lap nine. Several cautions eliminated any advantage that Warner built but he was up to the task on each restart and when the checkered flag flew he claimed the $1,250 win over Root.

Byron Westcott led the opening two circuits of the rain delayed King of Dirt Pro Stock main event from June 18, until seventh place starter Yetman took over the lead as lap three was being completed. While Yetman paced the field, Luke Horning and Nick Stone made their way to the front with Horning taking second from Westcott on lap 10 after starting ninth. Stone was able slip by Horning for the runner-up spot to attempt to challenge for the win but Yetman proved to be too strong as he sped to the victory.

Gus Hollner led the opening lap from his front row starting spot in the regularly scheduled King of Dirt Pro Stock 30-lap main event with sixth place starter Luke Horning taking the lead on lap two. Horning set the pace until lap 13 when Nick Stone slipped by. Stone held the lead for the next handful of laps until contact from Yetman sent Stone around and Yetman to the rear for the contact. Dumblewski assumed the lead on the restart and he did not relinquish it for the remainder of the event, scoring his first ever UticaRome Speedway.

Weekly racing continues on Aug. 27 when Excell Motorsports presents a full show of Gates-Cole Auto Insurance Modifieds, Broedel Energy Sportsman, Pro Stocks and Rookie Sportsman. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m. Formore information, log on towww.uticaromespeedway.com or call the speedway at (315) 829-4557.