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VERNON , NY- When Stewart Friesen takes lead of the 358-Modified feature at Utica-Rome Speedway; it is usually safe to assume that he will win the event. But this Sunday, July 29 on Mirabito “The Energy Leader” night, Bobby Varin ended that notion by charging by Friesen on lap 27 for the popular win. Jim Rothwell, Tim Nye, Jerry Holmes, Ron Hawker, and Dale Caswell also found victory lane in front of a packed grandstand on Fan Appreciation Night.
Ted Lamb led the opening circuit of the 358-Modified event from his fourth starting spot, only to have pole sitter AJ Romano charge by on lap two. Romano looked strong early as he opened as he opened a sizable margin as the rest of the field battled behind him. John Ramsey climbed into the second spot on lap and began gaining on the leader Romano while Pat Ward and Stewart Friesen were gaining ground from deep in the field.
Ward cracked the top three by lap 12 with Friesen fourth by lap 14 when the caution flag flew. Friesen got a great start when the green came back out, grabbing second on lap 15 and then charging by Romano for the top spot on lap 17. While Friesen had control of the field, seventh place starter Bobby Varin began to come to life after the midway point of the 30 lap event.
Riding around in the fifth spot at halfway, Varin jumped to the outside of the speedway in his charge to the front. Fourth by lap 20 and second by lap 21, Varin was about to stop there as he began running down Friesen. Two quick cautions slowed the field on laps 24 and 25, setting up a five lap dash to the finish. Varin pulled along side Friesen as lap 26 was being scored and then completed his charge a circuit later as he went around Friesen for the lead, and the win. Varin collected the checkered flag ahead of Friesen, Ward, lamb, and Willy Decker. Ryan Phelps, Paul Jensen, Bill Shantel Jr., Romano, Gus Schmidt rounded out the top ten.
Sportsman action got underway early in the evening with the running of the rained out feature event from July 8, with Tim Nye getting the early jump on the field from his outside front row starting spot. Nye survived an intense three car battle throughout the middle stages of the event, holding off Casey Williams and Brad Alger. Alger made a bid for the lead on lap 17, sliding up in front of Nye exiting turn two. Nye and Alger made contact at that point with Nye able to continue on with the lead while Alger lost several positions. Nye would continue to hold the lead until the end of the 20 lap race, holding off a late race charge from Mike Button. Williams, Matt Janczuk, and John Cunningham rounded out the top five.
In the nightcap Sportsman feature 20 lap feature, Jim Rothwell took control of the event at the drop of the green from his front row starting spot, and would several challengers throughout the event. Larry Wight and Casey Williams were Rothwell’s strongest competition at different points of the event but Rothwell would race off to collect win number two on the season. Williams, Matt Janczuk, Alan Barker, and Mike Button filled out the top five spots.
Mark Effner led the opening six circuits of the 20 lap Pro Stock feature, handing it to Jim Normoyle on lap seven. Normoyle looked to secure his second consecutive win, but Jerry Holmes would slip by as lap 15 was being scored. Holmes would race off to collect his fourth win ahead of Effner, Normoyle, Shawn Frost, and Bill Knapp.
Ron Hawker and Matt Ball ran the last half of the 15 lap Pure Stock main side by side battling for the lead and the win, with Hawker edging Ball at the end to claim his first win of the season at the speedway. Ball, Russ Marsden, Phil Norman, and Chris Carr chased Hawker across the line.
Jim Roberts, after starting fifth, outran the IMCA Modified starting field to the line to lead lap one in search of victory number four, with Kevan Cook and Aaron Jacobs in tow. Seventh place starter Dale Caswell charged his way through the top five positions, moving into the runner-up position by lap 10. Caswell slipped under Roberts for the top spot a circuit later and raced off for his fifth win of the season. Lyle Smith, Roberts, Cook, and Chris Fleming were credited with top five finishes.
Racing action continues this Sunday August 5 when Hud Son Forestry Products presents a regular show of 358-Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks, and IMCA Modifieds plus the ESDCA Mod Lites. The 358-Modifieds will also compete in the rained out feature from July 8. Racing action gets underway at 5:30 p.m. with the gates opening at 3 p.m. More information is available at www.uticaromespeedway.com or by calling (315) 829-4557.
MIRABITO “THE ENERGY LEADER” RACE SUMMARY
358-MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH (30 LAPS)- BOBBY VARIN, Stewart Friesen, Pat Ward, Ted Lamb, Willy Decker, Ryan Phelps, Paul Jensen, Bill Shantel Jr., AJ Romano, Gus Schmidt, Jeff Kotary, John Ramsey, Joel Thomas, Andy Bachetti, Todd Burley, and Paul Kinney.
SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH (20 LAPS)- JIM ROTHWELL, Casey Williams, Matt Janczuk, Alan Barker, Mike Button, Tim Nye, Larry Wight, Danny Varin, Jeremy Vunk, Jeff Leslie, Michael Teachout, Ken Carson Jr., Brad Alger, Jack Miller, and Steve Way.
PRO STOCK FEATURE FINISH (20 LAPS)-.JERRY HOLMES, Mark Effner, Jim Normoyle, Shawn Frost, Bill Knapp, Eric Vanderhoof, Tom Denton, Bret Belden, Ed Ostrander, Ivan Joslin, AJ Digsby, Dave Moyer, Chad Ray, Dave Meeks, Ryan Lund, Rich Duanehauer, Chuck Wentrick, Rob Seavy, and Chris Mackey.
PURE STOCK FEATURE FINISH (15 LAPS)- RON HAWKER, Matt Ball, Russ Marsden, Phil Norman, Chris Carr, Glenn Forward, Rocky Warner, Kelly Pope, Chris Cunningham, Tim Janczuk, Warren Jones, Jim Thomas, Cale Hoffman, John Wesolowski, Keith Stevenson, Scott Wheelock, Frank Hyatt, Waylan Wilczek, Glenn Weaver, Andy Potter, Curt Prevo, Jim Richmond, and Kevin Clawson.
IMCA MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH (15 LAPS)- DALE CASWELL, Jim Roberts, Kevan Cook, Chris Fleming, Ken Rogers, Mike Jacobs, John Carr, Aaron Jacobs, Mark Chrzanowski, Lyle Smith, and Art Halliday.
SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH FROM JULY 8 (20 LAPS)- TIM NYE, Mike Button, Casey Williams, Matt Janczuk, John Cunningham, Alan Barker, Steve Way, Brad Alger, Jeremy Vunk, Larry Wight, Jack Miller, Danny Varin, Jim Rothwell, and Jason Rood.
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