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VERNON , NY- All season long at the Utica-Rome Speedway, Pat Ward has been a model of consistency at the “Action Track of the East”. Top three finishes were common for the full time racer, but the wins were not coming like the Genoa native had hoped when the season began. On Hud Son Forestry Products night, Ward eliminated much of those frustrations when he swept the double 358-Modified features to score his first and second career wins at the Vernon oval.
In the makeup 358-Modified from July 8 that was run prior to the evening’s regular program, John Ramsey rocketed from his pole starting spot to the lead at the drop of the green. Despite an early lap one caution, it seemed that no one in the talented field had enough to catch fast Ramsey machine as he easily pulled away from the field on the restart. During the long green flag run in the first third of the event, Ramsey would pull away to a full straightaway lead on the second place car of AJ Romano.
On lap 11, Ramsey’s race would be over as he slowed in turn four, handing the lead over to Romano with Pat Ward, Bobby Varin, Stewart Friesen, and Ryan Phelps in tow. The restart would see Ward get the advantage over Romano with Friesen following Ward into the second spot.
A couple of caution flags allowed the field to close on the back bumper of Ward, but Ward wasn’t about to give this race away as he motored on to take the 30 lap victory, his first ever Utica-Rome Speedway win, with Friesen and Todd Burley chasing. Willy Decker recovered from a mid race penalty to finish in fourth while Romano slipped back to the fifth spot.
In the nightcap 358-Modified event, Ramsey again jumped out to the early lead from outside the front row, hoping to not let this race slip from his grasp like the earlier race. Ramsey would be unable to pull away from the field this time however, as Gus Schmidt was able to keep pace, making several bids for the lead with no success.
As the laps clicked off in the long green flag stretch at the beginning of the event, Ted Lamb, Ward, Friesen, and Decker were making their way to the front, looking to challenge for win. At the halfway point it was still Ramsey holding a slim lead over Schmidt, a charging Lamb, Ward, and Friesen.
Lamb drove by Ramsey at the lap 19 mark, and a couple laps later, Ramsey jumped off the top of turn two which allowed Ward, Decker, and Friesen to sneak by then Schmidt did the same thing in turn four on lap 27. Schmidt’s excursion off the track brought out the second and final caution out, which set up the dash to the finish.
Ward jumped the outside on the restart while Lamb ran down low, and for the last three laps, the two veterans ran side by side for the entire distance. Coming down the backstretch for the final time, Ward went under Lamb to gain the lead but Lamb was going to give up. Coming off turn four for the win, the duo drag raced to the starter’s stand with Ward taking the win by .011 seconds. Decker, Friesen, and Burley rounded out the top five.
Second place starter and fourth place starter Jeremy Vunk battled side by side for five laps for the lead, each taking turns leading at the flag stand. Vunk took over for good on lap six and spent the remainder of the 20 lap feature holding off Way and Brad Alger. Chasing Vunk, Way and Alger to the checkered flag was Danny Varin and Mike Button.
Chris Mackey ended his month of frustration by taking the win in the 20 lap Pro Stock feature. A month ago, Mackey was leading the points and since motor woes have possibly cost him a chance at the track title. Mackey held off AJ Digsby early, then Bill Knapp, and then Jerry Holmes in the later stages. Holmes, Knapp, Ivan Joslin, and Rob Seavy chased Mackey to the finish.
Jim Richmond and Waylan Wilczek took turns at the lead of the Pure Stock field in first five laps of the 15 lap feature until Tim Janczuk charged by for the lead on the sixth lap. Janczuk fended off the late efforts of Matt Ball to score his first career win at the speedway. Ron Hawker, Russ Marsden, and Chris Carr filled out the top five.
The Empire State Dwarf Car Association Mod Lites made their second visit to the Utica-Rome Speedway, bringing 21 cars to do battle on the inner oval. Lowell Zehr and Doug Williams brought the field down to the green with Williams getting the advantage. Williams would seemingly have his way with the field until Dan Williams broke into the second spot on the ninth lap of the 20 lap affair. Dan ran down Doug in lapped traffic and when the white flag was in the air, they came across the line side by side. Dan made the run to the checkered in first with sibling Doug in tow, while Jeff Barker, Justin Crisafulli, and Andrew Schartner chased.
For the second time in three weeks, Aaron Jacobs would grab the lead early in the 15 lap IMCA Modified A Main, and spend the entire event fending the charges of IMCA National Point contender Dale Caswell. Jacobs would fend off Caswell’s charges to collect his second win of the season. Jim Roberts, Kevan Cook, and Chris Fleming chased the top two across the line.
Bishop Print Shop presents Family Autograph Night this Sunday night, August 12, along with a regular show of 358-Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks, and IMCA Modifieds. Gates open at 3 p.m. with racing at 5:30 p.m. For more information, log on to www.uticaromespeedway.com or call (315) 829-4557.
358-MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH (30 LAPS)- PAT WARD, Ted Lamb, Willy Decker, Stewart Friesen, Todd Burley, John Ramsey, Billy Shantel Jr., AJ Romano, Bobby Varin, Gordy Button, Paul Kinney, Gus Schmidt, Jeff Kotary, JR Crouse, Cory Gurney, Joel Thomas, and Dave Bargabos.
358-MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH FROM 7/8 (30 LAPS)- PAT WARD, Stewart Friesen, Todd Burley, Willy Decker, AJ Romano, Bobby Varin, Jeff Kotary, Ted Lamb, Gus Schmidt, Bill Shantel Jr., Ryan Phelps, John Ramsey, and Gordy Button. DNS- Paul Kinney, Andy Bachetti, and Bob Henry Jr.
SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH (20 LAPS)- JEREMY VUNK, Steve Way, Brad Alger, Danny Varin, Mike Button, Alan Barker, Matt Janczuk, Casey Williams, Larry Wight, Tim Nye, Jessica Zemken, Jeff Leslie, Michael Teachout, Jim Rothwell, and Jack Miller. DNS-Jason Rood.
PRO STOCK FEATURE FINISH (20 LAPS)-.CHRIS MACKEY, Jerry Holmes, Bill Knapp, Ivan Joslin, Rob Seavy, Shawn Frost, AJ Digsby, Mark Effner, Eric Vanderhoof, Jim Normoyle, Bret Belden, Tom Denton, Chad Ray, Ed Ostrander, Dave Moyer, Dave Meeks, Chuck Wentrick, Joe Palmer, Ryan Lund, and Rich Duanehauer.
PURE STOCK FEATURE FINISH (15 LAPS)- TIM JANCZUK, Matt Ball, Ron Hawker, Russ Marsden, Chris Carr, Jim Thomas, Frank Hyatt, Phil Norman, Chris Cunningham, Curt Prevo, Rocky Warner, Jim Richmond, Cale Hoffman, John Wesolowski, Waylan Wilczek, Warren Jones, Andy Potter, Tyler Ward, and Keith Stevenson.
IMCA MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH (15 LAPS)- AARON JACOBS, Dale Caswell, Jim Roberts, Kevan Cook, Chris Fleming, Ken Rogers, Mike Jacobs, Jeff Jones, Brad Weaver, and Mark Chrzanowski.
ESDCA MOD LITE FEATURE FINISH (20 LAPS)- DAN WILLIAMS, Doug Williams, Jeff Barker, Justin Crisafulli, Andrew Schartner, Lowell Zehr, Rocco Leone, Ken Gamlen, Mike Virginia, Tommy Felicia, Terry Lapham, Jamie King, Michael Occhipinti, Brett Crawther, Lisa Thomas, Ryan Blackburn, Matt Virginia, John Byrnes, Chuck DeMott, and Joe Gwilt. DNS-Brian Peterson.
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