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RAIN ENDS REGULAR SEASON AT UTICA-ROME SPEEDWAY , NEW YORKER 200 WEEKEND NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE
VERNON , NY- All night and morning rains forced Utica-Rome Speedway officials to cancel their final regular Sunday night program of the season, thus ending the 2007 point season. With the regular season now concluded, focus will shift to this weekend’s big event with the 18th running of the New Yorker 200 on September 14 and 15.
Stewart Friesen is the 2007 Utica-Rome Speedway 358-Modified champion, netting the $8,000 top prize for the championship. Friesen collected five wins throughout the season. With the rainout, two-time 358-Modified champion Willy Decker and Pat Ward will finish the season in a tie for the runner up position in the standings. Decker had another fine season at the Vernon oval with four wins in addition to his two wins in the Race of Champions Dart Dirt Modified Series at the track. Ward was victorious three times, including a two in one evening. While winless on the season, Ted Lamb competed for the win on many nights and for his consistent finishes he was able to gain a fourth place position in the standings. Two-time winner Todd Burley was fifth in the standings, a fine season for most, but short of the Spencerport driver’s expectations. Gus Schmidt collected his lone win of the season on the final Sunday night evening of racing on his way to a fine sixth place points run while Bobby Varin, another two time victor, finished a close seventh. Bill Shantel Jr. had a win slip through his grasp earlier in the season, but in his first full season of 358-Modified racing he still managed a top 10 run in the final standings with a eighth place finish. Longtime Utica-Rome Speedway regular John Ramsey and AJ Romano rounded out the top ten in the standings, each earning a share of the lucrative 358-Modified point fund.
Veteran Sportsman campaigner Mike Button, with no victories, defended his title by winning the 2007 Sportsman championship by using consistent top five runs weekly on his to the title. Alan Barker had the point lead going into the last weekend of racing but an early race incident ended his shot at the title. Barker still led the way in wins however, as he collected three on the season. Matt Janczuk, with one win, was third in the final rundown while Jeremy Vunk and Casey Williams rounded out the top five. Both Vunk and Williams netted two victories on the season. Sixth in the standings was one time winner Tim Nye with Jim Rothwell (2 wins), Steve Way (1 win), rookie Larry Wight, and Brad Alger (2 wins) rounding out the top ten.
Jerry Holmes collected his third Pro Stock championship in a row, his fifth overall, with five wins on the season. Two time winner Tom Denton finished second with another two time victor, Bret Belden, in third. Chris Mackey closed out his season with four wins and a fourth place run in the overall standings with three time winner Jim Normoyle in fifth. Bill Knapp, Chad Ray (1 win), AJ Digsby (1 win), Dave Moyer, and Shawn Frost rounded out the top ten positions.
For the fourth consecutive year, Russ Marsden is the Utica-Rome Speedway Pure Stock champion. Marsden had eight wins in 2007 at the track. Tim Janczuk (1 win), Chris Carr (2 wins), Matt Ball (2 wins), and Chris Cunningham round out the top five spots. Rounding out the top ten point positions is Jim Thomas, Waylan Wilczek (1 win), Ron Hawker (2 wins), Keith Stevenson (1 win), and Cale Hoffman.
Jim Roberts successfully defended his championship in the IMCA Modified division, grabbing four wins along the way. Aaron Jacobs had a breakout season at the speedway with three wins and a second place run in the standings. Ken Rogers, Kevan Cook (2 wins), and Mike Jacobs fill out the top five in the point standings with the rest of the top ten being filled out by Mark Chrzanowski, Chris Fleming, Dale Caswell (six wins), Lyle Smith, and Jeff Jones.
This weekend is the event everyone is waiting for, the New Yorker 200 weekend. On Friday September 14 the Sportsman, Pure Stocks, and IMCA Modifieds will take center stage with the running of their high paying events. A $2,200 top prize will go to the winner of the 50 lap Sportsman event while the Pure Stock winner will go home $500 richer. In the IMCA Modifieds, the victor will earn $400. There will also be hot laps for the 358-Modifieds and Pro Stocks. Gates will open at 3 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m. On Saturday September 15 it will be the 18th running of the Gates-Cole Associates/Dart Machinery New Yorker 200 with a 200 lap affair for the 358-Modifieds paying $10,000 to the winner. In addition to the hefty winner’s share, the event will pay $1,000 to start the event. The Pro Stocks will also be in action as they will battle for a $1,200 payday. The will also be a Midstate Antique Race Car Race & Display. Gates will open at 10 a.m. with racing set to go at 2 p.m. Friday’s admission is $15 for adults with Saturday’s adult admission set at $25. Pit admission for Friday is set a $25 while Saturday’s is $40. A two day pit admission will cost $60.
For complete information on the New Yorker 200 weekend, please visit www.uticaromespeedway.com or call the speedway office at (315) 829-4557.
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