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Vernon , NY- Clear blue skies greeted the fans and drivers to Utica-Rome Speedway this past Sunday, September 16, which was in stark contrast to what it was when they left the previous evening when rain forced the postponement of the Gates-Cole Associates/Dart Machinery New Yorker 200. An early morning start was used to give fans and drivers alike the opportunity to go to other events or to make the long journey home. When the checkered flag flew at approximately 12:30 p.m., it was Niagara-on-the-Lake Ontario native Stewart Friesen that stood in victory lane with the $10,000 check while Louie Jackson took home the $1,200 Pro Stock payday.
Johnstown , NY ’s AJ Romano jumped to the early lead when Matt Burdick’s green flag waved to start the Gates-Cole Associates/Dart Machinery, using outside pole starting spot to get the lead over pole sitter Willy Decker. Romano’s stint at the front of field would only last two circuits however as fourth place starter Bobby Varin sped by. While Varin out front in the first dozen laps, Todd Burley was making his charge to the front from his eighth starting position.
Burley completed his charge as lap 17 was scored, gaining the lead from Varin. Other drivers that were moving through the standings in the first portion of the event were Alan Johnson, Stewart Freisen, and Vic Coffey as all three had moved into the top ten by lap 25 from starting spots 13th, 14th, and 21st, respectively.
On lap 28, the red flag was shown to the field when Don Mattison, from Wells, VT, flipped his ride in turn four as he slid over the banking and into the wall. Mattison was uninjured in the incident. When racing resumed, Alan Johnson continued his march to the front as he moved into the third spot on lap 33 and was looking for more as was Coffey as he cracked into the top five on lap 47. With lap 50 in the books, it was Burley, Varin, Friesen, Alan Johnson, and Coffey showing the quick was around the track with Romano, Mike Ricci, Pat Ward, Kevin Bates, and Decker filling out the top ten.
On cruise control out front was Burley as he was lapping competitors in wholesale fashion, but with about 10 laps to go, the Spencerport NY’s mount seemed to slow. With laps in the first 100 circuits winding down, Varin closed the gap on Burley, even showing his nose on a few occasions but Burley was able to hold on to until the caution flag flew to signify the completion of the first half of the event. Chasing Burley to the stripe was Varin, Friesen, Coffey, Mike Ricci, Alan Johnson, Decker, Ward, Romano, and Ramsey. Burley revealed at the halfway leader interview that needed to change the driveshaft.
After the halfway break, Burley continued to lead but on lap 101 Varin nosed ahead to gain the top spot but only for one lap as Burley regained it a circuit later. The top duo continued their battle for the lead until they got mired in lapped traffic. Varin saw an opening in the traffic and used it to his advantage as he took the lead on lap 117. While Burley and Varin battled for the lead, third place runner Friesen spun his ride in turn one but before the yellow was shown he continue on, losing one position in the process.
Friesen now was on a mission, as now he was looking to recover from his spin and the $10,000 top prize. His recovery was completed on lap 142, he charged by Varin for the top spot. Once out front, Friesen was gone from the rest of the leaders as opened up a huge margin over the field. Varin, Ronnie Johnson, Coffey, and Burley were fighting for the runner-up spot. Ronnie Johnson took over third on lap 148, and for the rest of the race, he hounded Varin for second with Coffey knocking on his back bumper, but they were all unsuccessful in their attempts. Burley’s fine run, he was fourth at the time, ended on lap 163 when he pulled into the pit area with rear end problems.
Out front, Friesen easily drove the rest of the distance to score the huge payday as Varin, Ronnie Johnson, Coffey, and Romano trailed. Rounding out the top ten were Ward, Mike Ricci, Alan Johnson, Jim Davis, and John Ramsey.
Seven heats and four consolation events were run on Saturday September 15 to trim the 64 cars entered to the 28 car starting field. Pat Ward, Jeff Kotary, Jack Johnson, Todd Burley, Bobby Varin, AJ Romano, and Mike Ricci all won heats with Paul Kinney, Jim Davis, Ted Lamb, and Jamie Christian taking the consi events. In a post race drawing, Frank Caprara was the recipient of an extra $1,000 while Rich Ricci Jr. received a set of heads, compliments of Dart Machinery.
In the companion Pro Stock event, Jim Normoyle grabbed the lead from Roy Fifield as lap three was being complete to take control of the 25 lap main, only to have Louie Jackson slide by for the lead and the win on lap 21. Normoyle would hold on for second with Russ Marsden, Mark Effner, and Rob Seavy rounding out the top five. Pro Stock heats were won by Bobby Newman, Jim Normoyle, and Roy Fifield with the consolation race going to Eric Vanderhoof.
The last event on the 2007 Utica-Rome Speedway schedule is the annual Awards Banquet, held at the Turning Stone Casino & Resort on November 17. Call Connie Plows at (315) 822-6336 for reservations. More information is available at www.uticaromespeedway.com or by calling the speedway office at (315) 829-4557.
GATES-COLE ASSOCIATES/DART MACHINERY NEW YORKER 200 RACE SUMMARY
PRO STOCK FEATURE FINISH (25 LAPS)- LOUIE JACKSON, Jim Normoyle, Russ Marsden, Mark Effner, Rob Seavy, AJ Digsby, Roy Fifield, Bret Belden, Bernie Companion, Jerry Holmes, Shawn Frost, Dave Moyer, Chris Mackey, Ed Ostrander, Ryan Lund, Joe Palmer, Phil Norman, John Warner, Rich Dauenhauer, Eric Vanderhoof, Bill Knapp, Bobby Newman, and Tom Denton.
GATES-COLE ASSOCIATES/DART MACHINERY NEW YORKER 200 FINISH
Finish
Start Pos.
Car #
Driver
Laps
1
13
ofp1
Stewart Friesen
200
2
4
00
Bobby Varin
200
3
9
2
Ronnie Johnson
200
4
21
7c
Vic Coffey
200
5
2
15
AJ Romano
200
6
7
42p
Pat Ward
200
7
3
1r
Mike Ricci
200
8
14
ofp1j
Alan Johnson
200
9
17
99
Jim Davis
198
10
23
25r
John Ramsey
198
11
12
2g
Mitch Gibbs
198
12
16
19k
Paul Kinney
197
13
15
42b
Kevin Bates
196
14
18
L82
Ted Lamb
196
15
6
3
Jeff Kotary
195
16
25
406
Rich Ricci Jr
193
17
27
fx1
Frank Caprara
193
18
28
33x
Matt Janczuk
191
19
8
89b
Todd Burley
163
20
19
25rx
Jamie Christian
130
21
1
1x
Willy Decker
127
22
10
39
Ryan Larkin
94
23
20
26
Dave Camara
65
24
26
0
Russ Hefti
65
25
5
12a
Jack Johnson
56
26
11
11vt
Don Scarborough
48
27
22
30
Gus Schmidt
31
28
24
10
Don Mattison
28
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