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STEWART FRIESEN COLLECTS $8,000 AS UTICA-ROME SPEEDWAY 358-MODIFIED CHAMPION AT TURNING STONE CASINO
VERONA, NY- This past Saturday, November 17, at the beautiful Turning Stone Casino and Resort it was an end of an era for General Manager Dick Sweet at the Utica-Rome Speedway. With the speedway’s Annual Awards Banquet being the last event of the 2007 season, it concluded Sweet’s three year run at GM at the popular Sunday night track. Over 420 patrons attended the gala with over $65,000 going out to the competitors in the five weekly divisions.
Stewart Friesen took home a huge $8,000 check for becoming the 2007 358-Modified champion, his second title in four years at the Vernon oval. Friesen had five wins on the season plus a win in the return of the New Yorker 200, which was worth another $10,000. Willy Decker and Pat Ward shared second place in the final standings, each getting $5,000 for their efforts. Decker had four wins in point races in 2007, plus sweeping the two Dart Dirt Race of Champions events at the speedway, while Ward finished the season with three wins. While winless in the 2007 season at the Vernon oval, Ted Lamb was consistent enough to nail down a fourth place finish in the standings, worth $2,500 to the veteran. Collecting a check for $2,000 was fifth place finisher Todd Burley, who had two wins at the speedway in 2007. Also honored and given checks for the 2007 efforts were the remaining top 10 finishers Gus Schmidt ($1,500), Bobby Varin ($1,400), Bill Shantel, Jr. ($1,300), John Ramsey ($1,200), and AJ Romano. Pat Ward and Willy Decker also collected the Hard Charger Award while Bill Shantel, Jr. was named the Most Improved Driver.
Veteran Mike Button used consistency to grab his second consecutive Sportsman championship as was winless on the season but had an incredible 14 top five finishes in the 15 point events competed. Button had to fend off Alan Barker (3 wins), Matt Janczuk (1 win), Jeremy Vunk (2 wins), and Casey Williams (2 wins). The rest of the top honored were Tim Nye (1 win), Jim Rothwell (2 wins), Steve Way (1 win), Larry Wight, and Brad Alger (2 wins). Alan Barker was also given the Hard Charger Award while Casey Williams and Matt Janczuk shared the Most Improved Driver Award. Larry Wight, his first season in a full sized open wheel car, handily won the Rookie of the Year Award. Jim Rothwell was given a “Dancing with the Stars” award for his attempt at a rooftop dance when he collected his first Utica-Rome Speedway win in nearly a decade.
Collecting his third consecutive, and fifth overall, Pro Stock championship was Jerry Holmes. Despite missing the first event of the season, Holmes was strong enough to overcome the deficit to grab the title by winning five events. Tom Denton (2 wins) and Bret Belden (2 wins) gave Holmes the toughest competition throughout most of the season but fell just short. Chris Mackey (4 wins) and Jim Normoyle (3 wins) filled out the top five point positions while Bill Knapp, Chad Ray (1 win), AJ Digsby (1 win), Dave Moyer, Shawn Frost rounded out the top ten. Tom Denton collected the Hard Charger Award, Shawn Frost the Rookie of the Year, and Chad Ray the Most Improved Driver Award.
Russ Marsden continued his dominance of the Pure Stock division at the Utica-Rome Speedway by winning eight wins en route to his fourth consecutive championship. Tim Janczuk (1 win), Chris Carr (2 wins), Matt Ball (2 wins), and Chris Cunningham filled out the top five positions with Jim Thomas, Waylan Wilczek (1 win), Ron Hawker (2 wins), Keith Stevenson (1 wins), and Cale Hoffman rounded out the top ten. Tim Janczuk was named the Hard Charger with Cale Hoffman the Rookie of the Year. The Most Improved Pure Stock driver award went to Chris Carr.
In the IMCA Modifieds, Jim Roberts was honored as the track champion on the strength of his four wins, over Aaron Jacobs (3 wins), Ken Rogers, Kevan Cook (2 wins), Mike Jacobs, Mark Chrzanowski, Chris Fleming, Dale Caswell (6 wins), Lyle Smith, and Jeff Jones. Aaron Jacobs went home with Hard Charger Award with Ken Rogers named the Most Improved Driver.
After a roast of outgoing General Manager Dick Sweet by Doug Elkins of dougsdirtdiary.com and Utica-Rome Speedway employees, Sweet had a few words to the packed Mohawk Room of the Turning Stone Casino. In a heartfelt speech, Sweet went over his three years at the track. Sweet thanked all the employees, owners Gene and Gloria Cole, racers, and fans for making his run a successful one, and when he was done talking, he was sent off with a standing ovation.
After Sweet’s speech, Race Director John Tiff took to the podium to give a look to the 2008 season. He mentioned the return of the $25,000 plus point fund courtesy of Gates-Cole Insurance and Mirabito Fuel Group and that the tire refund program will continue in 2008. Also, Utica-Rome Speedway will run a Pure Stocks series with Thunder Alley Speedpark and Can-Am Motorsports Park that will pay $1,000 to win. Also, it was announced that the Victoria 200 name was sold by former Fulton Speedway promoter Eric Kingsley to Utica-Rome Speedway and the event will be held at the Vernon oval in July. Tiff also announced that the Big Block Modifieds will be added to the mix for the 2009 season. In the rules department, he announced the 358-Modifieds will operate compete at one weight in 2008, at 2400 lbs along with an open carburetor rule. Barb Clark was also named the Director of Operations, handling most of Sweet’s weekly duties at the Utica-Rome Speedway.
At the conclusion of the event, track announcer Mike Mallett, on the behalf of track management, thanked the track staff, racers, and fans for making the 2007 season the most successful in the Cole era.
To keep up with all the exciting announcements on the upcoming 2008 season, please log on to the worldwide web at www.uticaromespeedway.com. To contact the track directly, please call (315) 829-4557.
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