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ESS EXTRA!!
The Utica-Rome Speedway, Vernon, New York.
The Utica-Rome Speedway annually celebrates the three big racing season weekend holidays with the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints in town. Memorial Day, the 4th of July and Labor Day weekend sees the winged warriors invade the big ½ mile oval in Central, NY.
ESS has come to town since May 26, 1986 with United Racing Club legend Dave Kelly taking the event when the track was known as The New Venture Speedway and under the ownership of Jim Beachy. Since 2003 and under the current rein of Gene Cole, ESS has made its holiday celebration in Vernon and the 25th Anniversary Tour is no different.
ESS’ Central, NY roots are showcased here with drivers of local interest being Doug Emery, Dan Kaszubinski, Tommy Wickham, Jason Barney and the return of the first ever ESS champion Gordy Button. Rookie of the year hopefuls in Brandon Warner and Andy Noto will also call Utica-Rome home.
There’s one aspect that Gene Cole is very proud of and that’s continuing to dump money back into his pride a joy. Adding clay and banking over the years, new high rise bleachers in turn one and this year comes a new front stretch wall and scoreboard. Utica-Rome has become one of the most successful Sunday night tracks in the nation.
Bleachers spread the entire front stretch with the pits both behind the high rise in turn one spreading around turns one and two where it’s tiered. Modern rest rooms and concessions will greet all fans along with stadium lighting. The wide, banked ½ mile oval will see three-wide sprint action as the norm.
The dates are May 25th, July 6th and Aug. 31st where all three events carrying a $2,000 to win purse. On July and August, fireworks will also be a part of the program.
ESS Facts – Utica Rome Speedway:
ESS Events Run: 31
Different Winners: 21
Most Wins: Dan Kaszubinski and Justin Barger (3 each).
Last Event Run: 9/2/07
Most Recent Winner: Steve Poirier.
Utica-Rome Facts:
Location: Rte 5, Vernon, N.Y.
ESS Date(s): May 25th, July 6th, August 31st (May and July are a part of the GSSI $1,000 point fund events)
Dash Sponsor(s) – TBA
A-Main Sponsor – SUNY Canton for all three events.
Promoter: Gene Cole
Track Phone: (315) 829-4557
Website: www.uticaromespeedway.com
Sites of Interest:
The luxurious Turning Stone Resort and Casino just 5 miles away.
30 minutes from the cities of Syracuse, Utica and Rome, NY.
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