MATT SHEPPARD DOMINATES “NEW YORKER 40” AT UTICA-ROME SPEEDWAY
-ROCKY WARNER RUNS TO FIRST RACE OF CHAMPIONS SPORTSMAN VICTORY LANE-
Vernon, New York – (September 11, 2016) – The Ferris Mowers Race of Champions Dirt Modified and 602 Dirt Sportsman Modified Series fueled by Sunoco visited the Utica-Rome Speedway in Vernon, N.Y., this past Sunday night partnered with the prestigious “Cole Cup” 360 Sprint Car event, a part of the Empire Super Sprint schedule. When the checkered flag fell Matt Sheppard of Waterloo, N.Y., stood in victory lane after an absolutely dominating performance in the “New Yorker 40” for the Race of Champions Dirt Modified Series.
Sheppard won his qualifying race, redrew the pole for the feature and never looked back on his way to his second Ferris Mowers Race of Champions Dirt Modified Series fueled by Sunoco victory of the season.
“We had a great car tonight and things went our way,” stated Sheppard from victory lane. “All of our guys work extremely hard to keep things going in the right direction. I love racing at Utica-Rome, the track has been great to me. This is a great way to finish off the weekend.”
Behind Sheppard a spirited battle took place for second through fifth in the 40-lap event. Danny Varin of Fonda, N.Y., out-dueled Marc Johnson of Guilderland, N.Y., to finish 2nd. Johnson finished 3rd. Alan Johnson of Phelps, N.Y., came from 10th to finish 4th and Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., rounded out the top-five after starting 11th.
Sheppard, Danny Varin and Marc Johnson won the qualifying races. Danny Varin posted the fastest time in the group time trials.
Rocky Warner of Gloversville, N.Y., had to fend off challenges from Kevin Root of Geneva, N.Y., Matt Janczuk of Oneida, N.Y., and Corey Barker of Fulton, N.Y. before he could lay claim to the victory in the Ferris Mowers Race of Champions Dirt 602 Sportsman Modified Series fueled by Sunoco race to sweep the weekend at Utica-Rome.
“It was a good race out there tonight,” explained Warner from victory lane. “Those guys just kept coming and at one point I thought Kevin Root was going to get by me, but we kept it on the bottom and got the job done. I can’t thank my guys and team enough. This was a pretty awesome night for us.”
Warner was chased to the line by Barker, who finished 2nd. Janczuk finished 3rd with Brad Alger of Oweonta, N.Y., finishing 4th and Tyler Trump of Lacona, N.Y., rounding out the top-five.
Alan Fink of Central Square, N.Y., Warner and Janczuk won the qualifying races while Warner posted the fastest time in the group qualifying session.
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The Race of Champions is a sanctioning body presenting Modified and Stock Car racing on asphalt and dirt surfaces throughout the Northeast, with events in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The 66th annual Race of Champions weekend will take place in 2016 and is the second longest consecutive auto-racing event in North America, second only to the Indianapolis 500.
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www.rocmodifiedseries.com Feature Finish
New Yorker 40
Utica-Rome Speedway, Vernon, N.Y.
Finishing Position, Driver
FEATURE (40 laps – NT)
Finish. # Name (Starting Position)
1. 9 Matt Sheppard
2. 93 Danny Varin
3. 3j Marc Johnson
4. 12j Alan Johnson
5. 19 Tim Fuller
6. 32c Vic Coffey
7. 8r Rob Bellinger
8. 99l Larry Wight
9. 42p Pat Ward
10. 1j Ronnie Johnson
11. 55 Chris Hile
12. 76 Bobby Varin
13. 37a Jack Miller
14. 34 Jimmy Davis
15. 8m Tim Mayne
16. 27s Steve Way
17. 34f Andrew Ferguson
18. 35 Alan Barker
19. 51 Scott Huber
20. 22 Brandon Walters
21. 34p Shaun Pangburn
22. 4 Tim Murphy
23. 10 Jim Nagle
Qualifying Race: Matt Sheppard, Danny Varin, Marc Johnson
Fastest Lap in Group Qualifying; Danny Varin
Feature Finish
New Yorker Weekend 602 Sportsman Modified Championship
Utica-Rome Speedway, Vernon, N.Y.
Finishing Position, Driver
FEATURE (30 laps – NT)
Finish. # Name (Starting Position)
1. 1j Rocky Warner
2. 31 Corey Barker
3. 33x Matt Janczuk
4. 78a Brad Alger
5. 9x Tyler Trump
6. 34 Kevin Root
7. 44c Stephen Denton
8. 20k Kyle Inman
9. 20 David Schilling
10. 42 Daryl Nutting
11. a1 A.J. Filbeck
12. 87 Rocco Leone
13. 16 Earl Rudy
14. 8 Alan Fink
15. 4t Tony Kamuda
16. 14j A.J. Miller
17. 16j Aaron Jacobs
18. 71 Jimmy Zacharias
19. 2 Jack Lehner
20. b4 John Baker
21. 1t Charlie Tibbitts
22. 74 Carl Inman
23. 51 Dave Moyer
24. 17g Bobby Gage
Qualifying Race Winners: Alan Fink, Rocky Warner, Matt Janczuk
Fastest Lap in Group Qualifying; Rocky Warner
