Thursday Thunder: Richie Evans Remembered 61 Set for Thursday at Utica-Rome Speedway
VERNON, NY– It’s Richie Evans Race Week!
This Thursday, July 22, the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco comes to Utica-Rome Speedway for the first time. Broedel Fuel Group presents the ‘Richie Evans Remembered 61,’ honoring one of the speedway’s all-time greats in a $6,161.61-to-win 61-lap feature event.
The STSS Modifieds and Crate 602 Sportsman will be on hand for the historic event as the ‘Home of Heroes’ becomes the 26th different venue for the series.
The current Utica-Rome point leader, Savannah, N.Y.’s Matt Sheppard, heads into Thursday night’s affair having won four consecutive Friday night Sunoco Modified features.
With the STSS in town however, the race will be over double the normal 30-lap distance and the Modifieds will have sail panels above their back quarter panels (instead of their traditional windows), giving Sheppard and the other Utica-Rome regulars a unique challenge.
Many of the stars in Modified racing are slated to attend, including Stewart Friesen, Anthony Perrego, Mike Mahaney, Billy Decker, Mat Williamson, Max McLaughlin, Bobby Varin, Mike Gular, Erick Rudolph and many more.
The STSS Crate 602 Sportsman will also be on hand for the Richie Evans Remembered night, going 25-laps for $1,561, their largest paying race of the year-to-date.
Dolgeville, N.Y.’s Dave Richer heads the Worthington Industries Crate 602 Sportsman division despite not having won yet this season.
Oneida, N.Y.’s Matt Janczuk is coming off his fourth Friday night win of the season last weekend.
The event carries 25 ‘show-up’ points for both the Modified and Crate 602 Sportsman division for Utica-Rome Speedway points.
Grandstand admission will be $24 for Adults, and $22 for Seniors (ages 65 and over). Kids 11 and under get in FREE. Pit Admission is $40 (Non-Members) or $35 (Utica-Rome Speedway Members).
Pit Gates will open at 4 p.m. while Grandstand gates open at 5 p.m. Hot laps begin at 6:30 p.m. Racing is set to begin at 7:15 p.m.
The band ‘Chasing Neon’ will play in the midway area starting at 5 p.m. and continuing through hot laps.
The event will be streamed live on FloRacing (www.floracing.tv) as part of the annual subscription.
Utica-Rome Speedway is located at 5591 NY-5 (Seneca Turnpike) Vernon, NY 13476. The official website is www.uticaromespeedway.com. Like Utica-Rome Speedway on Facebook or @UR_Speedway.
Sources: Chris Moore/Utica-Rome Speedway PR