New Yorker Race Day: Utica-Rome Storylines, Stars & Sleepers

Written by Chris Moore

VERNON, NY – New Yorker Race Day!

The Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco invades Utica-Rome Speedway for the second of three appearances in 2024. The event was postponed from Sunday to its Monday rain date.

The historic event – which was first run in 1963 – now serves as part of the River Valley Builders North Region and Ollie’s Overall Championship for the STSS.

The New Yorker serves as precursor to the upcoming $53,000-to-win ‘Fonda 200’ at Fonda (N.Y.) Speedway in less than two weeks.

THE STORYLINES

As the ’24 season heads into the home stretch, the STSS has three different drivers leading the Overall, North, and NJ Quality Drywall South Region respective title fights.

With North and Overall points, up for grabs tonight at Utica-Rome, Sprakers, N.Y.’s Stewart Friesen holds a slim 21-point advantage over Savannah, N.Y.’s Matt Sheppard in the North Region title fight.

Sheppard, meanwhile, leads the Overall Championship standings by 61 markers over Saint Catharines, Ontario, Canada’s Mat Williamson.

Tonight’s 50-lap, $10,000-to-win affair is the fifth consecutive five-figure payday offered on the North Region.

THE STARS

Matt Sheppard and Stewart Friesen share the top billing with the STSS in town. In the previous six STSS events at Utica-Rome Speedway, the pair have swept all six races, with Sheppard holding the upper hand at four wins to Friesen’s two. They are also the all-time leading winners at Utica-Rome Speedway.

Baldwinsville, N.Y.’s Jimmy Phelps has run in the top five in three of the six STSS races at Utica-Rome Speedway thus far. Phelps came home third in the ’24 ‘Richie Evans Remembered’ and will look to build off that with a $10,000 payday up for grabs.

Covington Township, Pa.’s Alex Yankowski is now the South Region point leader, continuing to build momentum towards the seasons end. Yankowski ended up as the Friday night runner-up in the Modified division at Utica-Rome and claimed two victories to boot.

THE SLEEPERS

Roscoe, N.Y.’s Michael Trautschold called Utica-Rome Speedway home this season. Trautschold finished the season fourth in points, and nearly picked up his first win earlier this season, before losing the lead to Stewart Friesen late. Trautschold will look to use the home track advantage on his way to a career night with the STSS.

Genoa, N.Y.’s Pat Ward finished just behind Trautschold in the track standings, but did get a crowd-pleasing triumph earlier this year. Ward as the runner-up to Sheppard just two nights ago and will look to repeat his stellar performance with the best of the best in town.

Unadilla, N.Y.’s Brandon Walters went for a wild ride a week ago at Utica-Rome Speedway. He rebounded with a top ten on Friday night. Now ‘Barbie’ will look to continue his strong rookie campaign at the ‘Home of Heroes’ with a solid outing with the STSS in town.

ALSO IN ACTION

The Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman and Fonda Fair Four Cylinders round out the night of racing.

ON THE HORIZON

The aforementioned ‘Fonda 200’ takes the ‘lead-off’ spot of the annual ‘big money season’ for northeast Modified racing.

The STSS takes center stage at the ‘Track of Champions’ on Thurs.-Sat., Sept. 12-14.

The three days of racing action culminate in a 200-lap, $53,000-to-win main event on Saturday night.

The STSS returns to Utica-Rome Speedway for a non-points weekend in the ‘Short Track SuperNationals,’ hosted by Utica-Rome for the first time ever on Fri.-Sat., Sept. 27-28.

DIRT DRAFT

Don’t forget to set your Dirt Draft lineups before the night’s first heat race begins.

Visit www.dirtdraft.com or download the app to join Dirt Draft and compete against thousands of others for the entire 2024 STSS season. A subscription is just $5.99 a month with plenty of prizes up for grabs in the Dirt Draft Speed Shop.

Following along with the STSS on Dirt Draft throughout the ‘24 season will pay one lucky fan dividends at year-end.

The STSS Dirt Draft Champion receives two tickets to the STSS year-end banquet and will be honored with a custom trophy presented by Dirt Draft.

GATES AND PRICES

Gates open at 4 p.m., with hot laps at 6 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m.

Grandstand admission is $28. Seniors (ages 65 and above) pay $26. Kids 11 and under are FREE.

Pit admission is $45 (Non-Member), $40 (Member), $10 Kids (ages 6-12) and Children ages 5 and under are FREE.

HOW TO WATCH

The night of racing will be broadcast live on FloRacing (www.floracing.tv) via the annual subscription.

To learn more about the Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco, visit www.shorttracksuperseries.com, e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com, check out ‘Short Track Super Series’ on Facebook, @ShortTrack_SS on Twitter or @ShortTrackSS on Instagram.

The Short Track Super Series is presented by Bob Hilbert Sportswear, FloRacing, American Racer, Lias Tire, Sunoco Race Fuels, BDR Speed, NJ Quality Drywall, River Valley Builders, Ollie’s, Penske Racing Shocks, Saint Lawrence Radiology, Capitol Custom Trailers & Coaches, Bicknell Racing Products, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Madsen Overhead Doors, Belmont’s Garage, Wegner Automotive, DIG Race Products, ATL, Dirt Draft, Swagger Factory Apparel, F.X. Caprara Car Companies, Algonkin Motel LLC, Beyea Custom Headers, Design for Vision, Sunglass Central, Dirt Track Digest TV, DKM Fabrication, EIBACH, Fastline Performance, Flach Performance Products, Henry’s Headers & Exhaust Systems, JK Signworks, JLR Technologies, Dave Prime Jr. MAC Tools, Schultz Racing Fuel Cells, Superior Remodeling, TV 12 Racing Products, VAHLCO Wheels & Wilwood Disc Brakes.

PAST EVENT WINNERS: STSS UTICA-ROME SPEEDWAY

July 18, 2024 – Richie Evans Remembered: MATT SHEPPARD – Stewart Friesen – Jimmy Phelps – Mat Williamson – Mike Mahaney

September 3, 2023 – New Yorker: MATT SHEPPARD – Billy Decker – Rocky Warner – Andy Bachetti – Jimmy Phelps

July 20, 2023 – Richie Evans Remembered: MATT SHEPPARD – Mat Williamson, Tim Fuller – Stewart Friesen – Erick Rudolph

September 4, 2022 – New Yorker: STEWART FRIESEN – Matt Sheppard – Demetrios Drellos – Tim Fuller – Mat Williamson

July 21, 2022 – Richie Evans Remembered: MATT SHEPPARD – Stewart Friesen – Rocky Warner – Mat Williamson – Jimmy Phelps

July 22, 2021 – Richie Evans Remembered: STEWART FRIESEN – Matt Sheppard – Rocky Warner – Mat Williamson – Alan Johnson