Saturday night’s 8th annual Cole Cup special for Empire Super Sprint cars turned into more of a fuel economy run than a full-bore sprint car race at the Utica-Rome Speedway.
Numerous caution and red flag situations during the 25-lap/$5,000-to-win event had many machines sputtering to a stop before the checkered flag fell.
Polesitter Danny Varin was dominant throughout most of the feature on the fast, Vernon oval, but this Fonda racer ran out of fuel six laps from the end.
This left Billy VanInwegen out front and on his final lap. The engine starting skipping and this Port Jervis driver just made it to the finish line before his fuel tank ran empty. It was his fourth career ESS triumph.
New Jersey’s Dave Franek was second, followed by ESS point leader Jordan Poirier of Quebec. Early leader Matt Farnham was fourth, with Jordan Thomas and Sammy Reakes IV fifth and sixth.
Matt wins 9th: The 40-lap Thunder on the Thruway companion feature for modifieds at U-R saw Matt Sheppard continue his dominance at this Vernon oval with his ninth Utica-Rome feature win of 2024. This was the 23rd feature win for Sheppard in 2024 and he’s the all-time feature leader at U-R with 80.
Stewart Friesen had to settle for second Saturday, with Jack Lehner third.
Barnes dominates: Oswego Speedway’s final point program of the season Saturday saw Michael Barnes wheel his Gary Syrell-owned supermodified to a dominating victory in the fifty-lap feature race.
The Liverpool racer picked up a $2,000 check for the win, with Dave Shullick Jr., Camden Proud, Logan Rayvals, Tyler Thompson and Jeff Abold following.
The race for the 2024 Oswego track championship took a bizarre turn Saturday when Oswego officials penalized point leader Dave Shullick Jr. 40 points when video surfaced of his Chris Osetek-owned team making illegal adjustments to the tail wing of their car during the Mr Supermodified program last week.
This development left Shullick Jr. and Otto Sitterly tied for first in points, with Jeff Abold just one point back prior to the final fifty-lap main event Saturday.
While Barnes was easily leading the pack, Shullick, Sitterly and Abold were locked in a heated nose-to-tail chase for the title. Sitterly, looking for his tenth Oswego championship, moved past his two competitors, but suddenly spun out into the fourth turn wall on the 31st lap.
This left Abold in control, but on a late race restart, Abold’s super developed ignition issues and Shullick Jr. raced past to secure his fourth Oswego supermodified track championship.
Josh Sokolic easily won the 350 super finale for his fourth win of the year and the 350 track title.
Greg O’Connor won the small-block super feature, but Alex Hoag won their championship despite being involved in a five-car tangle on the first lap
Photo finish: Chris Hile was heading to a $2,000 win in Friday’s DIRT big-block modified finale at Brewerton when Tim Sears Jr. made a strong closing rush and nipped Hile by a bumper at the checkered flag.
To make matters worse, Hile piled into the first turn wall after the finish and his modified sustained heavy damage. Matt Sheppard came from 15th to 3rd, with Matt Caprara and Tom Sears completing the top five.
1st since 2011: At Fulton Speedway Saturday night, Roy Bresnahan was the surprise winner and it was his first modified victory since 2011. Jason Parkhurst and Dave Marcuccilli were second and third.
Webb wins: Scott Webb was another surprise winner Friday night, taking the DIRT 358 modified finale at the Can-Am Speedway. Lance Willix and Tim Fuller followed in second and third.
LaRock at Outlaw: Friday’s modified finale at the Outlaw Speedway saw Jim LaRock just nose out Jeff Daugherty for the feature win, with Mike Maresca third.
Demetrios at A-S: Demetrios Drellos won his third feature of the year Friday night at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway. Jessey Mueller and Peter Britten followed.
Thunder Mountain: Justin Holland won his second DIRT modified feature Saturday at the Thunder Mountain Speedway in Lisle. Nick Nye and Eric Leet were second and third.
Bachetti doubles: Andy Bachetti won both the DIRT 358 and big-block features Saturday night at the Lebanon Valley Speedway. He has now won fifteen modified features in 2024.
ISMA in N.H.: The ISMA Tour had a pair of 75-lap feature races in New Hampshire this weekend. Thursday night at the Clairmont Speedway, Jon McKennedy moved past Mark Sammut late in the race and went on to the $5,000 win. ISMA point leader Trent Stephens was third, with Mike Ordway Jr., Moe Lilje, Brandon Bellinger and Otto Sitterly trailing.
Friday night in the 75-lap, Ollie Silva Classic at the Lee Speedway, Ohio’s Tyler Shullick got the win ahead of McKennedy, Lilje, Sitterly, Stephens and Jeff Battle.
Super DIRT Series: The Super DIRTcar Series has a Tuesday night program at the Ransomville Speedway.
T-Mac wins 50 K: Tim McCreadie won Saturday night’s 100-lap, Lucas Oil Late Model Tour special at the Batesville, Arkansas Speedway. The Watertown driver picked up $50,000 for the win.
Andy J: Buffalo’s Andy Jankowiak finished 19th in Friday’s ARCA 200 at the Michigan Speedway.
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