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IT'S CHRISTMAS IN JULY FOR SHEPPARD, RICHMOND, AND PLAYFORD AT UTICA-ROME SPEEDWAY

UTICA-ROME SPEEDWAY - July 11, 2025
IT'S CHRISTMAS IN JULY FOR SHEPPARD, RICHMOND, AND PLAYFORD AT UTICA-ROME SPEEDWAY
VERNON, NY...Utica-Rome Speedway presented a special 'Christmas In July' program Friday night, with a foam party for kids and an appearance from Santa. The night's racing was sponsored by Puleo Landscape LLC and featured the regular divisions plus the Slingshot by Tobias Tour for the Ted's Body Shop All Star Slingshots and Diaz Aviation Junior Slingshots.
In the 3 Bastards Brewing Modified feature, Tim Mayne took the early lead as Willy Decker battled with Justin Wright for second. Alex Yankowski made a brilliant move to go from fourth to first on a lap 1 restart while Wright settled into second. Matt Sheppard was also on the move as he got by Rocky Warner for third when Warner slid off track in turn two. Warner came to life on lap 6, passing Wright for second and putting Sheppard into a battle with Wright. Sheppard started to come on strong, taking second from Warner on lap 11 and he started to draw in on Yankowski for the lead. Sheppard ran down Yankowski on lap 20 and the pair battled for the lead, catching traffic with five laps to go. The pair diced in and out of the traffic, battling side by side right down to the final lap, with Sheppard sliding under Yankowski in turn one on the final lap to take the win.
3 Bastards Brewing Modified heats were won by Alex Yankowski and Willy Decker.
The Taylor's Trailers Crate 602 Sportsman feature began with Brett Mortensen taking the early lead over Stephen Denton. On a lap 3 restart, Jeremy Slosek made a move to challenge for second, but slid off track losing two spots, allowing Mike Richmond to battle Denton for second. Richmond took second on lap 9 and set sail after Mortensen while Slosek came back to fight for third. A lap 13 yellow bunched the field again and Richmond was able to take the lead on the restart while Josh Coonradt entered the top five. Slosek grabbed second and lined up alongside Richmond on a lap 16 restart, but Richmond pulled away as Tyler Peet started to mount a late race charge.to roar into third and battle Slosek. At the finish, Richmond had his first win of the season, with Peet passing Slosek for second coming to the white flag. Mortensen and Coonradt rounded out the top five.
Taylor's Trailers Crate 602 Sportsman heats were won by Brett Mortensen, Garrett Chillot, and Connor Prokop.
In the Next Generation Graphix Pro Stock feature, Shane Playford took the lead from Ed Kotary and built himself a lead while AJ Walters moved into second on lap 5. As the top two pulled away, Devon Camengea took third on lap 9 and started giving chase. A furious battle ensued for fourth and fifth, with Luke Horning getting the best of that fight to move into fourth. Playford got into traffic in the final two laps but made the right moves to take the win in the caution free affair over Walters, Camengea, Horning, and Bret Belden.
Next Generation Graphix Pro Stock heats were won by AJ Walters and Slater Baker.
The Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman feature saw Ernie Staelens lead through some early race restarts, but Jayden Wust found the outside lane to rail from fourth to first in the span of two laps. Wust pulled away from Staelens while Matt Bukovan battled Lance Hill for third spot. At the checkers, Wust took the win with Staelens, Bukovan, Hill, and Ayden Goodier rounding out the top five.
Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman heats were won by Jayden Wust and Kirstin Swartz.
In the JB's Sewer and Septic 4 Cylinder division, Jeff Connolly survived a couple of early race restarts to lead till he got a flat left front tire and was passed by Rudy King coming to the white flag. King went on to win and be the top finishing DOHC car, while Stephen Burka was the top finisher of the SOHC cars, finishing second. Joesph Bouck was third, followed by Wayne Russell Jr and Connolly.
The Ted's Body Shop All Star Slingshot feature saw Lucas Pittinger grab the early lead, battling with Brett Putnam and Justin House for the lead. Putnam took the lead on lap 11 and pulled away for the win over Pittinger and House. Siblings James and Charlene Benz rounded out the top five.
Ted's Body Shop All Star Slingshot heats were won by James Benz and Brayden Ketchum.
In the Diaz Aviation Junior Slinghot main, Preston Trautschold took the lead from Alex Cosselman and took another win over Brody Janczuk, Jaxx Welch, Blake Banek, and Mark Cioffi.
The Diaz Aviation Junior Slingshot heat was won by Brody Janczuk.
The next event at Utica-Rome Speedway will be on Tuesday, July 15th, when Senic View/Christian Fab and Westmoreland Golf Club present the Richie Evans Remembered 61 for 3 Bastards Brewing Modifieds. The Taylor's Trailers Crate 602 Sportsman, Ted's Body Shop All Star Slingshots, and Diaz Avation Junior Slingshots will also be on the card. Racing begins at 7:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.uticaromespeedway.com .
RACE SUMMARY-PULEO LANDSCAPE LLC NIGHT-UTICA-ROME SPEEDWAY-JULY 11, 2025
3 BASTARDS BREWING MODIFIEDS-MATT SHEPPARD, Alex Yankowski, Rocky Warner, Justin Wright, Danny Johnson, Willy Decker, Randy Shantel, Matt Janczuk, AJ Miller, Ron Holmes, Aaron Jacobs, Johnny Holmes, Jim Walsh, Brandon Walters, Cody Clark, Tim Mayne.
TAYLOR'S TRAILERS CRATE 602 SPORTSMAN-MIKE RICHMOND, Tyler Peet, Jeremy Slosek, Brett Mortensen, Josh Coonradt, Josh Amodio, Stephen Denton, David Hackett, Garret Chillot, Matt Richardson, Zach Welch, Blake Sarpriacone, Connor Prokop, Blaine Klinger, Seth Martin, Randy Cosselman, Nick Zielinski, Carson Rothwell, Sullivan Dickey, Matthew Backus, Paul Carey, Eric Jensen, Brodie Davis, Michelle Courcy, Hayden Coons, Ed Lukas, Andrew MacFadden, Payton Talbot (DNS).
NEXT GENERATION GRAPHIX PRO STOCKS-SHANE PLAYFORD, AJ Walters, Devon Cmengea, Luke Horning, Bret Belden, Michael Achzet, Jim Normoyle, Slater Baker, Ed Kotary, Mike Kazlauskas, George Cushman, Hunter Keith, Toby Cooper, Mike Keith, Gus Gould, Ryan Denton, Eric Stumpf.
FASTLINE PERFORMANCE LIMITED SPORTSMAN-JAYDEN WUST, Ernie Satelens, Matt Bukovan, Lance Hill, Ayden Goodier, Kirsten Swartz, Nicholas Jenkins, Mike Evans, josh Andrews, Brad Poppleton, Kyle Coley, Kadyn Depasquale (DNS).
3JB'S SEWER AND SEPTIC FOUR CYLINDERS-RUDY KING (DOHC winner), Stephen Burka (SOHC winner), Joseph Bouck, Wayne Russel Jr, Jeff Connolly, Kank Wedgren Jr, Hank Wedgren.
TED'S BODY SHOP ALL STAR SLINGSHOTS-BRETT PUTNAM, Lucas Pittinger, Justin House, James Benz, Charlene Benz, Tadd Granger, Mason Pittenger, Brayden Ketchum, Kevin Lovelss, Paul Holic, Devin Pierce, Sammy Martinsky.
DIAZ AVIATION JUNIOR SLINGSHOTS-PRESTON TRAUTSCHOLD, Brody Janczuk, Jaxx Welch, Blake Banek, Mark Cioffi, Alex Cosselman, Wyatt Wilmot.

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