VERNON, N.Y. – For the 61st time in his Utica-Rome Speedway career, Stewart Friesen was victorious in the 30-lap Sunoco Modified feature affair.
The win was Friesen’s second consecutive win in his last two appearances at the ‘Home of Heroes,’ climbing from his 12th starting position in the non-stop event.
“This is really cool, to get 61 at Utica-Rome, Richie’s (Evans) number … hopefully we can get 62 on his night next Thursday,” proclaimed Friesen on winning his 61st career Modified feature at the Route 5 oval just days before the ‘Richie Evans Remembered’ Short Track Super Series event on July 21.
While Friesen raced from his starting position on the outside of the sixth row, Randy Shantel and Billy Decker occupied the front row.
Decker quickly raced to the lead from his outside pole starting position and began to extend his advantage.
Alan Barker quickly followed Decker to occupy the runner-up position, while Friesen was rapidly climbing through the field, racing into sixth in the opening four laps.
The seventh circuit however would slow Friesen’s charge and make his quest for the win a difficult one, as he slipped just over the embankment off the second corner, losing valuable track position.
While Friesen was trying to battle back from his slip up, Andy Bachetti began to turn up the pressure on Alan Barker for the runner-up spot with Alan Johnson in lockstep with the pair in front of him.
Decker continued to lead at the halfway mark, with Barker, Johnson, Friesen, and Yankowski rounding out the top five after Bachetti slipped over the turns three and four embankment, causing him to fall to seventh.
Friesen quickly began to pick cars off one at a time, racing around Yankowski on lap 16. Three laps later Friesen completed a successful slide job to get by Alan Johnson and into a podium position.
Lap 23 saw Friesen execute another slide job to get by Barker for second and set his sights on race leader Billy Decker. Friesen quickly cut into Decker’s advantage and made his move on the 27th circuit to take the lead.
Friesen would lead the remaining four circuits to claim the victory and the $3,400 to boot.
“It’s awesome to win on Westmoreland night. Tom and Roxann did so much for my career, helped me make my name in the sport and I can never thank them enough,” explained Friesen of his win on a night sponsored by his former car owner.
Billy Decker held on for second in his Jeremy Smith Racing No. 91 and Matt Sheppard made a late race charge to grab the final podium spot aboard his Hurlock Auto & Speed Supply No. 9s. Sheppard started 15th.
Rocky Warner spent much of his race just outside the top five, before coming home fourth in the Jason Simmons Racing No. 98 and Bachetti battled back from his earlier slip up to round out the top five.
Jeff Trombley became the first repeat winner of the season for the Super Gen Products CRSA 305 Sprint Cars.
Matt Janczuk continued his hot streak, coming from the 12th starting position to race by Addison Bowman on a lap-12 restart for the win, worth $1,000.
Beau Ballard returned to Utica-Rome victory lane for the first time in over a month with the Next Generation Graphix Pro Stocks.
Seth Martin became the first Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman driver to reach four wins on the season.
Matt Bukovan (DOHC) and Jacob Kimball (SOHC) were both triumphant with the Fonda Fair Four Cylinder 12-lap main.