VERNON, N.Y. — He did it the hard way.
On Friday night, the all-time winningest modified driver at Utica-Rome Speedway claimed his 57th career victory. Stewart Friesen rebounded from an early mistake to claim his third ‘Home of Heroes’ win in 2021. He earned $4,000.
Friesen not only added to his Utica-Rome Speedway win total, but he also remained a perfect four-for-four in Thunder on the Thruway events.
The 30-lap Sunoco Modified feature began with Ricky Davis and Brian Gleason occupying the front row.
Davis and Gleason would occupy the top two spots for much of the early going, while some of the heavy hitters had troubles early.
On the second circuit, the current point leader Matt Sheppard, drove over the banking in turns one and two, bringing out the first yellow of the race.
When the field went back to racing, it was Stewart Friesen who slipped off the banking in turns one and two. Friesen was able to recover and return to the racetrack just outside the top-10.
While the field struggled through yellow fever in the early going, Friesen and Sheppard took advantage of the restarts, climbing through the field with each return to racing.
By lap 11, both Sheppard and Friesen had risen into the top-10, with Friesen racing inside the top-five and chasing down Gleason and Davis who were trading the lead back and forth.
Another yellow came out on lap 14 for Randy Shantel going off the racetrack in turn one. When the field went back to racing, Davis and Gleason still on the front row, and Friesen had risen back to the second row.
On the restart, Friesen used the bottom to dart underneath Gleason to take second. One lap later, Friesen switched to the top lane to drive around Davis and set sail.
While Friesen ran away to hide, a five-car battle took shape for the runner-up spot as Andy Bachetti, Jessica Friesen and Sheppard joined Gleason and Davis’ fight.
Stewart Friesen would work through lapped traffic, never facing a challenge and driving to his second consecutive triumph at the Route-5 oval.
Bachetti would ultimately win the battle for second in his Garrity Asphalt Reclamation No. 4 and Sheppard rallied for a podium finish in the Hurlock Auto & Speed No. 9s.
Gleason held on for fourth in his BBL Companies No. 3G and Jessica Friesen brought her One Zee Tees No. 1Z home with a top five.
Matt Janczuk grabbed his fifth Worthington Industries Crate 602 Sportsman of the season, driving from his sixth-place starting position to claim the win.
Fonda Speedway’s all-time winningest Pro Stock division driver, Kenny Gates, claimed his first career Utica-Rome Speedway win. Gates started from the sixth position and ran down pole sitter Beau Ballard using the inside lane for the breakthrough win worth $1,000.
Jeremy Slosek got over the hump, grabbing his first Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman of the season.
Billy Hillman (DOHC) and Dale Van Allen (SOHC) became first time winners in the Cool Stuff Antiques Four Cylinders division.