VERNON, N.Y. — On Friday night, Stewart Friesen became the first driver in Utica-Rome Speedway history to reach 60 career Sunoco Modified wins on Parks Companies night in front of a packed grandstand.
The Sprakers, N.Y., native claimed his seventh F.X. Caprara Car Companies Thunder on the Thruway win in the last two years, awarding Friesen with a $4,000 payday for besting the 31-car field.
“It’s special to get another win here, we’ve had a monkey on our back the past few weeks, so it feels good to be back in front of the awesome fans at Utica,” Friesen said.
Rocky Warner and Alex Yankowski occupied the front row, leading the 28-car starting field to the green flag to kick off the 30-lap main event.
Yankowski quickly raced out to the lead using the outside line, while Warner fought to hang on to a top five.
The initial green flag would only last one lap however, as third-place starter Bobby Hackel slowed to a stop in turns three and four with engine issues.
Yellow flags plagued the first half of the Modified feature with another yellow coming out on the next restart, as Ronnie Johnson spun trying to get underneath Rocky Warner for the fifth spot, collecting Shaun Walker and David Schilling.
The next yellow would come out on lap eight, with Yankowski out in front, Billy Decker occupied the runner-up spot with Friesen up to third from his sixth starting position. Last week’s winner Tim Fuller was fourth and Rocky Warner rounded out the top five.
Friesen used the ensuing restart to race by Decker for the runner-up spot and set his sights on Yankowski for the top spot.
Another driver taking advantage of the restart was Sheffield, Mass., resident Andy Bachetti, who reached the top five from his 14th starting position.
On lap 11, Friesen showed a nose to Yankowski on the bottom side of the track. Yankowski jumped the cushion, giving Friesen the run on the bottom to take the lead away.
The yellow would once again come on the 17th circuit, giving Yankowski, Decker, and Bachetti all an opportunity to challenge Friesen. Despite their best efforts, the trio would be left to battle amongst themselves, as Friesen proved to be too strong.
The final 13 laps clicked off without a caution, forcing Friesen to negotiate lap traffic for the last five laps, but Yankowski was unable to take advantage.
Friesen drove away with his 60th Utica-Rome Speedway triumph and the first of the 2022 campaign.
Yankowski took second in his family-owned No. 84y and Bachetti settled for third, advancing 11 positions in his Garrity Asphalt No. 4.
Tim Fuller followed up last week’s win with a fourth-place finish in St. Lawrence Radiology No. 19 and Billy Decker rounded out the top five.
Following a huge fireworks display, Matt Janczuk answered Friesen’s call, joining him as a 60-time winner with the Worthington Industries Crate 602 Sportsman on Friday night.
Janczuk started third following the redraw and quickly raced to the lead on lap two, leading the last 24 laps of the 25-lap feature.
Despite facing a challenge from five-time winner and current point leader Payton Talbot in the late stages, Janczuk was up to the task, racing to his third win of the season.
Cody Clark would race to the runner-up spot and Chris Mackey rounded out the top three.
Nick Stone fought off several challengers to claim his third consecutive Thunder on the Thruway win with the Next Generation Graphix Pro Stocks.
Zack Welch claimed his third consecutive Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman win.