VERNON, N.Y. — For the fifth time this season, Matt Sheppard claimed victory in the Sunoco Modified 30-lap feature at Utica-Rome Speedway Friday night.
The win was the 53rd of Sheppard’s Utica-Rome career, bringing him within six wins of the all-time lead at the half-mile.
“It’s just a pleasure to race here every Friday, the track is wide, smooth, and we can race all over. We love coming here on Friday nights,” explained Sheppard.
Sheppard’s win extended his streak to seven consecutive races finishing in the top two, increasing his advantage in the Sunoco Modified point standings.
Sheppard took the green flag from the 12th starting position, while Alan Barker and Bobby Hackel IV occupied the front row.
Hackel quickly charged to the lead, while Barker faded in the early going. Rocky Warner was on the move, challenging Shaun Walker for the final podium position behind Hackel and JaMike Sowle.
Sheppard, meanwhile, had already gained five positions in the opening three laps, moving himself to seventh with 27 circuits remaining.
While Warner continued to challenge Walker for the third spot, the pair reeled in Sowle, turning a two-car duel for third into a three-car battle for the runner-up spot.
The fight was short-lived, however, as Warner used the banking in turns three and four to launch around both Walker and Sowle, taking the runner-up spot.
With Warner firmly into second and locking in on Hackel for the lead, attention shifted to Sheppard’s No. 9S machine.
Sheppard worked by Alan Johnson for sixth just as Rocky Warner had moved into the runner-up spot. Next on the list for Sheppard was Pat Ward.
With Sheppard joining the fray, the race became a four-car dogfight for third. Ward and Sheppard were working around the outside of the fast half-mile, with Walker and Sowle fighting for racing room around the bottom.
By the ninth lap Ward and Sheppard cleared Walker and Sowle, moving them into the third and fourth spots. Sheppard however wasn’t content to stay in the fourth. Sheppard raced around Ward one lap later, moving himself into the third spot.
The race’s first yellow flag fell just prior to the field completing lap 12, as Nick Heywood was facing the wrong direction over the turns one and two embankment.
The restart appeared to be all Sheppard needed, erasing Hackel’s advantage over Warner and SheppardBilly Decker had begun a charge as well prior to the yellow, moving into the top five when green replaced yellow.
On the restart Warner used the outside groove to take the lead away, before another yellow flag fell one lap later, as Randy Shantel slowed to a stop in turn three.
Sheppard went to work on the ensuing restart, challenging Hackel and taking the runner-up spot on lap 14 and then driving underneath Warner for the lead just before the field received the halfway signal.
The rest of the race spun off caution-free and Sheppard cruised to the $2,400 payday, despite driving off the turns one and two embankment on lap 20.
Decker climbed to the runner-up spot, following last week’s win with another solid performance aboard the Jeremy Smith Racing No. 91. Warner rounded out the podium cars.
Alan Johnson took home the fourth spot in the Mark Spoor-owned No. 14j and Andy Bachetti earned a top-five finish.
Danny Varin was victorious for the second time this season in Sprint Car competition at Utica-Rome Speedway. This time, Varin led all 25 laps of the first Patriot Sprint Tour 360 sprint car feature.
Canadian Jordan Poirier took home and runner-up finish and Shawn Donath rounded out the podium cars.
For the fifth time this season – and the third week in a row – Payton Talbot claimed the Worthington Industries Crate 602 Sportsman main event. He earned $1,000.
Josh Coonradt won his first Next Generation Graphix Pro Stock feature of the season.
Teenager Zack Welch got his first career Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman win at Utica-Rome Speedway.