J.J. Michaels Wins Thriller at the New Utica-Rome
Vernon, NY… J.J. Michaels, from Baldwinsville, found the high side to his liking and used it to take home his first DIRT 358 Modified feature win of the season at the New Utica-Rome Speedway this past Sunday evening May 23rd. Other feature winners on the night were Jamie Christian in the DIRT Sportsman, Tom Denton in the DIRT Pro Stocks, and Jeff Thorp in the Pure Stocks.
Steve Hulsizer and Mike Romano paced the field off the fourth turn to the green flag from Starter Chip Burdick, and Romano grabbed the early lead. Romano was slowed during the first ten laps by yellow flags brought out by Ryan Baye and Rich Price. On the restart on lap twelve, J.J. Michaels moved up to the top groove of the speedway and passed Dale Planck. Three laps later, Michaels and Dave House engaged in a great side by side battle, which Michaels won out a lap later. Michaels, who was running well, now started moving in on the leader Mike Romano. During this time, Dale Planck took over the third spot from Dave House. By the 23rd lap, Michaels was within a car length behind Romano. Using the lapped car of Ed Richer as a pick, Michaels grabbed the lead from Romano on the 25th lap and cruised the rest of the way to the checkered flag. Following Michaels across the finish line was Romano, Planck, House, and Mitch Gibbs.
In victory lane, the popular Michaels stated, “I ran the bottom for the longest time and then I moved up to the top where my Troyer was running much better.”
Modified heat wins went to Rich Price, Jim Rothwell, and Dale Planck.
The DIRT Sportsman race was a hotly contested feature between Ron Richardson, the leader, and second place driver John Bellinger. Richardson, who had won the night before at Fulton, was looking for two wins on the weekend. Many times during the race, Bellinger tried to make a pass on Richardson and it was always for naught. Then, on the final lap, Bellinger made a bonsai move on the inside of Richardson, which caused some contact. Richardson spun out and collected Kevin Crave, who was also running a good race. As a result of the contact, Bellinger was black flagged and sent to the pit area for the remainder of the night. Richardson was able to continue and rejoined the field at the back of the pack. Jamie Christian, a spectator to the contact, ended up being the leader and he completed the final laps for the feature win. Second was Jack Miller, third was Aaron Excell, fourth was Jim Smith, and fifth was Tim Mayne. Sportsman heats were won by Ron Richardson, Jamie Christian, and Jim Smith.
Tom Denton won his third race of the season in the DIRT Pro Stock feature event. Rookie Jason Rood had another great run in second place, just behind Denton. After Denton and Rood, it was Wayne Archer, Jerry Holmes, and Gerry Newman. DIRT Pro Stock heat wins went to Jerry Holmes and Jason Rood.
The Pure Stock feature event was won byJeff Thorp, who is now three for three on the season at NUR. Behind Thorp was a fast closing Dave Mannise, Jim Thomas, Mark Effner, and Rob Seavy. Thorp, Thomas, and Mannise all won Pure Stock heats.
This coming Sunday at the New Utica-Rome Speedway is the Memorial Weekend Spectactular, with the ELS Sprint Cars and a Gigantic Fireworks Display along with a regular show of DIRT 358 Modifieds, DIRT Pro Stocks, and Pure Stocks. The gates will open at 4pm and racing will begin at 6pm.
Notes: Speedway management moved the racing program along rather quickly because rain was in the area. The entire four division show was completed in two hours and fifteen minutes. Keep up on all the latest New Utica-Rome Speedway news on the “Official” track website, located at www.newuticaromespeedway.com.
NEW UTICA-ROME SPEEDWAY RACE SUMMARY
MAY 23RD, 1999
DIRT 358 Modifieds (30 Laps) – 1)J.J. MICHAELS, 2)Mike Romano, 3)Dale Planck, 4)Dave House, 5)Mitch Gibbs, 6)Steve Hulsizer, 7)Jim Rothwell, 8)Ron Holmes, 9)John Barker, 10)Ted Lamb, 11)John Ramsey, 12)Gus Schmidt, 13)Jeff Walton, 14)Jason Barney, 15)Roger Phelps, 16)Pete Taylor, 17)Mike Gillette, 18)Jeff Kotary, 19)Mike Hulsizer, 20)Ed Richer, 21)Doug Fuller, 22)Rich Price, 23)Maynard Forrette, 24)Ryan Baye, 25)Joel Thomas.
DIRT Sportsman (20 Laps) – 1)JAMIE CHRISTIAN, 2)Jack Miller, 3)Aaron Excell, 4)Jim Smith, 5)Tim Mayne, 6)Paul Carey, 7)Bill Shantel Sr., 8)John Kinsella, 9)Willy Decker, 10)John Christian, 11)Butch Reiter, 12)Pete Nowicki Jr., 13)Dave Bargabos, 14)Ron Richardson, 15)Steve Davis, 16)Kevin Crave, 17)Dan Yankowski, 18)Todd Storace, 19)Cliff West, 20)Paul Kinney, 21)John Bellinger.
DIRT Pro Stocks (15 Laps) – 1)TOM DENTON, 2)Jason Rood, 3)Wayne Archer, 4)Jerry Holmes, 5)Gerry Newman, 6)Joe Palmer, 7)Dave Moyer, 8)Bill Knapp, 9)Bret Belden, 10)Bill Shantel Jr., 11)Jeff Jones, 12)Joe DeSieno, 13)Dave Rogers, 14)Geoff VanRiper, 15)Dave Bruno.
Pure Stocks (15 Laps) – 1)JEFF THORP, 2)Dave Mannise, 3)Jim Thomas, 4)Mark Effner, 5)Rob Seavy, 6)Dave Arbes, 7)Chad Ray, 8)Jeff Pastorella, 9)Herm Staats, 10)Jay Finch, 11)Waylon Wilczek, 12)Art Newman Jr., 13)Mike Archer, 14)Bill Trexler Sr., 15)George Schultz, 16)Steve Delano, 17)Neil Dixon, 18)Mike Burke, 19)Dan Hatch, 20)Bill Mason, 21)Doug Grimaldi, 22)Bob Gloska, 23)Dan Congden.