July 5th BOBBY VARIN TAKES SECOND IN A ROW AT UTICA-ROME SPEEDWAY IN DOMINATING FASHION VERNON, NY- Bobby Varin is a driver on a mission lately as he, for the second consecutive week, dominated the Modified main at Utica-Rome Speedway on his way to the checkered flag. An overflow crowd also watched on as Jason Rood, Jeff Pastorella, and Ron Hawker also captured wins in their respective divisions on Gates-Cole Associates night. When the Modified feature event took the green flag, Paul Kinney took immediate control of the field from his outside front row starting spot. For the first third of the 30 lap event, it was Kinney in total control of the event while Mitch Gibbs, from fifth, and Bobby Varin, from the ninth starting spot, started to make the presence felt at the front. Moving into the runner up spot on lap five, Gibbs was immediately looking to track down the leader but Varin would alter Gibbs’ plan. Slipping by Gibbs on the eighth lap, Varin would sail off after Kinney. By lap 10, Varin was all over Kinney for the lead and by lap 11; Varin’s charge to front was complete as he slipped underneath Kinney for the lead. The only caution period of the main event came on lap 16 when Willy Decker slowed, giving the field a shot at Varin. Up to the task, Varin would take off from the field when green flag racing resumed. Varin would easily collect the $2,000 win, which would be his second consecutive at the Vernon oval, and his third for the 2009 campaign. Kinney, Gibbs, Todd Burley, and Stewart Friesen would round out the top five. Filling out the top ten positions would be Ronnie Johnson, Alan Barker, Brad Alger, Casey Williams, and Jamie Christian. Craig Pope led the opening circuit of the Sportsman main event with Jim Rothwell taking over by the second of 20 circuits. Rothwell would show the fast way around for the first half of the race while Jeremy Vunk charged to the front from his seventh starting spot. After several attempts to get by the rim riding Rothwell, Vunk was able to get by to lead lap 11. While Vunk was out front, 12th place starter Jason Rood was charging to the front. On the 18th lap with Rood pressuring Vunk for the lead, Vunk’s motor would let go. Rood would inherit the lead, and eventually the win as he would race off with his fifth win of the season. Chasing Rood across the line was Steve Way, Matt Janczuk, Jeff Leslie, and John DeForest. From the outside pole in the Pro Stock 20 lap ma in event, Jeff Pastorella quickly moved himself into the lead when the green flag dropped, and would remain there for the whole race. Despite leading the whole event, the win did not come easy as he to hold off a race long challenge from Shawn Frost, and in the last few circuits, Bret Belden and Tom Denton would challenge for the win. It would be Pastorella’s first ever win in the Pro Stock division followed closely by Frost, Denton, Belden, and Rocky Warner. From the pole position, Rob Thieme had early control of the Pure Stock 15 lap feature event but eighth place starter Ron Hawker had other plans. By lap seven, Hawker had slipped by Frank Hyatt for second and by lap 10, he was all over Thieme for the lead. After a brief side by side battle with Thieme, Hawker was able gain the lead and his fifth win of the season. Thieme, Hyatt, Chris Cunningham, and Chris Carr rounded out the top five. The Empire Super Sprints also joined in the Independence Day Weekend celebration with Dan Kaszubinski taking the win over Jessica Zemken and Michel Parent. See ESS release for complete details and results. When the racing action was completed, the huge crowd was treated to a huge fireworks display. The display left many in attendance already looking forward to the next event with fireworks scheduled, which is on Labor Day Weekend. Next week, Triple B Welding presents Autograph Night featuring the Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro Stocks, and Pure Stocks plus the rain delayed Pro Stock feature from June 28. Gates open at 3 p.m. with racing at 5:30 p.m. July 5th GATES-COLE ASSOCIATES RACE SUMMARY MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH (30 LAPS)- BOBBY VARIN, Paul Kinney, Mitch Gibbs, Todd Burley, Stewart Friesen, Ronnie Johnson, Alan Barker, Brad Alger, Casey Williams, Jamie Christian, Willy Decker, Ted Lamb, Paul Jensen, Jack Johnson, Brian Weaver, Jeff Kotary, Danny Varin, Tim Mayne, Brad Godshalk, Mike Ward, Vinnie Vitale, Bobby Trapper, Tim Votra, John Ramsey, Pat Ward, and Dave Rauscher. SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH (20 LAPS)- JASON ROOD, Steve Way, Matt Janczuk, Jeff Leslie, John DeForest, Roger West, Glenn Forward, Claude Hutchings Jr., AJ Filbeck, Aaron Jacobs, Jeremy Vunk, Jim Rothwell, Craig Pope, Todd Fey, Steve Yankowski, Michael Teachout, and Mike Button. PRO STOCK FEATURE FINISH (20 LAPS)- JEFF PASTORELLA, Shawn F rost, Tom Denton, Bret Belden, Rocky Warner, Bill Knapp, AJ Digsby, Ed Ostrander, Mark Effner, Ryan Lund, Jim Normoyle, Jack Terrell, Rob Seavy, Chuck McSpirit, Dan Peo, Dave Meeks, Jeff Persall, Ken Clark, Rich Duanehauer, Dave Moyer, and John Roese. PURE STOCK FEATURE FINISH (15 LAPS)- RON HAWKER, Rob Thieme, Frank Hyatt, Chris Cunningham, Chris Carr, Bill Mason, Phil Norman, Cale Hoffman, Jim Thomas, Keith Stevenson, Andy Potter, Jim Richmond, Steve Hopler, Mike Harrison, and Chuck Cushman.