Written by Chris Moore

VERNON, NY – The Elite return.

Utica-Rome Speedway hosts the return of the Halmar International ‘Elite’ Series on Sunday, September 4.

The Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco newly introduced ‘Elite’ Series resumes with Round No. 3 at the ‘Home of Heroes.’

F.X. Caprara Car Companies presents the ‘New Yorker 50,’ as the STSS big-block/small-block Modifieds race for 50-laps in pursuit of a $25,000 top prize.

The purse for the event totals over $80,000, with $1,000 reserved for the 16^th-place finisher and $500 to take the green flag, the standard for the new ‘Elite’ Series.

The six-race series has completed two of the scheduled six races thus far, with Ringoes, N.J.’s Ryan Godown leading the way by just nine points over Mooresville, N.C.’s Max McLaughlin.

Godown was the winner of the inaugural ‘Elite’ Series event, claiming the $25,000 victory at Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, S.C. back on February 26.

McLaughlin boasts two top-10 finishers in the pair of ‘Elite’ Series races, including a runner-up finish in Round No. 2.

Savannah, N.Y.’s Matt Sheppard followed in Godown’s path, claiming the second ‘Elite’ event at Orange County Fair Speedway (OCFS) in Middletown, N.Y. on April 2. The win vaulted Sheppard to fifth in the ‘Elite’ Series standings, 30-points behind Godown.

Phoenix, N.Y.’s Larry Wight sits third in the standings, 27 markers behind Godown and Mat Williamson, of St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada, is fourth, just two points behind Wight.

The 50-lap affair will also carry points towards the River Valley Builders North Region $15,000 championship chase. The events will represent Round No. 8 of the North Region, with Matt Sheppard leading Mat Williamson by 60 points headed into the ‘Elite’ event.

The Next Generation Graphix Pro Stocks and Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman of Utica-Rome Speedway join the Sunday program.

Two days prior to the ‘New Yorker 50,’ Utica-Rome Speedway hosts its championship night on Sept. 2, making it a full weekend of racing at the Route 5 oval.

The entire night of racing, along with every STSS race in 2022, will be broadcast LIVE on FloRacing (www.floracing.tv).

Utica-Rome Speedway is located at 5591 NY-5 (Seneca Turnpike) Vernon, NY 13476. The official website is www.uticaromespeedway.com and can be reached by phone at 315.953.4097.  Like Utica-Rome Speedway on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @UR_Speedway.

To learn more about the Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco, visit www.shorttracksuperseries.com, e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com, check out ‘Short Track Super Series’ on Facebook or @ShortTrackSS on Twitter or Instagram.

The Short Track Super Series is presented by American Racer/Lias Tire, Sunoco Race Fuel, Insinger Performance, FloSports, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Halmar International, River Valley Builders, Hurlock Auto & Speed, Velocita-USA, St. Lawrence Radiology, Design for Vision & Sunglass Central, Belmont’s Garage, Precision Hydraulic & Oil, Prime MAC Tools, F.X. Caprara Car Companies, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Beyea Custom Headers, Bicknell Racing Products, Dirt Track Digest, EIBACH, Elite Welder Testing & Training, Flach Performance Products, Henry’s Exhaust, Hig Fab, Penske Racing Shocks, Schultz Racing Fuel Cells, Spyder Filters, Superior Remodeling, Teo-Pro Car, VAHLCO, Wegner Automotive & Wilwood.