4/19/2025
Utica-Rome Speedway
Janczuk wins VP Racing Fuels 358 Challenge Series 2025 season opener!
JANCZUK TAKES UTICA-ROME SPEEDWAY SEASON OPENER
VERNON, NY.
After a long winter, warmer and drier weather arrived for the opening night of the 2025 season at Utica-Rome Speedway on Brodel Fuel Group Night featuring the first leg of the VP Racing Fuels 358 Modified Series.
The VP Racing Fuels 358 Modified Series 30-lap feature began with Dave Marcuccilli and Bobby Hackel IV battling for the lead through some early restarts as Matt Caprara and Jeff Taylor battled for third. A yellow for Brian Murphy's slowing car on lap 11 saw the race take a turn as Marcuccilli lost power and was pushed to the pits, handing the lead to Hackel IV and moving Matt Janczuk to second. Janczuk was able to grab the lead on the restart and pulled away as Willy Decker battled with Lance Willix and Caprara. Willix moved into third at halfway as Decker slid back. Janczuk extended his lead over Hackel IV in the second half of the race and cruised to the win. Hackel IV was second, with Willix third, followed by a late charging Billy Dunn in fourth and Willy Decker in fifth.
In the Taylor's Trailers Crate 602 Sportsman 25 lapper, Josh Coonradt outran Zach Welch for the lead at the start as John Dumond grabbed third. On a lap 6 restart, Payton Talbot launched his way into the top five as Coonradt continued to set the pace. Tyler Peet moved into the second spot and was able to drive past Coonraddt on lap 14 to take the lead. Talbot had a very fast car, taking second two laps later and one lap after that he made the move to grab the top spot. Peet's run came to an end on lap 23 as he slowed, setting up a two lap shootout. Talbot was not to be denied, taking the win over Coonradt, as Dumond came back late in the race to take third. Welch and Tanner Warner rounded out the top five.
The Next Generation Graphix Pro Stock 20-lap main event saw Ed Kotary jump from the pole into the race lead with Luke Horning moving into second. Shane Playford came up into the mix and battled with Bret Belden for fourth till a yellow on lap 7 bunched the field. Playford took the lead from Horning on the restart as George Cushman battled with Belden and Jim Normoyle. Playford built a lead and carried it to the checkers over Horning, Cush,an, Normoyle, and Belden.
The Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman ran a 20-lap feature event that saw Hayden Coons build a big lead till a lap 7 yellow bunched the field. A great battle with Andrew Eaton and Jayden Wust for third was interrupted by Garrett Chillot, who made some fast moves to slot into second. Chillot took the lead on the restart and built a big lead while Wust got past Coons, who slid back in the field, eventually slowing and bringing out a caution on lap 17 as Jeff Boblin moved into third. Chillot carried it the rest of the way to take the win.
In the JB's Sewer and Welding Four Cylinders, Jacob Kimball got out in front early, building a good lead and then withstood challenges over the final few laps to get the overall win and the top spot for the Dual Overhead Cam cars. Wayne Russell Jr. was the top finishing Single Overhead Cam entry.
In Slingshot competition on the inner oval, Brayden Ketchum held off Justin House for the win in the Ted's Body Shop All Star division, while the Diaz Aviation Junior Slingshot feature was won by Preston Trautschold, who held off Blake Banek on a late race restart.
Racing continues at Utica-Rome Speedway this Friday, April 25th as the 3 Bastards Brewing Modifieds return for their season opener, joined by the regular divisions and the first appearance of the M2 Metals RUSH Crate Late Models. Race time is 7:00 p.m. For the full schedule and information on upcoming events at 'The Home Of Heroes', visit the Utica-Rome Speedway web site or check the track Facebook page.
RACE SUMMARY-BROEDEL FUEL GROUP NIGHT-UTICA ROME SPEEDWAY-APRIL 18, 2025
VP RACING FUELS 358 MODIFIED SERIES-MATT JANCZUK, Bobby Hackel IV, Lance Willix, Billy Dunn, Willy Decker, Matt Caprara, Amy Holland, David Hebert, Chris Mackey, Sean Beardsley, Gordon Smith, Chad Brachmann, Nick Zielinski, Jared Herbison, Zach Welch, Tucker O'Connor, Jessica Power, Teddy Starr, Jeff Taylor, David Dickey, Adam Roberts, Noah Walker, Dave Marcucccili, Addison Bowman, Brenan Gibbons, Brian Murphy, Aaron Jacobs, Max Hill, Cameron Block, Andrew Feerguson (DNS).
TAYLOR'S TRAILERS 602 SPORTSMAN-PAYTON TALBOT, Josh Coonradt, John Dumond, Zack Welch, Tanner Warner, David Hackett, Mike Richmond, Stephen Gray, Blaine Klinger, Carson Rothwell, Brett Mortenbsenb, Josh Amodio, Connor Prokop, Buddy Leathley, Eric Jensen, Jeremy Slosek, Seth Martin, Blake Sarpriacone, Stephen Denton, Paul Carey, Tyler Peet, Ed Lukas, Jonny Feagles, EJ Gallup, Tyler Bobar, Matt Richardson, Clayton Dumond.
NEXT GENERATION GRAPHIX PRO STOCKS-SHANE PLAYFORD, Luke Horning, George Cushman, Jim Normoyle, Bret Belden, Ed Kotary, Mike Kazlauaskas, Ryan Denton, Hunter Keith, Toby Cooper, Mike Keith, Ray Richer, Tim Wood, Gen Griffin, Devon Camengea, AJ Walters, Gus Gould (DNS).
FASTLINE PERFORMANCE LIMITED SPORTSMAN-GARRETT CHILLOT, Jayden Wust, Jeff Boblin, Andrew Eaton, Sullivan Dickey, Randy Cosselman, Ernie Staelens, Kirstien Swarts, Matt Bukovan, Kadyn Depasquale, Nicholas Jenkins, Kyle Coley, Scott Jennings, Ayden Goodier, Mike Evans, Hayden Coons, Eymarah Bowman, Brad Poppleton
JB'S SEWER AND SEPTIC FOUR CYLINDERS-JACOB KIMBALL, Corey Valadde, (car 7-driver unknown), Wayne Russell Jr, David DeNova, Jeff Connolly, Kyle Simmons, Steven Burka, Joesph Bouck, Mike Matthews, TJ Marlitt, Rudy King Jr, William Liberatore.
TED'S BODY SHOP ALL STAR SLINGSHOTS-BRAYDEN KETCHUM, Justin House, Brett Putnam, Tadd Granger, Kevin Loveless, Billy Richardson, Andrew Millard, Devin Pierce (DNS), Scott Sprague (DNS).
DIAZ AVATION JUNIOR SLINGSHOTS-PRESTON TRAUTSCHOLD, Blake Banek, Jaxx Welch, Brody Janczuk, Thomas Kimble, Mark Cioffi, Wyatt Wilmot.