Champions Crowned: Sheppard Wins Finale Points Race of 2024 at Utica-Rome
Written by Chris Moore
VERNON, NY – Champions Crowned.
The 2024 championship season came to a close on Friday night as Matt Sheppard kept victory lane all to himself with the 3 Bastards Brewing Modifieds on Wilcox Construction & Friendly Family of Dealerships Championship Night.
The Savannah, N.Y. native had clinched the championship before the night had even begun, allowing him to let loose and chase his 11th win of the season.
“The track was a lot different tonight,” Sheppard proclaimed. “I was able to cut down through the middle of one and two and get a good run to make passes on guys going into turn three.
“It’s definitely been more difficult this year with how different the track has been,” Sheppard said of his championship. “We’ve got a great race team though that’s helped make this happen.”
Sheppard rolled from the 11th starting position with York, N.Y.’s Justin Wright and Genoa, N.Y.’s Pat Ward on the front row.
Two caution flags spanned across the opening five laps, allowing Sheppard to creep his way up to the sixth spot.
On the second restart, Pat Ward took advantage of the outside front row spot, racing around Justin Wright and driving his way into the lead before Rocky Warner, who was battling for third, slowed three laps later with a flat tire.
The restart with 22 laps remaining saw Ward lead, Willy Decker, Alex Yankowski, Sheppard, and Wright back to the green flag.
On the restart, Sheppard quickly worked his way by Yankowski for third. Three laps later Sheppard drove underneath Decker for the runner-up spot and set his sights on Pat Ward for the lead.
One lap later, Pat Ward left the bottom open in turns three and four and Sheppard raced underneath Ward and snatched the lead away at the completion of lap 13.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Sheppard after that, however. In trying to navigate lap traffic, Sheppard got sent over the turn three embankment and forfeited the lead back to Ward on lap 16.
“I knew I was going to get sent over the banking,” Sheppard proclaimed. “I was just hoping I didn’t flip when I did.”
Sheppard No. 9S stayed on all four wheels allowing him to get back to racing with Ward for the top spot.
Sheppard then used the lap traffic to his advantage two laps later, putting Ward in the proverbial pick-and-roll and racing by, this time for good.
Sheppard’s 11th win of the season came on the night he secured his fourth consecutive Utica-Rome Speedway Modified title.
Ward settled for second in his Joe Beyea No. 42p and Covington Township, Pa.’s Alex Yankowski rounded out the podium in his family-owned No. 84y.
Bainbridge, N.Y.’s Brandon Loucks got his best finish of the season coming home fourth and Baldwinsville, N.Y.’s Michael Maresca concluded the top five.
Finishing sixth through 10th, respectively, were Unadilla, N.Y.’s Brandon Walters; Johnstown, N.Y.’s Rocky Warner who rebounded from the early flat tire; Justin Wright; East Greenbush, N.Y.’s Bobby Hackel IV; and Roscoe, N.Y.’s Michael Trautschold.
Heat races were won by Walters, Wright, and Ward.
The Taylor’s Trailers Crate 602 Sportsman put on the race of the night with Brewerton, N.Y.’s Kyle Devendorf claiming his first career Utica-Rome Speedway win.
Devendorf outgunned Payton Talbot in the second half of the race, hanging on for the victory over the 2024 champion.
Talbot had already clinched his first career Utica-Rome Speedway championship entering the night and was looking to keep victory lane all to himself.
After an epic duel that saw the pair restart on the front row with 13 laps remaining, Devendorf did everything necessary to keep Talbot at bay.
Tyler Peet, Chip Constantino, and Josh Coonradt rounded out the top five.
Troy, N.Y.’s Devon Camenga claimed his division leading fifth win of the season with the Next Generation Graphix Pro Stocks after a chaotic main event.
In the end, Camenga held off a hard charging Bret Belden, who came from 13th, to claim the victory.
Belden clinched his second consecutive Pro Stock Championship at Utica-Rome by taking the green flag in the 20-lap main event.
George Cushman got his best finish of the year in third, Ed Kotary, and Shane Playford rounded out the top five.
Edmeston, N.Y.’s Jayden Wust got his second Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman triumph of the year, leading all 15 laps to pick up the victory.
Despite nearly being involved in an opening lap tangle, Andrew MacFadden had just enough to finish in third, good enough to secure the Limited Sportsman championship.
His closest competitor, Eric Jensen, was the runner-up, meaning the final deficit between the two was just eight points.
Hayden Coons and Jeff Bobilin rounded out the top five.
The Fonda Fair Four Cylinders had a first time Dual Cam winner as Kamrin Krause controlled the second half of the race for the win, while Wayne Russell Jr. claimed his 11th Single Cam victory.
He and Rudy King Jr. (Dual Cam) had clinched their respective championships before the night began.
Justin House got his fourth All-Star Slingshot victory of the season in dominant fashion, while his teammate Brett Putnam came home fifth, good enough to lock up another All-Star Slingshot championship.
Blake Banek continued his hot streak with the Junior Slingshots, taking home a season ending win.
Preston Trautschold – who finished second – and Addisyn Roger – who finished fourth – ended up tied for the championship, making them co-champions in ‘24.
Racing continues on Monday, Sept. 2, as the ‘New Yorker 50’ presented by Wilcox Construction LLC will take place. The Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco comes to town for a 50-lap, $10,000-to-win main event. Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman and Fonda Fair Four Cylinders are also on the docket.
All gates open at 4 p.m. with hot laps slated for 6 p.m. and racing to follow at 7 p.m.
Grandstand admission is $28 (Adults), $26 (Seniors ages 65 and above) and Kids 11 and under are FREE.
Pit admission is $45 (Non-Members), $40 (Members), $10 Kids (ages 6-12) and $2 Children (ages 5 and under).
Utica-Rome Speedway is located at 5591 NY-5 (Seneca Turnpike) Vernon, NY 13476. The official website is www.uticaromespeedway.com and the speedway can be reached by phone at 315.953.4097. Like Utica-Rome Speedway on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @UR_Speedway.
WILCOX CONSTRUCTION & FRIENDLY FAMILY OF DEALERSHIPS CHAMPIONSHIP NIGHT RESULTS SUMMARY – UTICA-ROME SPEEDWAY FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2024
3 Bastards Brewing Modified Feature Finish (30 laps): 1. 9S-Matt Sheppard[11]; 2. 42P-Pat Ward[2]; 3. 84Y-Alex Yankowski[10]; 4. 23-Brandon Loucks[4]; 5. 7MM-Michael Maresca[12]; 6. 22W-Brandon Walters[3]; 7. JS98-Rocky Warner[7]; 8. 19W-Justin Wright[1]; 9. 97-Bobby Hackel IV[13]; 10. 28T-Michael Trautschold[8]; 11. 82S-Will Shields[18]; 12. 77-Alan Barker[9]; 13. 12-Addison Bowman[5]; 14. 9J-Jim Becker[15]; 15. 14AJ-AJ Miller[20]; 16. 8M-Tim Mayne[17]; 17. 369-Jim Walsh[21]; 18. 16-Aaron Jacobs[22]; 19. 1X-Willy Decker[6]; 20. 44C-Ed Downing[23]; 21. 28N-Mike Nagel Jr[14]; 22. 97S-Randy Shantel[16]
Did Not Start: Jason Reome
2024 3 Bastards Brewing Modified Champion: Matt Sheppard
Taylor’s Trailers Crate 602 Sportsman Feature Finish (25 laps): 1. 5-Kyle Devendorf[1]; 2. 14T-Payton Talbot[9]; 3. 12T-Tyler Peet[13]; 4. 63-Chip Constantino[4]; 5. 00X-Josh Coonradt[6]; 6. 621-Seth Martin[2]; 7. 9K-Blaine Klinger[8]; 8. 16S-Jeremy Slosek[14]; 9. 7H-Allan Hodge[12]; 10. 67W-Zack Welch[17]; 11. 69-Blake Sarpriacone[19]; 12. 23-David Dickey[16]; 13. 4J-JJ Courcy[22]; 14. 82H-David Hackett[11]; 15. 4C-Michelle Courcy[18]; 16. 4-Carson Rothwell[21]; 17. 42H-Kadon Hohensheldt[24]; 18. 10A-AJ Digsby[20]; 19. 262-Matthew Richardson[5]; 20. 2K-Josh Amodio[15]; 21. 90-Brodie Davis[25]; 22. 30-Dylan Piersall[26]; 23. 44C-Stephen Denton[3]; 24. 4R-Jim Rothwell[23]; 25. 22X-Mike Richmond[10]; 26. 12B-Tyler Bobar[7]
2024 Taylor’s Trailers Crate 602 Sportsman Champion: Payton Talbot
Next Generation Graphix Pro Stock Feature Finish (20 laps): 1. 110-Devon Camenga[7]; 2. 81-Bret Belden[13]; 3. 13-George Cushman[3]; 4. 101-Ed Kotary[2]; 5. 6-Shane Playford[8]; 6. 74N-Jim Normoyle[11]; 7. 15K-Mike Kazluaskas[10]; 8. 14H-Hunter Keith[14]; 9. 2H-Luke Horning[6]; 10. 28H-Johnny Holmes[15]; 11. 28G-Gus Gould[1]; 12. 14K-Mike Keith[5]; 13. 44-Ray Richer[16]; 14. 22W-AJ Walters[4]; 15. 81A-Michael Achzet[12]
Did Not Start: Matt Rose
2024 Next Generation Graphix Pro Stock Champion: Bret Belden
Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman (15 laps): 1. 43J-Jayden Wust[1]; 2. 57-Eric Jensen[9]; 3. 10-Andrew MacFadden[6]; 4. 12-Hayden Coons[5]; 5. 1B-Jeff Bobilin[8]; 6. 24-Kirsten Swartz[7]; 7. 17S-Ernie Staelens[11]; 8. 10X-Ayden Goodier[14]; 9. 0-Kyle Coley[15]; 10. 44D-Kadyn Depasquale[2]; 11. 60-Brad Poppleton[16]; 12. 25X-Josh Andrews[13]; 13. 55-Andrew Eaton[12]; 14. 5-Eymarah Bowman[4]; 15. 26B-Maddy Broedel[3]; 16. 77N-Bobby Newman[10]
Did Not Start: John West
2024 Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman Champion: Andrew MacFadden
Fonda Fair Four Cylinder Feature Finish (12 laps): 1. 09D-Kamrin Krause[3]; 2. 666D-Rudy King Jr[4]; 3. 97JD-Jay Ingersoll[7]; 4. 31D-Jeff Connolly[2]; SINGLE CAM WINNER. 54S-Wayne Russell Jr[6]; 6. 17RD-Joseph Bouck[5]; 7. 35S-Hank Wedgren[1]; 8. H35S-Hank Wedgren Jr[9]; 9. 14BS-Jacob Bouck[10]; 10. 33D-Devin Geary[11]; 11. 13D-Kyle Simmons[8]; 12. 212S-TJ Marlitt[12]
2024 Fonda Fair Four Cylinder Champions: Rudy King Jr. (DOHC) & Wayne Russell Jr. (SOHC)
All-Star Slingshot Feature Finish (20 laps): 1. 33Z-Justin House[6]; 2. 29-Billy Richardson[1]; 3. 54-Sullivan Dickey[3]; 4. 85X-Jason Dufel[4]; 5. 6B-Brett Putnam[5]; 6. 8-Tadd Granger[7]; 7. 115-Paul Holic[10]; 8. 7J-Nicholas Jenkins[2]; 9. 42-Kevin Loveless[8]; 10. 83-Corbyn White[9]
2024 All-Star Slingshot Champion: Brett Putnam
Junior Slingshot Feature Finish (15 laps): 1. 27-Blake Banek[5]; 2. 20-Preston Trautschold[3]; 3. 22-Parker Fowler[4]; 4. 28RS-Addisyn Roger[2]; 5. 33X-Brody Janczuk[1]; 6. 67X-Jaxx Welch[6]
2024 Junior Slingshot Co-Champions: Addisyn Roger & Preston Trautschold