Round Five of the DIRTcar 358 Modified Series Goes Green at Utica-Rome Speedway Sunday, July 21!
VERNON, NY – July 18, 2019 – The excitement and competition in the DIRTcar 358 Modified Series has been one of the top stories of 2019. After two successful doubleheaders to start the season, the Series returns to Utica-Rome Speedway on Sunday, July 21 for a 100-lap rumble on the big half-mile Vernon, NY oval. The event is a makeup from the May 16 event that fell victim to the weather.
A robust purse of $4,000-to-win, $1,000 for fifth, $500 for tenth and $250 to start in a 30-car field.
Sixteen drivers have started every single DIRTcar 358 Modified Series race in 2019 and every race has hovered around forty cars pit area. Breakout star Mat Williamson from St. Catherines, Ontario has won three out of the four Features and three in a row. Tim Fuller took the first race at Can-Am Speedway.
Utica-Rome’s Hoosier Racing Tire Weekly Championship competitors are going to give the Series followers a run for their money. Super DIRTcar Series star Erick Rudolph both races weekly at Utica-Rome Speedway and runs every 358 Series race he can. The Ransomville, NY driver leads Utica-Rome’s points. Veterans Machine Gun Billy Dunn and The Genoa Giant Pat Ward are second and third.
But the Series brings a whole new contingent of high-quality drives and cars to the half-mile speedway. Mat Williamson has made a statement. The driver of the black and red No. 6 has won three DIRTcar 358 Modified Series races in a row.
Mike Mahaney runs third in Series points. Mahaney was the closest driver to break Williamson’s streak. The No. 35 nearly had him beat at Cornwall Motor Speedway where it was a close race to the last lap.
Drivers such as Dave Marcucilli, Corey Wheeler, Yan Bussiere, Michael Parent, and Ryan Arbuthnot have been pleasant surprises and formidable challengers for the checkered flag. They all are in the top 10 in points thus far.
A total of 72 drivers have attempted to make a DIRTcar 358 Modified Series race so far in 2019. Based on that, an already impressive car count at NAPA Super DIRT Week XLVIII will continue to grow. More and more drivers are stepping up from the highly competitive DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds and into the 358 Modifieds.
This is the last race until the Series gets back to action at Plattsburgh Airborne Speedway on Tuesday, August 20. In the last 200 laps of Feature racing, there have been only four caution flags. It’s absolutely non-stop action for 100-laps. You’ll be happy to catch your breath.
