VERNON, N.Y. – The Utica-Rome Speedway has been sold to Brett Deyo of BD Motorsports Media, who also runs the Fonda Speedway in Montgomery County.
The Utica-Rome Speedway announced it was up for sale in January, including 100 acres of land and all equipment.
According to the Speedway website, owner Gene Cole reassumed ownership of the track after it was managed by Bill and Kim Shea for six years. Cole turned operations over to Deyo in order to continue holding races at the track.
“Mr. Cole wants nothing more than to see Utica-Rome continue as a speedway,” said Deyo. “There were certainly other lucrative offers received which would have effectively ended auto racing at Utica-Rome. Mr. Cole put the legacy of auto racing at Utica-Rome first and afforded us this opportunity.”
The Speedway will be managed by Jamie and Denise Page of Bainbridge, who currently run the Fonda Speedway, and Chris Moore of Smyrna, Del. The Vernon track will operate in conjunction with the Fonda Speedway, using the same rules and pay structures.
The track will open Friday nights instead of Sundays, with races beginning at 7:30 p.m.
The 2021 season is expected to start in May and run through Labor Day weekend.
Special events are also planned for the upcoming season, including a ‘Thunder on the Thruway’ miniseries and a tribute to the late Richie Evans.
The Utica-Rome Speedway is located at 5591 Route 5 in Vernon.
