Jeff Trombley First Repeat CRSA Utica-Rome Winner Since 2015
Race Report by Steven Ovens – July 15th, 2022 – Utica-Rome Speedway photo
(VERNON, NY) – Jeff Trombley isn’t set out for a record fifth Super Gen Products CRSA Sprints series title in 2022- it’s purely about winning trophies. But one title he may just win without having set a goal to do so took another step on Friday night.
Pit Stop Convenience Stores announced just prior to the season opening event at Weedsport Speedway that they were putting up a $2,500 purse for the Top 10 in points for all stops along the “I-90” New York State Thruway. Those stops included Weedsport, both events at Utica-Rome and all three stops at Trombley’s home track- Fonda Speedway.
With Trombley and Warren Alexson running a part-time schedule and racing when they want to- they have been lights out during the I-90 “Pit Stop” events. Trombley led the points in the Pit Stop Challenge Series by nineteen over CRSA Sprints series point leader Jordan Hutton. Trombley will extend that advantage heading to Fonda on July 30 as he raced his way to career win number thirteen with CRSA, now tied for second all-time with Jeff VanSteenburg.
Cory Sparks and Kyle Piece led the field to Jumpin’ Joe Kriss’ green flag with Sparks taking the early advantage to lead the opening lap. Immediately on the move in the 20-lap affair was Mike Kiser who pulled a front wing ahead going into Turn 3 and would grab the lead on lap two.
Yellow would be displayed to the field for the first time on lap three as “Rapid Ray” Preston lost fire in his Canandaigua Sealcoating No. 4T in Turn 2. Kiser led Sparks, Ruggles, Pierce and Jeff Trombley during the first slowdown of the event.
Sparks made a big for the lead on the restart but would see Ruggles make it three-car battle for the top spot. Ruggles slipped over the edge in Turn 2 on Lap 4 and would see Trombley enter the fold for the top spot, taking advantage of the rare Ruggles miscue.
At the halfway point Sparks would be scored as the race leader and Trombley second as Kiser got caught behind Aaron Shelton who was the pick car for Sparks and Trombley. The move dropped Kiser back to third and eventually fourth as he got over the lip in Turn 1 on Lap 11.
Trombley waited and picked his spot to wrestle the race lead away from Sparks on Lap 12 with a power move off Turn 2. The yellow lights would come on again for Preston who had called it a night but wasn’t far enough off the track for officials to feel confident enough to leave the field under green flag conditions.
With the restart with eight laps to go, Trombley powered to a four-car advantage on the restart with Sparks, Ruggles, Kiser and Bay filling out the top five spots. Only one lap was completed before Calvin Wheelock spun to a stop in the second turn. Wheelock had a rough night at Utica-Rome as the rookie out of Greene, NY tipped over on Lap 1 of his heat earlier in the evening.
Trombley was the class of the field on the restart as Sparks just couldn’t keep Trombley in reach. The race for third was a hotly contested battle between Kiser and Ruggles, with Chad Miller making his way from a twentieth starting spot to flirting with a Top 5 finish with under five laps to go.
Nobody was going to touch the Maple on the Lake, Roosevelt’s powered No. 3A driven by Trombley on this night. Kiser was able to get by Sparks late in the going to take the runner up spot and Sparks completed the podium. Ruggles and Alysha Bay completed the Top 5. The Top 10 was made up by Pierce, Miller, Hutton, Dana Wagner and Dalton Herrick.
“This track was awesome tonight because it made you search around to find bite from start to finish,” noted Trombley in Utica-Rome Speedway Victory Lane.
“John Grant did the powerplant in this thing and it had plenty of power. He did the engine for Kiser as well so a great 1-2 night for Grant and his work.”
Kiser knew he had a golden opportunity and was disappointed to have to settle second
“I was struggling there in the middle of the race. I needed a little luck I guess, (Trombley) ran a great race. I have to thank Jeff and Warren, they help keep this thing going during the week and their work contributes to us being here tonight.”
Sparks wished he was standing where Trombley was, though there were plenty of positives to take away for the way his year has gone.
“Honestly I just missed the setup a little bit, I needed to be a little tighter throughout the race. The way our season has gone I will definitely take a third. To get a Top 5, let alone a podium, is awesome. The competition with (CRSA Sprints) is amazing.”
The races Powdertech Powdercoating Hard Charger of the race went to Chad Miller who started twentieth on the field and passed thirteen cars to get to seventh. Sparks took home an extra $25 as his move to use the lap car as a pick earned the Maguire Cars “Magnificent Move of the Race.” Thomas Radivoy took home the award drivers appreciate but try to avoid receiving- the Midstate Basement Authorities “Out of the Basement” bonus award. Eagle Enterprises $25 Heat Wins went to Cory Sparks, Mike Kiser and Darryl Ruggles.
The CRSA Sprints will now head to Fonda Speedway on Saturday July 30 in a highly anticipated return for the fifth round of six for the I-90 “Pit Stop” Challenge Series presented by Pit Stop Convenience Stores.
The CRSA 305 Sprints are powered by Super Gen Products with their Champion Power Equipment located in Newark, NY. Associate sponsors for 2022 include A-Verdi Storage Containers, Midstate Basement Authorities, CNY Farm Supply, the Maguire Family of Dealerships, Powdertech Powdercoating, Pit Stop Convenience Stores, PJC Sprayfoam, Profab Enterprises, Eagle Enterprises, Bonnell’s Rod Shop, DisBatch Brewing Company, Magsarus Ignitions, Hoosier Racing Tire, Insinger Performance with their Stinger Race Fuel, My Race Pass and is owned and operated by Mike Emhof Motorsports.
For more information on the series, results, points and 2022 schedule please visit our website www.crsasprints.com
Please visit the Super Gen Products with Champion Power Equipment CRSA Sprints on Facebook (@CRSAsprints) and on Twitter (@CRSAsprints).
SUPER GEN PRODUCTS CRSA SPRINTS @ UTICA-ROME SPEEDWAY OFFICIAL RESULTS- Friday July 15th, 2022:
A-MAIN RESULTS (25 Laps): 1. 3A-Jeff Trombley[10]; 2. 99-Mike Kiser[6]; 3. 1HD-Cory Sparks[1]; 4. 48JR-Darryl Ruggles[4]; 5. 48A-Alysha Bay[5]; 6. 9K-Kyle Pierce[2]; 7. 88C-Chad Miller[20]; 8. 66-Jordan Hutton[13]; 9. 25W-Dana Wagner[7]; 10. 29-Dalton Herrick[17]; 11. 410-Jerry Sehn Jr[11]; 12. 33-Scott Landers[18]; 13. 28-Ron Greek[12]; 14. 22-Tomy Moreau[14]; 15. 19EM-Emily VanInwegen[22]; 16. 13T-Trevor Years[19]; 17. J27-John Cunningham[24]; 18. 51-Jeremiah Munson[23]; 19. 14-James Layton[8]; 20. 22M-Aaron Shelton[15]; 21. 7W-Calvin Wheelock[25]; 22. (DNF) C12-Tyler Chartrand[9]; 23. (DNF) 56V-Billy VanInwegen Jr[3]; 24. (DNF) 4T-Ray Preston[16]; 25. (DNF) 1Q-Thomas Radivoy[21]
Eagle Enterprises Heat Bonuses $25: 1HD Cory Sparks, 99 Mike Kiser, 48JR Darryl Ruggles
Powdertech Powdercoating Hard Charger Bonus: 88c Chad Miller +13 Spots
Maguire Family of Dealerships “Magnificent Move of the Race”: 1HD Cory Sparks
Midstate Basement Authorities “Out of the Basement” Bonus: 1Q Thomas Radivoy
Heats (8 laps)
#1: 1. 1HD-Cory Sparks[1]; 2. C12-Tyler Chartrand[3]; 3. 3A-Jeff Trombley[6]; 4. 9K-Kyle Pierce[7]; 5. 66-Jordan Hutton[5]; 6. 4T-Ray Preston[8]; 7. 13T-Trevor Years[9]; 8. 19EM-Emily VanInwegen[4]; 9. (DNF) 7W-Calvin Wheelock[2]
#2: 1. 99-Mike Kiser[5]; 2. 48A-Alysha Bay[3]; 3. 56V-Billy VanInwegen Jr[2]; 4. 25W-Dana Wagner[6]; 5. 22-Tomy Moreau[1]; 6. 29-Dalton Herrick[7]; 7. 88C-Chad Miller[4]; 8. 51-Jeremiah Munson[8]
#3: 1. 48JR-Darryl Ruggles[5]; 2. 14-James Layton[1]; 3. 410-Jerry Sehn Jr[8]; 4. 28-Ron Greek[3]; 5. 22M-Aaron Shelton[4]; 6. 33-Scott Landers[7]; 7. 1Q-Thomas Radivoy[2]; 8. (DNF) J27-John Cunningham[6]