Utica-Rome results 2003-09-07

VERNON, NY- Vermont's Dave Camara mad a rare visit to the Utica-Rome Speedway, and he dominated the 40-lap Prism Enviromental feature event worth $1800. Dave Mannise took the $300 to the winner Battle of the Street Stock series event to collect his second win of the season.

Willy Decker and Jim Rothwell led the 22-car starting field to starter Matt Burdick's green flag with Decker grabbing the lead going into turn one. Jack Johnson, coming from 4th, quickly moved into 2nd and immediately began to pressure the front running Decker. Looking for his second career win at the Vernon oval, Decker would hold off all challenges from the veteran Johnson. Caution flew on lap 3 for John Ramsey, who had spun in turn 2, bringing the field to Decker's rear bumper.

Decker retained the lead on the restart, holding off the legendary Johnson again to lead lap number 4. Caution quickly came out again as Todd Thomas lost his steering and slammed the wall in turn 4. Thomas was uninjured and was able to return later, many laps down. Johnson's night ended as he pulled his car pitside with mechanical problems. This put 8th place starting Dave Camara into second, with Jim Rothwell, Todd Burley, and Paul Jensen making up the rest of the top five.

Camara used the restart to his adavantage, using to the outside lane to pass Decker to lead lap 5. Caution lights blinked on again for Craig Hanson and Burley, who had spun his racer exiting turn 4. Camara held on to the top spot on the restart and began to pull away from the rest of field with Decker still clinging to second. A long green flag period allowed Camara to build his lead to a full straightaway over Decker, Mark Flach, Jensen, and Mitch Gibbs at the halfway mark.

Trouble struck on lap 27 when 3rd running Flach lost a wheel exiting turn 2 and was struck by the lapped cars of Craig Hanson and Dave Barrows. All three cars were heavily damaged, but the drivers walked away uninjured. Decker's fine run came to an end under caution when he came to a stop in turn 4. This moved Gibbs into second, with Jensen, Ted Lamb, and John Bellinger trailing.

Camara held off Gibbs on the restart and led the remaining of the 40-lap event to collect his first-ever checkered flag at the half-mile speedplant. Gibbs, Jensen, Lamb, and Bellinger would follow in the top five positions. Camara's victory was worth $1800 for the Vermont native, and gave him a guaranteed starting spot in the upcoming Turning Stone Casino Super DIRT Series event on September 14. Heat wins were taken by Decker, Rothwell, and Paul Kinney.

Fulton's Dave Mannise and Mike Minutolo led the field to the green in the Battle of the Street Stock (BOSS) series with Mannise leading the field into turn 1. Russ Marsden quickly moved into 2nd from his 3rd starting spot and set sail after the leader Mannise. Canandaigua Speedway regular Blaine Smith was on the move early, moving into 3rd by lap 6 after starting in 10th.

At the halfway point at the 20-lap event, Mannise continued to lead with Smith now in 2nd, Marsden slipping to 3rd, BOSS point leader Nathan Peckham in 4th, and Dave Pope filling out the top 5. Mannise led the remainder of the way, despite a last lap restart, holding off Smith and Marsden at the line. Pope and George Schulze made out the remainder of the top 5. Mannise, Smith, and Todd Storace were the heat winners.

NOTES- The WWE Monster Trucks strutted the stuff during the intermission period and again after the feature events. Robbie Brown of Owego won the demolition derby to end the night's activities.

Next Sunday September 14, FX Caprara Car Companies will present the final racing event of the season at the "Action Track of the East" when it presents the Turning Stone Casino Super DIRT Series for the 358-Modifieds (100 laps) and the Empire Sports Network Pro Stock Super DIRT Series (25 laps). The gates will open at 3 p.m., with time trials at 5:30, and racing slated to begin at 6 p.m. For more information, feel free to call the speedway office at (315) 829-4557 or visit us on the web at www.uticaromespeedway.com.

RACE SUMMARY

DIRT 358-MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH (40 LAPS)- DAVE CAMARA, Mitch Gibbs, Paul Jensen, Ted Lamb, John Bellinger, Pete Taylor, Kevin Crave, Todd Burley, John Ramsey, Dave Rauscher, Jim Rothwell, Willy Decker, Mark Flach, Craig Hanson, Dave Barrows, Todd Thomas, Joel Thomas, Paul Kinney, Jack Johnson, Ken McGuire, Chris Ostrowky, and Ben Bushaw. DNS- Mark Tily

BATTLE OF THE STREET STOCKS FEATURE FINISH (20 LAPS)- DAVE MANNISE, Blaine Smith, Russ Marsden, Dave Pope, George Schulze, Dana Aikens, John Phillips, Jeff Bridge, Mike Minutolo, Nick Rizzo, Rick Condes, Frank Hyatt, Rob Seavy, Nathan Peckham, Chuck Cushman, Don Warner, Jim Thomas, Ron Richter, JJ Maziur, Chris Cunningham, Phil Norman, Todd Storace, and Ricky Marshall.