Utica-Rome Speedway Pure Stock top five

VERNON, NY - The Pure Stock division at the New Utica-Rome Speedway in Vernon had a competitive season in 2000, with five different drivers cracking victory lane in twelve different events.

Here is a look at the top five in 2000 season point standings listed with hometown, major sponsor, and body style:

1.. Dave Mannise - 552 Points - (Fulton, NY - Mannise & Sons Logging Camaro No. 8) - "Mr. Pure Stock" Dave Mannise won his fifth consecutive Pure Stock Track Championship at Utica-Rome in 2000. It was his eighth overall championship at the popular fast half-mile Vernon track. Mannise, the all-time Pure Stock winner at Utica-Rome, found victory lane five times, and he had eleven top fives and eleven top tens on the 2000 season.

2.. @!Jeff Pastorella - 502 Points - (Westmoreland, NY - Frank's Garage & Machine Camaro No. 25) - Jeff Pastorella started the 2000 season out slow with a new car, but he sure came on like gangbusters near the tail end of the year winning three features. His first win came on July 23 in a tightly contested battle over Dave Mannise, and his two other wins came on September 17 and September 22, respectively. Pastorella had nine top fives and eleven top ten finishes on a very successful season. His plans are unknown for the 2001 season, but his car was for sale at the end of 2000.

3.. @!Chad Ray - 488 Points - (Vernon, NY - Beginnings II Camaro No. 73) - Chad Ray had one of the best seasons of his relatively short career, winning the Pure Stock Track Championship at Fulton Speedway. At Utica-Rome, he was very successful and won two features, one on July 16 and August 13. His other stats include seven top fives, and ten top tens. For 2001, Chad will be moving up into the DIRT Pro Stock division at Utica-Rome and Fulton with a Pro Stock bought from Wayne Archer.

4.. Mark Effner - 442 Points - (Bridgewater, NY - John's Mobile Homes Camaro No. 17E) - Mark Effner had a breakthrough year in 2000, getting better each week until he broke into victory lane for his first career feature win over Dave Mannise on August 27. Effner had five top five finishes and eight top tens. For 2001, Effner will possibly be moving up into the DIRT Pro Stock division at Utica-Rome with some top-notch equipment.

5.. @!Jim Thomas - 406 Points - (Marcy, NY - Peterpaul Recreation Park Camaro No. 140) - "The Junkyard Jet" Jim Thomas is always one of the more popular drivers in the Pure Stock division at Utica-Rome year in and year out. Thomas did not win a feature this year, but he thrilled race fans each week with his charges from the extreme outside lane in the turns. He had four top fives and nine top tens on the season, with a best finish of second on two different race nights. Thomas debuted a new Camaro with a few weeks to go in the season, and it was very promising so he could be tough in 2001. 2000 Pure Stock Feature Wins

Driver Wins Dates

Dave Mannise 5 (5/7, 5/28, 6/4, 7/2, 8/20)

Jeff Pastorella 3 (7/23, 9/17, 9/22)

Chad Ray 2 (7/16, 8/13)

Mark Effner 1 (8/27)

John Pietrowicz 1 (9/17)

5 Drivers 12 Events 11 Dates