Utica-Rome NYSSCA Safety Awards report

Utica-Rome Salutes 2001 NYSSCA Safety Award Winners

VERNON, NY -- The Utica-Rome Speedway in Vernon, now closed for the 2001-racing season, is pleased to announce the New York State Stock Car Association (NYSSCA) Safety Award winners based on the racing held at the speedway on August 19.

One driver in each of the five divisions won an extra $50 for their efforts, based on NYSSCA membership and being the first NYSSCA member to finish the feature event. Six additional drivers were awarded with an extra $50 for the Wild Card awards.

In the headline DIRT 358-Modified division, Todd Burley of Spencerport, the 2000 season NYSSCA Outstanding Performance award winner, won his sixth feature of the year enroute to clinching his first career Utica-Rome track title on the same night. Burley, a third year NYSSCA member, won an additional $50 and the NYSSCA Award for his efforts by being the first NYSSCA member to cross the line.

Local favorite Willy Decker of Vernon came from deep in the pack to claim his third feature win of the season in the DIRT Sportsman division. Decker, a first year NYSSCA member, won the NYSSCA Safety Award and the extra $50.

Mark Effner of Bridgewater used a strong second place finish to John Pietrowicz to claim the NYSSCA Safety Award for the DIRT Pro Stock division. Effner, a rookie driver, was the highest finishing NYSSCA member as he claimed the $50 award.

Jeff Pastorella dominated the Pure Stock division at Utica-Rome in 2001, and on August 19, he won his eighth race of the year enroute to his first career track championship at Utica-Rome. Pastorella, last year's Pure Stock Driver of the Year at the NYSSCA banquet, was the first NYSSCA member to cross the line as he claimed the Safety Award and the $50.

Denny Tilison of Cobleskill was the victor in the Slingshot feature and the NYSSCA Award winner as well. Tilison went on to win the track championship in the Slingshot division.

The NYSSCA Wild Card Awards and an extra $50 went to Jack Johnson, Mitch Gibbs, and Aaron Excell in the DIRT 358-Modifieds, Jamie Christian in the DIRT Sportsman, Bill Knapp in the DIRT Pro Stocks, and Randy Marsh in the Slingshots. The Wild Card Awards were randomly picked out of the entire NYSSCA membership at Utica-Rome.

With the 2001-racing season now complete at Utica-Rome, the attention now focuses on the annual NYSSCA Banquet, held on January 19, 2002 at the Polish Community Center in Albany. Awards based on NYSSCA membership for every division at Utica-Rome will be given out for the following categories: Driver of the Year, Outstanding Performance, and Newcomer of the Year. Nominations for Utica-Rome NYSSCA banquet awards are currently being sent in by a variety of people. Other NYSSCA tracks involved in the banquet include Lebanon Valley, Fonda, Afton, Devil's Bowl, and Albany-Saratoga Speedways.

Utica-Rome drivers, officials, fans, and sponsors can still join NYSSCA, even though the 2001 race season is over. Yearly memberships are $25 and include access to the injured driver's fund, eligibility for NYSSCA awards, NYSSCA membership card, and a monthly newsletter. NSSCA is not only for drivers, and all members can benefit from this great racing organization.

For more information and for a membership form, go to NYSSCA on the web at www.nyssca.com or see Utica-Rome's website at www.newuticaromespeedway.com.

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