Pat Lavery to Join Graham Racing in Search of Oswego Speedway Championship
OSWEGO, NY (February 24, 2016) – Graham Racing announced this week that they have appointed Novelis Supermodified veteran and feature winner Pat Lavery as the driver of their Xtreme Chassis No. 91 machine for the 2016 season at Oswego Speedway, in search of their first Supermodified track championship.
Based in Fulton, NY, Graham Racing will add Lavery to an already stellar weekly lineup which includes team owner and former two-time Mr. Supermodified Ray Graham, 2012 Mr. Supermodified Kody Graham, as well as 2015 Novelis Supermodified Rookie of the Year Aric Iosue.
Driver Pat Lavery (right) and crew chief Bill Samuels (left) will move to Graham Racing in 2016 in search of a Novelis Supermodified track championship at Oswego Speedway, driving car owner Ray Graham’s Xtreme Chassis No. 91. (Joe Falcetti)
Joining Lavery in the Graham Racing effort will be Bill Samuels, who will now serve as crew chief on the No. 91.
“We are all excited to have Pat join our team along with Bill Samuels as the crew chief,” said Graham Racing car owner, Ray Graham. “Both of them have a proven track record and a wealth of knowledge. I expect them to be contending for the track championship and look forward to a great season in 2016 with Pat joining Kody, Aric, and myself racing weekly.”
In a career that dates back to 1999 with Strong Racing and later with Double Deuce Racing from 2008-2015, Lavery amassed 48 career top five finishes as well as a main event victory in 2013.
Known as one of the most consistent drivers in the pit area, Lavery has not finished outside of the Top 10 in points since 2004 and has finished in the Top 5 in points in seven of the last eight seasons, including runner-up finishes in 2008 and 2012 driving for Double Deuce.
After spending nine seasons with Strong and eight seasons with Double Deuce, Lavery will enter his 18th year of competition with the third team of his driving career.
Since 2009, Graham Racing has garnered 13 main event victories at Oswego including wins in seven consecutive seasons, with Top 10 point finishes in four of the last six championship races.
Now the duo will combine with the collaborative goal of a first career Oswego title.
“I was a little surprised a few weeks ago when I was contacted by Ray (Graham),” said Lavery. “We are really excited and looking forward to a great 2016 race season. I can’t thank Ray enough for this opportunity. I’ve enjoyed getting to know him over the past few weeks, and really enjoy his sense of humor and look forward to having fun this year. Oh, and maybe win a few races too!”
Despite the new team and race car, Lavery will find somewhat familiar ground aside from crew chief Bill Samuels, as Lavery will be teamed with former crew members Aric and Dave Iosue.
Oswego Speedway PR Director Dan Kapuscinski reached out to Double Deuce Racing co-owners Bob Hoefer and Samuels, with Hoefer confirming that “as of this moment there are no plans to run the No. 22. We are looking to sell.”
The first official track time available for Lavery in his new ride will be the Speedway’s open practice session to be held on Saturday, May 7.
Oswego Speedway will begin its 66th consecutive season of racing on Saturday, May 14 with the lid lifters for the Novelis Supermodifieds and the Pathfinder Bank SBS, as well as the 61-lap Richie Evans Memorial for the RoC Modifieds.
The full 2016 Oswego Speedway event schedule is now available on the Speedway’s website.
Full ticket information and questions can be directed to the Speedway box office at (315) 342-0646.
For more information on Oswego Speedway visit online at www.oswegospeedway.com or LIKE on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OswegoSpeedway or FOLLOW on Twitter @OswegoSpeedway.
