Dave Danzer Claims Second Career $10,000 Mr. Novelis Supermodified Title with SPEED SPORT, MAVTV Cameras Rolling
OSWEGO, NY (July 24, 2016) – When the film crew from Suzuki presents SPEED SPORT on MAVTV comes to Oswego Speedway, have your money on Dave Danzer.
Dave Danzer rolled by Joe Gosek on lap 24 to claim his second career victory in Oswego Speedway’s $10,000 to win Mr. Novelis Supermodified on Saturday. (Bill Taylor)
For the second time this season Danzer drove his family owned No. 52 Novelis Supermodified to Turning Stone Resort Casino Victory Lane on a national TV night at the Steel Palace, but this time it was worth a cool $10,000 as the winner of Saturday’s coveted 30th annual Mr. Novelis Supermodified presented by Davis Bros. Inc.
Danzer, who started on the outside pole position, did not immediately pull to the lead, but instead stalked veteran Joe Gosek for 24 laps before stealing the point just prior to halfway to go on to score his third win of the season, his second career Mr. Novelis Supermodified title, and his 10th Oswego win overall.
The victory also marks Danzer’s third television win at Oswego.
Danzer would pull to a 5.5 second win on Gosek, who was entrenched in a fierce battle with Dave Gruel, Dave Shullick Jr., and Mike Barnes in the closing laps for top five positions.
“I have to thank my dad for getting me to this point,” said Danzer. “Joe (Gosek) gave me a real hard time, he was running good tonight. Eventually I was able to slip under him. There must be something about these SPEED SPORT cameras being here. I hope they keep coming back.”
Jeff Abold made a tremendous drive from 18th on the grid to finish sixth as did Michael Muldoon who recovered from an early spin to finish seventh.
Bob Bond, Ohio invader Tim Jedrzejek, and Tim Snyder finished the top ten positions on Saturday.
Since 1987, Danzer becomes just the fifth driver in Oswego Speedway history to win the Memorial Day Weekend special as well as the Mr. Novelis Supermodified event in the same season – joining Mike Ordway, Bob Goutermout, Greg Furlong, and Otto Sitterly.
Only Furlong in 2005 was able to complete the trifecta by winning the Budweiser International Classic 200.
Gosek and Danzer led the full 24-car field to the Cam’s Pizzeria green flag on Saturday, with the front row duo swapping back and forth in the first lap before Gosek finally snagged the lead.
When Gosek and Danzer finally simmered into the front two spots all eyes turned to defending Mr. Novelis Supermodified Otto Sitterly in the No. 7.
No Luck for Sitterly
Still in search of his first win of the season, Sitterly started outside the third row and in the blink of an eye dominated the high side of the track to fly into the third position.
But as quick as Sitterly appeared to be on his way to the lead, his night came to a crashing halt.
Trying to work the top side of the circuit on Danzer on lap 4, it appeared as though Sitterly skipped over the right rear tire of the Danzer supermodified, sending the Sitterly machine into the outside fourth turn steel.
Sitterly was OK, but the car was hooked to the pit area, where the Nicotra Racing crew quickly went to work.
After some 11 green flag laps in the pit area, the team appeared to have Sitterly ready to return to action until a steering issue was discovered that could not be repaired. Sitterly’s night would end in the pit area in 21st position, putting him now 38.5 points out of the championship lead, unofficially.
With the race back on Gosek and Danzer began to check away from the top ten pack which included Gruel, Keith Shampine, Muldoon, Barnes, Jedrzejek, Shullick, Bond, and Snyder.
Shampine Makes a Move Then Blows Up
Following Sitterly’s march to the front early on was Shampine in the Osetek No. 55.
Starting from eighth position, Shampine rallied on the top side of the track to slide into the fourth position early on, hoping to join his uncle Jim Shampine by winning his first Oswego feature on the date of July 23.
But again disaster would strike for a front moving car as Shampine’s engine would blow on lap 15 ending his night.
Shampine’s engine had leaked oil as it was nearly ready to let go, leaving a slippery track for Muldoon who had swapped with Shampine early on.
Muldoon spun his machine in the oil laid down by Shampine in the first turn with the rest of the pack doing a fantastic job to avoid. Muldoon’s car was ok, and he fired back to the tail side of the field.
Once back to green Gosek and Danzer continued their spirited battle at the front of the field with Gruel, Barnes, Shullick, and Jedrzejek tangled in another great battle for third through sixth.
Danzer Takes the Lead
As the race proceeded to the halfway mark it was clear Gosek was getting tighter and struggling through the center of the corner.
Eventually Gosek slipped just enough in between turns three and four to give Danzer the room he needed to blast to the point into the first corner on lap 24 to take the top spot.
With Danzer beginning to run away in the lead, a true battle then developed from second on back with Gosek, Gruel, Barnes, Shullick, Jedrzejek, and Bond all in the mix.
At lap 29, defending Oswego Speedway champion, Bond was able to make a low side move on Timmy J. to steal sixth, with his sights set on a top five in the No. 47.
One more caution at lap 36 gave everyone a final look at Danzer as debris was spotted on the track.
The last restart of the night showed Danzer ahead of Gosek, Gruel, Barnes, Shullick, Bond, Jedrzejek, Snyder, Abold, and Muldoon.
Big Battles Behind Danzer
While Danzer made it known he would not be topped in the final 14 laps, it was no holds barred from second on back.
Abold, who started 18th, had managed to work his way into the top ten and he would not stop there.
Abold flew under Snyder on the restart then jumped by Jedrzejek on lap 39 to take seventh before later skipping by Bond to take the sixth position.
While Abold was on the charge an epic battle ensued between Gruel, Barnes, and Shullick for positions three through five with Barnes and Shullick swapping the fourth position several times on the top side of the track before Shullick finally settled into the fourth position in the Nicotra No. 2.
As the checkered flag flew however, it was all Danzer coasting to yet another $10,000 pay-day at the Steel Palace.
As the race completed statisticians immediately went to the record book to take note that Gosek’s runner-up run was indeed his ninth in the 30 year history of the race.
“Second on any other night is great, but not tonight,” said Gosek. “That money would have gone a long way to pay some engine bills we have, that’s for sure. I just have to thank all my guys for giving me everything I need. The old guys keep supporting me. Second is good and I think we have the car in the right direction, but we wanted that win tonight.”
Another podium finish for Gruel moves him unofficially back into the point lead by just 1.5 points over Barnes.
“I don’t like to think about the points too much, just run each race as it comes,” said Gruel. “I think we were about equal to Gosek tonight, that was a good race. I did my best to keep that spot and it worked out.”
A full field of 24 Novelis Supermodifieds were on hand Saturday including the return of Joey Moriarty in the Total Seal No. 51, who finished 12th.
Shell Shock Custom Helmet Paint heat race victories went to Sitterly, Bond, and Jedrzejek
Racing at Oswego Speedway continues on Saturday, August 6 with Retro Night featuring a 45-lap Novelis Supermodified feature with 15-lap Semi-Final feature qualifiers and the Pathfinder Bank SBS.
Racing will get underway at 6:30 p.m.
Kids 16 and under with paid adult and active military with I.D. are free.
For more information on Oswego Speedway visit online at www.oswegospeedway.com or call (315) 342-0646. Visit the Speedway on social media @OswegoSpeedway or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OswegoSpeedway.
Oswego Speedway
Oswego, NY
Saturday, July 23rd, 2016
Mr. Novelis Supermodified/Mr. Pathfinder Bank SBS pres by.
Davis Bros. Inc.
BOX SCORE:
Mr. Novelis Supermodified (50-laps): 1. 52 – Dave Danzer, 2. 00 – Joe Gosek, 3. 50 – Dave Gruel, 4. 2 – Dave Shullick Jr, 5. 68 – Michael Barnes, 6. 05 – Jeff Abold, 7. 15 – Michael Muldoon, 8. 47 – Bob Bond, 9. 91 – Tim Jedrzejek, 10. 0 – Tim Snyder, 11. 12 – Pat Lavery, 12. 51 – Joe Moriarty, 13. 99 – Dave Cliff, 14. 02 – Brandon Bellinger, 15. 24 – Jerry Curran, 16. 56 – Hal LaTulip, 17. 01 – Dan Connors, 18. 90 – Ray Graham, 19. 83 – Lou Levea Jr, 20. 55 – Keith Shampine, 21. 7 – Otto Sitterly, 22. 21 – Kody Graham, 23. 14 – Kreig Heroth, 24. 11 – Aric Iosue
- Lighthouse Lanes Hard Charger: #05 – Jeff Abold
- Lighthouse Lanes Up and Comer: #2 – Dave Shullick Jr.
- Radical Race Gear Lap Leader: #52 – Dave Danzer
- Xtreme Sim Racing Series Last Car on the Lead Lap: #24 – Jerry Curran
Heat #1 (10-laps): 1. 7 – Otto Sitterly, 2. 50 – Dave Gruel, 3. 51 – Joe Moriarty, 4. 52 – Dave Danzer, 5. 0 – Tim Snyder, 6. 56 – Hal LaTulip, 7. 01 – Dan Connors, 8. 90 – Ray Graham
Heat #2 (10-laps): 1. 47 – Bob Bond, 2. 55 – Keith Shampine, 3. 15 – Michael Muldoon, 4. 2 – Dave Shullick Jr, 5. 99 – Dave Cliff, 6. 12 – Pat Lavery, 7. 14 – Kreig Heroth, 8. 11 – Aric Iosue
Heat #3 (10-laps): 1. 91 – Timmy Jedrzejek, 2. 68 – Michael Barnes, 3. 24 – Jerry Curran, 4. 00 – Joe Gosek, 5. 02 – Brandon Bellinger, 6. 05 – Jeff Abold, 7. 83 – Lou Levea Jr, 8. 21 – Kody Graham
