Keith Shampine, Osetek Racing on the Brink of Victory at Oswego Speedway
OSWEGO, NY (June 15, 2016) – With a brand new home-built Novelis Supermodified at their disposal, driver Keith Shampine and car owner Chris Osetek are on the brink of a long-awaited breakthrough at Oswego Speedway, as they continue to search for the Turning Stone Resort Casino Victory Lane.
The Osetek Racing crew of (from left to right) John Coe, Chris Osetek, Keith Shampine, Ed Shampine, and Brian Osetek turned heads at Oswego Speedway’s Spring Championship. (Robert Clark)
When Oswego Speedway’s regulations were altered this off-season to allow the return of independent front suspension, Osetek went back to the drawing board to build an all-new machine for his driver, Shampine.
As soon as the new No. 55 hit the track, the car showed tremendous speed – setting the quickest lap in hot laps the last two events of the season.
With a few minor mechanical mishaps solved, Shampine started fourth in the Spring Championship last Saturday and quickly darted to the runner-up position to give chase to race leader Pat Lavery.
Shampine pressured Lavery for the entire 50-lap distance, falling just short of his first Oswego Speedway main event win.
Despite the frustration of landing as the runner-up, only .296 seconds from the win, Shampine and team were all smiles knowing that they are ready to compete for wins week in and week out.
“We’ve been a little down on horsepower lately, but the car has been great,” said Shampine. “This is the best motor I’ve ever had but we’re just missing something now, if we had a little more there I think we could have gotten by him (Lavery) pretty easily. Every time I had an opportunity in lapped traffic, they would pull in the pits. Congratulations to Pat on the win though, he works hard, but I hope I’m next.”
Shampine’s next opportunity will be this Saturday, June 18 in the Burke’s Do-It-Best Home Centers and A&P Auto Parts Novelis Supermodified Twin 35’s.
Since the beginning of Twin events in the early 1970’s, 13 different drivers have scored their first Oswego Speedway victory in Twin events.
Shampine hopes to add his name to the list on Saturday in the Osetek No. 55.
Should Shampine reach victory lane it would be the 22nd Twin win for the Shampine family, as Keith’s uncle Jimmy earned 21 Twin wins, more than any other driver.
Pit gates will open Saturday at 3 p.m. with hot laps getting underway at 4 p.m.
The first drivers autograph session of the season will take place at 5:15 p.m. with Supermodified heats rolling off at 6:30 p.m.
For more information on Oswego Speedway visit online at www.oswegospeedway.com, follow on Twitter @OswegoSpeedway, or like on Facebook at facebook.com/OswegoSpeedway.
