New Hawk Independent Front Suspension Chassis Nears Completion for Syrell Racing & Michael Barnes
OSWEGO, NY (March 23, 2016) – With the return of independent front suspension to the Novelis Supermodified regulations at Oswego Speedway in 2016, several teams have gone back to the drawing board including those at Hawk Chassis and Syrell Racing.
Joe Hawksby Jr. and his team are hard at work to complete a newly designed machine, equipped with independent front suspension, for Syrell Racing and driver Michael Barnes.
“The car is a totally new design and will be unique to everything else in the field,” said Syrell Racing co-owner, Eric Syrell. “We do plan on bringing both of our cars to the track weekly this season, once the new design is completed. Michael (Barnes) says he will be with us on opening day, so we intend to run a full season in search of a championship. The whole team is very excited.”
Michael Barnes and Syrell Racing sat on pole position for the 59th running of the Budweiser International Classic at Oswego Speedway with their 2014 Hawk Chassis design. This year the team will début an all-new IFS Hawk Super. (Bill Taylor)
The team’s current machine, which debuted in 2014, was driven to victory lane twice by Barnes in that season and sat on the pole position for the 2015 running of the Budweiser International Classic 200, becoming just the second non-wing supermodified in history to enter the 15.8 second bracket.
Despite missing more than one event in 2015, Barnes managed four top five finishes during the season and went on to lead the most laps in the International Classic before finishing as the runner-up to Bob Bond.
Syrell is confident that his car builder will put together the winning combination for the coming season.
“Joey Hawksby is the hardest working man in supermodifieds,” said Syrell. “He is a brilliant engineer and a gifted fabricator. Gary (Syrell) and I are very proud to be working with him, and proud to be debuting this 2016 Hawk Chassis.”
Fans could get a sneak at the new Syrell Racing Hawk Chassis as well as many other favorites when on track activity beings at Oswego Speedway on Saturday, May 7 with the annual open test session for all racing divisions. Testing will run from 1-5pm on May 7 and is free for spectators to sit in the main grandstand.
Racing action begins on Saturday, May 14 featuring the Speedway’s 66th consecutive opening night highlighted by the Race of Champions Modified Richie Evans Memorial 61 as well as kick-off events for the Novelis Supermodifieds and Pathfinder Bank SBS.
Kids 16 and under will again be admitted free at all events in 2016 except for Budweiser International Classic Weekend and Race of Champions Weekend.
For more information on Oswego Speedway be sure to visit www.oswegospeedway.com. You can also FOLLOW on Twitter @OswegoSpeedway and LIKE on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OswegoSpeedway.
