Tight Oswego Supermodified Competition Sets Stage for Hot Summer Stretch
OSWEGO, NY (June 27, 2016) – With five different winners in five weeks of racing in the Novelis Supermodified division at Oswego Speedway, there’s no telling the outcome of a hot summer stretch of action that will kick off at the ‘Steel Palace’ this Saturday, July 2 with the Independence Weekend Grand Prix presented by the Walker Enterprises D-Bus.
With five different Supermodified winners in five weeks at Oswego Speedway, the summer schedule at the ‘Steel Palace’ is sure to be exciting. (Bill Taylor)
Michael Barnes, Kody Graham, Dave Danzer, Pat Lavery, and Jeff Abold have all been fortunate enough to visit Turning Stone Resort Casino Victory Lane this season with a host of other drivers chomping at the bit for their turn.
Of the driver’s yet to visit victory lane the biggest surprise is seven-time champion, Otto Sitterly.
It’s been since 2007 that Sitterly has gone this long without a feature win to his credit, but despite the drought Sitterly still leads the championship standings by a mere half point over opening night winner Barnes.
Joining Sitterly as driver’s looking for that elusive first win of the season are veterans Dave Gruel, Michael Muldoon, Brandon Bellinger, Dan Connors Jr., Keith Shampine, Joe Gosek and more.
Like Sitterly, Gruel has used consistency to stay in a tight battle for the championship, currently riding third in the standings only nine points out of the lead. Gruel is the only driver this season to finish in the top ten of all six Novelis Supermodified features, behind the wheel of the No. 50.
Despite showing plenty of speed, Muldoon and Bellinger have struggled at times this season, but are certainly on the verge of returning to the winner’s circle.
Muldoon has five top ten finishes this year and three top ten runs and is poised for a top flight effort this weekend.
Despite motor issues in the first Twin 35 back on June 18, Bellinger rebounded for a runner-up run in the second Twin of the night, with his sights set on a Fourth of July Weekend win.
Connors and Shampine still knock on the door of their first career supermodified wins at Oswego.
Connors has been more consistent in recent weeks while Shampine has no doubt showed the speed necessary for victory.
Gosek has had a terrible run of luck recently having bent up his car in two consecutive weekends after putting together nice runs before disaster struck.
In all the close competition this season has produced five different winners in five weeks, as well as 14 different drivers with top five finishes and 22 different drivers with top ten finishes.
With the recent return of defending series champion Bob Bond and potential other entries on Saturday that include Davey Hamilton Jr. and Gene Lee Gibson, the summer schedule looks as though it will be off to a good start this weekend.
Oswego Speedway returns to action on Saturday, July 2 for the Speedway’s Grand Prix night featuring extra distance features and the annual Christmas in July Toy Drive.
All those who bring a new and unwrapped toy, which will be donated to the Hannibal Central School Christmas Bureau in association with Toys for Tots of Oswego County, will receive a free hot dog combo meal.
Pit gates will open on Saturday at 3:15 p.m. with grandstand gates opening at 4:30 p.m. with the start of hot laps. Santa Claus will arrive in the Tiki Bar for kids at 6 p.m. and the night’s racing action, which will be capped with a 75-lap Novelis Supermodified main and a 35-lap Pathfinder Bank SBS feature, will go green at 6:30 p.m.
To celebrate the Fourth of July Weekend – an exciting fireworks display will end the evening, post-race.
Kids 16 and under will again be admitted free at all Speedway events in 2016, including the rear grandstand this weekend, 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.
