Oswego Speedway Set To Kick Off Summer In Big Way
Story By: CAMDEN PROUD / OSWEGO SPEEDWAY – OSWEGO, NY – The weather is continuing to heat up in Central New York and so is the action at Oswego Speedway which will continue on Saturday, July 1.
In the first three events of the 2017 season, two new Novelis Supermodified feature winners and one new Pathfinder Bank SBS feature winner have all been crowned. A Shampine returned to victory lane for the first time since 1982 in the Jim Shampine Memorial. The son of Dave Shullick Sr. picked up his first ever non-wing win at the ‘Steel Palace’ and the championship battles remain tight with Shullick Jr. and Andrew Schartner leading the way heading into the month of July. These storylines have sure made for a busy spring at the ‘Big O.’
The speedway now looks ahead to the summer and it’s upcoming event, set for the first of next month, which will see 110 laps of feature action presented by Oswego D Bus and Holiday Inn Express making for an Independence Day Weekend ‘Grand Prix’ special. Fireworks will conclude all of the action. Also taking place on Saturday, July 1 will be the second Novelis Can Collection of the season as part of the Novelis Fan Can Chase. The Novelis Supermodifieds will go 75-laps while the drivers of Pathfinder Bank SBS will compete in a 35-lap feature event.
New to the track for the first time this season are a pair of drivers expected to join both the Supermodified and SBS fields when July rolls around, as Chris Perley and Alex Hoag have both expressed plans to return to Oswego.
July 1st would be the ‘Rowley Rocket’ Perley’s first time back in non-wing competition since last year’s Budweiser International Classic 200 behind the wheel of the Hawk Jr. Chassis, Vic Miller Racing No. 44 machine.
Hoag, son of former SBS racer Dean Hoag and grandson of the legendary Dutch Hoag, also plans to be back in action throughout the month of July despite remaining very busy throughout the spring wrenching on Quarter Midgets for his son Tanner and daughter Maddy. Both Hoag and Perley will be welcome additions to the SBS and Supermodified fields.
After collecting two victories to begin his first ever run towards an Oswego championship for car owner John Nicotra, ISMA Supermodified shoe Dave Shullick Jr. leads the way atop the Novelis Supermodified points race at the conclusion of the speedway’s spring schedule amongst a tight battle between defending champion Michael Barnes, seven time champion Otto Sitterly, most-recent first time winner Keith Shampine and Supermodified legend Joe Gosek.
Consistent as ever, Dave Cliff continues his march away from the rest of the Pathfinder Bank SBS field driving to three consecutive top five finishes in the first three events of 2017 behind the wheel of the Barbeau Racing No. 50. Andrew Schartner is just 28 points out with his father’s homebuilt racer while first time winner on June 10 Jesse Bearup along with veterans Dalton Doyle and Jack Patrick trail.
Racing on July 1 will kick off a very busy summer stretch for the speedway, with June 17 used as a May rain date and the speedway also on idle June 24 for high school graduation. The speedway will then run four straight shows on July 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd before another off night on July 29 in celebration of Harborfest. Three more action packed events are planned for August before preparation then begins for the 61st Annual ‘Classic Week’ featuring the Budweiser International Classic 200 for Supermodifieds.
July 8th action will feature a 67-lap special for the Race of Champions Asphalt Modified Series PLUS the return of the Demolition Derby after the races before the Summer Championship commences the following week, July 15th. The $10,000 to win Mr. Novelis Supermodified and $1,500 to win Mr. Pathfinder Bank SBS event is set for Saturday, July 22.
Tickets for July 1, Classic Weekend or any of the marquee events on the speedway’s schedule for the remainder of 2017 can be purchased by phoning a box office representative at (315)-342-0646.
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/
Small Block Supers Hit the Road this Sunday, June 18th
The stars and cars of Oswego Speedway’s Pathfinder Bank Small Block Supermodifieds will hit the road for Father’s Day this Sunday, June 18 for a 50-lap, $1,000 to win special as part of the brand new Lighthouse Lanes SBS Series at the Evans Mills Speedway.
The traveling series, sponsored by longtime speedway supporter and owner of Lighthouse Lanes in Oswego, Bob Hoefer, is under the leadership of series coordinator Mike Bruce, who is a weekly campaigner and many time feature winner at Oswego in the Bruce Racing No. 22 along with Camden Proud as series promoter. Proud took over the role of public relations director at Oswego prior to the 2017 season and can also be seen in weekly competition at the ‘Steel Palace’ behind the wheel of the Proud Motorsports No. 54. Bruce is looking forward to hitting the road with the SBS class in an attempt to expand the division not only at Oswego, but across the region. He hopes Oswego fans and teams will support Sunday’s action presented by Route 37 Building Supply and Bruce Construction.
“We are very excited to head out to Evans Mills this weekend,” Bruce said. “I have been looking forward to this event since we first announced it in early April. We have had a large list of teams showing interest along with a huge deal of support at our fundraiser last month coupled with some sponsors that jumped onboard. I’m expecting a solid car count and hope that all of our Oswego teams and fans will continue to support the new series as we provide everyone with a place to compete and watch a race for the next couple of weeks while we are off at our home track. I think it will be a fantastic show and we thank the Evans Mills Speedway for having us. Hopefully it’s a great event for everyone involved.”
Several familiar names will take part in Sunday’s action including Oswego Speedway regulars Dalton Doyle, Rob Pullen, James Babcock, Cameron Rowe, Mark Castiglia, Bruce, Cameron Black, Jesse Bearup, and Greg O’Connor.
Expected to join the familiar names of the Pathfinder Bank SBS division are returning drivers JJ Andrews, Tim Proud, Steve Woods, Ron Pratt, Vern LaFave, and more TBA.
Pit gates will open at 2:30pm this Sunday at the Evans Mills Speedway with grandstand gates opening at 3:30pm for the start of practice. Racing will begin at 5pm. General admission tickets are just $10 and can be purchased at the track. Kids 15 and under are FREE at the Evans Mills Speedway. Pit passes are $25. For more information, log on to EvansMillsSpeedway.com.
