Triple Crown Championship Series ‘Major’ Schedule Begins July 22 at Oswego

Story By: DAN KAPUSCINSKI / TRIPLE CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES – OSWEGO, NY – With five Shea Concrete Triple Crown Championship Series events presented by ASI Racewear already in this season, the schedule truly heats up on July 22 with the first major of the year featuring Oswego Speedway’s $10,000 to win Mr. Novelis Supermodified 75.

The 31st running of the Mr. Novelis Supermodified title event is the first of four double-point major events on the TCCS schedule joined by the Hy-Miler Nationals 100 at Sandusky Speedway, Oswego’s Budweiser International Classic 200, and the Star Speedway Classic 150.

The 40-lap Friday night portion of Hy-Miler weekend at Sandusky is single points.

TCCS drivers and teams have worked all year long to put themselves in the best position possible at single point events, leading to the Classic portion of the schedule. Now, good finishes in these four major events are what will decide the inaugural champions of the Bentley Warren Driver of the Year and Jim Shampine Supermodified of the Year championships.

Three TCCS drivers standout in terms of the Mr. Supermodified event including Otto Sitterly, Dave Danzer, and Joe Gosek.

Sitterly, a three-time champion of the event, went to victory lane in 2006, 2013, and 2015 with two of those victories coming behind the wheel of the John Nicotra Racing No. 7. Sitterly has not won at Oswego now since September of ’15, despite showing weekly speed. Running second in the driver of the year standings, Sitterly could mount a charge on July 22 with a double-point victory.

Danzer is a two-time champion of the event, including last year’s historic 30th annual championship. While Danzer has not been a weekly runner at Oswego this season, he has chased TCCS points and currently rides second in the same car championship and fifth in the driver standings. The Mr. Supermodified could be the perfect jumpstart to Danzer’s Classic season.

Gosek has never won the Mr. Supermodified, but he has finished second an astonishing eight times since the first event was run in 1987. Currently Gosek leads the same car TCCS standings and rides third in the driver standings, with Oswego being a bright spot for the 00 team this season. Despite destroying their racer on May 13, Gosek has bounced back to collect five Top 5 finishes at the Big O this year. Gosek hopes to continues his Oswego and TCCS streak with a first-time victory in the 75-lap, $10,000 to win crown jewel.

In order for any of these drivers to win at Oswego on July 22 they will likely have to stop TCCS Driver of the Year point leader and current Oswego high point man, Dave Shullick Jr. Shullick has three Oswego wins this season and is no doubt eyeing to become the first Mr. Supermodified winner from Ohio since Gene Lee Gibson won the inaugural race in ’87.

Joining this crew of pilots at Oswego on July 22 will be TCCS regulars Michael Muldoon, Tim Snyder, Joey Payne, Dave Gruel, Jeff Abold, Keith Shampine, and Howard Page.

Dave McKnight is believed to have made repairs to his No. 70 machine to also be in action, while it is also expected that Tim Jedrzejek will be behind the wheel of the Danzer Racing No. 52 – neither were confirmed as of publication.

If interested in helping to support the Triple Crown Championship Series of Supermodified Racing feel free to contact series promoter Dan Kapuscinski by e-mail at dkapuscinski00@gmail.com or by phone at (315) 708-7544.