Pat Lavery Returns To Driver’s Seat With Nicotra Racing

Story By: CAMDEN PROUD / OSWEGO SPEEDWAY – OSWEGO NY – Another former feature winner will return to the Novelis Supermodified field at Oswego Speedway on ‘Retro Night’ this Saturday, August 5.

Pat Lavery, who has been out of a race car all season less spending time making testing laps in the track’s prototype 350 Supermodified, has landed a ride behind the wheel of the potent Nicotra Racing No. 6 machine.

Lavery, a three time feature winner, who scored his first career victory under the ownership of Bob Hoefer and Bill Samuels back in 2013, most recently drove for Graham Racing last season which saw him score two more victories with the No. 91 Xtreme Chassis.

With the Graham team out of action for the 2017 season, Lavery has been out of action as well, until a deal formed between John Nicotra, Hoefer, and Samuels just a few weeks ago to put the Oswego Speedway veteran back in the driver’s seat.

“John Nicotra Racing and Otto Sitterly are teaming up with Bob Hoefer, Billy Samuels and their driver Pat Lavery to put a motor in the 6 car. They will take the car and get it ready to run the Classic and whatever else they decide to run leading up to the Classic, said John Nicotra. “We look forward to helping them with whatever we can do to help.”

The debut of Lavery in the No. 6, which was planned for tonight’s Fast Friday, will now be halted until tomorrow’s ‘Retro Night’ program. The Oswego, NY pilot has fifty one top five finishes under his belt at ‘the Steel Palace’ and is looking forward to the opportunity ahead which will surely see the crowd favorite contend for more wins wheeling one of the ‘Nicotra Blue.’

“I’m really excited to be racing for the Nicotra team and would like to thank everyone who has helped me get here, especially Billy Samuels and Bob Hoefer,” Lavery commented.

Nicotra, who just bought the No. 51 car from Joey Moriarty, will now again field a four car team for the International Classic in Sitterly, track points leader Dave Shullick Jr, Moriarty, and now Lavery. Davey Hamilton is expected to return to the speedway next season while the 61st Budweiser International Classic 200 is planned to be Moriarty’s final start at Oswego.

Racing action at the speedway will see the green flag at 6:45pm on August 5 following the conclusion of group time trials for the Supermodifieds and Pathfinder Bank SBS, which will co-headline the race program. The Supermodifieds will contest in a 45-lap main event, which was done until the 2011 season, in honor of the speedway’s 67th Anniversary.

The Oswego Speedway Old Timer’s Reunion will kickstart all of the festivities beginning at 10am at Lighthouse Lanes, located on Jim Shampine drive adjacent to the track. General admission tickets for ‘Retro Night’ can be purchased at the gate or by calling a speedway representative at the box office at (315)-342-0646.