Joe Gosek Legends Series T-Shirts On Sale At Oswego August 5th
Story By: CAMDEN PROUD / OSWEGO SPEEDWAY – OSWEGO, NY – The fifth edition of Oswego Speedway’s Hall of Fame Legends series t-shirts will be on sale next Saturday, August 5 during ‘Retro Night’ at the Steel Palace.
This edition, once again designed by ASI Racewear, will feature the all-time leader in speedway top fives and three time Budweiser International Classic 200 Champion; Joe Gosek. Gosek joins Jim Shampine, Steve Gioia Jr, Nolan Swift and Eddie Bellinger Jr as ‘HoF Legends’ to have their former race cars and faces printed on the popular series of speedway apparel.
Gosek stormed onto the speedway scene way back in the year 1981 and has been to victory lane forty two times since, including the three aforementioned Classic victories. ‘00 Joe’ then made waves in the northeast racing scene competing in the 1996 Indianapolis 500 and finishing in a very respectable 22nd place. The legendary driver is a two time Oswego champion, winning titles in 2003 and 2011 and twice an ISMA champion in 1987 in 2000.
In 2017, now 61 year old Gosek is going as strong as ever with more top fives to his name than any other driver in the Supermodified division this season. ‘Go Joe’ has finished fifth or better in six of the seven races held so far this season, including four podium efforts. This weekend, Joe plans to enter the Sandusky Speedway Hy-Miler, an event he has won three times over the course of his career.
The Oswego native hopes to keep the winning trend going for at least a few more years to come, saying “I want to be here at Oswego. If we didn’t want to compete, we wouldn’t have fixed the car up after the crash we had this year. This place is special to me and it’s both an honor and surprise to still have that many fans up there cheering my name.”
Shirts featuring cars dating back to Gosek’s original Super all the way up to his current ride, will be available on location only at the speedway novelty stand beginning next weekend. The cost is just $20 for all sizes.
Approaching the ‘Retro Night’ special on August 5, Gosek is just over 100 points out of the lead for the 2017 track championship.
Oswego Speedway Kickstarts August with Old Timer’s Reunion, ‘Retro Night’ Special Next Saturday
Following a four week long stretch of racing in the month of July which saw Novelis Supermodified and Pathfinder Bank SBS points leaders Dave Shullick Jr. and Dave Cliff extend their advantage approaching the championship homestretch in the month of August, Oswego Speedway is off this Saturday night, July 29 and will return to action a week later on August 5.
All of the action on Saturday, August 5 will be presented by RJ Caruso and JP Jewelers and feature a 45-lap Novelis Supermodified nightcap following a full program of preliminary action and a 30-lap main event for the Pathfinder Bank SBS.
With only three shows remaining until a champion is decided in each division in the regular season finale on Saturday, August 19, drivers will be hard pressed to fight for every position on the spacious ⅝ mile as Otto Sitterly, Michael Barnes, Keith Shampine and Joe Gosek give chase to points leader and four time winner this season Dave Shullick Jr behind the wheel of the Nicotra Racing Np. 2.
Dave Cliff has not lost the lead in the point standings all season in the Small Block Supermodified division as the top five of Andrew Schartner, Dalton Doyle, Camden Proud and Jack Patrick try to reel in the defending champion in his potent Barbeau Racing FFB Chassis. The SBS division has only seen two repeat winners all season in Mike Bond and Jesse Bearup, with Bearup being the latest victor, taking the Mr. SBS crown on July 22 while Dave Gruel was awarded Mr. Supermodified after dominating the 50-lap, $10,000 to win special.
Before racing gets underway on August 5, the annual Old Timer’s Reunion will commence beginning at 10am at Lighthouse Lanes in Oswego. Among those planning to attend the reunion include several current and former drivers, car owners, and officials including Jamie Moore, Johnny Spencer, Todd Gibson, Mark Letcher, Johnny Casey, Jim Gray, Steve Gioia Jr, Sammy Carista, Mike Rizzo, Jimmy Thompson, Jimmy and Billy Stelter, Bill Kolb, Steve Miller, Billy Wright, Andy Susco, Tommy Rose, Johnny Torrese, Eddie McAuliffe, Billy Law, Pat and Terry Strong, Fred Gormly, Darrell Peckham, Eddie Carista, Gene Lee Gibson, Larry Gibson, John Nicotra, Gord Hutton, Jim Henry, Brenda Rice, Dick O’Brien, Fred Cavalier, Chico Rhines, Adrian Flath, and more.
The Old Timer’s Reunion will also feature several raffles, former race cars on display, photos and driver autographs along with chicken or pork dinners complete with cake and a non-alcoholic beverage available for $12.00. Tickets are available at the door. The event will run to 3pm. Hot laps at the track will get underway at 4:30pm, while the night’s racing program will go green at 6:45pm.
General admission tickets are available at the speedway box office from 9-4pm on weekdays or by calling (315)-342-0646. General admission is set at just $15.00.