Michael Barnes re-wrote the Oswego Speedway record books Saturday night, as he became the quickest driver to win a Supermodified feature event. In just his fourth Novelis Supermodified race at Oswego Speedway. Barnes raced away with the checkered flag becoming just the 81st driver to ever win a Supermodified feature race at Oswego Speedway.
Barnes took command over the final eight laps and put the Lighthouse Lanes / State Farm Insurance #22 into Victory Lane on State Farm Insurance Night. Barnes joins Mike McLaughlin and Dave Trytek as rookie drivers to pick up wins in the Supermodified division at the Oswego Speedway since they became the regular weekly class back in 1962.
Hal Latulip and Shawn Muldoon led the field to starter Donnie Forbes green flag. Second row starter Todd Stowell cruised around the outside and grabbed the lead as the first lap went in the books. The trio of Hawk cars of Greg Furlong, Otto Sitterly and Joe Gosek, filling in for Tim Snyder, quickly raced their way to the front of the pack. Furlong cruised by Crag Rayvals and Bob Bond in the first five laps to move up to third. Gosek followed in Furlong’s tire tracks, with Sitterly a little more patient early. Mike Barnes had the “Double Deuce” moving forward as well. The top ten in the early laps were Stowell, Muldoon, Furlong. Gosek, Barnes, Sitterly, Pat Lavery, Latulip, Keith Shampine and Tim Gareau. Sitterly shot by Barnes to catch up to the 72 and 0. The trio disposed of Muldoon on lap 8, as they chased down leader Stowell. Sitterly kept his charge going, moving by Gosek.
Lap 11, Furlong took control of the race as he went by the Stowell 89. The 72’s first lap up front was clocked in at 16.95, as Furlong tried to hide from the pack. Sitterly and Gosek followed suit, with Barnes also working his way by the 89 on lap 17.Barnes and Gosek traded third spot twice in the next few laps, as they raced side by side for a few laps. Back up front, Furlong and Sitterly wheeled around the 5/8’s mile, a full straightaway ahead. They came into lapped traffic on lap 20, which both handled with ease.
Lap 25, the complexion of the race change, as a three car third turn accident slowed the pace. Shawn Muldoon’s 1 car slammed the outside wall, with leader Greg Furlong being collected as well we Jerry Curran. Furlong’s car was eliminated from the race, as was Muldoon’s, while Curran continued on.
Sitterly inherited the top spot, as he looked to add to his win total this year. Gosek, Barnes Stowell and Lavery followed the 79 on the take off. Sitterly picked up the pace as he stopped clocks at 16.93, as he raced away from the 0 and 22.
Once again the race took a dramatic turn, this time on lap 37. As Sitterly raced through the third and fourth turns he spun. In an effort to save the car from damage, Sitterly hit the accelerator to try and do a 360, sending smoke billowing. Second place runner Gosek slowed as he went through the smoke, but his view was blocked. Before he could see where he was going, the front end of the 0 hit the 79. Both drivers were uninjured, but the cars were retired for the night.
Mike Barnes inherited the lead. The six cars of Barnes, Stowell, Lavery, Gareau, Shampine and Curran were left in the lead lap. Barnes blasted away at the restart, and didn’t leave any room for a challenge. He quickly cruised away, and opened up the lead. As the checkered flag waved, Barnes cruised under it just over two seconds ahead of Stowell.
“I can’t believe this!” Barnes exclaimed after the win. “Just to sit in a race car that Bentley Warren drives is something special, but to win an Oswego Supermodified feature, words just can’t describe. I grew up watching Bentley Warren and AJ Michaels, and this is just awesome.”
The Colosse Cheese Hard Charger was Michael Barnes. The Hollister Insurance Hard Luck driver was Shawn Muldoon. The Steve’s Up & Comer winner was Michael Barnes. The Maid Pro Clean Sweep was not picked up on Saturday and rolls over next week. The complete order of finish and lap charts can be viewed in the AMB Scoring section of the Results tab on the Speedway website.
In the PathFinder Bank Limited Super division, it was Chris Proud bringing the #3 home in first place. JJ Andrews ran second until a couple of circuits to go as Mike Bond got by to claim the spot. Josh LaRochelle followed Bond through and picked up third. Andrews settled for fourth after running his best race in a long time. Rob Pullen rounded out the top five. The Cutro Professional Inspections Hard Charger was Mike Bond. The Butler Disposal Hard Luck driver was Shawn Walker. The Bob Andrews Motor Sales Up & Comer winner was Cameron Rowe. The Whites Car Care 4th Place Bonus was won by JJ Andrews. The complete order of finish and lap charts can be viewed in the AMB Scoring section of the Results Tab on the Speedway website.
In the Parts Plus 75 Lap feature for the RoC Modifieds Billy Putney (88) took advantage of a front row starting spot to pick up the win. All former modified winners at Oswego rounded out the top five with Lee Sherwood (95), Pete Brittain (99), Jan Leaty (6) and Earl Paules (8) coming across the line behind Putney.
The balance of the finishing order: 6. Dave Wallaber (45); 7. Bill Hebing (66); 8. Sege Fidanza (77); 9. Kory Robenold (63)’ 10. Chuck Frizbee (7); 11. John Markovic (9); 12. Rick Kluth (44); 13. Mike Leaty (25); 14. Phil Slater (24); 15. Doug Reaume (14); 16. Ben Reynolds (17); 17. Daren Sherer; 18. Bill Chandler; 19. Bobby Holmes; 20. Mark VanLuven (02); 21. Zane Zeiner (22); 22. Lenny Fischer (85); 23. Rusty Smith; 24. Kevin Lewis (41); 25. John Hellmers (4); 26. Matt Clemens; 27. Ken Canestrari.
In the Jakes Automotive Super Stock division it was Danny Kapuscinki getting his first feature win at the Oswego Speedway in the #6. “Danny K” has been a regular competitor in the Supermodifieds, Limited Supers and has been filling in for the Super Stock #6 for just the second week. Look for Danny to be back out in the Bliss Brothers Supermodified #6 next week. Current high point man Rick Zeigler (44) finished in second. Mike Scorzelli (17) finished in third. Bobby Newman (77) was fourth and Kapuscinki’s teammate Jason Spaulding (34) rounded out the top five.
The balance of the finishing order: 6. Jeff Merritt (49); 7. Joe Miller (9); 8. Jason Dinzler (81); 9. Eric Connors (10); 10. Brad Haynes (88); 11. Ken Traver (22); 12. Brian Hardy (41); 13. Brian Haynes (86); 14. Scott Dinzler; 15. Bill Chandler Jr. (45). The Ken Tibbles Roofing random bonus was won by Bill Chandler Jr who finished in 7th place (and later DQ'd). The Jakes Automotive Up & Comer Award went to Danny Kapuscinski.