November 19, 2008
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Thursday, January 17, 2008
Best of 2007: Gosek wins Opening Day with Hirschman and Muroski also getting checkers.
By Oswego Speedway :: 2426 Views :: Race Preview
 

It was an Opening Day to remember at the Oswego Speedway as a last lap pass for the win occurred for only the second time ever in the Novelis Supermodified division as Joe Gosek in the #00 passed race leader Randy Ritskes in the Rayvals #95 for the win.  On Opening Day 1994, Bentley Warren in the Landmark Video #29 edged past Mike Muldoon in his #80 to get the other Opening Day last lap win at Oswego. Oddly enough, the car that Ritskes finished in second with was originally a Mike Muldoon chassis.

The Race of Champions Modifieds got the action started as they ran the Parts Plus 75 to start the afternoon on Coca Cola Kick-Off day. Matt Hirschman gained a bit of revenge on the track that he lost a hotly contested Race of Champions event at last September. Hirshman came across the line followed by Billy Putney, Lee Sherwood, Zane Zeiner and Earl Paules.

The newly named PathFinder Bank SBS Racing Series saw a variety of surprises all day long. In Heat race action, Mike Bond in the new Solazzo #26, put it into Victory Lane on its maiden voyage. In the feature race, Larry Muroski ran up front all race long but had his hands full with Jack patrick, Brian Sobus, Mike Bond and Dave Gruel. As the race wore on, Bond in the #26 was the car on the move. Bond pulled into second place on lap 26 and a late race yellow one lap later, cooled off his tires and he could not catch Muroski for the lead. Muroski picked up his first ever SBS feature win. Rounding out the top five were Mike Bond, Jack Patrick, Brian Sobus and Tim Barbeau. The Cooks Jewelers Heat Race wins went to Larry Muroski, Mike Bond and Jack Patrick. The Cutro Professional Inspections feature "Up 'n Comer" was Larry Muroski. The localtrax.com "Hard Charger" was Mike Bond. The Butler Disposal Service "Hard Luck" driver was Dave Cliff. The SBS Racing News "Pass of the Race" was made by Mike Bond. The Whtes Car Care "4th Place Bonus" went to Brian Sobus. The Maid Pro "Clean Sweep" award was claimed by Larry Muroski.

The Novelis Supermodified feature was set up to be a barn-burner with greg Furlong and Michael Barnes set to lead the field to the green flag. Barnes was not able to start in the front row after contact with the water barrels at the finish line when he tried to stop and have his radio changed. The car would not come out of gear and contact was made with the barrels. Barnes was able to start the feature after a pit stop but a mid race spin put him out of the race.

Greg Furlong appeared to be able to run wire to wire with his front row starting spot but that would not be the case on this day. Randy Ritskes driving the back up Craig Rayvals #95, one of the oldest chassis in the feature, was a factor all race long. Ritskes snuck past Furlong for the lead on lap 20. Joe Gosek was in his first ride in his new #00 and he paced himself throughout the caution-plagued feature race. Ritskes, Furlong and Gosek waged a great three car battle for the lead with Gosek getting by Furlong on lap 40. He set his sights on the Ritskes #95 and tucked inside of him coming down the back stretch just a half lap awy from the end of the race. Gosek picked up the checkered flag to bring down the house on a Mothers Day special at the Oswego Speedway. Following Gosek across the line were Ritskes, Furlong, Stephen Gioia III and Pat Lavery. The Burkes Home Center Heat Race wins went to Greg Furlong, Joe Gosek and Otto Sitterly. The J&K Plumbing, Heating - A/C "Up 'n Comer" was Stephen Gioia III. The Jakes Automotive "Hard Charger" was Randy Ritskes. The Colosse Cheese "Hard Luck" award went to Mike Barnes. The 2 Xtreme Auto Transport "Pass of the Race" was turned in by Joe Gosek. The Maid Pro "Clean Sweep' award was picked up by Joe Gosek.


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