6/12/2025
Oswego Speedway
1974 Nolan Swift / Billy Wright Supermodified to be Displayed at Oswego Speedway June 14
OSWEGO, NY (June 12, 2025) - Fans attending this Saturday night’s Jim Shampine Memorial at Oswego Speedway will have the opportunity to see a piece of Supermodified history, as the 1974 Nolan Swift / Billy Wright built No. 51 Supermodified will return to the Steel Palace for the first time in five decades.
The car, which was the only machine ever built by the legendary duo of Swift and Wright for another competitor, was originally constructed in July 1974 for Michigan-based driver ‘Cowboy’ Leon Wieske of St. Clair Shores. Wieske debuted the car at Oswego in August, qualifying 19th for that year’s International Classic and finishing 14th. He continued to campaign the car into September with finishes of 13th and 4th, respectively, before returning for the Twin 50’s in October where he notched 6th and 9th place finishes. The car attempted to qualify for the 1975 Classic, but missed the field and has not turned a lap at Oswego Speedway since.
After several years spent in a museum in the Midwest, the car was recently purchased and restored by current 350 Supermodified competitor Vern LaFave, who will have it on display this Saturday.
This chassis marks the sixth car built by the incredible Swift-Wright combination, modeled as a copy of the car that Nolan Swift drove to victory in the 1972 International Classic. Originally built with independent front suspension, Swift and Wright opted to convert the car to a straight axle midway through the season. The result was Swift winning the 1972 Classic with the straight axle setup, scoring one of his most memorable career victories.
The 1974 car becomes the second Swift/Wright machine to be restored and displayed at the Speedway in recent years, joining the 1970 chassis that famously carried Swift to his remarkable comeback win in the 1971 Classic. In that race, Swift made up two laps to score his third career International Classic victory in a Supermodified, and fifth overall in the 200-lap crown jewel.
Saturday night’s program at Oswego Speedway is headlined by the 60-lap, $5,000-to-win Jim Shampine Memorial for the Novelis Supermodifieds. Tickets remain available and can be purchased online by visiting OswegoSpeedway.com and clicking on "Buy Tickets."
Submitted By: Oswego Admin