By Danny Kapuscinski
OSWEGO, NY (May 4, 2015) – Oswego Speedway’s 65th consecutive season of racing will take the green flag Saturday night in a big way with the season openers for the Novelis Supermodified and Pathfinder Bank Small Block Supers as well as the 75-lap Race of Champions Modified Richie Evans Memorial.
Joining the action Saturday will be representatives from Planet Fitness, Mitchell’s Speedway Press, as well as ARISE.
ARISE reps will be on hand to get everyone up to speed on their Ride for Ramps event on May 30 at Lighthouse Lanes. The Ride for Ramps will also feature a mini ride for youngsters at the Speedway, the morning of May 30.
Planet Fitness and Mitchell’s Speedway Press will again present opening night for the second consecutive season.
A healthy field of Novelis Supermodifieds is expected on Saturday night with seven-time track champion Otto Sitterly leading the charge.
Sitterly turned a lap of 16.5 seconds in the Speedway’s open practice last weekend, outdone only by fellow championship hopeful Dave Danzer.
Sitterly and Danzer will be joined by Dave Gruel, Pat Lavery, Joe Gosek, Ray & Kody Graham and more, all with their eyes on the opening night checkered flag.
Despite rumors in the past few weeks, Syrell Racing driver Michael Barnes has indicated to his team that his work schedule may very well allow him to be in Oswego for the opener this Saturday. The Syrell crew will have the machine race ready for Barnes to contend.
Former opening night winner, Davey Hamilton, is also expected to make a return to the Speedway driving the Nicotra Racing No. 6 Supermodified.
A total of 13 Supermodified drivers were at the Speedway’s test session last week including Dan Connors Jr., Brandon Bellinger, Dave Cliff, Tim Devendorf, Stephen Gioia III, Shaun Gosselin, Lou LeVea Sr. and Jr., as well as Brian Sobus.
The stellar participation on May 2 gives great optimism to the quality of the field on May 9, with no fewer than 12 drivers showing a legitimate shot at victory.
Over 20 Pathfinder Bank SBS were at the Speedway last weekend for practice, with Mike Bond and Kreig Heroth leading the way on the time sheets.
Bond, Heroth, defending champion Andrew Schartner, Anthony Losurdo, Jack Patrick, Jason Simmons, JJ Andrews, Barry Kingsley, and Mike Bruce are among those returning with an eye on the title in 2015.
Russ Brown, who tested both the Schartner No. 18 and the Hedger No. 13 last weekend, will be in Oswego for opening night but it is not certain as to whether or not he will contend weekly this year.
The Race of Champions Asphalt Modifieds will join the opening night field with the Richie Evans Memorial 75.
The RoC tour opened their season last weekend at Chemung Speedrome, with Chuck Hossfeld grabbing the victory over Andy Jankowiak, TJ Potrzebowski, Lee Sharpsteen, and Austin Kochenash.
A total of 28 RoC Mods were at Chemung, including defending Evans Memorial champion Matt Hirschman, making for a tremendous potential field at the Speedway on May 9.
Oswego Speedway will open pit gates for its 65th season opener at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday with hot laps and grandstand gates to open at 1:30 p.m.
The Novelis Supermodifieds and Pathfinder Bank SBS will time trial at 4 p.m. with racing starting at 5 p.m.
Kids 16 and under and active military with ID will again be admitted free.
General admission seating is $25, with reserved seating set at $35, and pit admission $40.
For more information on Oswego Speedway visit online at www.oswegospeedway.com, follow on Twitter @OswegoSpeedway, or like on Facebook at facebook.com/OswegoSpeedway.
About Oswego Speedway: Oswego Speedway, a sports entertainment company, is a 5/8 mile semi-banked pavement racing oval located off the shores of Lake Ontario in scenic Oswego, NY. Oswego Speedway has been a continuously run weekly racing venue since August, 1951. The premier open-wheel pavement short track cars in the world, Supermodifieds, run weekly at Oswego Speedway making Oswego the only weekly Supermodified racing venue in the world. The Small Block Supermodifieds accompany the full blown Supers on a weekly Saturday night schedule which runs from May through September. Oswego Speedway is mentioned in racing circles as the “Indy of the East,” as no fewer than a dozen past and present competitors have competed at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway including Mario Andretti, arguably the greatest driver of all time, two-time Indy 500 champion Gordon Johncock, along with former International Classic Champions Bentley Warren, Joe Gosek, and Davey Hamilton.