By Dan Kapuscinski
OSWEGO, NY (July 11, 2016) – With the recent chatter of Michael Barnes and Otto Sitterly’s battle for Oswego Speedway’s Novelis Supermodified track title, Dave Gruel managed to sneak into the party and steal the top spot heading into Saturday’s Summer Championship, presented by Crop Production Services.
Gruel, who has finished in the top ten of the championship standings in all six of his Novelis Supermodified seasons dating back to 2010, is the only driver to finish in the top ten of all seven Novelis Supermodified events this season at the ‘Steel Palace.’
As a result, despite not winning a main event to this point of the season, Gruel’s consistency has helped him to a 3.5 point advantage on Barnes and a 12 point edge on Sitterly with this weekend’s 50-lapper on tap.
Gruel nearly drove to victory at the Speedway’s last Novelis Supermodified event, eventually falling just short behind Aric Iosue’s first career main event triumph in the Independence Grand Prix 75.
Barnes would finish fifth in the 75-lap main with Sitterly eighth.
With only five point races remaining in 2016, critics would say it appears to be a three horse race for the championship with Gruel, Barnes, and Sitterly at the forefront.
However, trailing the leaders are Michael Muldoon, Kody Graham, Brandon Bellinger, Pat Lavery, Dave Danzer, Jeff Abold, and Iosue – all within 61 points of the championship lead, and in striking distance.
While the Novelis Supermodifieds had the week off on July 9, the Pathfinder Bank SBS machines were still in action with Dave Cliff as the point leader.
Cliff finished sixth on July 9, keeping him on top of the series standings.
Making a jump to the runner-up position in the standings was former point leader Anthony Losurdo, with a fifth place finish in Saturday’s main event. Losurdo now trails Cliff by 24 points in the race for the title.
Jack Patrick now slips to third in the standings, despite a seventh place finish on Saturday.
Camden Proud and Kreig Heroth continue their consistent ways riding in the top five in points while Mike Bruce, last week’s winner Mike Bond, Dalton Doyle, Rob Pullen, and Scott Shafer fill the top ten.
The Demolition Derby will follow Saturday night’s Summer Championship events which will feature a 50-lap Novelis Supermodified main and a 30-lap Pathfinder Bank SBS feature.
Pit gates will open at 3:15 p.m. on July 16 with practice beginning and grand stand gates opening at 4:30 p.m. The night’s first heat race will take place at 6:30 p.m.
The Demolition Derby will immediately follow the Novelis Supermodified main event.
Adult general admission on Saturday is $15 with $14 Price Chopper Tickets to Go available. Kids 16 and under are free with paid adult.
For more information on Oswego Speedway visit online at www.oswegospeedway.com or LIKE on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OswegoSpeedway or FOLLOW on Twitter @OswegoSpeedway. Those interested in Speedway video programming online can subscribe to the Speedway’s YouTube Channel, ‘OswegoSpeedwayOnline’.
To purchase tickets for the 2016 racing season call the Speedway box office at (315) 342-0646.
Novelis Supermodified Point Standings:
1. Dave Gruel- 570.5
2. Michael Barnes- 567
3. Otto Sitterly- 558.5
4. Michael Muldoon- 539
5. Kody Graham- 530.5
6. Brandon Bellinger- 528
7. Pat Lavery- 527.5
8. Dave Danzer- 526
9. Jeff Abold- 523
10. Aric Iosue- 509.5
Pathfinder Bank SBS Point Standings:
1. Dave Cliff- 690
2. Anthony Losurdo- 666
3. Jack Patrick- 659
4. Camden Proud- 652
5. Kreig Heroth- 638
6. Mike Bruce- 638
7. Mike Bond- 633
8. Dalton Doyle- 597
9. Rob Pullen- 524
10. Scott Shafer- 522
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.