Otto Sitterly

Sitterly, Hamilton One, Two in Oswego Speedway Opener

May 8, 2012 By Bobby G Leave a Comment

OSWEGO, NY (May 6) – Otto Sitterly proved yet again that he is the man to beat in the Novelis Supermodified division at Oswego Speedway on Saturday May 5, by claiming his 21st career victory and 4th overall opening night (2006, 2008, 2010, 2012) win at the Steel Palace. The Canajoharie native, and defending Budweiser International Classic 200 champion, started from the 12th position and sliced his way through the field to the lead on the 46th circuit, propelling himself to Chris Nelson Insurance Victory Lane as a part of the 62nd Annual Opening Night presented by Gater Racing News and the Palladium-Times.

Otto Sitterly enjoys the spoils of victory at Oswego Speedway 5.5.12. Photo by RG Design

Sitterly’s Nicotra Racing teammate, Davey Hamilton of Boise, ID, would finish in the runner-up spot putting the No. 7 and No. 6 cars at the top of the podium, beginning 2012 where they ended 2011. Canadian Mike Lichty drove the Nicotra No. 6 machine to a second place finish in the 2011 International Classic behind Sitterly.

Brian Sobus, with a brilliant run, Dave Gruel, and Jeff Abold would complete the Top 5 order ahead of Ray Graham, Shaun Gosselin, Tim Snyder, Randy Ritskes, and Pat Lavery.

“Dave had a left front tire going flat,” said Sitterly, in Chris Nelson Insurance Victory Lane. “I’m sure that dampened the performance of his car. I got him once and then that yellow came out, and the second time I wasn’t going to mess around because I figured if the caution came out again he could hold me off for a couple laps with only two tires, so I sort of made a bonsai pass there but it was open. He couldn’t make the car turn out of turn 2 so I did my best to beat him into turn three.”

Sobus and Gruel would bring the 25 car Novelis Supermodified field to the Cam’s New York Pizzeria green flag, with Gruel gaining the early advantage in the No. 50. As Gruel sped to the front, it was Indianapolis 500 veterans Hamilton and Joe Gosek making quick work of the first three rows to move into second and third respectively by lap 3.

The races first caution flag waved on lap 7 as Michael Muldoon slowed in turn three. During the caution period third place running Gosek, the defending Speedway champion, would head pit side with the No. 00. After looking under the hood of the Burke’s Home Center machine, Gosek would return to the Speedway for a couple circuits, but would ultimately call it a night with a 23rd place finish although he did turn the races fastest lap with a time of 16.866 seconds at 133.404mph.

After the restart Hamilton immediately began working Gruel for the race lead. As the two leaders began to distance themselves from the pack, a great race was also being wagered for 3rd between Ritskes, Mike Barnes, Joey Payne, and Dave Danzer. The four cars would run two-by-two at times as Barnes and Payne became comfortable in their new full-time rides for 2012.

Deeper in the field Sitterly was already beginning to make his presence known, as he moved around the outside of Sobus for the 7th position on lap 13.

Just three laps later however, the complexion of the race would change entirely, as in a pit of irony the present and former drivers of the Strong Racing No. 99 would come together.

On lap 16, Barnes lost the handle going into turn one and washed up the race track leaving Payne’s Muldoon Racing No. 20 nowhere to go. The two cars made contact resulting in each being hooked off the Speedway. Barnes would be credited with 20th position, while Payne would end the night 21st.

The restart order would be Gruel leading Hamilton, Ritskes, Danzer, Sitterly, Sobus, Abold, Pat Lavery, Jerry Curran, and Tim Snyder.

Curran’s night would end however just one lap after the restart as his No. 24 would power slide into the third turn foam removing the tail section of the Nuclear Banana.

As the 50-lap feature go again gained momentum, Gruel began to truly show his might as he gained a comfortable margin on Hamilton out in front.

As the cross flags for halfway waved in the air the Top 10 pilon read Gruel, Hamilton, Ritskes, Danzer, Sitterly, Lavery, Sobus, Abold, Snyder, and Gosselin.

With just under 20 laps to go the Speedway crowd began to see the full deck of cards in the hands of Sitterly, who had ridden outside the Top 5 for the majority of the event. On lap 31 Sitterly turned up the wick, pulling a slide job underneath Danzer in turn one for position number four. The two cars would make contact as a result of the low side move, shoving Danzer way out of the groove, slipping him back to the 6th spot on the track.

Sitterly would then make quick work of Ritskes, in the Darratt Farms No. 88, to move to 3rd behind teammate Hamilton and leader Gruel.

Just after Sitterly made the move on Ritskes for 3rd, Danzer would slow to a stop in turn two ending his evening. The defending Cleaning for a Reason Oswego Speedway Novelis Supermodified Rookie of the Year was none too

David Danzer(52) slides up the track as eventual winner Otto Sitterly(7) goes by at Oswego Speedway 5.5.12. . Photo by RG Design

happy with Sitterly’s low side move and showed his displeasure under caution.

“I waited and waited on Danzer,” said Sitterly. “He slipped up out of turn four and I got a late run on him down here in one and I tried to stay off him for all it was worth and I hit that drain and we just barely touched. He sort of threw his arms up at me, but the cars are so even you can’t wait. If you wait you are going to finish 10th.”

When the field came back to green the Top 5 would now show Gruel, Hamilton, Sitterly, Ritskes, and Lavery.

With 10 laps to go Sitterly surprised teammate Hamilton with another low side move into turn one to snag the runner-up spot. Within seconds, the Sitterly No. 7 would draw right onto the back bumper of Gruel for the top spot.

After working Gruel for just three circuits, Sitterly found the low lane again, this time in turn three to take the lead on lap 44, but at the same time the caution would wave for debris in turn two. As a result, Gruel would return to the point.

The lap 44 restart would prove to be another pivotal point in the event.

As the green flag waved it was clear Sitterly was the fastest car on the Speedway. Just one lap after the race got back underway, Sitterly would slip under Gruel for the lead into turn three as he had done before the caution. Another lap later a tangle would occur in turn one involving Shawn Muldoon, Bobby Haynes, Graham, and Stephen Gioia.

After the incident the red flag would be displayed for re-fueling.

Under the red flag Lavery’s No. 22 was informed he would have to move to the tail side of the lead lap for jumping the lap 44 restart, shuffling the top of the running order.

With just a handful of laps remaining Sitterly would now officially be displayed as the race leader ahead of Hamilton, Gruel and Ritskes. Sobus would now move into the Top 5 trailed by Abold, Snyder, Gosselin, and Tim Devendorf.

As the green flag hit the air Sitterly steamed ahead in the race lead, leaving a comfortable margin between himself and Hamilton. However, with the Super Moon looming large over turn three the race’s final caution would wave on lap 48 for the No. 44 machine of Haynes.

Once again under caution a driver was informed he was going to be penalized for jumping a restart, and this time it was 4th running Ritskes in No. 88. Ritskes would too have to fall to the tail side of the lead lap in the restart order.

Dave Gruel(50) valiantly attempts to hold off Otto Sitterly(7) for the win at Oswego Speedway 5.12.12. Photo by RG Design

With a two lap dash for cash on the line for the win Sitterly led Hamilton, Gruel, Sobus, Abold, Snyder, Graham, Gosselin, Lavery, and Devendorf.

With the green flag flying it was evident that Gruel was clearly having issues with his left front tire, which opened the door for Sobus on the high side of the Speedway on the race’s final circuit. Sobus would mount a tremendous charge on the outside of the Speedway, breezing passed Gruel for the 3rd position as the two drivers hit the line.
Meanwhile out front it was all Sitterly as he led teammate Hamilton across the line for his 21st career Novelis Supermodified victory.

“You know these cars are great and Otto does such a good job of putting these things together,” said Hamilton, on the front straight after his runner-up finish. “Finishing one and two is great and it gives us a great head start on what I want to do when I come back. Week in and week out you see these cars out front and they are there for a reason that’s for sure.”

After arriving to the Speedway late and getting limited practice, Brian Sobus wowed the crowd with a tremendous podium finish, his best career result in the Novelis Supermodified division. Saturday night’s late hot laps were the only laps Sobus had in his new ride, the former Kody Graham No. 21, now No. 60.

Brian Sobus had very little time to shake down his new machine but was able to pull off a fine third place finish at Oswego Speedway 5.12.12. Photo by RG Design.

“You wouldn’t believe from where this car was this morning, that we even came to the racetrack today,” said Sobus. “We got to Hawksby’s shop at 10:30am and he changed everything on this car you could imagine. We missed half the warm ups and got here and the car was awesome right out of the box turning 16.9’s, faster than I have ever gone. I’m not even comfortable in the car yet, we still have a lot to do.”

Next on the schedule is a Memorial Day Weekend triple header on Saturday, May 26 featuring the Jim Shampine Memorial 75 for Novelis Supermodifieds, the Tony White Memorial 35 for the Pathfinder Bank SBS Series, and the Richie Evans Memorial 75 for the Race of Champions Modifieds.

Grandstand gates will open at 1pm, with racing getting underway at 4pm. General admission tickets will be set at $25, with reserved seating priced at $30.

Kids 16 & under are admitted free, with paid adult, to all Speedway events excluding Race of Champions Weekend and Budweiser International Classic Weekend.

Oswego Speedway events run May through September on most Saturday nights, culminating with the Fall Championship 75 on September 15th.

For more information on Oswego Speedway be sure to visit www.oswegospeedway.com. You can also LIKE the (Official) Oswego Speedway page at facebook.com/OswegoSpeedway, or FOLLOW on Twitter @OswegoSpeedway. To purchase tickets or order merchandise please call the Speedway box office at (315) 342-0646.

QUICK RESULTS

Saturday, May 5, 2012
OSWEGO SPEEDWAY
Oswego, NY
Gater Racing News/The Palladium-Times Opening Night

Upcoming Shows:
Sat, May 26th (4pm) Jimmy Shampine Memorial Supermodified 75, Tony White Memorial SBS 35, Richie Evans Memorial Modified 75

NOVELIS SUPERMODIFIEDS
Feature (50laps) – 1. 7 – Otto Sitterly, 2. 6 – Davey Hamilton, 3. 60 – Brian Sobus, 4. 50 – Dave Gruel, 5. 05 – Jeff Abold, 6. 90 – Ray Graham, 7. 26 – Shaun Gosselin, 8. 0 – Tim Snyder, 9. 88 – Randy Ritskes, 10. 22 – Pat Lavery, 11. 5 – Tim Devendorf, 12. 1 – Shawn Muldoon, 13. 44 – Bobby Haynes Jr., 14. 33 – Rod Sauder, 15. 9 – Stephen Gioia III, 16. 52 – Dave Danzer, 17. 02 – Brandon Bellinger, 18. 56 – Hal LaTulip, 19. 24 – Jerry Curran, 20. 99 – Mike Barnes, 21. 20 – Joey Payne, 22. 12 – Jessica Zemken, 23. 00 – Joe Gosek, 24. 25 – Bob Bond, 25. 50 – Michael Muldoon

Lap Leaders – Dave Gruel (1-45), Otto Sitterly (46-50)

1st Heat (12 laps/6 qualify) – 1. 24 – Jerry Curran, 2. 20 – Joey Payne, 3. 88 – Randy Ritskes, 4. 05 – Jeff Abold, 5. 0 – Tim Snyder, 6. 02 – Brandon Bellinger, 7. 33 – Rod Sauder, 8. 9 – Stephen Gioia III, 9. 23 – Jason Spaulding, 10. 90 – Ray Graham

2nd Heat (12 laps/6 qualify) – 1. 50 – Dave Gruel, 2. 6 – Davey Hamilton, 3. 99 – Mike Barnes, 4. 52 – Dave Danzer, 5. 26 – Shaun Gosselin, 6. 44 – Bobby Haynes Jr., 7. 1 – Shawn Muldoon, 8. 66 – Lou LeVea, 9. 01 – Dan Connors Jr., 10. 12 – Jessica Zemken

3rd Heat (12 laps/6 qualify) – 1. 00 – Joe Gosek, 2. 22 – Pat Lavery, 3. 7 – Otto Sitterly, 4. 60 – Brian Sobus, 5. 25 – Bob Bond, 6. 50 – Michael Muldoon, 7. 5 – Tim Devendorf, 8. 21 – Kody Graham, 9. 56 – Hal LaTulip

Consi (10 laps/6 qualify) – 1. 1 – Shawn Muldoon, 2. 9 – Stephen Gioia III, 3. 5 – Tim Devendorf, 4. 90 – Ray Graham, 5. 33 – Rod Sauder, 6. 56 – Hal LaTulip, 7. 12 – Jessica Zemken, 8. 66 – Lou LeVea, 9. 23 – Jason Spaulding

Popularity: 1%

Filed Under: News, Right Coast News Tagged With: Brian Sobus, davey hamilton, oswego speedway, Otto Sitterly

Rapid Results: 62nd Season Opener-Oswego Speedway

May 5, 2012 By Bobby G Leave a Comment

Unofficial feature finish-50 Laps:

Otto Sitterly
Davey Hamilton
Brian Sobus
Dave Gruel
Jeff Abold
Ray Graham, Jr.
Shaun Gosselin
Tim Snyder
Randy Ritskes
Pat Lavery

Heat winners:

Jerry Curran
Dave Gruel
Joe Gosek

Consi winner:

Shawn Muldoon

Popularity: 1%

Filed Under: News, Rapid Results Tagged With: oswego speedway, Otto Sitterly, Rapid Results

62 Years and Counting, Oswego Speedway Opens Saturday

May 1, 2012 By Bobby G Leave a Comment

Gater Racing News and The Palladium-Times Night at the Races

OSWEGO, NY (April 30) – For the 62nd consecutive season, Oswego Speedway will open its gates for racing. However, the opener this Saturday, May 5 presented by Gater Racing News and The Palladium-Times is shaping up to be unlike any other. With outstanding pre-registered car counts in both the Novelis Supermodified and Pathfinder Bank SBS Series divisions, this weekend’s season opener is sure to be a can’t miss.

The Palladium-Times of Oswego is back in 2012 as a race night co-partner. The Palladium-Times, located on West First street in Oswego, has provided the Oswego area with timely, relevant, and the most local news content in print form as far back as 1845. In recent years The Palladium-Times has broadened its reach, expanding to an even greater online audience at www.palltimes.com, a true testament to the quality and dedication of Oswego County’s first daily paper.

Palladium-Times publisher, Jon Spaulding, is pleased to see the renewed enthusiasm at the Speedway.

“We are very pleased to be partnering with Oswego Speedway and its new ownership for this year’s racing season,” said, Spaulding. “We’ve always been dedicated to covering the races and events at the Speedway for our readers, and we are excited to see the renewed dedication on the Speedway’s end to keep racing alive and well right in Oswego’s backyard.”

For more information on The Palladium-Times, including subscriptions, call (315) 343-3800.

Gater Racing News continues their support of Oswego Speedway racing and once again is a race night co-partner in 2012. Gater Racing News and the Patrick family have been serving the racing community since 1966, covering Oswego Speedway, DIRT Modifieds, The Race of Champions, World of Outlaws and ESS Sprint Racing and many more.

Visit www.gaternews.com today and subscribe so you can have all the racing excitement delivered right to your door 37 times a year.

Joe Patrick, Advertising Manager at Gater, is excited to again be partnered with Oswego Speedway.

“Gater Racing News is proud to be associated with Oswego Speedway,” said, Patrick. “Gater News has always identified itself as a short track, grass roots racing trade publication and Oswego Speedway and their fans are prime examples of that philosophy. It’s great to have Gater News and Oswego Speedway, two historic names, once again teaming to serve the racing community.”

Be sure to also try the E-Gater, the same great publication only online. For more information you can contact Gater News at (315) 457-0175.

Joining the regular cast of Novelis Supermodified entrants on Saturday night will be a pair of invaders.

Former Budweiser International Classic 200 champion, Davey Hamilton of Boise, ID will be in town to pilot the Nicotra Racing No. 6 Supermodified. Hamilton, a veteran of 11 Indianapolis 500’s, has never competed on opening day at Oswego Speedway.

Added to the Supermodified line-up as well is dirt Sprint Car ace Jessica Zemken of Sprakers, NY. Zemken will be driving the Graham Racing No. 12, and looks to be just the third woman to turn competitive laps in a Supermodified at Oswego. If Zemken qualifies for the feature event Saturday night she will become just the second woman, joining Jennifer Chesbro, to start a main event at Oswego in a Supermodified.

Expected entrants for Saturday night will include last season’s championship contenders Joe Gosek, Randy Ritskes, Otto Sitterly, Dave Gruel, and Ray Graham Jr. Graham, the 2-time Mr. Novelis Supermodified champion driving No. 90, will field three racecars on opening night including that of Zemken, as well as his son Kody Graham behind the wheel of No. 21.

Kody Graham will not be the only second or third generation pilot in the Novelis Supermodified field.

A host of family runners are expected Saturday night including Daniel Connors, Brandon Bellinger, Michael Muldoon, Jeff Abold, Shawn Muldoon, and Stephen Gioia III.

Returning to the seat of a Supermodified Saturday night will be Tim Devendorf. Devendorf will field a former Greg Furlong ride, which will appear at the Speedway as No. 5. After running in both the SBS and Supermodified divisions a decade ago, Devendorf has spent the majority of his recent career racing on dirt. In just the past three weeks, Devendorf visited victory lane at Brewerton Speedway in a speedy Mod Lite racer.

Also looking to make a full-time return to Oswego and Supermodified racing is Michael Barnes. A former feature winner at Oswego, Barnes will drive the Strong Racing No. 99 weekly in 2012.

With a growing list of competitors, one cannot forget feature winners from a year ago Joey Payne, Dave McKnight, Bob Bond, and Dave Danzer.

Payne will move from the Strong Racing team to drive for Mike Muldoon this season in No. 20. While Payne may not be in town on a regular basis, he is expected to be in Oswego on opening night.

Along with Payne as a week to week runner is 2010 Budweiser International Classic champion Bob Bond in No. 25. While Bond has not committed to a weekly campaign at Oswego, he is expected to be at ‘The Steel Palace’ for the big opener.

Long-time championship leader one year ago, Dave McKnight will again be in action driving the Gary Syrell No. 08. Joining McKnight as a weekly contender will be last season’s Cleaning for a Reason, Oswego Speedway Rookie of the Year Dave Danzer in the family owned No. 52.

New faces to weekly contention in the Supermodified ranks, which are also expected in the opening night line-up, will be Dave Cliff Jr. and TJ Woolsey.

Cliff, who ran part of the 2010 Supermodified season for Strong Racing, is back full-time in 2012 in the family owned and prepared No. 06.

Former Canadian Late Model runner, and cousin to Doug Didero, TJ Woolsey will be a Supermodified rookie in 2012. Woolsey will field a former Scott Martel racecar as No. 43 this season. Woolsey has turned laps once before in a Supermodified, briefly testing the Didero No. 3 mount in 2010.

While the Novelis Supermodified division looks to build on the momentum from a year ago, the Pathfinder Bank SBS division looks to see resurgence in 2012.
Back as expected weekly runners for the championship in 2012 are Mike Bond, Jack Patrick, Kreig Heroth, Mike Bruce, Rob Pullen, and Tim Barbeau. Andrew Schartner, who finished second in the championship a year ago, will be in Oswego for opening day but may not be contending for the championship. Schartner now lives permanently in Charlotte, NC and will take the season week to week.

Two drivers from the Top10 in points one year ago are in new rides for 2012.

2011 Rookie of the Year David LaTulip joins TNT Motorsports in 2012 and will run No. 17 for the year. Mark Castiglia will field a brand new FFB chassis in 2012 and this season will compete as No. 69.

Like the Supermodified division, there are a few drivers making a return to the SBS class this season.

JJ Andrews will be back full-time in the familiar No. 93 as a driver for Team Tapout. Former Supermodified track champion, Tim Gareau is returning to the division where he got his start at Oswego, again behind the wheel of No. 5. Past feature winner John Ketcham is also expected to be in the opening night field driving for Silverback Racing as No. 11.

Add in AJ Bernys, Jason Simmons, Cameron Rowe, Bryan Haynes, Brian Osetek, Dennis Rupert and more, and the SBS field is no doubt on the rise for 2012.

The evening’s racing action will be highlighted by a Novelis Supermodified 50-lap feature as well as a Pathfinder Bank SBS Series 30-lap main. Grandstand gates will open at 3pm, with racing action getting underway at 6:30pm.

General admission grandstand tickets are set at $15. Tickets can also be purchased through the Price Chopper ‘Tickets to Go’ program for $14 at any area Price Chopper Supermarkets store.

Kids 16 & under are admitted free, with paid adult.

Oswego Speedway events run May through September on most Saturday nights, culminating with the Fall Championship 75 on September 15th.

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.
Oswego Speedway is honored to recognize several sponsors and corporate partners that help to bring the racing action to you each Saturday night (listed alphabetically): All Seasons Inn, Alliance Bank, Bacc Off, Best Western/Quality Inn, Blue Bowl Sanitation, Bonded Motor Sales, Bosco & Geers, Bracy’s Transmission Services, Bridge Street Jewelers, Brioschi Pharmaceuticals International LLC, Burke’s Home Centers, Burritt Motors, Butler Disposal, Canales Restaurant, Canales Insurance, Century 21 Galloway Realty, Chris Nelson Insurance, Cleaning for a Reason, City Electric, CNY CPR, Coca-Cola, Compass Federal Credit Union, Constellation Energy, Corr-Pak, CPS Electric, C’s Beverage Center, Davis Bros. Meats, Days Inn/Travelodge, Dufore’s Jewelers, Dunkin Donuts, Eagle Beverage, Ellsworth Heating and Cooling, Entergy Northeast, Ferris Industries, Gater Racing News, Green & Seifter CPA, G&I Homes, H. Lee White Marine Museum, Hawk Performance, Hofmann’s, GMAC Insurance, Gioia Signs, Hoosier Racing Tire, Hudson Dairy, Jerome Fire Equipment, Johnston’s Propane, John Costello & Associates, K&G Lodge, Lighthouse Lanes, Longley Dodge, Marollo Racing Engines, May’s Country Store, McCaffrey Chiropractic, Mickey’s Magical Vacation, Munski’s Auto and Marine, Novelis, Ontario Orchards, Oswego County Federal Credit Union, Oswego Health, Oswego Inn, OTB/Western Region, The Palladium-Times, Par-K Enterprises, Pathfinder Bank, Outdoor Power West, Performance Harley Davidson, Pizza Villa, Ponderosa, The Post-Standard, Precision Balancing, Press Box, Price Chopper, Pullen’s Plumbing, RE Davis and Son, RJ Caruso Tax & Accounting, Rudy’s Lakeside, S&S Tractor, Scriba Electric, Scriba Meats, Shapiro Motor Sales, Sharon’s Hair Gallery, Speedway Press, Steve Abt Auto, Stop DWI – Oswego County, Sunset RV Park, Supercuts, Terrell’s Potato Chips, Thunder Road Bar and Grill, Universal Metal Works, Vashaw’s Collision Service, Yogi Bear’s Jelly Stone Park

Popularity: 1%

Filed Under: News, Press Releases Tagged With: Bob Bond, Brandon Bellinger, Daniel Connors, Dave Cliff, Dave Gruel, dave mcknight jr, davey hamilton, Jeff Abold, Jessica Zemken, joe gosek, joey payne, Kody Graham, Michael Barnes, Micheal Muldoon, oswego speedway, Otto Sitterly, Randy Ritskes, Ray Graham Jr, Shawn Muldoon, Stephen Gioia III

Sitterly, Heroth Top Oswego Speedway Practice Chart

April 29, 2012 By Bobby G Leave a Comment

Sunny, Cool Skies Greet Speedway Test Sessions

OSWEGO, NY (April 28) – The green flag on the 2012 Oswego Speedway season was un-officially waved Saturday afternoon with the running of the annual Speedway Open Practice test sessions. A total of 34 open-wheel racers were in the Speedway pit area looking to get their first laps after a long off-season.

By the end of the four hour test session 12 Novelis Supermodifieds came through the main gates including feature winners from a year ago Otto Sitterly, Dave Gruel, and Dave Danzer.

Sitterly, the defending Budweiser International Classic 200 champion would wind up topping the Supermodified speed charts with a time of 16.810 seconds at a speed of 133.849 mph. The 4-time Oswego Speedway track champion would turn his fastest lap behind the wheel of the Nicotra Racing No. 6 machine, which will be driven next Saturday night by Davey Hamilton.

The second fastest car in the Supermodified division was that of Tim Devendorf in the former Greg Furlong mount. The No. 5 machine circled the Speedway in 17.243 seconds at 130.488mph. Devendorf, a past competitor in both the SBS and Supermodified divisions at Oswego, turned his first laps since 2003 at the Speedway on Saturday afternoon.

Rounding out the Top 5 in practice speeds for the Novelis Supermodified division were Dan Connors 17.250, Bobby Haynes Jr. 17.273, and Shaun Gosselin 17.315.

A tremendous field of 22 Pathfinder Bank SBS Series machines took to the fast 5/8 mile Oswego Speedway Saturday, and it was the driver of the Doug Soucy owned No. 04, Kreig Heroth leading the way on the speed charts. Driving a brand new Ray Hedger built chassis; Heroth would stop the clocks at 19.430 seconds with a speed of 115.800mph.

Jason Simmons, driver of the Team Tapout No. 98, would end the SBS test sessions with the second fastest overall time. Simmons would turn a time of 19.535 seconds at 115.178mph in the fourth round of practice, which was the same session that saw Heroth turn the quickest time of the day.

Rob Pullen 19.546, Tim Barbeau 19.570, and Jack Patrick 19.572 would round out the fastest times of the day in the Pathfinder Bank division.

Second and third generation pilots Jeff Abold and Brandon Bellinger both would turn laps in the Novelis Supermodified division.

Abold took time behind the wheel of the No. 05, which he competed with in last year’s International Classic. The team is 70% complete with their brand new Supermodified creation.

Bellinger ran several laps in the familiar yellow No. 02, which he also ran in last year’s International Classic. The team made many updates to the machine over the off-season that they hope will help them gain speed.

Pathfinder Bank SBS Series rookie Josh Kerr, driver of the No. 8 Hedger Chassis, looked mighty impressive in his debut behind the wheel. In just over 20-laps around the tricky Speedway oval he managed a time of 19.686 seconds at 114.294mph which was second fastest in the second SBS session behind only Heroth.

The test sessions, which began promptly at 1pm, would see no mentionable issues.

Next Saturday, May 5, Gater Racing News and The Palladium-Times of Oswego presents the 62nd annual Opening Night at Oswego Speedway. The night’s racing will be highlighted with a Novelis Supermodified 50-lap feature event as well as a Pathfinder Bank SBS Series 30-lap main. Grandstand gates will open at 3pm, with racing action getting underway at 6:30pm.

General admission grandstand tickets are set at $15. Tickets can also be purchased through the Price Chopper ‘Tickets to Go’ program for $14 at any area Price Chopper store.

Kids 16 & under are admitted free, with paid adult, to all Speedway events excluding Race of Champions Weekend and Budweiser International Classic Weekend.

Oswego Speedway events run May through September on most Saturday nights, culminating with the Fall Championship 75 on September 15th.

Popularity: 1%

Filed Under: News, Press Releases Tagged With: Brandon Bellinger, davey hamilton, Jeff Abold, oswego speedway, Otto Sitterly, Tim Devendorf

Nicotra Racing: Something old, something new

April 12, 2012 By Bobby G Leave a Comment

A look at Nicotra Racing’s first five years, and a peak forward to 2012

By Keith Shampine; NewConceptRaceMedia.com

April 12, 2012….This spring marks six years since the blue G&I Homes Nicotra Racing supermodifieds first graced the west end of Oswego Speedway’s pit area.

Otto Sitterly has been a force to be reckoned with in the Nicotra Racing #7. Photo by RG Design

Led by top driver / crew chief Otto Sitterly and team owner John Nicotra, the newly formed team entered Oswego’s 2007 season on a one-race deal. If things went well, they’d be back next week. If things didn’t go well, they might not.

Over a half-decade later, Nicotra and Sitterly continue to approach their supermodified racing effort as a similar race-by-race deal they made when joining forces back in the winter months of 2006 and ’07. But now, if and when they decide they’ve had enough, they’ll leave as one of the most successful owner-driver combinations in the rich history of supermodified racing at the “Steel Palace.”

Something old… a look back at the last five years

Nicotra Racing’s statistics speak for themselves. After Sitterly finished fifth in Oswego’s 2007 point standings and did not win a main event, the Canajoharie, N.Y., wheelman has put together one of the more successful four-year runs in the history of the famed lakeside oval.

One feature win and unparalleled consistency led the team to its first track championship in 2008, and gave fans a glimpse of what was yet to come.

The 2009 campaign saw two more regular season feature wins, another track championship and the team’s first Budweiser International Classic 200 triumph – the richest, most prestigious award in all of supermodified racing.

Sitterly kicked off 2010 with four straight feature wins, which propelled Nicotra Racing to its third straight Oswego track title.

Otto Sitterly made a dramatic last corner pass to win the 55th Annual International Classic 200 over teammate Mike Lichty. Photo by RG Design

The 2011 season saw Sitterly notch three regular season wins before the team accomplished an unprecedented one-two finish in the Classic with Sitterly taking the victory over teammate Mike Lichty.

In all, Sitterly’s last four years boast 10 regular season feature wins, three track championships and two International Classic triumphs.

Not bad for a team on a race-by-race deal.

“I never would have dreamed we could have accomplished all this in the few short years Otto and I have been together,” Nicotra said from his Homestead, Fla., home. “Otto and his crew, all of our great sponsors – we couldn’t have done it without every supporter and team member we have. To go up to Oswego, the place I grew up and love, and be able to compete at the front of the pack has been remarkable. Now, like it always goes, we want more and more. And we’re going to try to keep it going.”

Nicotra also speaks with much pride when recapping the talent he’s had in his supermodifieds since the team’s debut. While Sitterly leads the charge on a weekly basis, he’s been joined, on a regular basis, by 11-time Indianapolis 500 starter Davey Hamilton, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion and United States Auto Club (USAC) standout Bobby Santos III, multi-time International Super Modified Association (ISMA) champion Chris Perley and Lichty, an ISMA feature winner and decorated top supermodified pilot.

“I’m so honored to have had some of biggest names in supermodified racing behind the wheel of Nicotra Racing cars,” Nicotra added. “I’ve been very fortunate to have some really good drivers. Otto puts together great cars, and I think Hamilton, Santos, Perley and Lichty all would agree with that. It’s been an honor to have those guys come on board.”

Speaking as a close friend of Nicotra’s who’s had a consistent hand in the team’s success, Davey Hamilton offered his thoughts on Nicotra Racing’s achievements.

“Johnny has wanted to do this – own a supermodified team – since I’ve known him,” Hamilton said. “For him to be able to find a guy like Otto and go on to all this success, it’s obviously a great accomplishment for Johnny, Otto and all the guys involved. To help Johnny succeed has been very cool for me and fun to watch.”

Before looking ahead to the upcoming 2012 season, Sitterly spoke about Nicotra Racing’s accomplishments over the last five years.

“I think it’s been a really good deal for both of us,” Sitterly said, speaking of himself and his team owner. “Johnny (Nicotra) had no idea of what we were going to accomplish or how long we’d be together, but neither did I. It’s been quite a ride. In some respects, it seems like our years together have lasted a long time. Then, in other respects, you get in a rhythm of working so hard day in and day out, and it feels like time has flown by.”

And does any one moment or accomplishment stand out from the rest?

“There’s no one moment that I can pinpoint,” Sitterly responded. “Thinking about our years together, obviously it’s a nice feeling. But I truly try to stay grounded. I’d say the nicest, most satisfying thing is to be able to go (to Oswego) every week and be one of the guys to beat. To know the simple fact that teams go there and know that they’re going to have to run hard with us, that’s probably the most gratifying thing for me about this entire experience.”

Something new… looking ahead to 2012

After last season Nicotra sold one of his three potent Hawk Jr chassis to New Englander Jeff Locke, which left the team with a pair of Classic and track championship winning racecars.

Nicotra says he was leaning toward putting a new winged supermodified together with tentative plans to run select Oswego non-wing and ISMA winged events. But when Oswego management made changes to their supermodified rules that allowed more leniency with bodywork, Nicotra changed his mind.

“When Oswego decided to play with the rules, I felt obligated to continue to concentrate on the non-wing stuff. I felt like the opened-up rules may have other guys coming out with new stuff, and I didn’t want our team to fall behind. So I talked to Joey (Hawksby), and we got the ball rolling on a new car,” Nicotra said.

Production of a brand-new non-winged supermodified began at the Oswego-area Hawk Jr shop, and now, with Oswego’s opening day on the horizon, Nicotra, Sitterly and Hawksby are aiming toward an early June debut.

SEE PHOTOS OF NICOTRA RACING HERE

“The new car won’t be ready for opening day,” Nicotra offered. “I told Joey to take his time and work to the best of his ability. We have two proven race-winning cars ready to go. We’ll go testing with the new car once it’s ready, and when Otto says we’re running it, that’s when we’ll see it in a race.”

“The new car is definitely a one-off deal,” Sitterly added, pointing out that the design is unlike any other supermodified at Oswego. “Joey and I kind of put our heads together and came up with some new ideas to try. I think it’s going to be really good once we get it out and tested.”

One of the current Nicotra Hawk Jr supers will be wheeled by Hamilton for at least opening day and Classic weekend, says Hamilton.

“We’re going to do opening day and Classic, for sure,” Hamilton said. “We’re going to try for three or four shows total, but we’re not sure which ones we’ll run between the opener and Classic.”

Sitterly and Nicotra Racing will begin their quest for a potential fourth track championship in six years when Oswego swings its gates open on the 2012 season Saturday, May 5.

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Popularity: 2%

Filed Under: News, Right Coast News Tagged With: davey hamilton, Nicotra Racing, oswego speedway, Otto Sitterly

2-seat Supermodified Ready for Another Season

April 6, 2012 By Bobby G Leave a Comment

OSWEGO, NY (April 6) – If you want to Start the Feature in the Oswego Speedway 2-seat Supermodified you had better schedule it now. 2-seat Supermodified coordinator Roy Sova said the month of May is booked, and in fact it would be the middle of June before a Start the Feature ride is available. But there is at least one Start the Feature ride available in June, July, August, and September. “We have the September ride,” said Sova, “because the season was extended for the season finale to run two weeks after the Classic.”

What makes the Start the Feature ride unique is that you are actually on the track with the other race cars. The 2-seat Super is rolled onto the track and then push started with all the other cars. Once the field is set everybody, the 2-seat Super included, runs a few hot laps. The field is then slowed, the 2-seater falls in at the rear of the field or 25^th starting spot. You take the wave lap and the white flag lap with the starting field, then pull into the pits. It’s as close as anybody is going to get to actually start a race unless they are in a race car.

“Of course the intermission rides and the pre-practice rides are still available for all race events,” said Sova. As in years past, there will be two intermission rides available every race event, plus the pre-practice rides which take place Saturday starting at noon. Nearly 350 people have taken a ride in the 2-seat Supermodified and “We’ve done as many as 23 on a Saturday morning. Boy does that wear Keith out,” said Sova. The Keith he talked about is Keith Gilliam, who has handled all of the maintenance and about 90% of the driving of the 2-seat Super since it hit the track at the beginning of the 2010 season. Since Keith will once again be fielding his own #87 Supermodified this year, “We are hopeful that (former Supermodified driver) Dave Trytek will once again be handling the Start the Feature rides,’ said Sova.

Listen to Two Seat Limo by Wing Side Up House Band O’Dark:3o

Once again this year Classic Weekend will feature the Ride with the Legends program. In years past we have had Eddie Bellinger, Pat Abold, Otto Sitterly, Greg Furlong, Doug Heveron, Dave McKnight, Joe Gosek, Davey Hamilton, Jamie Moore, and Bentley Warren. This year’s drivers for Ride with the Legends will be announced during King of Wings on Saturday, July 7. A portion of the proceeds from the Ride with the Legends program will be donated to a local charity. In 2010 the charity was Cleaning for a Reason, and last year the charity was The Ataxia Foundation.

Your 5-lap ride in the 2-seat Supermodified does not end with just the ride. All riders once again this year will receive four general admission tickets for that night’s races, a guided tour of the VIP Tower, will watch a race from the Sky Deck, and will receive a gift bag. “It looks as if this year’s gift bag will be a reusable bag from Performance Harley Davidson in Syracuse, filled with things such as a T-shirt from Ferris Industries, a bag of chips from Terrell’s Potato Chips, hair care products from Sharon’s Hair Gallery, an Oswego Speedway program, and assorted other goodies.

To schedule a ride in the Oswego Speedway 2-seat Supermodified call Roy Sova at (315)-297-2262. You can also reach him by email at royso@twcny.rr.com

The 2012 racing season at Oswego Speedway begins May 5^th. Events run May through September on most Saturday nights, culminating with the Fall Championship 75 on September 15^th.

Advertising opportunities with the Speedway are still readily available. If you or your business would be interested in marketing with the Speedway please e-mail dbond@oswegospeedway.com.

Popularity: 2%

Filed Under: News, Press Releases Tagged With: dave mcknight jr, Eddie Bellinger Jr, greg furlong, keith gilliam, oswego speedway, Otto Sitterly, pat abold, Two Seat Supermodified

Wailing with Wing Side Up Episode 146 “Taking Chances”

October 10, 2011 By Bobby G

Get It When You Want It On Demand Archive

“The Voice of the Supermodifieds” Bob Gangwer and Oswego Speedway Hall of Famer and co-host Jim Liccardi bring you Wailing with Wing Side Up, airing Monday October 10 beginning @ 7pm est.

Guests include:

2011 Oswego International Classic 200 Champion Otto Sitterly digests the recent American Racer tire test at Oswego Speedway

Jimmy “Hoffa” Pasquin joins us from Salt Lake, UT tells us where he’s been hiding in the ‘Land of MoMo” [Read more...]

Popularity: 3%

Filed Under: Media, On-Demand Archives, Wailing with Wing Side Up Tagged With: ISMA, Jim Pasquin, On Demand Archives, oswego speedway, Otto Sitterly, Wailing with Wing Side Up

Sitterly Wins Second Classic in One-Two Finish for Nicotra Racing

September 6, 2011 By Bobby G

For Immediate Release

Contact: Nicotra Racing; john@nicotraracing.com

Press Contact: New Concept Race Media

September 5, 2011-OSWEGO, N.Y. – In 2009, following a smooth, consistent run to the Oswego Speedway track championship, Otto Sitterly won his first Budweiser International Classic 200 in convincing fashion.

On Sunday, after an emotionally draining, seesaw season that boasted as many lows as it did highs, Sitterly claimed his second Classic crown in dramatic fashion.

Behind the wheel of the newest of John Nicotra Racing’s three equally pristine Hawk Jr supermodifieds, Sitterly rallied late in the 55th running of the most prestigious supermodified race, passing teammate-for-a-day Mike Lichty in turn three of the final lap to capture the $15,000 winner’s share.

Lichty, driving the Nicotra No. 6 that’s normally wheeled in the Classic by Indy 500 veteran Davey Hamilton, hung in the top five all day and proved he’s as talented in non-winged supermodified racing as he is on the winged ISMA circuit.

After qualifying and starting second, the Canadian began to make his presence known around lap 140 when he passed Sitterly for third and then moved by pole-sitter and top lap leader Randy Ritskes for second on lap 165.

Sitterly shot past Ritskes a few laps later and the teammates then set their sights on leader Ray Graham Jr., who had run unchallenged out front after overtaking Ritskes for the top spot on lap 130.

With 20 laps to go, Otto found a lane around Lichty as the Canadian hounded Graham for the lead. It took Otto only a few laps to race past Graham, who was trying to win the season’s two most prestigious non-winged supermodified races after his Mr. Supermodified feature victory in August.

But heavy lap traffic blocked Sitterly’s bid to gap his challengers as Lichty and Graham battled wheel to wheel directly behind Otto while he attempted to negotiate the lappers.

The race changed on lap 185 when Graham, utilizing the top groove between turns three and four, appeared to make contact with Sitterly’s right rear. The contact sent the Des Moines, Iowa, resident hard into the Big O’s steel fence, ending his day after a strong bid for his first Classic title.

Lichty made it past Otto when Graham went into the wall, which set up a seven-lap shootout between the G&I Homes-sponsored teammates.

Sitterly used all seven laps to find his way back by Lichty. Only a half lap from glory, Lichty chose to run low down the back straightaway to protect the bottom. His choice opened the top for Sitterly, who raced hard into turn three and around Lichty in a patented outside move Oswego fans have seen so many times from the blue Nicotra No. 7 over the last half decade. This time, it was a move that gave Sitterly his second Classic triumph in three years.

“Once we got in the open, I could tell that (my competitors) probably better have been saving (their cars) because I felt like I could catch pretty much anybody. So I knew that either they were saving it or we were really good,” Sitterly said after the victory.

“I saw Louie Cicconi tapping the rail and telling Mikey (Lichty) to keep it low,” Otto added, speaking of the last laps of the race. “And Mikey may have kept it just a little too low for what he needed to do. That last lap I went to roll the outside of him I didn’t know if I was going to do a crossover or what, but when I got along side of him I banged the throttle once and went for it. The sparks would have flown before I would have not gassed it up. I wasn’t going to let him get away.”

Lichty earned the one, two sweep for Nicotra, an accomplishment nearly had in ’09 when Hamilton made a late-race bid for second before crashing with Doug Didero.

“Once he showed me a wheel I had all the wheel I could into it and it just drove straight up to the fence,” Lichty said while recalling the last lap. “I could have run him up into the fence and came out with the win but I’d rather see a one, two finish for John (Nicotra) and everybody. They put a lot of effort into this.”

Multi-time ISMA champion Chris Perley wheeled a third Nicotra racer and wound up an impressive sixth after starting the 200-lap grind in 19th. Perley, who made some tremendous moves while racing hard with several drivers, drove a car numbered 5, the mount Otto wrecked hard in the Mr. Supermodified race only a few weeks ago.

Originally thought to be a write-off, Joe Hawksby Jr. of Hawk Jr Chassis, Sitterly and the Nicotra team worked tirelessly throughout the latter stages of August and opening days of September to repair the car in time for the Classic. The work paid off as Nicotra cars represented three of the top-six finishing positions.

“Last week when we wrecked and tore up some sheet metal we were bummed out, and at that point, I gathered all the guys and said ‘Now I want three (cars) here.’” Nicotra said after the Classic. “I wanted to show these guys what Otto and his team are all about and I wanted three here. I didn’t care if we raced two, but I wanted to roll out three shiny, new, bad son of a guns. Everybody did a great job and it’s a true team effort.”

The win not only marked Sitterly’s second but also Nicotra’s second as a car owner in his five years as a supermodified headman.

The Sitterly-Nicotra tandem now has two Classic wins, three track championships and 12 Oswego super feature wins. The win gives Otto 20 supermodified wins and moves him into a three-way tie with Canadians Warren Coniam and Ken Andrews for 14th on the all-time Oswego super win list.

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About Nicotra Racing

Nicotra Racing is sponsored by G&I Homes, Inc., 5 Brothers Produce, Burnac Produce Limited, Provincial Fruit Co., S&L Beans, Florida Vegetable, Flavor First, V.L. Walker Co., Georgia Crate & Basket, Rite-Pak Produce, Quality First Produce, Magnolia Packing, Beaver River Distribution and N&N Corporation.

For more information on Nicotra Racing, visit www.NicotraRacing.com or email john@nicotraracing.com.

Press written by New Concept Race Media. For more information, visit www.NewConceptRaceMedia.com or contact Keith Shampine at 909-918-6276 / keith@newconceptracemedia.com.

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Popularity: 2%

Filed Under: News, Press Releases Tagged With: International Classic 200, Nicotra Racing, oswego speedway, Otto Sitterly, press relations

Wailing with Wing Side Up Episode 141 “Harry’s Smiling”

September 5, 2011 By Bobby G

ENJOY the On-Demand Archive NOW!

Guests this week include:

2011 Oswego Speedway International Classic 200 Champion-Otto Sitterly

2011 Oswego Speedway SuperNationals Champion Chris Perley

Star Speedway Promoter-Bobby Webber, Jr. with a preview of the Star Classic [Read more...]

Popularity: 3%

Filed Under: Media, On-Demand Archives, Wailing with Wing Side Up Tagged With: Chris Perley, Media, Motordrome Speedway, oswego speedway, Otto Sitterly, Star Speedway, Wailing with Wing Side Up

Wailing with Wing Side Up Episode 138 “Redemption”

August 15, 2011 By Bobby G

ENJOY the On-Demand Archive NOW!

After a long New England weekend Bobby G. and the WSU Crew are back in Oswego and ready to bring you another edition of Wailing with Wing Side Up. Join “The Voice of the Supermodifieds” LIVE at Lighthouse Lanes Bowling Center.

Guests this week include: ISMA Waterford Speedbowl winner Chris Perley; Oswego Speedway’s winner Otto Sitterly, MSA Lorain County Speedway winner Jack Smith and Lee USA Speedway 350 Small Block Super winner Wayne Helliwell. [Read more...]

Popularity: 4%