Pathfinder Bank Celabrates Oswego 25th Anniversary

Pathfinder Bank to Present 25th Anniversary Season of Small Block Super Racing at Oswego

Story By: DAN KAPUSCINSKI / OSWEGO SPEEDWAY MEDIA      

Photos By: CHRIS BURGESS / RACERSGUIDE.COM

OSWEGO, NY – April 2, 2016 – Since 1992, Oswego Speedway has been a two division show, featuring the wheel to wheel action of the Pathfinder Bank Small Block Super series alongside the Novelis Supermodifieds.

What started out as a chalkboard plan by Oswego Speedway’s Caruso family to hopefully push more driving interest into the fast 5/8 mile, has grown into one of the most proven support divisions in all of open-wheel short track racing, capable of being a headliner at nearly any facility.

In 2016, title sponsor Pathfinder Bank will be at the forefront as the Small Block Super division celebrates 25 years of action at the ‘Steel Palace.’

“The Caruso family no doubt hit the setup when they devised the creation of the then known Limited Supermodified,” said Oswego Speedway PR Director, Dan Kapuscinski.  “In its first full season in 1992, 26 drivers scored points and by 1994 there were 43 different drivers in action, drivers that may otherwise have never raced at Oswego.  It is safe to say that the division has surpassed what the Caruso’s had envisioned as no fewer than a dozen Supermodified feature winners, got their start in the Small Block Super ranks.”

While the class has proven to be a feeder system for drivers into to the Novelis Supermodified ranks, the race cars themselves have improved vastly in the technological department since John Phelps drove to the division’s first main event win on May 9, 1992.

 With times around the Oswego oval in the 20-second bracket early on, the SBS machines of today circle the 5/8 mile routinely in the lower 19-second bracket with the current track record held by Russ Brown at an amazing 18.554 seconds.

Brown, the division’s first track champion in 1992, joins defending track champion Mike Bond as the two greatest drivers statistically in the history of the class.

No driver has scored more victories or top five finishes than Brown and Bond, with Bond having won a total of 32 main events, the only driver over 30.

With nine track championships between the two drivers and six SBS Classic crowns, Brown and Bond have been the class of the field since its inception.

However, the top SBS pilots of today have no doubt made names for themselves.

Currently there are 12 former SBS pilots in the Supermodified ranks including Super track champions Bob Bond, Otto Sitterly, and Shawn Muldoon.

Since 2012 SBS graduates Bond, Sitterly, Dave Danzer, Michael Barnes, Ray Graham, and Dave Gruel have all won Supermodified main events.

Not to mention the likes of Tim Devendorf, Brian Sobus, and Dave Cliff, who have all knocked on the door to victory in Supermodified racing, along with veterans Lou LeVea Jr. and Sr. who continue to improve.

Other veteran SBS drivers like Kreig Heroth, Jack Patrick, and Dalton Doyle have dabbled in Super action, with Heroth qualifying for last year’s Budweiser International Classic 200.

 While all those mentioned above have had the feeling of an 800-horsepower Supermodified below their right foot, there are other current SBS hot shoes chomping at the bit such as Andrew Schartner, Anthony Losurdo, Camden Proud, and Mike Bruce.

Whether or not they all get their chance, it is certain that the 2016 25th anniversary season of the SBS division at Oswego will be one to remember as defending championship podium finishers Bond, Cliff, and Doyle will all be back in action with fellow rivals Losurdo, Patrick, Bruce, Matt Magner, Proud, and Barry Kingsley all nipping at their heels.

Joining them will be a complete cast including Rob Pullen, Alex Hoag, Josh Kerr, Alex McRae, James Babcock, Cameron Black, AJ Bernys, Dennis Richmond, Jesse Bearup, Tyler Shullick, Ray Sand Jr., Scott Shafer, Cameron Rowe, Bryan Haynes, Greg O’Connor, Jason Simmons, and Dennis Rupert.

Over the years the division has gained respect from the media world as well with the 2015 Bud Light SBS Classic gaining national attention on Suzuki presents SPEED SPORT on MAVTV.  This year’s 25th running of the SBS Classic will also air on MAVTV this fall.

Later this season Oswego Speedway will unveil the 25 greatest drivers in the history of the Pathfinder Bank SBS division.

Kids 16 and under will again be admitted free at all Speedway events in 2016 with the exception of Budweiser International Classic Weekend and Race of Champions Weekend.

On track activity beings at Oswego Speedway on Saturday, May 7 with the annual open test session for all racing divisions.  Testing will run from 1-5pm on May 7 and is free for spectators to sit in the main grandstand.

Racing action at the Speedway begins on Saturday, May 14 featuring the Speedway’s 66th consecutive opening night highlighted by the Race of Champions Modified Richie Evans Memorial 61 as well as kick-off events for the Novelis Supermodifieds and Pathfinder Bank SBS.

For more information on Pathfinder Bank, the title sponsor of the Small Block Super division, visit online at www.pathfinderbank.com.

For more information on Oswego Speedway be sure to visit www.oswegospeedway.com.  You can also FOLLOW on Twitter @OswegoSpeedway and LIKE on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OswegoSpeedway.

ALL-TIME Pathfinder Bank SBS Track Champions (1992-2015):

1992 – Russ Brown
1993 – Bob Goutermout
1994 – Scott Landers
1995 – Greg Furlong
1996 – Dean Hoag
1997 – Dean Hoag
1998 – Ray Graham
1999 – Keith Gilliam
2000 – Keith Gilliam
2001 – Mark Regan
2002 – Mark Regan
2003 – Mike Bond
2004 – Mike Bond
2005 – Russ Brown
2006 – Russ Brown
2007 – Russ Brown
2008 – Kevin Knopp
2009 – Dave Gruel
2010 – Dave Cliff
2011 – Mike Bond
2012 – Kreig Heroth
2013 – Russ Brown
2014 – Andrew Schartner
2015 – Mike Bond

ALL-TIME Pathfinder Bank SBS Classic Champions (1992-2015):

1992 – Daryl Nichols
1993 – Scott Landers
1994 – Fred Taylor
1995 – Bob Goutermout
1996 – Dean Hoag
1997 – Jeremy Unruh
1998 – Russ Brown
1999 – Shawn Muldoon
2000 – Billy Izyk
2001 – Craig Rayvals
2002 – Gregg Davis
2003 – Mike Bond
2004 – Mike Bond
2005 – Russ Brown
2006 – Russ Brown
2007 – Dave Cliff
2008 – Dave Cliff
2009 – Mike Bond
2010 – Steve Abt
2011 – Andrew Schartner
2012 – Cameron Rowe
2013 – Andrew Schartner
2014 – JJ Andrews
2015 – Bryan Haynes

Pathfinder Bank SBS Win List (Top 10):

Mike Bond – 32
Russ Brown – 21
Dave Gruel – 17
Dean Hoag – 16
Bob Goutermout – 14
Andrew Schartner – 12
Dave Cliff – 12
Mark Regan – 10
Shawn Muldoon – 9
Chris Proud – 8

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.