Brandon Bellinger Among Those Making Switch to IFS in 2016
Story By: DAN KAPUSCINSKI / OSWEGO SPEEDWAY MEDIA Photos By: CHRIS BURGESS / RACERSGUIDE.COM
OSWEGO, NY- March 31, 2016- Fresh off his first career Novelis Supermodified main event victory at Oswego Speedway in August of 2015, third generation racer Brandon Bellinger and team have opted to make the switch to independent front suspension on their No. 02 Supermodified for Oswego’s upcoming 2016 campaign.
While improved performance is the goal with any changes made in a race car, Bellinger also looked at the conversion in terms of future repairs.
“We decided to go with IFS because we felt it’s a lot easier to work with over an axle,” said Bellinger. “I also think it does less damage and is easier to put back together if the front end ever gets banged up.”
After a year or so of getting acclimated to their Xtreme chassis, Bellinger came alive in 2015, showing speed weekly with improved results. The team now believes with the change to IFS, there is more in the tank.
“We’re also going to be making a few other changes to help the balance of the car,” said Bellinger. “The car was pretty fast at the end of last year, but it can still be improved with the right adjustments. I’m looking forward to getting back to Oswego and testing out the changes.”
Bellinger’s first victory in 2015 helped him to a 9th place finish in the yearlong Novelis Supermodified driver’s standings last year with three top five finishes and four top ten finishes on the season.
While the No. 02’s results improved in 2015, the team’s Budweiser International Classic 200 qualifying run of 16.288 seconds, putting them 12th on the grid, was likely a bright spot, showing a tremendous climb in speed from the beginning of the season.
Now Bellinger readies for an even better 2016 with the help of his partners Daratt Farms, Vashaw’s Collision, Sheffield Inc., Bellinger Auto, 21 Tequilla, as well as new sponsors Orange Crate Brewing Company, and Greene’s Ale House.
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 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.
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.
