Teams Make Final Preperations for Oswego Invasion
Story By: MANDEE PAUCH / SUPER DIRTcar SERIES MEDIA
Photos By: RACERSGUIDE.COM PHOTO STAFF
WEEDSPORT, NY –September 27, 2016- The Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modifieds will be taking the week off as teams prepare for the biggest race of the year, the 45th running of the NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week at Oswego Speedway October 5th-9th.
While fans get their campers and coolers ready for racing’s biggest party, teams will be working hard getting their cars and crew ready for the biggest race.
The winner of the Bud Light 300 on Sunday, October 9th will be taking home a whopping $50,000. Forty-one Big-Block Modifieds will be starting the feature to try and conquer the Steel Palace and take home the $50,000 winnings. The cars will complete a total of 187.5 miles in Sunday’s Bud Light 300. Out of 44 Super DIRT Week races there have been 11 repeat winners. Brett Hearn is one of the repeat winners who currently holds the most Super DIRTcar Big Block Modified wins in 2012, 1995, 1993, 1991, 1990 and 1985.
Last year it was Stewart Friesen who closed the track’s rich motorsports history at the Moody Mile by putting his name in the conversation of best to ever tour the speedway by winning his fourth Super DIRT Week in the last six years.
Friesen made his winning move on lap 174, charging around the outside of Waterloo, N.Y.’s Matt Sheppard rounding turns three and four to assume command for good. He was never seriously challenged during the 23-lap run of green-flag racing that concluded an event that was plagued by 20 caution flags for 84 laps.
At the closing of the Moody Mile Friesen said the biggest key to winning there was to go into it with an open mind and not with a game plan.
When asked how his preparation will change going to Oswego Friesen said, “it’s going to have to be one of those deals that you’re ready for anything. It’s going to be one of those deals where you’ll need good radio communication, shoot from the hip and be ready to make adjustments when needed.”
The driver of the No. 19 Big Block Modified Tim Fuller believes the shift from Syracuse to Oswego will change everything. “It changes the whole complexion. Nobody has ever been there and ever raced dirt there. It’s 300 laps; nobody knows how the race is going to turn out.”
Six time Super DIRT Week winner Brett Hearn feels that the change to a smaller track and to 300 laps will be different than what they used to expect at Syracuse. “I think rather than worrying about the preparation of aerodynamics we’ll be more concentrated on suspension and strategy for a 300 lapper, which we’ve never done before. So that’s going to be different.”
The one to say it best about Super DIRT Week at Oswego Speedway was the ‘Franklin Flyer’ Billy Decker. “Even though this event isn’t at Syracuse this event is still going to be something everyone aims for, particularly this year. Somebody wants to be the first one to win outside of Syracuse. It’s going to be dog-eat-dog and you can count on a lot of people and a lot of fresh people coming in swinging hard.”
Who will be the first one to carve their name in stone and be the first Super DIRT Week winner at Oswego Speedway?
LAST WEEK IN REVIEW:
Phelps Fights For Win at Fonda
FONDA, N.Y. – Sept. 24, 2016 – Jimmy Phelps battled hard for his victory Saturday night in the Mohawk Valley 100 at Fonda Speedway as he took the checkered to grab his second Super DIRTcar Series win of the year and his first ever victory at Fonda Speedway. Read more, www.superdirtcarseries.com.
David Hebert completes a perfect DIRTcar 358 Series weekend with a superb win at Drummond
Drummondville, Que. – Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016 -DIRTcar Correspondent – It was ”Win, sleep, repeat” for David Hebert as he led the entire feature and captured a second DIRTcar 358-Modified Series race in a row. Read more, www.dirtcarump.com.
COMING UP NEXT
The Super DIRTcar Series will be off this week for teams to prepare themselves for the 45th running of the NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week at Oswego Speedway October 5th-9th. For more information on Super DIRT Week, visit www.superdirtweekonline.com.
For more information on the Super DIRTcar Series, visit www.superdirtcarseries.com.
DRIVER INFO
The following Super DIRTcar Series drivers maintain websites:
Frank Cozze: frankcozze.com
Keith Flach: keithflachracing.com
Brett Hearn: bretthearn.com
Mike Mahaney: mikemahaneyracing.com
Max McLaughlin: maxmclaughlinracing.com
Jimmy Phelps: jimmyphelps.com
Erick Rudolph: erickrudolph.com
Matt Sheppard: matt-sheppard.com
For more driver information, visit: www.superdirtcarseries.com
SEASON WINNERS: Matt Sheppard – 10 (Williams Grove Speedway on June 22, Utica-Rome Speedway on Jul 3, Five Mile Point Speedway on July 12, Grandview Speedway on July 14, Autodrome Granby on July 27, Merrittville Speedway on August 1, Lebanon Valley on September 2, Weedsport Speedway on September 5, Le RPM Speedway on September 9, Brewerton Speedway on September 16); Stewart Friesen – 4 (Cornwall Motorsports Park on June 26, Albany-Saratoga on July 6, Mohawk International raceway on July 7, Ransomville Speedway on August 2); Tim Fuller – 2 (Canandaigua Speedway on June 30, Eldora Speedway on July 19); Billy Decker – 1 (Fulton Speedway on April 30); Jimmy Phelps – 2 (Sharon Speedway on July 21, Fonda Speedway on September 24); Frank Cozze – 1 (Autodrome Drummond on July 26); Gary Tomkins – 1 (Weedsport Speedway August 9); Danny Johnson – 1 (Weedsport Speedway on September 17)
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