July 21, 2001

GREG FURLONG WINS FIRST MR. SUPERMODIFIED $10,000

Oswego, NY - Flags waved wildly in the warm, calm night at Oswego Speedway, but the three checkered flags that finally flew over the special big money night, were well received. After reds and yellows prevailed throughout all three features, three appreciative drivers stood in victory lane. One, Greg Furlong, in winning his first Mr. Supermodified event, picked up his second feature of the season and some valuable points strengthening his lead on the point title as well. Mike Gardner of Liverpool, NY picked the $1,000 to Win main to garner his first-ever career victory, while Lou LeVea came home with the Mr. Super Stock check and title.

Said the gregarious Greg Furlong after jubilantly jumping from his 72, "I've got to hand this one to the crew. We missed practically all practice again. They had to replace the rear end in the car. Then we went out in the heat race and were really, really tight. Now it's a crap shoot for the feature. So they loosened it up a little bit. Could have been a little looser, but when I got on the gas, I could just mat it. Man, this thing was a rocket. Like I said it was the crew - my brother. They worked hard. They had that rear end changed by the heat. The crew just did an awesome job. Jim Gray helped us out a little bit with setup. We just had a good car tonight. We had the setup. The money always goes back in the car, but we decided if we won this race, we donate $1,000 to Make-A-Wish Foundation for Mark and Donna(VanLuven). Then, before the feature started, I was a little nervous so I made a little wish and prayer and said if I win this race, we'll donate $2,000, so it's $2,000 now. "I'd like to thank all the sponsors who help me out, Granby Pit Stop, obviously, Furdi's, Gosch Supply, Northern Ready Mix, Sting Ray Auto, Haylor, Freyer & Coon Ins., Johnston's Gas Service, Haulmark and Magee Trailer Sales and Potter's Pub who came onboard this year. And, finally Doug Holmes who does an awesome job on the motors. In eight years I've never had a motor probably. Without the sponsors we wouldn't be able to do it. We're not as well financed as everyone thinks. As I said all the money we win goes back into the car...the sponsors keep us going to win."

The Dunkin' Donuts-Century 21 Galloway Realty $10,000 to win main event started out on a forboding yellow when several cars were scattered around the third and fourth turns before they completed one lap. The 88 of Jamie Moore, tapped from behind, spun, collecting Keith Gilliam, Shannon Groves, Tim Gareau, Scott Eldred, and Otto Sitterly among others. All were able to restart, but some like Moore, had to pit and head for the rear of the complete restart. Bob Bond, running very strong, held the lead from the get-go, but caution fell again on lap 4 when Gary Syrell waved the flag.

Bond was able to move away from the pack on the restart while Scott Eldred , Bob Goutermout, Tim Gareau and others sorted out behind.

Lap 12 saw the second red of the night for a blocked track when Dave Trytek and Tim Gareau brushed scattering the boys behind. Howard Page was a luckless victim here as he caught a wheel of another slowing car and went airborne into the wall. His 18 was badly damaged and ofn. Mike Ordway was pushed into the pits for some repairs. Ray Graham was pushed away. Tim Gareau came in and out. Dave Trytek was hooked and remained in.

Only one lap was down when another yellow, then red flew. This time Bob Goutermout, Jamie Moore, Todd Stowell, Pat Lavery, Gilliam and Jeff Holbrook were in a jumble in one and two, some stopping to avoid. Everyone restarted here except the two-time Mr. Supermodified defending champion Bob Goutermout. He expressed his displeasure and disappointment to Pat Abold, driving the Muldoon 50 for the first time, with whom he brushed tires.

On this restart, Bob Bond could not hold off the advances of Greg Furlong and Greg took over the lead at the stripe. Furlong was basically gone now, while Bond was left to hold off many challengers. He was up for the task. Bond consistently was pressured by Pat Abold as Scott Eldred, Tim Snyder and Ray Graham ran back a distance in the top five. Snyder and Graham got by Eldred finally on lap 29.

With 20 to go, Furlong was well out front, but another yellow flew on lap 32 to bunch the boys. Furlong pulled easily away from Bond and Abold as Snyder now ran fourth, reeling in the duo in front of him. Jeff Holbrook joined the top five soon thereafter while Ray Graham left the track with an ailing 90.

Furlong was heading for his first Mr. Supermodified win and with ten to go, several lap cars were in between first and second for insurance. The battle was between Bond, Abold and Snyder, while Holbrook found Jamie Moore on his tail.

In the last few laps, Snyder swapped Abold for third while Moore took over fifth from Holbrook as the racing continued behind the high-flying Furlong. And that was the finish on a night when $10,000 went to first and all the rest ran for a regular purse. Holbrook, Eldred, Todd Stowell, Mike Ordway and Shannon Groves completed the top ten.

HEAT #1
1. Mike Ordway (61) 2. Tim Gareau Jr (75) 3. Tim Snyder (0) 4. Keith Gilliam (87) 5. Ray Graham Jr (90) 6. Jeff Holbrook (35) 7. Vern LaFave (97) 8. Brian Sweeney (3) 9. Hal LaTulip (56)

HEAT #2
1. Bob Bond (25) 2. Pat Abold (50) 3. Dave Trytek (70) 4. Todd Stowell (89) 5. Howard Page (18) 6. Bill Peri (14) 7. Jamie Letcher (58) 8. Pat Lavery (99) 9. Gary Syrell (08)

HEAT #3
1. Jamie Moore (88) 2. Bob Goutermout (77) 3. Greg Furlong (72) 4. Scott Eldred (15) 5. Randy Ritskes (16) 6. Otto Sitterly (79) 7. Shannon Groves (07) 8. Joe Hawksby Jr (2) 9. Dave Halstead Jr (34) 10. Tom Gonczi (01)

CONSI
1. Jamie Letcher (58) 2. Shannon Groves (07) 3. Vern LaFave (97) 4. Pat Lavery (99) 5. Gary Syrell (08) 6. Hal LaTulip (56) 7. Tom Gonczi (01) 8. Dave Halstead Jr (34) 9. Brian Sweeney (3) 10. Joe Hawksby Jr (2) DNS

MR. SUPERMODIFIED FEATURE (50)
1. Greg Furlong (72) 2. Bob Bond (25) 3. Tim Snyder (0) 4. Pat Abold (50) 5. Jamie Moore (88) 6. Jeff Holbrook (35) 7. Scott Eldred (15) 8. Todd Stowell (89) 9. Mike Ordway (61) 10. Shannon Groves (07) 11. Keith Gilliam (87) 12. Pat Lavery (99) 13. Jamie Letcher (58) 14. Vern LaFave (97) 15. Hal LaTulip (56) 16. Bill Peri (14) 17. Randy Ritskes (16) 18. Ray Graham Jr (90) 19. Dave Trytek (70) 20. Tim Gareau Jr (75) 21. Otto Sitterly (79) 22. Bob Goutermout (77) 23. Gary Syrell (08) 24. Howard Page (18) 25. Brian Sweeney (3)