July 13, 2002

MIKE ORDWAY THREE FOR THREE IN SUPERS AT OSWEGO

Oswego, NY - Mike Ordway has not lost a race at Oswego this year. He's run three events, won three features and three heats. He and the Clyde Booth team have become the unstoppable force when they roll into the pits. Booth and Ordway, who ran together many years ago, are back in full force. They race now as one after years of experience apart. Mike Ordway pulled into victory lane Saturday night at Oswego several car lengths head of rookie Shawn Muldoon after taking the point from Bob Goutermout on lap 20. It was another effortless run for the Fremont, NH driver who actually stated the car might have been a bit off. Other drivers would kill for a car "off" that much.

Said Mike in victory lane, "The handling was a bit off tonight. We made a few changes. We probably should have left it alone. We'll get it better. I just try to pay attention out there and hit my marks every time. I don't worry too much about what's behind me."

Car owner Clyde Booth commented, after some controversy swirling about traction control on the 61, "We are pleased with the way things are going. We've worked really hard and I guess it shows. But, I'd have to say the secret here is Mike. He's won a whole heck of a lot of races before I showed up. People are worrying about traction control and all that good stuff. My traction control is Mike's right foot. "

Bob Goutermout started outside the front row in the supermodified main after several weeks of bad luck and he was determined to stay there. Bob put the 77 several car lengths ahead of second place runner Todd Stowell as Jamie Moore, Jerry Curran and Shawn Muldoon eased into the action. By lap seven, Ordway, who started 12th, had glided into fourth. A few cautions didn't help Goutermout's cause out front after this.

On lap 14, current point leader Howie Page had a hub break and off he went on the hook. The crew tried in vain to get Page back into the action and to collect valuable points. Also in and out here was Bob Bond and Dave Halstead.

Soon after the restart, Goutermout found Ordway tacked to his bumper as Stowell fell back into third. Moore, Muldoon, Curran, Tim Snyder and more were right behind.

On lap 20, yellow fell for the 01 of Tom Gonczi with Hal LaTulip also affected.

On this restart, Ordway smoothly drove up alongside Goutermout, but not to be outdone was Shawn Muldoon who came up quickly and tried a low move under the 77. The outcome of several seconds of three-abreast racing saw Ordway in front, Goutermout in second and Muldoon in third. Muldoon soon put Goutermout away and the rookie headed for the veteran out front. Shawn might not have caught the high flying Ordway, but he indicated later that the following was just as important. Said Muldoon after finishing second half a race later, "We're close. We had no gear and it's still lack of experience. Mike's a good driver. He's been out there 25 years. It's hard to beat someone with 25 years experience. Maybe next time. I've learned a lot more tonight than I have all year by following Mike. I found out why my car got loose last week just by following him ten laps. You absolutely can learn from watching a guy like him. I learned a lot. He's smart and he's good."

Lap 30 saw Jerry Curran spinning out of a good run and heading for the tail to do it all over again. This gave Muldoon another shot at getting close, but that's all he got for an instant. Goutermout, Stowell and Moore still battled behind as did Snyder, who moved into Moore's place on lap 32.

One more slowdown came on lap 35 when the the 94 of Craig Rayvals was stopped in turn two. He was pushed away and on the restart, for one more brief moment, Shawn Muldoon knocked on Ordway's door, but then the silver 61 was gone. Goutermout, Stowell and Snyder raced on for third back as the previous week's winner Otto Sitterly came into the mix.

With five to go, Snyder moved into fourth past Stowell with Sitterly following him by leaving Stowell in sixth with only a few racing laps left.

At the checkered Ordway collected win number three followed by Muldoon, Goutermout, Snyder and Sitterly.

Goutermout said simply afterwards, "It's about time we finished one. We're really happy with third. But, I still think we're all racing for second here."

Snyder, who has been struggling of late, was pleased with a fourth. "Fourth is better than fifth. I have to hand it to the crew. These guys have worked their heart out. We've had a hard time getting bite - drive - out of the car since the beginning of the year. Classic weekend we left everything the same and came back and ran fifteenth. We were just scratching our heads. This is the fifth race at Oswego and the fifth setup. I mean everything is changed. This one goes to the crew and the sponsors for all their help."

Otto Sitterly climbed out of his fifth place car and commented on his finish. "Loose! The car is really, really good. The beginning of the race I tried to drive, stay out of trouble and watch out for all the stuff happening. We just raced at the end there. It's too bad. We have a really good car, but we're learning every week. We were off just a little bit but no doubt we'll be back next week." Stowell, Jamie Moore, Tim Gareau, Jeff Holbrook and Dave Trytek ran in the top ten most of the race and finished there.

SUPERMODIFIED HEAT #1
1. Bob Goutermout (77) 2. Otto Sitterly (79) 3. Bob Bond (25) 4. Jerry Curran (24) 5. Howard Page (18) 6. Vern LaFave (97) 7. Brian Sweeney (3) 8. Robert Parrow (21) 9. Bob Magner (00)

SUPERMODIFIED HEAT #2
1. Mike Ordway (61) 2. Todd Stowell (89) 3. Jeff Holbrook (35) 4. Keith Gilliam (87) 5. Pat Lavery (99) 6. Tom Gonczi (01) 7. Mike Brubaker (36) 8. Bill Peri (14) 9. Joe Hawksby Jr (27)

SUPERMODIFIED HEAT #2
1. Shawn Muldoon (1) 2. Tim Gareau Jr (5) 3. Jamie Moore (44) 4. Tim Snyder (0) 5. Dave Trytek (70) 6. Craig Rayvals (94) 7. Hal LaTulip (56) 8. Dave Halstead Jr (34) 9. Dan Connors (96)

SUPERMODIFIED CONSI
1. Mike Brubaker (36) 2. Hal LaTulip (56) 3. Brian Sweeney (3) 4. Dave Halstead Jr (34) 5. Bill Peri (14) 6. Bob Magner (00) 7. Robert Parrow (21) 8. Dan Connors (96) 9. Joe Hawksby Jr (27) DNS

SUPERMODIFIED FEATURE (45)
1. Mike Ordway (61) 2. Shawn Muldoon (1) 3. Bob Goutermout (77) 4. Tim Snyder (0) 5. Otto Sitterly (79) 6. Todd Stowell (89) 7. Jamie Moore (44) 8. Tim Gareau Jr (5) 9. Jeff Holbrook (35) 10. Dave Trytek (70) 11. Keith Gilliam (87) 12. Pat Lavery (99) 13. Jerry Curran (24) 14. Vern LaFave (97) 15. Mike Brubaker (36) 16. Craig Rayvals (94) 17. Bill Peri (14) 18. Hal LaTulip (56) 19. Bob Bond (25) 20. Tom Gonczi (01) 21. Dave Halstead Jr (34) 22. Howard Page (18) 23. Bob Magner (00) 24. Brian Sweeney (3)