Jul 3, 2004

GOSEK COMES FROM BACK TO WIN 75 LAP SPECIAL

Oswego, NY - Joe Gosek had to go to the back of the pack after a lap 24 accident involving Mike Ordway, Greg Furlong, and himself, and charged back through the field to win the 75-lap Clark Concrete Fourth of July Celebration. Gosek blasted by Gene Lee Gibson and Otto Sitterly on lap 54, and held off Tim Gareau to take the win.

Jerry Curran was slated to start on the outside pole of the Supermodified 75-lap special, but could not get his 24 to fire. Bubble car Jennifer Chesbro took the track as Jeff Holbrook joined pole sitter Gene Lee Gibson on the front row for the start of the feature. Gibson and Holbrook were side by side for a full lap after the green flag fell.

Holbrook eventually jumped out front, as Mike Ordway began to drive his way through the field on the outside. By lap 6, Ordway found himself in the top five as Joe Gosek moved into third. Race leader Holbrook hit the wall in turn four to bring out the first caution of the event. The new top five for the restart was Gibson, Gosek, Otto Sitterly, Ordway, and Keith Gilliam.

Another caution hit the speedway when Dave Lair, Bob Magner, and Lucas Oil Challenge points leader Gary Morton tangled in turn four on the restart. When the green finally came out, Furlong quickly moved into the top five by passing Gilliam. The top four ran nose-to-tail while Furlong slowly chased down the leaders. On lap 13, Ordway moved by Sitterly for third. Sitterly fell back to fifth as Furlong caught the leaders on lap 15, and passed Sitterly on lap 19.

Ordway ran conservatively behind Gibson and Gosek, allowing Furlong to pass him for third place. On lap 24, the leaders came up quickly on lapped car Jennifer Chesbro very quickly, forcing Gibson to hit the brakes at the start-finish line. Gibson was able to keep going, but Gosek was unable to slow down in time, tangling with Furlong. The two spun into the turn one wall, as Mike Ordway spun around, bounced off the inside hub-rail, and kept going.

It appeared at first the Ordway would be able to continue unharmed, but the impact with the wall forced Ordway to park his 61 for the evening. Furlong's night was over, as Gosek was able to keep going after a trip to the pits. The top five for the restart was Gibson, Sitterly, Gilliam, Tim Snyder, and Craig Rayvals. Coca-Cola Supermodified Point Standings leader Tim Gareau ran sixth as the green lights came on.

Bob Goutermout moved into the top five while Gibson pulled away from the field. By halfway, Snyder ran third, Goutermout was fourth, and Gilliam was fifth while Sitterly tried to chase down Gibson. Gosek put on an unbelievable show for the fans, blasting by everyone to get into the top five after a lap 46 restart. Gosek ran third on lap 49, and ran nose-to-tail with Gibson and Sitterly for five laps before Gosek put a spectacular move on Gibson and Sitterly for the race lead.

Gibson, who had led most of the race before Gosek took over, began to fall back and out of the top five. Tim Gareau, who moved into fifth on lap 51, drove his way unto the runner-up position as Gosek developed a large lead on the field. A flat tire on Vern LaFave's 97 brought out the caution, giving Gareau a shot to get by Gosek.

Gosek however, was too powerful for the field and held on to win his first win of 2004. It was the first career win for car owner Jeff Carson. Gosek was also able to take the Lucas Oil Challenge points lead by taking the win. Tim Gareau was able to take advantage of Furlong's misfortune, expanding his lead to 64 points. Furlong fell to fourth place in points on Saturday, with Goutermout and Snyder moving into second and third respectively. Craig Rayvals is now fifth.

Heat 1:
1. Tim Gareau, Jr. (5) 2. Otto Sitterly (79) 3. Jerry Curran (24) 4. Vern LaFave (97) 5. Bill Sharkey (7) 6. Danny Kapuscinski (85) 7. Jennifer Chesbro (33) 8. Shawn Muldoon (1) 9. Gary Morton (96)

Heat 2:
1. Mike Ordway (61) 2. Jeff Holbrook (35) 3. Craig Rayvals (94) 4. Keith Gilliam (87) 5. Pat Lavery (99) 6. Bob Bond (25) 7. Bob Goutermout (77) 8. Dave Lair (88) 9. Kyle Carpenter (49) 10. Brandon Bellinger (38)

Heat 3:
1. Greg Furlong (72) 2. Gene Lee Gibson (16) 3. Joe Gosek (27) 4. Tim Snyder (0) 5. Bob Magner (40) 6. Doug Kells (39) 7. Hal LaTulip (56) 8. Mike Brubaker (36) 9. Jamie Timmons (37) 10. Mike Hooper (17)

Consi:
1. Bob Goutermout (77) 2. Hal LaTulip (56) 3. Dave Lair (88) 4. Gary Morton (96) 5. Mike Brubaker (36) 6. Jamie Timmons (37) 7. Kyle Carpenter (49) 8. Jennifer Chesbro (33) 9. Mike Hooper (17) 10. Brandon Bellinger (38) 11. Shawn Muldoon (1 - DNS)

Feature 1 (75):
1. Joe Gosek (27) 2. Tim Gareau, Jr. (5) 3. Otto Sitterly (79) 4. Tim Snyder (0) 5. Bob Goutermout (77) 6. Gene Lee Gibson (16) 7. Craig Rayvals (94) 8. Keith Gilliam (87) 9. Pat Lavery (99) 10. Bill Sharkey (7) 11. Doug Kells (39) 12. Danny Kapuscinski (85) 13. Jamie Timmons (37) 14. Mike Brubaker (36) 15. Shawn Muldoon (49) 16. Gary Morton (96) 17. Vern LaFave (97) 18. Hal LaTulip (56) 19. Bob Bond (25) 20. Greg Furlong (72) 21. Mike Ordway (61) 22. Jennifer Chesbro (33) 23. Bob Magner (40) 24. Dave Lair (88) 25. Jeff Holbrook (35)