The Palladium-Times, Saturday, May 23

RACER ENJOYS IMPRESSIVE RETURN

By Larry Miller
When Randy Ritskes and his Shea #27 entered victory lane last Saturday at Oswego Speedway, it came as a surprise to many of the supermodified fans. Ritskes, who hasn't been in regular competition at Oswego in over three years, beat out speedway regulars Jeff West, Tim Gareau, Eddie Bellinger and Mike Muldoon. It was a homecoming of sorts for Ritskes, as he was truly excited to be in victory lane once again.

"It has been too long", Ritskes said. "I haven't won a non-ISMA race here in along time. My last win was in 1992 and that was piloting Bentley's (Warren), back-up car. That was my second career win here". I mean this really is the sweetest place to win," Ritskes said. "You win out on the road at ISMA shows, and stuff like that, and the people don't really know who you are. So it's nice to come back home and win the way we did. On top of that, it was good to get a win in front of a big Canadian crowd".

So where has Ritskes been over the last few years? He'll be quick to point out be hasn't disappeared from supermodified action. "I've been out running ISMA over the last few years, but it's a lot of miles and a lot of traveling," Ritskes said. "We'd love to do both (run Oswego and ISMA) but you just can't do it. We have the advantage of two cars but that's still a lot of work."

While Ritskes wouldn't mind making the run for the title, it's not likely that the Shea team will make Oswego their Saturday night home "We'll be here maybe four or five more times this season," said the Canadian racer. "We're not running for points or anything like that so we won't make the long trek every week.

Ritskes looked extremely comfortable in his return to Oswego. but while he had one of the fastest cars in the field, it wasn't one of the newest. He explains that the No. 27 he rode to the victory is five or six years old, and it likes Oswego. Ritskes also says the car runs a lot better without the wing. So what's next for the Shea Concrete/Oakdale Liquor team? "This car might go to Michigan for the ISMA race, but it might not" he said. "If we send this car, I'll be driving it. But if we send the newer car, Dave Simmard will be behind the wheel."

Ritskes won't be here every week, but with some of the bigger money shows, and two NYS Super Series races at the track, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the smiling Canadian back in the Oswego Speedway victory lane before the season-ending Classic.