July 17, 1999

BOB GOUTERMOUT CLAIMS OSWEGO'S MR. SUPERMODIFIED

Oswego, NY - With big money prizes on the line for Saturday night's two main features at Oswego Speedway exciting racing was expected. Expectations were met and surpassed in both the supermodified and limited events. In the Mr. Supermodified Nice n Easy $10,000 to win, Bob Goutermout took the lead from Randy Ritskes on lap 42, holding off intense challenges from Mike Muldoon and Greg Furlong to the finish. Bob, whose crew had worked all week to put the #93 back together after a July 10 crash, was elated with the win and the much-needed cash. It was Bob's first victory in this 13-year-old event, first won by Gene Lee Gibson in 1987.

Said Bob with a very wide smile in victory lane, "I'm exhausted, but I feel great. I didn't think after the last race that we'd have the car to win tonight. But, the crew worked hard all week. Generally, we don't have to work on the car every single night, but we had to this week. They got it back where it belongs, I guess, it was working pretty good. Mike(Muldoon) was there. He raced me clean. He showed me a wheel once and then backed out and let me get my line back. It was fun racing. I thank him for that. It's perfect timing for that money. We needed it after last week. I really want to thank the crew and my whole list of sponsors: Darcey's Collision, Kerfien Mobile Home Park, Lights Auto Parts, Triple D Bus Repair, Babcock Highway Supply, Amerigas, G&M Machine & Tool, NAGE, AFL-CIO and IBPO AFL-CIO. I'd also like to thank Nice n Easy for sponsoring this great night!"

Tim Snyder was the first of the race leaders in the Nice n Easy Mr. Super event, but his lead was short-lived as Jeff West took the point on lap 7. A yellow on lap 3 saw contact with the wall by Tim Gareau with Doug Boisvert pitting the 67. Gareau continued on with a mangled front end. Boisvert did not restart. Todd Stowell brought out the yellow on that restart as he was into the fourth turn wall after some contact with the 11 driven by Bobby Smith.

Storming up through the field was Canadian Randy Ritskes in the Shea 27, who planted himself behind West by lap 9.West's progress was slowed on lap 15 when Mike Bond's 22 hit the foam in one after a precautionary flag flew. Joe Gosek got a little tap in this one. Billy Whittaker, Shannon Groves and Bob Bond headed pitside for some adjustments.

On the green, Randy Ritskes grabbed the lead from West off turn four, but almost immediately West's 01 coasted to a stop in turn one with a broken rear end the cause.

On the restart, Ritskes had Bob Goutermout, Mike Muldoon, Greg Furlong and Joe Gosek nose to tail behind him. Ritskes was able to pull away initially, but the 93, 50 and 72 soon closed the gap.

A lap 20 yellow for the 14 of Bill Peri really bunched them up.It was Ritskes, Goutermout, Muldoon and Furlong as the 20-to-go mark came. Another yellow fell here for the 22 of Bond, while Tim Snyder's 0 once again overheated, sending both to the pits.

Ritskes was able to pull away from Goutermout on the green, but Bob pulled within inches soon thereafter. Mike Muldoon and Greg Furlong ran side-by-side at times just behind Goutermout, creating a thrilling remainder of the race.With a little more than 10 to go, Howard Page, the previous week's winner, moved past Joe Gosek for fifth. On lap 42, Goutermout launched his final charge on Ritskes, taking the lead in turn one. Muldoon was by Ritskes, who appeared to be slowing slightly, moments later.

A lap 44 stop created a refueling situation, with Howard Page parking his 18 just as the yellow flew. A bad engine vibration was his demise. After refueling, the 27 of Ritskes was stopped in front for a possible leak.

Ritskes knew it was all over as he had lost brakes, and he asked to be pushed into the pits, ending his fine run just shy of the finish.

Bob Goutermout had clear sailing for the final six laps. Despite the pressure from Muldoon and Furlong, Bob was able to hold onto his $10,000 lead. Tim Gareau and Joe Gosek swapped spots with two to go and it was Goutermout, Muldoon, Furlong, Gareau and Gosek at the checkered.

Said the runner-up to the big check, Muldoon, "It was a good race. We just had a flat tire. It started going down about the middle of the race. We were just surviving. Bobby ran a great race. It was a good run for Bobby. We had nothing for him. I was hanging on. We gained an inch and a half of stagger. So, we'll take second."

Furlong also commented, " Our car was really fast, but a little too tight. It was a little bit off. The car was fast, we just couldn't get up to the competition. The crew did a

great job. I want to congratulate Bob. He ran a hell of a race tonight."

Heat 1: Greg Furlong, Shannon Groves, Howard Page, Randy Ritskes, Hal LaTulip, Bob Smith, Bob Bond, Joe Hawksby, Jennifer Chesbro, Bill Peri

Heat 2: Ray Graham, Joe Gosek, Jeff West, Tim Snyder, Mike Bond, Doug Boisvert, Bill Sharkey, Todd Stowell, Dave Mazzoni

Heat 3: Mike Muldoon, Tim Gareau, Bob Goutermout, Dan Soule, Jerry Curran, Joey Payne(99), Bill Whittaker, Tim Devendorf, Mark VanLuven

Consi: Stowell, Whittaker, Hawksby, B. Bond, Sitterly, Peri, Chesbro, Dan Connors. (Sharkey, Mazzoni, D. Halstead dns)Chesbro provisional for feature