August 25, 2000

GREG FURLONG TOPS SEASON WITH A TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP AND A FEATURE WIN

Oswego, NY - It was Burke's Night at Oswego Speedway, and as always a lot more than features were at stake. It was final points night. Greg Furlong pretty much clinched his first-ever Oswego Speedway track championship after the qualifiers in the supermodifieds, but he went on to an exciting feature win, his third, to cap the season. Keith Gilliam repeated as limited supermodified track champion, but this year he finally won a feature to boot. "Mr. Consistency" had gone almost two years without a win, but stayed right at the top of the points with good finishes. He was doubly ecstatic in victory lane. Bill Moore picked up his second super stock win, but Lou LeVea took the first-ever championship in that division by a healthy margin.

Furlong, in his short seven year Oswego Speedway career, has done it all - a limited super championship, a Classic win and now a supermodified championship! He said in victory lane after his third feature win of the season, and a close championship battle with Bob Goutermout among others, "I hate to see Bob go out like that. He's such a class act. Before the race started he came up and joked that he couldn't wait for the feature. But, when the feature was over and I'd won, he came up alongside and gave me the thumbs up. It's too bad that Bob, Timmy(Gareau) and I can't seem to be on the track at the same time. Timmy's one heck of a competitor too. He wants to win and tonight I knew he'd be quick out there. I knew he wouldn't stay back there long. Tonight I had an awesome car. It was on rails. The brakes started to vibrate, and I knew I had to control it. Then I saw Timmy behind me and I said man I've got to give it all I had. I knew I was faster than Timmy and Howie. The crew did a great job. They changed every single brake before the feature tonight and they improved it. It was a rocket ship. We're looking forward to Classic now. One more thing, I'd like to thank all my sponsors, my brother, my crew and my parents. Without them I wouldn't be here. They do an amazing job. Before we started in racing, none of us had any experience in racing. Now, we all love it. Without the whole bunch, there's no way I could do this."

And, in regard to his first-ever championship, "This is unbelievable, amazing. I think my crew is happier than I am. My mom's crying over there. My crew is celebrating. It makes me happy, that I've made them happy. My brother owns the car, but I get all the credit. He's over there busting his butt while I'm doing interviews. I get the glory, but I'm not out here wrenching the car and doing it all by myself. We have a lot of people helping. There are guys who sacrifice family-time to come to the garage each week, putting a lot of time and effort in. I have fans, kids that support me. I just enjoy seeing others enjoy themselves because of something I do. That's what makes it all worthwhile and exciting. That's what it's all about in my eyes. I'm somewhat of an entertainer. I enjoy making people enjoy what they're watching. That's what it's all about for me."

It was Gary Syrell who led the super field for the first 21 laps of the Burke's 45, but on lap 21, Howie Page put the 18 past Syrell for the lead. Syrell's aggressors were Furlong, Ray Graham Jr., Shannon Groves, Tim Gareau and Bob Goutermout.

On lap 22, Tim Snyder's 0 brought out the yellow for a spin, but he was in and out of the pits after that. Two laps later Bob Bond slid into the foam in turn one, but was able to continue, but only a lap was complete before a red fell for a melee on turn 4 involving Bob Goutermout, Mike Douglas, Todd Stowell, Syrell and Otto Sitterly. Stowell and Sitterly were hooked in. Mike Douglas declared ofn as did Sitterly. Goutermout returned later, but was several laps down. Sitterly, despite his misfortune, took home Rookie of the Year honors easily over his nearest challenger Brian Sweeney. Sitterly finished in 7th in points, Sweeney in 20th.

After this restart, the race finally got some rhythm as Howie Page lengthened his lead out front. But, chasing up through was Furlong who was in second now with Gareau tacked right to his bumper. Groves, Graham Gosek, Dan Soule and Vern LaFave were running right behind. Groves, having a good run, saw it end on lap 33 when his 07 began smoking and he pitted.

Behind Page, Gareau and Furlong stacked themselves side by side, pressuring Howard intensely. The trio approached lapped traffic and the race was on with less than five to go. It was Page, Furlong or Gareau's race to be had. And, when the cars cleared the traffic, Furlong was out front, Page second and Gareau third, but the racing was not over yet. Gareau put his 5 alongside Page's 18 on lap 43 and took over second as the white flag flew.

Said Howie later, after just missing his first win of the season, "We ran better tonight than we have the last half of the season. So we'll take third. The car is a lot better than it was. Coming into the Classic, this will help us. Too bad that some of the lapped cars kind of got in the way tonight. What can you do? But, we're happy. It's better than we've been in a while and we'll take it." At the checkers, the newly crowned Oswego Speedway track champion, also had another feature win. Gareau, Page, Gosek and Graham finished up the top five.

Gareau, who has had a roller coaster ride this season, was pleased with second. "I want to thank all my sponsors who have helped me out this year. My crew for sticking with me during a rough, but kind of good season. I had four wins and I'm really happy about that. We'll take second on this last one. I thought we had a shot at it, but Greg was tough at the end. We had a long way to go, starting toward the back. I'd also like to thank my mom and dad, my girlfriend, and everybody whose helped me this year. We're happy with second going into Classic."

HEAT #1: 1. Howard Page (18) 2. Greg Furlong (72) 3. Gary Syrell (08) 4. Dan Soule (32) 5. Bob Bond (25) 6. Tim Devendorf (76) 7. Dave Mazzoni (04) 8. Hal LaTulip (52) 9. Jamie Letcher (58)

HEAT #2: 1. Brian Sweeney (3) 2. Ray Graham Jr (90) 3. Bob Goutermout (77) 4. Otto Sitterly (79) 5. Todd Stowell (89) 6. Vern LaFave (97) 7. Doug Boisvert (66) 8. Eddie Bellinger Jr (02) 9. Bill Peri (14)

HEAT #3: 1. Joe Gosek (00) 2. Shannon Groves (07) 3. Mike Douglas (23) 4. Tim Snyder (0) 5. Jerry Curran (99) 6. Jennifer Chesbro (33) 7. Jamie Moore (88) 8. Dave Trytek (70) 9. Tim Gareau Jr (5)

CONSI: 1. Tim Gareau Jr (5) 2. Bill Peri (14) 3. Doug Boisvert (66) 4. Dave Trytek (70) 5. Dave Mazzoni (04) 6. Hal LaTulip (52) 7. Jamie Moore (88) 8. Eddie Bellinger Jr (02)

FEATURE (45): 1. Greg Furlong (72) 2. Tim Gareau Jr (5) 3. Howard Page (18) 4. Joe Gosek (00) 5. Ray Graham Jr (90) 6. Dan Soule (32) 7. Vern LaFave (97) 8. Bill Peri (14) 9. Eddie Bellinger Jr (02) 10. Dave Trytek (70) 11. Tim Devendorf (76) 12. Hal LaTulip (52) 13. Jennifer Chesbro (33) 14. Bob Goutermout (77) 15. Jamie Letcher (04) 16. Shannon Groves (07) 17. Brian Sweeney (3) 18. Gary Syrell (08) 19. Otto Sitterly (79) 20. Mike Douglas (23) 21. Todd Stowell (89) 22. Bob Bond (25) 23. Tim Snyder (0) 24. Doug Boisvert (66) 25. Jerry Curran (99)