June 24, 2000

TIM GAREAU MAKES IT THREE IN A ROW

Oswego, NY - Tim Gareau picked up his third straight win at Oswego Speedway Saturday night after he moved by race leader Otto Sitterly on lap 31 to lead the remainder of the Wendy's 45. The win also vaulted the Fultonian into the point lead as the leader going into the night's racing, Bob Goutermout, finished in 8th place. Mike Brubaker, in his 20th race season, picked up his first-ever top five finish, running a strong third behind Sitterly's second.

Said 3-time winner Gareau in victory lane, "In the middle of the race I didn't think I was going to get by the 70 and the 36. Everybody was real loose. The track was slick all night. I don't know what happened. After that caution the car, my tires cooled down a little bit and I hooked up, ran down along the bottom and got by them. I'd like to congratulate the 79, Otto Sitterly, for a good run. I've got to thank my crew and sponsors once again - and my mom and dad." The supermodified feature started out badly when a red flew for a multi-car tangle just before the second turn on the first circuit. Some checking up in the middle of the field caused a massive pileup involving Todd Stowell, Mike Douglas, Howie Page, Bob Bond, Greg Furlong, Jerry Curran, Vern LaFave and Doug Boisvert. After some Herculean pit efforts, all but Curran, Stowell, Boisvert and Bond were able to re-enter the field on the restart. Stowell and Boisvert made it back, albeit laps down.

On the restart, rookie Otto Sitterly paced the field out front as polesitter Mike Brubaker Dave Trytek, Shannon Groves and Mike Douglas trailed in the top five. Looking for position behind Douglas were Ray Graham, Tim Gareau and Bob Goutermout. Sitterly opened the gap by lap 15, with Gareau having moved into the fourth spot by lap 11. But Brubaker and Trytek gave Gareau no easy way around as they raced into lap 25. A yellow slowed the field here when the 01 of Scott Eldred spun off turn four. Sitterly now found himself with Brubaker, Trytek, Gareau, Groves, Douglas, Graham, Goutermout, and Dan Soule, filling in for Tim Snyder, breathing down his neck as the green unfurled. But Sitterly powered away slightly leaving Brubaker and Trytek to try and hold off Gareau. But, Timmy's tires began to catch and he was alongside the 70, taking third on lap 26. One lap later, Gareau was second and had the Sitterly in his sights. Otto held off the 5 for two laps, but Tim was under him coming off turn four to grab the lead on lap 32.

And intense battle ensued between Sitterly, Brubaker and Trytek while Gareau pulled away, but yellow fell on lap 38 for the 97 of Vern LaFave, bunching the boys behind the leader once more. LaFave's 97 was hooked, while Howie Page and Greg Furlong headed pitside, also involved in the fracas. It was the second trip that night into the pits for these two hotshoes, who both returned, but at the end of the pack with time running out.

While Gareau pulled away on the green, Sitterly, Brubaker, Trytek, Graham, Groves, Soule, Goutermout, Mike Douglas and Jamie Letcher were all very much in the battle. Nothing could slow Gareau down, however, as he crossed the line alone for his third of the year while Sitterly, Brubaker, Trytek and Graham, finished up the top five, making four of the top five graduates from the limited super ranks. Soule, Groves, Goutermout, Douglas and Letcher held the top ten spots after jousting back and fourth for many laps.

Sitterly, who ran a great race for many laps said later, "I wanted to win. The car was really loose at the end and I watched for the number 5 on the board. And I saw him coming. But, hey, I'll take it. I've had three weeks of dnf's. Of course I wanted to win, but I'll take second. It's just fine." But, it was Brubaker, who finished his best-ever race in his 20 year career, who was most proud. "This is the happiest day of my life here. This is a dream come true. I always wanted to get a top five at Oswego Speedway. And, John Schwienberg Jr. and his father made it all possible. They helped me out - and Keith Loughrey and Black Clawson, CNC, Bob Gresser, my wife and my family - thank you all. I mean, a third place at Oswego. It's just something I've always dreamed of."

HEAT #1:
1. Jerry Curran (24) 2. Shannon Groves (07) 3. Greg Furlong (72) 4. Dave Trytek (70) 5. Bob Bond (25) 6. Brian Sweeney (3) 7. Scott Eldred (01) 8. Dan Soule (0) 9. Dave Mazzoni (04) 10. Dave Halstead (38)

HEAT #2:
1. Tim Gareau Jr (5) 2. Otto Sitterly (79) 3. Mike Brubaker (36) 4. Howard Page (18) 5. Jamie Moore (88) 6. Vern LaFave (97) 7. Tim Devendorf (76) 8. Mark VanLuven (46) 9. Jennifer Chesbro (33) 10. Bill Sharkey (7) DNS

HEAT #3:
1. Todd Stowell (89) 2. Mike Douglas (23) 3. Bob Goutermout (93) 4. Ray Graham Jr (90) 5. Jamie Letcher (58) 6. Doug Boisvert (66) 7. Hal LaTulip (56) 8. Gary Syrell (08) 9. Gary Morton (99) 10. Roger Clark (55)

CONSI:
1. Dan Soule (0) 2. Tim Devendorf (76) 3. Scott Eldred (01) 4. Hal LaTulip (56) 5. Gary Syrell (08) 6. Gary Morton (99) 7. Jennifer Chesbro (33) 8. Dave Mazzoni (04) 9. Dave Halstead (38) 10. Bill Sharkey (7) 11. Mark VanLuven (46) 12. Roger Clark (55)

FEATURE WENDY'S 45:
1. Tim Gareau Jr (5) 2. Otto Sitterly (79) 3. Mike Brubaker (36) 4. Dave Trytek (70) 5. Ray Graham Jr (90) 6. Dan Soule (0) 7. Shannon Groves (07) 8. Bob Goutermout (93) 9. Mike Douglas (23) 10. Jamie Letcher (58) 11. Gary Morton (99) 12. Jamie Moore (88) 13. 14. 15. Gary Syrell (08) 16. Vern LaFave (97) 17. Hal LaTulip (56) 18. Scott Eldred (01) 19. Tim Devendorf (76) 20. Doug Boisvert (66) 21. Brian Sweeney (3) 22. Todd Stowell (89) 23. Jerry Curran (24) 24. Bob Bond (25)