August 2, 2003
LONG NIGHT AT OSWEGO SEES JOE GOSEK WIN AFTER RAIN DELAY
Oswego, NY - A heavy thunderstorm threatened to end the Advance Auto
Parts-sponsored racing at Oswego Speedway Saturday night, but a Herculean clean-up
effort allowed the racing to go on after all. Finishing early Sunday morning
after a four-hour rain delay, all races were completed with Joe Gosek taking his
third supermodified win of the rain-soaked season in the Muldoon 50 and thus
strengthening his lead in the championship points with only 4 features left on
the docket. Second year limited super driver Kevin Knopp took home a
career-first in that division. While Jeff Hamman claimed victory in the super stocks
20-lap event. Pete Brittain of Oakhurst, NJ repeated his 2002 modified victory
by winning his second RoC qualifier in as many years at Oswego.
Joe Gosek took over the lead on a lap 46 restart from a strong-running Brian
Sweeney who had led from lap 2. Sweeney, running out of fuel, bogged coming
out of turn two as the white waved and he indicated his predicament to those
drivers behind. Gosek slipped by Sweeney as did Jeff Holbrook as the number 3
fell rapidly backwards. Gosek, who earned double points for the win, was greeted
with some boos in victory lane. Said Joe, "It's too bad. I don't think I
really could have passed Brian. He was too loose. He had a good race. It was
unfortunate. Then I caught him on the restarts and thought what do I do - pass him
or follow him? You're kind of handcuffed. Evidentially, I did the right thing.
He had a good car. He didn't point to the tank until coming down for the white
flag of that last restart. I said to myself, 'Oh boy, he's running out of
fuel'. Then he choked up up here and I knew he was in trouble. That's too bad. It
was Brian's race. He was good on restarts and able to get away. It just
didn't work out for him. My guys work really hard on this car. We keep finishing
and that's the key going toward this point's race. And, thanks to all the
sponsors - Burke's Home Center, Ricelli's, Ed Izyk, Century 21, Laqua's, all the
people that help. We appreciate it. If Brian gave us a win tonight, we had to
take it. What are you going to do?"
Jeff Holbrook, was tailing Gosek at race end, also saw Sweeney pointing at
the tank and was able to get by cleanly. Holbrook, with two other cars he owns
in the top six, was ecstatic with the results. "Ah, all three cars up front,"
said Jeff. "That's what I like to see. It was a good, clean race and I'm
happy. Russ Wood (who will drive one of the machines at Classic) will have to wait
a couple more weeks to practice."
Bobby Bond was right behind Holbrook at the finish and he was happy just to
be there. Said the Mexico, NY driver, "This was a tough one. A lot of cars
dropped out. My car was pretty good, but not good enough. We still have some work
to do. But, we're happy with third. So many cars dropped out there, I wasn't
sure where I was. I'd like to really thank the crew and all my sponsors.
They've all been great this year."
Brian Sweeney, after a strong heat run, took his 3 out front after passing
Doug Kells for the lead just one circuit into the 50 lap supermodified main.
Sweeney was able to survive onslaught after onslaught on restarts, pulling away
with a vengeance as he looked for that elusive career-first.
The race had numerous stops, mainly for minor incidents, the first of which
came on lap 12 when Howard Page spun. Sweeney was able to power away on this
restart as Holbrook, Doug Kells, Tim Gareau and Keith Gilliam were early top
five runners.
Yellow two came on lap 18 with the 99 of Pat Lavery and 22 of Joey Hawksby
involved. Hawksby got the hook as Lavery continued.
Moving into second on lap 25 was a fast moving Tim Gareau who came by
Holbrook for second. Chasing closely were Joe Gosek and Tim Snyder as Kells and
Sitterly battled behind.
Sweeney maintained his strong run and again fended off advances when Craig
Rayvals spun in turn two on lap 31. Gareau and Gosek applied intense pressure to
Sweeney but the Oswego man was bound and determined to get the one that got
away earlier this season.
Lap traffic began to play a role by lap 38 as Gareau, Gosek and Snyder tried
to pinch Sweeney off to no avail until lap 39 when yet another yellow flew for
a spinning Jerry Curran.
Tim Gareau was trying valiantly to get Sweeney, but Brian did not give up.
The drama began to play out on the next yellow on lap 43. Gareau's car suddenly
died with a broken torque arm on the backstraight to bring out the yellow.
Almost simultaneously, Otto Sitterly, who is chasing Gosek for points, puffed
some smoke from his 79 and pulled in. Otto said later that a chunk of rubber
broke his fuel line. The third car to exit here was the fourth place runner,
Snyder who also broke a fuel line. Three cars fell out of the top five in one
instant. Snyder was able to come back out, but when the 94 brought out the yellow
on this restart, Tim pitted again.
Throughout all this, Sweeney was in command and with 5 laps facing him, he
looked to be able to pull away from Gosek now with ease. Joe indicated later
that the car took 4-5 laps to get going and that's all Sweeney needed to pull off
his first win.
But, on lap 46, the last yellow flew for Howie Page and Keith Gilliam and
this is where the heartbreak came. Sweeney, as aforementioned, bobbled off turn
two, his 3 starving for fuel. While others went by, Sweeney could only watch
and drive into the pits, just a handful of laps shy of a victory. Gosek,
Holbrook, Bobby Bond, Dave Trytek and Doug Kells fell in behind Gosek for the
remainder of the race as Team Holbrook's third car, the 40 of Bob Magner, ran sixth.
And, that's the way they crossed under the checkered, just past midnight.
Dave Trytek commented later, a little confused as to what had happened in
front of him, "Did we get fourth? I don't even know. The car wasn't that good.
It was pretty loose off - pushing in - loose off - loose in - pushing off. I
don't know if I was driving bad tonight or what. I think a lot of people wrecked
in front of me and I got fourth. I think someone in front of me may have been
leaking something because a few times it was pretty slick."
The happiest man in the top five was Kells, who entered that realm for the
first time Saturday night. "I love this. It's beautiful. It was unexpected. The
guys did something and whatever it was, the car ran freakin' great all night
long. I just kept her going straight and tried to stay out of trouble. This is
perfect. I couldn't be happier. I am totally excited."
CAR COUNT: Supermodifieds (27) / Limiteds (35) / Super Stocks (15) / Modifieds (42)
SUPERMODIFIED HEAT #1:
1. Joe Gosek (50) 2. Tim Snyder (0) 3. Keith Gilliam
(87) 4. Jeff Holbrook (35) 5. Pat Lavery (99) 6. Shannon Groves (07) 7. Bill
Sharkey (52) 8. Joe Hawksby Jr (22) 9. Tim Devendorf (28)
SUPERMODIFIED HEAT #2:
1. Doug Kells (39) 2. Bob Magner (40) 3. Todd Stowell
(89) 4. Tim Gareau Jr (5) 5. Otto Sitterly (79) 6. Craig Rayvals (94) 7. Bill
Peri (14) 8. Joe Chillemi (41) 9. Bobby Smith (20)
SUPERMODIFIED HEAT #3:
1. Brian Sweeney (3) 2. Jerry Curran (24) 3. Bob Bond
(25) 4. Howard Page (18) 5. Dave Trytek (70) 6. Hal LaTulip (56) 7. Dan
Connors (96) 8. Dave Halstead Jr (34) 9. Bob Goutermout (77)
SUPERMODIFIED CONSI:
1. Bill Peri (14) 2. Joe Hawksby Jr (22) 3. Bill Sharkey
(52) 4. Dave Halstead Jr (34) 5. Dan Connors (96) 6. Bobby Smith (20) 7. Tim
Devendorf (28) 8. Joe Chillemi (41) 9. Bob Goutermout (77) DNS
SUPERMODIFIED FEATURE (50):
1. Joe Gosek (50) 2. Jeff Holbrook (35) 3. Bob
Bond (25) 4. Dave Trytek (70) 5. Doug Kells (39) 6. Bob Magner (40) 7. Pat
Lavery (99) 8. Jerry Curran (24) 9. Craig Rayvals (94) 10. Brian Sweeney (3) 11.
Shannon Groves (07) 12. Bill Peri (14) 13. Dan Connors (96) 14. Howard Page (18)
15. Keith Gilliam (87) 16. Hal LaTulip (56) 17. Tim Gareau Jr (5) 18. Otto
Sitterly (79) 19. Tim Snyder (0) 20. Todd Stowell (89) 21. Joe Hawksby Jr (22)
22. Bill Sharkey (52) 23. Dave Halstead Jr (34) 24. Bobby Smith (20)