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)