August 9, 2003

BOB GOUTERMOUT BREAKS BAD LUCK STREAK TO WIN OSWEGO SUPER FEATURE

Oswego, NY - It's been a long dry spell for Fulton, NY's Bob Goutermout. The last time he stood in supermodified victory lane at Oswego Speedway was May 19, 2001. He broke that spell amidst some rain Saturday night taking the Nice n Easy Grocery Shoppes/Labatt Beer 45 over fellow Fultonian Tim Gareau and current point leader Joe Gosek. It was raining all around, but Oswego was given a reprieve of sorts that allowed the racing to continue, albeit for a few minor delays. Hoping to break an incredible bad luck string, Goutermout made quick work of getting to the front from his sixth starting spot in case the rain did come. Turning some high 16 second laps in his heat, Bob was ready to win this one after parking the car several times during the recent past for mechanical ills or crashes not of his volition. Bob was almost speechless as he stood in victory lane.

"Boy this is great," he said getting misted by some rain drops. "I'll tell you what. These guys have never given up all year. We had a fast car the last few weeks, but it wasn't to happen then. It was perfect tonight. I've thought I had a good car in the past but got caught in lap traffic and negotiated it wrong. I wanted to make sure I didn't miss it tonight. I'd like to thank the crew 100%. If it wasn't for those guys all week - especially after the week we had last week - we wouldn't be here. It all paid off. We worked until 11 o'clock at night all six days that we had. It was worth it. I'd like to thank my sponsors Darcey's Collision, Light's Auto Parts -NAPA, Amerigas and Babcock Highway Supply for being behind me also."

Moving in close to Goutermout near race end when a lap car approached were Tim Gareau, no stranger to bad luck this season, and Joe Gosek. While the 77 had run out front most of the race, Goutermout could not breath easy when Gareau and Gosek closed up the gap. He could only do that at the end of 45 laps. Gareau was almost as pleased to finish second to longtime friend and adversary Goutermout as Bob was to win. "It was good to run up there with Bob in second," said Timmy. "Just for both of us to finish in the top five. I'd like to congratulate him and Darcey. They've been working their tails off and have had some bad luck like me. I've got to thank my crew and everybody that helps me on the car. I'm really happy to be in the top three. Our win will come, hopefully by the end of the year. I knew Joe was right back there. I was glad there wasn't another lap left because there might have been some slinging back and forth there."

Joe Gosek, chasing a first time point championship, chased Gareau and Goutermout for more than half the race. He was content with a third place finish as his nearest challenger Dave Trytek finished in sixth. Said Gosek after the race "We have to start 12th every week so you have to work your way to the front and if you're not fast enough you don't get there. Bob's been fast for weeks, it's just had real bad luck. I knew he was pretty quick in practice and in the heat race. My hats off to those guys. They busted their butt off all week just to put it back together. They have a good car there. He'll be tough the rest of the year I'm sure. Timmy ran really well tonight too. So, we're happy with third tonight. We'll keep plugging away. That's the worst finish we've had this year except when we crashed there so we'll take it."

It was a night of rushing things along with black clouds forming to the left and right, and reports of rain all around. Keith Gilliam took up the lead from the pole in the supermodified 45, but Bob Goutermout stormed up to take over the point passing Gilliam low on lap 10. Goutermout looked over his shoulder once at the clouds and took off. Gilliam ran second for a while until Howie Page, another down-on-the luck driver this season.

The first stop came on lap 22 when the 35 of Jeff Holbrook, third in points coming into the night, and Joey Hawksby tangled. Both were done for the night. Holbrook's team had just finished putting his car back in action after a heat incident that saw Jeff almost hit the infield backup ambulance in an attempt to get pitside after a crash.

Goutermout gave it his all on the restart as did Gareau who moved into second past Page. Joe Gosek was up to fourth while Ray Graham ran fifth.

With thirty down, it was Goutermout, Gareau and Gosek while Page and Graham held up the top five. Moving in to challenge Graham was Dave Trytek, trailed by Gilliam, Jerry Curran, Todd Stowell and Brian Sweeney.

It wasn't until lap 41 that a fly moved into the ointment when Bill Peri's 14 loomed in front of Goutermout, allowing Gareau and Gosek to close in. But, Goutermout held on, determined to get win number 11 of his career. Gareau, Gosek, Page and Graham crossed just the way they had run most of the night. Trytek, Curran, Gilliam, Tim Snyder, also off a bad heat wreck, and Brian Sweeney completed the top ten.

Said Page, who this time last season, sat atop the point standings, "I'm happy. This is the best finish we've had here this year. The car's a lot better. We made a lot of changes. It's just better. Not a lot better. It wasn't as good on the restarts as I would have liked. If it was I might have had a chance of at least a second place, but we're happy with a top five."

And DesMoines, Iowa resident Graham, who makes the Oswego trek as often as possible, stated, "It's not bad for hit and miss - not being here for three weeks or so. It started out good and then got real loose at the end. But, we can work with it. We'll be back next week and try again. I knew someone - I didn't know who - was right behind me. I could hear him. I was getting loose so I just held on. We'll try to make some adjustments for next week."

Notes..some hard crashes during warm-ups and heats took out or affected Joe Chillemi's 41, Tim Snyder, and Jeff Holbrook. Shawn Muldoon's number 1 in its maiden voyage, was caught up in blown motor oil, suffering unrepairable damage. Otto Sitterly blew a head gasket and was in the Muldoon 20 for the feature while Doug Kells, also with motor problems in his car, drove the Danzer 52. Bill Sharkey was in his own number 7 super, while Dave Halstead also had to park his number 34 prior to the night's racing.

CAR COUNT: Supermodifieds (27) / Limiteds (36) / Super Stocks (17)

SUPERMODIFIED HEAT #1
1. Bob Goutermout (77) 2. Keith Gilliam (87) 3. Ray Graham Jr (90) 4. Todd Stowell (89) 5. Craig Rayvals (94) 6. Dave Trytek (70) 7. Jerry Curran (24) 8. Bill Sharkey (7) 9. Dan Connors (96)

SUPERMODIFIED HEAT #2
1. Tim Gareau Jr (5) 2. Joe Gosek (50) 3. Joe Hawksby Jr (22) 4. Bob Bond (25) 5. Bob Magner (40) 6. Bill Peri (14) 7. Doug Kells (52) 8. Tim Snyder (0) 9. Dave Halstead Jr (34) DNS

SUPERMODIFIED HEAT #3
1. Brian Sweeney (3) 2. Howard Page (18) 3. Otto Sitterly (79) 4. Hal LaTulip (56) 5. Pat Lavery (99) 6. Robert Parrow (21) 7. Shawn Muldoon (1) 8. Jeff Holbrook (35) 9. Joe Chillemi (41) DNS

SUPERMODIFIED FEATURE (45
) 1. Bob Goutermout (77) 2. Tim Gareau Jr (5) 3. Joe Gosek (50) 4. Howard Page (18) 5. Ray Graham Jr (90) 6. Dave Trytek (70) 7. Jerry Curran (24) 8. Keith Gilliam (87) 9. Tim Snyder (0) 10. Brian Sweeney (3) 11. Todd Stowell (89) 12. Craig Rayvals (94) 13. Pat Lavery (99) 14. Bob Magner (40) 15. Bill Peri (14) 16. Hal LaTulip (56) 17. Joe Hawksby Jr (22) 18. Jeff Holbrook (35) 19. Dan Connors (96) 20. Bob Bond (25) 21. Otto Sitterly (20) 22. Bill Sharkey (7) 23. Doug Kells (52)