September 4, 2004

SANTOS HOLDS OFF FURLONG IN ISMA SUPERNATIONALS

Oswego, NY - After Justin Belfiore dropped out of the ISMA Supernationals at Oswego Speedway while leading by nearly a full straightaway, Bobby Santos III found himself in the lead with 17 laps to go. 2003 winner Greg Furlong challenged Santos with 7 laps to go, and even held the lead for a fraction of a second before a broken wing on the Furlong 72 provided Santos with some breathing room in the final stages giving him his first checkered flag at the Oswego Speedway.

Jennifer Chesbro and Eric Shirey took the ISMA Supermodified field to the green flag, with Shirey taking the lead right from the start. He opened up a considerable lead, while Bobby Santos, Justin Belfiore, Lou Cicconi, and Jennifer Chesbro were the top five after two laps.

Chesbro faded out of the top five rather quickly, as Pat Abold grabbed a top five spot. Abold didn't stop there, passing Lou Cicconi for fourth. Second through fifth, including Santos, Belfiore, Abold, and Cicconi, ran nose-to-tail as Shirey continued to slowly open up his lead.

Abold lost fourth place to Cicconi as lapped traffic became a huge factor in the event. As Shirey struggled with dense traffic, Santos put the pressure on Shirey, and out of nowhere, Justin Belfiore blasted by both Shirey and Santos to take the lead. Belfiore went through traffic easily, as Santos and the rest of the top five had more difficulty. At halfway, Belfiore dominated the field with Santos, Cicconi, Abold, and Joe Gosek in the top five, while Shirey quickly fell back.

Mike Lichty had a great performance going, passing Gosek for fifth on lap 28, but track officials expressed concern about possible leaking from Lichty's 84. Belfiore suddenly dropped off the pace, and headed to the pits with motor problems on lap 33, handing the lead over to Santos.

The only caution of the event came on the following lap, as Dave McKnight did a 360-spin and came to a stop in turn two. Lichty was stopped by track officials during the caution, and was sent to the pits for overheating. The new top five for the restart was Santos, Cicconi, Abold, Greg Furlong, and Gosek.

Furlong, who quietly worked his way through the field, quickly put his 72 into second place and challenged race-leader Santos. Attempting to take his second Supernationals victory in-a-row, Furlong tucked under Santos and had the lead for only a moment. A part on Furlong's wing broke, causing the handling of his 72 to dramatically change.

Santos comfortably came to the checkered flag to get his first career Oswego Speedway feature win. Furlong held off Abold, Russ Wood, and Gosek to hold on for second.

Heat 1:
1. Jennifer Chesbro (33) 2. Bobby Santos III (9) 3. Justin Belfiore (8) 4. Bentley Warren (25) 5. Joey Payne (4) 6. Rick Wentworth (10) 7. Vern Romanoski (5) 8. Moe Lilje (19) 9. Tim Jedrzejek (7) 10. Johnny Payne (88) 11. Vern LaFave (96)

Heat 2:
1. Russ Wood (29) 2. Joe Gosek (77) 3. Mike Lichty (84) 4. Nokie Fornoro (32) 5. Joe Petro (32) 6. Kyle Carpenter (97) 7. Mark Sammut (78) 8. Jack Smith (09) 9. Dan Osmeloski (01) 10. Larry Lehnert (92)

Heat 3:
1. Lou Cicconi (75) 2. Pat Abold (26) 3. Chris Perley (11) 4. Eric Shirey (v2) 5. Greg Furlong (72) 6. Scott Martel (14) 7. Jamie Letcher (58) 8. Dave McKnight (94) 9. Dave Shullick, Jr. (49) 10. Kevin Tourigny (86) 11. Joe Grunda (1)

Consi:
1. Tim Jedrzejek (7) 2. Jack Smith (09) 3. Dave McKnight (94) 4. Dave Shullick, Jr. (49) 5. Johnny Payne (88) 6. Vern LaFave (96) 7. Kevin Tourigny (86) 8. Dan Osmeloski (01) 9. Larry Lehnert (92) 10. Moe Lilje (19) 11. Joe Grunda (1 - DNS) Option: Moe Lilje (19)

Feature (50):
1. Bobby Santos III (9) 2. Greg Furlong (72) 3. Pat Abold (26) 4. Russ Wood (29) 5. Joe Gosek (77) 6. Chris Perley (11) 7. Nokie Fornoro (32) 8. Bentley Warren (25) 9. Tim Jedrzejek (7) 10. Lou Cicconi (75) 11. Joey Payne (4) 12. Scott Martel (14) 13. Rick Wentworth (10) 14. Joe Petro (99) 15. Mark Sammut (78) 16. Jamie Letcher (58) 17. Johnny Payne (88) 18. Moe Lilje (19) 19. Jennifer Chesbro (33) 20. Dave Shullick, Jr. (49) 21. Vern Romanoski (5) 22. Kyle Carpenter (97) 23. Dave McKnight (94) 24. Eric Shirey (v2) 25. Mike Lichty (84) 26. Justin Belfiore (8) 27. Jack Smith (09)