July 5th, 1997

MULDOON, HOSSFELD AND HOAG BIG WINNERS AT OSWEGO

Oswego, NY - Two veterans and a young lion were the winners Saturday night at Oswego Speedway when Mike Muldoon, Dean Hoag and Chuck Hossfeld claimed victories. Muldoon just beat out Timmy Gareau for his fourth of the season while Hossfeld beat out Sege Fidanza in the NYS Modified Series 50 lapper. Dean Hoag picked up his second of the season beating out Jeremy Unruh for the win. The Finger Lakes Castle Hi-Tech-Superior Precast Night of racing was finished in plenty of time for everyone to enjoy the spectacular firework's display.

The supers were first on the grid for their 50 lapper with Jamie Letcher taking the point from the start, but a speedy Greg Furlong was quick to take over the spot on lap 4.

On lap five a couple cautions slowed the event with Dave Simard and Todd Stowell both spinning and both able to continue.

On the restart, Furlong was the leader as Tim Gareau moved his 5 super into the second place spot past Letcher. Gary Syrell and Steve Gioia were the top five runners at this early mark.

Furlong and Gareau set up a classic battle for the lead and pretty much ran their own race out front as the 5 tried every move to get by Furlong as the race sped rapidly along. Back in the pack, Syrell ran third with Gioia tacked to his bumper. Moving up through a pack of cars consisting of Dave Heitzhaus, Dan Soule, Jeff West, Letcher and Randy Ritskes, were Doug Didero and Mike Muldoon.

By lap 20 Furlong and Gareau were still way out front as Gioia and Heitzhaus settled into third and fourth. Gary Syrell provided a roadblock in fifth, not letting anyone by including Soule, West, Muldoon, Ritskes, Didero and Joe Gosek.

A lap 23 yellow came out for Gosek, who restarted. Howard Page pitted in the interim and also came back out.

One lap down and one more yellow flew for the 89 of Todd Stowell. This time Bill Sharkey joined Stowell coming in and out of the pits.

Gareau was pressuring Furlong something fierce on these restarts and Tim finally made the move around the 72 just past the halfway mark.

Now Tim began to lengthen his lead a little, but yellow flew once more for the 07 of Shannon Groves on lap 29. Into the pits this time were Sharkey, Stowell, Dave Simard and Joey Hawksby Jr.

On the restart, Gareau kept the number one position, but Gioia made a move around Furlong for second, pulling Muldoon, Ritskes, and Didero with him in one swoop.

Muldoon got by Gioia for second on lap 31 and headed for the Gareau 5 which was well out front by this time. Gioia had to contend with Ritskes, Didero, Furlong and Soule with Heitzhaus, Jeff West, Tim Snyder, Letcher and Gosek next in line.

Muldoon slowly and methodically closed in on Gareau, as lapped traffic came into play.

Muldoon snookered Gareau as they approached a slower car, taking the lead away on lap 42. Gareau now had 1996 track champ Doug Didero right on his tail, but Timmy wasn't about to give up another spot.

As the race approached the 50 mark, Muldoon sailed away in the lead, but Gareau held off Didero, closing the door on him in traffic on several occasions. Muldoon came across the line unimpeded with Gareau, Didero, Gioia and Randy Ritskes in the top five. Dan Soule, Furlong, Heitzhaus, West and Gosek, rounded out the top ten.

Muldoon, who had had to swap cars after a heat incident, running the consi in the 35, was pleased with his victory. "I had a damaged axle after the car was hit in the heat, so I had to get into this car," said Mike after "We had no choice but to change. I feel good about either car. I'm comfortable. This is the car that won opening day and I might just run it next week."

Gareau was breathless after his fine second place run. "It was so close. I wanted to win it so bad. I'll take second. The whole crew is happy with second. I still say we should have won it," said Tim walking through the pits. "I knew Didero was right there, but my car was the best ever. It was running good. I made the wrong move behind one lap car loosing the lead, I wasn't going to do it again."

Didero acknowledged that he couldn't get by Gareau. "The car got loose and that's all we could do," said Doug, "It was a good race, a good fast race. Lapped cars were a key, but it was good."

In the modifieds, twenty-year old Chuck Hossfeld claimed his second feature win in three days. After winning a victory at Lancaster on Thursday, Hossfeld took the point from the outside front row, and never looked back, although fellow Lancaster runner Sege Fidanza dogged him in the waning laps.

Last up before the fireworks were the limited supers and they had a few explosions of their own before they were done. A multi-car pileup occurred right on the green flag lap affecting Doug Cliff, Frank Ferguson, Charlie Pike, Bob Rundell and Mike Bond, among others.

A trail of oil laid down by the 2 of Willy Decker caused the last slowdown of the race and after the cleanup, Hoag was home free. Unruh held off a hard charging Tom Jodway, who had passed Matteson on lap 20. Star didn't let anyone else by, however, settling for a fine fourth place. Russ Brown rounded out the top five. Lafave, Regan, Shawn Muldoon, Andy Jodway and Charlie Pike made up the top ten.

Supermodified
Heat 1: Greg Furlong, Mike Muldoon, Dave Heitzhaus, Joe Gosek, Gary Syrell, Dave Simard, Dave Trytek, Bill Sharkey, Roger Clark, Shannon Groves

Heat 2: Doug Didero, Todd Stowell, Tim Gareau, Randy Ritskes, Jeff West, Jamie Letcher, Kenny Bell, Eddie Bellinger, Dave Mazzoni(dns)

Heat 3: Steve Gioia, Dan Soule, Bob Goutermout, Howard Page, Andy Powell, Tim Snyder, Joe Hawksby Jr, Gary Morton, Jamie Moore(35)

Consi: Dave Trytek, Mike Muldoon(35), Ken Bell, Bill Sharkey, Jamie Moore(50), Gary Morton, Joey Hawksby Jr, Shannon Groves