May 29, 1999

RANDY RITSKES IMPRESSIVE IN ISMA 50 SHAMPINE MEMORIAL VICTORY

Oswego, NY - Randy Ritskes picked up the big jackpot at Oswego Speedway as he won the ISMA portion of the Jim Shampine Memorial weekend. Ritskes started the Ed Shea #27 back in tenth spot, and took the lead when Dave McKnight encountered problems while leading. Ritskes drove unchallenged for the win, worth $3,500. Ritskes also pocketed another $1000 bonus as this win, coupled with his seventh place finish in the unwinged race, gave him the best combined finish for both races.

Jamie Letcher and Denny Fisher brought the 24car field down for the green flag, with Fisher taking the lead. Jeff West followed Fisher through, and sat in second place early in the race. At the lap 5 mark, Fisher led West, Letcher, Doug Didero, Dave McKnight, Ritskes, Doug Saunier, Russ Wood, Scott Martel and Chris Perley.

West took the lead from Fisher the next time around, and pulled out on Letcher by a couple of lengths. Ritskes made short work of Didero on the back straightaway, and moved the Shea Concrete ride into fourth place. Russ Wood caught the fans attention as he had the Dunigan owned 29 car working well. Lap 11 he passed Didero on three front stretch for sixth place, and got by Saunier in the same place two laps later for his first appearance in the top five.

Another driver starting his charge is no stranger to Oswego fans, Chris Perley. The Vic Miller 11 car was hooked up on the outside groove, and Perley made his charge. he got by Wood in the fourth turn on lap 15 for fifth place, and kept the 11 car on the outside. the next lap, in the same place, he swung by Saunier. Lap 17, Perley again used the outside of the fourth turn for his third straight pass in the same place. This time he captured third place from Ritskes. Perley's fine night ended as he reached the first turn as he had a racing accident with another car,and the Perley 11 slammed the first turn foam viciously. The car was bent pretty bad, but Chris was uninjured.

West was still at the point at this juncture, while Dave McKnight, Ritskes, Doug Saunier, and Wood filled out the top five. West, McKnight and Ritskes battled wheel to wheel for a couple of laps for the lead, with McKnight gaining the advantage and grabbing the lead. McKnight and Ritskes pulled away from the third place battle between West and Wood. Wood got by West on lap 30, but was 10 lengths behind the lead duo.

A lap 31 yellow flag session bunched the field, and Wood's teammate Mike Ordway became a player here. he moved the white #26 up to fourth place. Another driver fans began to take notice of was "The Jersey Jet", Joey Payne. Payne blew the motor on his primary car was he came out for his heat race, and changed over his back up car. Payne won the B main,and started the race 21st. Now, at lap 30, he was up to sixth place.

Back up front, McKnight held the lead, but it was short-lived. Ritskes grabbed the lead from McKnight with 10 to go, with Wood following him through. A lap later, McKnight pulled the Patco car to a rest on the track as it died on the racing surface, and out of the race, after a very impressive run.

On the restart, it took Wood's 29 a couple of laps top get to full power, so he couldn't muster up a challenge to Ritskes. The only pass on the restart, was Payne continuing his march forward as he moved the Miller owned orange 4 by the West 01 car.

Ritskes had the Shea 27 on cruise control, as he built his advantage up to 15 car lengths. he drove the last few laps unchallenged, and took the checkered flag for his second ever Oswego ISMA race victory. fans will remember that Ritskes won the first ever Oswego ISMA race in the Bentley Warren back up car.

Wood drove a nice race for his runner up finish, with teammate Ordway in third. Payne passed the most cars of the race with his 21st to 4th run. Jeff West brought the 01 home in fifth. the rest of the top ten included Timmy, Jedrezek, Richie Witkum, Scotty Martel, Jamie Letcher and Pat Shullick.

"This was a good car tonight, " Ritskes said after his impressive victory. "Many times these things are a handful, but tonight it was easy to drive. it was a good win for us."

Heat 1: Justin Belfiore, Chris Perley, Scott Martel, Mike Muldoon, Mark Sammut, Charlie DeRosa, Eddie Bellinger, Pat Abold, Joey Payne (DNS)

Heat 2: Randy Ritskes, Doug Saunier, Jamie Letcher, Joe Gosek, Gary Morton, Dan Soule, David Green, Todd Stowell, Mike Stelter

Heat 3: Doug Didero, Denny Fisher, Jeff West, Mike Ordway, Richie Witkum, Dave Halsted, Joe Petro, Dave Hooper, Sean Sauer

Heat 4: Dave McKnight, Russ Wood, Jim Shirey, Tim Jedrzejek, Pat Shullick, George Brothers, Howie Page, Gord Hooper, Bobby Smith