Warren Coniam and Geoff Bodine were the victors in the seventh annual Port City 150 at the Oswego Speedway on Sunday.

Both overcame high track temperatures and tough competition to take away $2,000 checks from the fast five eighth's of a mile oval.
Coniam, after back to back second place finishes, grabbed the lead from Dave Shullick with just 10 laps to go in the 75 lap main to coast home the victor while Bodine passed Richie Evans on the 37th circuit as the pair headed down the back straight.

In the supermodified portion of the program the early leader was Chuck Ciprich as he ducked under Brian Mackereth with less than a half a lap in the record books. Through the early going Ciprich, Steve Gioia Jr., Jerry Buskey and Mike Rizzo had things pretty much their own ways for the first four spots, but as the race progressed Ed Bellinger Jr., Doug Heveron, Shullick and Coniam worked their way from the back of the field.

Minor incidents brought out the caution flag four times, but Ciprich still had the race well in control in the early going as he staved off the threats of Gioia.

By the 25th lap Ciprich and Gioia were trailed by Shullick, Buskey, Bellinger, Heveron and Coniam. Ciprich remained in control until the 42nd lap when Shullick outdragged the 36 in a race down the front straight. Shullick had things pretty much his own way while Ciprich, Gioia, Coniam and Bellinger trailed. On the 50th circuit Ciprich headed for the pits with a cracked cylinder head and the race for the top prize was left between Shullick, Gioia, Coniam and Bellinger.

On the 52nd lap Gioia and Coniam were battling for second when all of a sudden the number 9 headed for the pits as the expansion tank sprung a leak. Coniam set sail after a slowing Shullick and on the 65th lap made the pass in turn two.

Coniam coasted home with a six second win over Shullick (who was being blinded by leaking antifreeze) and third place Ed Bellinger Jr. who kept his old roadster running in the top five.

Completing the field in the enduro were Brian Herb and Ed Thompson (both one lap down) while rounding out the 24 car starting grid were Jim Muldoon, Tom Leeson, Brian Mackereth, Den Wheeler, Steve Gioia Jr., Mike Schoeberlein, Lew Bannister, Chuck Ciprich, Lou Palker, Jerry Buskey, Jim Gray, Doug Heveron, Mike Rizzo, Fred Graves, Mark Letcher, Ron MacLeod, Bentley Warren, Doug Syer and Russ Sauter.

Many other drivers were sidelined due to mishaps as Bob Stelter lost the bead on his right front and slammed into the fourth turn retaining wall while Jim Winks suffered back and front end damage after going over a tire in his heat. Jamie Moore and Bob Garvey were involved in the most spectacular mishap of the day as Garvey spun, hitting the front pit hubrail and during the melee Moore caught a wheel and somersaulted down the front straight as the 44 flew nearly 20 feet into the air before coming down in the first turn. Jamie was uninjured, but Garvey suffered leg and back injuries.

Winning heats were Shullick, Ciprich and Gioia while Syer, in his first time in action this year, scored the consi victory.

BODINE WINS

Geoff Bodine swept the three race Empire Sweepstakes Series as he finished the Spencer-Shangri La-Oswego circuit with a trio of feature wins.

Bodine, though suffering from right rear tire problems in the late going, had an insurmountable lead and held off Jerry Cook and third place Richie Evans in the 75 lapper.

The former New York State resident grabbed the lead on the 37th lap as he passed Evans coming out of turn two and was never headed. Evans and Cook, were both forced to pit on the 50th lap for new rubber and were relegated to the rear of the field on the restart after Mark Malcuit lost a battle with the inside hub rail in the first turn.

Cook and Evans never made up the deficit and settled for second and third respectively. Early leader Roger Treichler was forced out of action on lap 12 with tire trouble and pitted shortly thereafter with a leaky radiator hose.

Treichler led from lap two thru 12 and on the 13th go around Richie Evans inherited the lead. A red flag mishap which saw Billy Colton, Ken Troyer and Dean Hoag pile up their cars in the third turn, sent Treichler to the pits and on the restart Evans took over, but his lead lasted only until the 37th circuit before Bodine went in front to stay.

Following Bodine, Cook and Evans were Jim Spencer and Bentley Warren. While completing the 24 car field were Satch Worley, Gail Barber, Bill Parks, Tom Elliott, Doug Hewitt, Bill Griffin, Duane Ellis, Mark Malcuit, Tom Gush, Maynard Troyer, George Kent, Dan Knoll, Roger Treichler, Dan Mason, Ken Troyer, Billy Colton, Dean Hoag, Lee Bray and Forest Huff.

Two other drivers who were on contention for honors were Maynard Troyer and George Kent. Troyer pitted early with overheating problems, returned, drove a tremendous race as he moved into third on the 38th lap, but one lap later dropped out after a nut fell out of his trailing arm. Kent was also running in the top five but on the 38th lap pitted with a broken rotor.

It was a highly competitive day in both classes and fans went home satisfied and sunburned from an afternoon at the Port City 150.

Defending champs Dave Shullick and Richie Evans had to watch Warren Coniam and Geoff Bodine in victory lane, but already the runner ups and others have visions of gaining lost '80 glory in '81 .