Story By: DAN KAPUSCINSKI / TRIPLE CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES – OSWEGO, NY – It’s hard to believe, but the Shea Concrete Triple Crown Championship Series presented by ASI Racewear will hit the halfway point of its season this Saturday at Oswego Speedway with the running of the non-wing Novelis Supermodified Grand Prix 75.
Saturday’s event marks the final non-wing single point race of the season for TCCS competition at Oswego, giving drivers and teams one final chance at a top non-wing finish before the double point “Classic” season begins with the July 22 $10,000 to win Mr. Novelis Supermodified 75-lapper on July 22.
Dave Shullick Jr. has been the ring leader at Oswego so far this season in non-wing action driving the John Nicotra Racing No. 2 machine. Shullick picked up the opening night win at Oswego on May 13 and backed it up with the overall TCCS victory in Twin 35 action at the Steel Palace on June 10. With that, Shullick holds a 48-point lead on his TCCS teammate Otto Sitterly in the $6,000 to win Bentley Warren Driver of the Year standings.
Sitterly used a strong ISMA effort at Stafford Motor Speedway on June 23, driving the Bodnar No. 96, to stay in touch with Shullick in the driver’s standings as the season moves to the summer months.
Despite a rough start to the season on May 13, Joe Gosek finds himself third in the driver’s standings at this juncture wheeling his own No. 00 in both wing and non-wing action. Gosek showed well in Oswego’s Twin 35’s and finished mid-pack at Stafford to move his way into the third spot ahead of this weekend’s Grand Prix 75, a race Gosek has won in the past.
ISMA traveller Dave Danzer sits in the fourth position currently in the driver points with Michael Muldoon using a great day at Stafford in his No. 15 to move to fifth overall. Muldoon charged from 18th to 9th on June 23 in his best career winged ISMA effort.
With Gosek, Danzer, and Muldoon currently in line to cash in on the driver’s side of the point fund, all three teams are right now in prime positions on the car side as well.
Gosek Racing and Danzer Racing are currently tied on top of the $6,000 to win Jim Shampine Supermodified of the Year championship at 276 points.
In a tight same car battle, they lead Muldoon Racing by only 17-points with Morton Racing sitting fourth just 27-points behind. Snyder Racing, who attempted to make it to Stafford before hauler issues sidelined the team, are 49-points out of the championship lead but still in a money position at fifth place.
The Penix Racing team of Joey Payne and the Dirt Jersey Posse are currently just outside of the top five in the same car standings but are looking for another strong Oswego showing this weekend and on July 22.
Motor issues for the Morton/McKnight duo may have the No. 70 on the sidelines for a few weeks, but if McKnight is able to make it back for the $10,000 to win Mr. Novelis Supermodified on July 22, they will still be in consideration for the overall championship.
TCCS drivers Snyder, Dave Gruel, Jeff Abold, Keith Shampine, and Howard Page will all be back in action this weekend.
All five also look to be in action at the Sandusky Speedway Hy-Miler weekend with Abold and Shampine making their wing debuts for 2017.
Plans for Chris Perley this weekend at Oswego have not been confirmed, but if Perley does not compete this Saturday in the July 1 Grand Prix 75, he will be ineligible for further championship implications. Drivers and teams must compete in at least three non-wing and wing TCCS races in order to be eligible for point fund monies.
Saturday’s Grand Prix 75 at Oswego Speedway will see pit gates open at 3:15 p.m. with grandstand gates opening and hot laps beginning at 4:30 p.m. Timed warm-ups will begin at 6:15 p.m. with racing to take the green flag at 6:45 p.m.
A fireworks show will complete the night after all racing takes the checkered flag.
General admission seating is available for $17 with kids 16 and under free.
For more information on the event visit www.oswegospeedway.com.
Bentley Warren Driver of the Year Standings: (as of June 23)
1. Dave Shullick Jr. – 359**
2. Otto Sitterly – 311
3. Joe Gosek – 276
4. Dave Danzer – 272
5. Michael Muldoon – 259
6. Dave McKnight – 249
7. Tim Jedrzejek – 241
8. Tim Snyder – 227
9. Joey Payne – 211
10. Dave Gruel – 187
11. Jeff Abold – 156
12. Keith Shampine – 151
13. Chris Perley – 133
14. Howard Page – 129
Jim Shampine Supermodified of the Year Standings: (as of June 23)
1. 00 Gosek Racing – 276
2. 52 Danzer Racing – 276
3. 15 Muldoon Racing – 259
4. 70 Morton Racing – 249
5. 0 Snyder Racing – 227
6. 14 Penix Racing – 211
7. 50 Gruel Racing – 187
8. 05 Team Abold Racing – 156
9. 55 Osetek Racing – 151
10. 11 Miller Racing – 133
11. 18 Page Racing – 129
Bentley Warren Driver of the Year Roster: (As of June 23)
Otto Sitterly (Nicotra No. 7, Bodnar No. 96)
Dave Shullick Jr. (Nicotra No. 2, Bodnar No. 95)
Jeff Abold (Abold No. 05)
Dave McKnight (Morton No. 70)
Dave Danzer (Danzer No. 72, Danzer No. 52)
Tim Jedrzejek (Danzer No. 52, Lane No. 97)
Joe Gosek (Gosek Racing No. 00)
Dave Gruel (Gruel Racing No. 50)
Howard Page (Page Racing No. 18)
Keith Shampine (Osetek Racing Technologies No. 55)
Tim Snyder (Snyder Racing No. 0)
Mike Muldoon (Muldoon Racing No. 15)
Joey Payne (Penix Racing No. 14)
Chris Perley (Miller Racing No. 11)
Jim Shampine Supermodified of the Year Roster: (As of June 23)
Team Abold Racing No. 05 (Driver- Jeff Abold)
Gary Morton Racing No. 70 (Driver- Dave McKnight)
Danzer Racing No. 52 (Drivers- Dave Danzer, Tim Jedrzejek)
Gosek Racing No. 00 (Driver- Joe Gosek)
Gruel Racing No. 50 (Driver- Dave Gruel)
Page Racing No. 18 (Driver- Howard Page)
Osetek Racing Technologies No. 55 (Driver- Keith Shampine)
Snyder Racing No. 0 (Driver- Tim Snyder)
Muldoon Racing No. 15 (Driver- Mike Muldoon)
Penix Racing No. 14 (Driver- Joey Payne)
Miller Racing No. 11 (Driver – Chris Perley)
Shea Concrete Triple Crown Championship Series presented by ASI Racewear
Schedule:
May 13 – Oswego Speedway 67th Season Opener (Non-Wing) – Dave Shullick Jr.
June 3 – ISMA Lancaster Speedway (Wing) – Trent Stephens
June 10 – Oswego Speedway Twin 35’s (Non-Wing) – Dave Shullick Jr.
June 23 – ISMA Stafford Speedway (Wing) – Ben Seitz
July 1- Oswego Speedway Independence Grand Prix (Non-Wing)
July 22 – Oswego Speedway Mr. Suprermodified (Non-Wing)**
July 28 – ISMA Sandusky Speedway Hy-Miler Fast 40 (Wing)
July 29 – ISMA Sandusky Speedway Hy-Miler Nationals (Wing)**
September 3 – Oswego Speedway International Classic (Non-Wing)**
September 9 – ISMA Star Speedway Classic (Wing)**
** – Indicates Double Point Shows
Feature Points Only, Oswego 100-point format
Best (3) Non-Wing finishes, combined with best (3) wing finishes count toward (6) race point total